The *Meal Ticket* /Frontman

[::::BASSIST::::]

Beat him with a wet noodle?

 

[mambo4]

i suppose the other option is to simply be the guy who signs the paychecks...that will trump any disputes right there.

 

[scorpionldr]

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?

well I "led" a band, but I'm a moron and I try to appease all parties, which when I was working with that band, the guys simply wanted to be the band that never gets out of the basement.
Frontman sounds like he's out of his head.

 

[dreadheadbass]

steve harris is the leader of iron maiden and he has to contend with bruce dickinson and nicko mcbrian sure they have plenty of backstage squabbles and tiffs (see mission from arry) but he leads the band very well

if your ideas are good and your direction your heading in is a sound one then people will follow

 

[chjohnst]

My band is reponsible to lead their part, but ultimately in the end the singer/frontman leads this area. He is more charismatic and connected in the industry then the rest of the band. But as far as the music making its a democratic approach. I lay out the bass line, guitarist layers on top and lyrics are worked out by the singer and sometimes guitarist. This process seems to work out well for us. Writing lyrics in my forte, I hold down the rhythm and come up with the funky grooves and I am satisified with that role. Recently they have been trying to get me to sing and do backup vocals but I am just not confident with my voice LOL

 

[WalterBush]

i suppose the other option is to simply be the guy who signs the paychecks...that will trump any disputes right there.

This is why my guitarist decides what we play at least as much as the singer, and why I signed paperwork (and forked over dough!) making me an official, legal partner in the business that is my band.

We started hiring subs when our singer cancelled one too many gigs. If she continues to be unavailable, soon we'll have enough subs that it won't matter; I don't think that'll happen in our case, but there's someone waiting to replace her if it comes up, thus insuring our collective income remains stable and upwardly mobile.

 

[chjohnst]

Contract? I get worried about the intellectual property that we are making as a band (we are all very close friends), but I dont forsee bad things happening. DO most people do contracts?

 

[denhou1974]

I play with a few bands around town and I can't really say who the official bandleader is for any of those bands. One guy in each band usually books the gigs but everyone in those bands has a say-so. Maybe that's why they're so easy to play with. No problems. No drama.

That being said, if the majority of the band wanted to do the NYE gig then your bandleader should've taken the gig. Just "not wanting to" isn't in the best interest of everyone in the group. Sounds like you need to find people that are more cooperative. Good Luck. It's never easy!

 

[Kaneesel]

Start a three peice. Share the singing. No one has more power that way.

In my band, both the guitar player and i sing for different songs (drummer sings nothing, to difficult). All decisions are made as a band. Any vote has to be unanimous (sp). All or nothing.

 

[bergerXL5]

Our singers were always just hired ho's. Much easier to deal with that way.

 

[sonic assassin]

i pretty much steer the ship in my band, and im the bassist/3rd vocalist/least popular.

i can play guitar better than both guitar players and some would say i can sing better too. but its their band that *I* joined. as soon as i came in and subtly took over the management, things started happening. they know i make everything happen. they write 90% of the material. im fine with that.

 

[aus_bass]

Reminds me of an old Stones story.........

Mick Jagger: "Where's my drummer ?"
Charlie Watts: "Here. And.. I'm not your drummer. YOU'RE my f#%king singer !"