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The *Meal Ticket* /Frontman

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Progress Not Perfection.
Sep 2, 2004
12,524
291
Vancouver, BC Canada
#1
Here's the thing. I'd like to start my own band. I have lots of ideas of how to run a band properly and frankly I'd like to have the last word for a change. However, since I'm *just the bass player* its going to take some doing.

The problem I see is that in order for a band to be successful the frontman has to be top notch... a great singer, lots of personality, stage presence etc. When you have a personality like that its natural that they would gravitate towards being the centre of the band. I am not saying as a leader I would be a tyrant. Most likely I would co-lead the majority of the time. I'm not sure anybody wants to be in a band where their ideas are not respected and often acted upon.

I guess I just want a band where my opinion counts and I generally have the last word on most matters. For example, I found it most frustrating when the band I am in was offered a New Year's Eve gig, but the bandleader turned it down. We were being offered almost three times our regular pay and that would have been a fun gig. Our bandleader just did not want to do it... not a real good reason for it. Those kind of things drive me nuts.

Anyway I guess this is turning into a rant, but I would like to lead a band for a change instead of just being the bass player.

How many bands have a frontman who is not the bandleader?
 
#3
Quit.

Well, i might. What sort of bandleader is he? Does he own the PA? book all the gigs? are you just hired guns? Does he move and set up the PA? By himself?

My favorite way to deal with that sort of bandleader is to tell him i'm not helping with the PA setup. Why? Hey man, my bass isn't going through it.

But on a more serious note, if the rest of the band was all ticked perhaps a talk is in order. Singers are sort of like the flowers on a cake. (IMHO). If the rest of the band is terrible, it doesn't matter how pretty the flower is, the cake stinks. You can always get another flower.
 
#5
In both pop cover bands I got involved in, the front person was not the band leader. This was a good thing for the first one because it went through 4 different lead singers during my tenure!

Whoever wants to make 1000 phone calls and take a whole bunch of $#!& from every direction, in return for a bit of power & creative control (& sometimes more money - not so much around here), that's who's ready to be the band leader.
 
#9
Yeah, I also think a talk is in order. It doesn't need to be confrontational or adversarial at all, just let the guys know you would feel best with an either/or situation; either you get more say for the effort you put in, or the singer keeps control and inherits all the dirty work that should go with said control.

I think it's pretty straight forward, you want some control, but not enough to try to wrestle it from your band leaders hands, so you're willing to start another project to call the shots. I would hope the other guys in your band would respect that you aren't going to be malicious about it, like many guys are in bands and cause a bunch of inner band turmoil trying to be top dog.
 
#11
stflbn said:
It sounds like you're really not sure what you really want to do.


.
Click to expand...
Ideally, what I would like to do is start my own band on the side. Continue to play with this band as well.

Part of the reason I started this thread was because I wasnt sure if a band could be led by anyone other than the frontman/meal ticket. But you guys say no problem.

So...
 
#12
andrew said:
Yeah, I also think a talk is in order. It doesn't need to be confrontational or adversarial at all, just let the guys know you would feel best with an either/or situation; either you get more say for the effort you put in, or the singer keeps control and inherits all the dirty work that should go with said control.

I think it's pretty straight forward, you want some control, but not enough to try to wrestle it from your band leaders hands, so you're willing to start another project to call the shots. I would hope the other guys in your band would respect that you aren't going to be malicious about it, like many guys are in bands and cause a bunch of inner band turmoil trying to be top dog.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I really dislike band drama. Even when decisions are made that I totally disagree with I'll offer an alternative view only ONCE and then shut my mouth. Re-naming the band 'and the cadillac bloodmen' is a perfect example.

That said, our leader is definitely the leader and that's not going to change. I don't want to be the leader of this band anyway. That wouldnt seem right to me. Just a more shared vision would be nice.
 
#13
For every band I've been in (always originals) the Frontman = band leader, and song writer/chooser. Having final say over the vocalist might be easier in a cover band, but
if you veto their ideas you run the risk of them 'phoning in' their performance...and it's probably easier for most audiences to pick up on that...

the surest road is probably to step up and start vocalizing (eek!) and be the front man yourself. Either you'll surprise yourself or walk away with new found respect for the Frontman...
 
#16
Our leader is definitely the talent of the band... great vocals, good guitar work, and he writes great songs for the most part. No one writes hits 100% of the time.

My songwriting skills are okay and I did write a song I intend to present to the band, but ultimately its not my strength.

I'm the reliable bassist who can hold down the low-end, stay in the pocket and try to help keep the band organized.
 
#17
Sounds like in your situation it's something you need to work out with the frontman. If he's not willing to bend, I'd say go through with your plan. Definitely stop doing the band leader work and see how that pans out.

I'm realizing from this thread that I'm in an extremely lucky position. I play for a "frontwoman" who does all the initial songwriting and is the main draw--the crowd comes to see her, the rest of us in the band are secondary and we're ok with that. However, she told me a while back that she doesn't like doing all the band management work and asked me if I'd take some of it on. She also asks my opinion about a lot of the musical stuff because she says I've got the closest musical vision to her out of everybody she's ever worked with.

So I guess my advice is ultimately to do what you think is going to make you happy, whether that's just staying with your band, starting a side project, or leaving altogether.
 
#18
I was the band leader in my last gigging original project. I put the project together and I did the majority of the songwriting. Mostly importantly, I made the extra effort, so I got the extra sway. I also got the extra headaches. One thing to think about it that just because as a leader you are organized and professional, hard working and eager, it doesn't mean you other peeps will follow your lead. In bands, drama rolls up hill.
 

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