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The Technology Challenged

#22
DBCrocky said:
Not having a phone is one thing. Having that attitude toward band-mates who are working to do things for YOUR band is just disrespectful, IMO.
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Disrespectful? Sure, if I was a "one band" kinda guy with big dreams of "making it". I'm a freelancer most of the time, and I came into my current band as a freelancer because they liked what I brought musically. I work outside of this particular band all the time, and they know and accept it and work around my schedule because they feel I'm worth it. In fact, they paid me for every show (out of their own pockets) till I told them enough times they didn't have to pay me.

At the same time, I make myself available through plenty of means and as long as I'm not already booked, I give preference to them. If they can't get hold of me, it's cause I'm either out of town, or already on a gig - and thus unavailable anyway.

Tomorrow night we are opening for Fishbone. So there!

Edit: before this band, I worked with another group for over 2.5 years - up to 4 nights a week. I made due just fine without a cell and never once had an issue. It also helps if the rest of the band are on the ball and continually booking in advance. Perhaps if they weren't actually working much and just doing last-minute things here and there, that would be different. But most of the working bands I know are booked weeks or months in advance.
 
#23
We had a keyboard player at one that owned a cell but most of the time had it turned off unless he wanted to use it.

He also was not the most reliable person, trying to call when it's less than half an hour from downbeat and no keyboard player is no fun. Mostly he would show up but the rest of the band were stressed and it put a damper on the gig.

The one time he didn't show at all and we couldn't reach him via cell phone was the last time we tried to contact him :)
 
#24
bluewine said:
In a way I'm not up on all the functionality and capabilities of cells.

I noticed at rehearsals last night the guitarist had his iPhone connected to his amp. I am not sure what it was being used for.
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He could have been using a tuner app.
Ive also downloaded various synth programs for my Android phone.
When I work gigs, I hook my phone up to the PA and run Pandora while on set breaks.
 
#25
invader3k said:
I think in this day and age, it's pretty much required that all band members in a "working" group at least own a cell phone that they check regularly. Many people have done away with a land line and own a cell phone. There really isn't any good excuse for being completely avoidable during any given day.
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I agree, I got rid of my lan line 20 years ago.
 
#27
Good thread, Blue. I'm a BL and haven't had a cell since 2004. Yet I coordinate all band business within a few hours, tops, because we're all on email, either via a computer or the band members' cell phones. We all stay in close touch because we are actively developing and promoting our band. The only way I get away with not having a cell phone right now is because I'm either at my day job, in front of a computer, or at home, in front of a computer. I am also nearly always available at either phone number. To address RustyAxe's post above, yes, there are some situations that require the band members' immediate response. I know as our band gets busier, I'm going to have to take the plunge and get a cell again. When that day comes, there is no question that I'll get one (regardless of how much I've enjoyed being cell free for a bunch of years).
 
#28
bluewine said:
+1 Efficiency is what I was getting at.

In our current economy how a band stays competitive is just as important as in any other business.

In all of the bands I have played in all band issues are communicated by texting and/ or E-mail.

A friend of mine, got a call at noon to fill a 9:00PM slot at Summerfest opening for Heart, the band scheduled bus broke down and canceled at the last minute.

Every member was on it, except the bass player who they could not contact. He wasn't home and he didn't own a cell.

They were not able to do the show. They were so pissed they fired the bass player.
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I thought a decent bass rig and some talent is what got you hired. So now the required equipment must also include a cell phone huh? Maybe they should have made that clear to him when they hired him. Would 3G have been good enough or is 4G now the minimum acceptable for pro bassists?

My keyboard player doesn't own a cell phone (but I do) and about the only time I'm sure to reach him is at work since he's usually in the studio when he's home but somehow we still manage to stay in contact with that good old stone age land line. If cell, text and email are a requirement then make that clear before there's a problem not after. They were jerks to fire him unless they made that clear. JMO.
 
#29
soulman969 said:
I thought a decent bass rig and some talent is what got you hired. So now the required equipment must also include a cell phone huh? Maybe they should have made that clear to him when they hired him. Would 3G have been good enough or is 4G now the minimum acceptable for pro bassists?

My keyboard player doesn't own a cell phone (but I do) and about the only time I'm sure to reach him is at work since he's usually in the studio when he's home but somehow we still manage to stay in contact with that good old stone age land line. If cell, text and email are a requirement then make that clear before there's a problem not after. They were jerks to fire him unless they made that clear. JMO.
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Do you also make it a requirement that people have a land line? Of course not. Everyone knows that everyone has a landline. They're so common that implicitly assuming that someone has one is normal.

Cell phones are ubiqitous. Something like 91% of Americans use one. If we're not at the point today where we implicitly assume that everyone has a cell phone we are on the cusp of that. It's probably reasonable to assume that someone has a cell phone and not make it an upfront requirement.

New technologies change the way things get done and, more to the point, people structure the way they get things done based on commonly available technologies. Not adopting those technologies can annoy and inconvienece people who have to deal with you as well as put you and your bandmates at a competitive disadvantage.
 
#31
RustyAxe said:
Just a thought ... do you really WANT to be in a band that is ALWAYS available on a moment's notice? :rolleyes:

I've never come across a band situation that need my immediate attention.
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I do. Since Im the only band member with a consistent work schedule and I also do a lot of booking its nice to get a hold of band members and get a quick response. We've missed out on some good gigs because our drummer doesnt respond, and then later says "I didnt know we had a gig" though he acknowledges that he got my text...

jaywa said:
Last band I was in we did this for break music except we used the guitarist's iPod. Super convenient, but the sound left something to be desired.
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I have a headphone out cable that has RCA plugs on the other end, along with an AUX line in on my PA that has its own volume control. Soundwise, it worked great. Im taking a guess, but did you put the iPod through one of the standard PA channels?
 
#33
MatticusMania said:
I do. Since Im the only band member with a consistent work schedule and I also do a lot of booking its nice to get a hold of band members and get a quick response. We've missed out on some good gigs because our drummer doesnt respond, and then later says "I didnt know we had a gig" though he acknowledges that he got my text...

I have a headphone out cable that has RCA plugs on the other end, along with an AUX line in on my PA that has its own volume control. Soundwise, it worked great. Im taking a guess, but did you put the iPod through one of the standard PA channels?
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+1
 
#35
lowfreqgeek said:
I'm that guy without a cell phone and I mange to do just fine. Email usually works or a land line (I'm either at home, at work, or on a gig).

And no, I'm not "technologically challenged". I'm an electronics design engineer and I work with leading-edge tech all day long. I just don't care to have a cell phone. I manage to get plenty of work - 2 VERY different gigs this week, 2 next, 2 rehearsal this week, Church this Sunday, recording sessions coming up in December... All scheduled in the past few days, last minute.

I'd tell any band the same thing I tell my employer: if I must have a phone for your convenience, then you pay for it.
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I could've written this... I could care less to have a cell phone, don't want to be that accessible all the time. The only reason I have one (my girlfriend insisted) is in case my car breaks down on the road or my girlfriend needs to reach me. I actually don't even know the phone number! Landline or email works for me.
 
#37
I will say this: if I start losing (out on) work because I don't have a cell, I'll get one in a heartbeat. So far, that hasn't been the case. However, I make darn sure to check messages, answer my phone, check my email, etc. as often as I can. It's likely that you wouldn't wait more than 5 minutes to hear back from me unless I was in a meeting and away from my desk (where I wouldn't answer your call, anyway). Evenings and weekends at home, I always have email access and home phone.

So, I make myself available - I just choose not to have a cell phone. Now, if you can't wait 5-10 minutes for me to get back to you on something *then* you pay for my phone...
 
#38
soulman969 said:
I thought a decent bass rig and some talent is what got you hired. So now the required equipment must also include a cell phone huh? Maybe they should have made that clear to him when they hired him. Would 3G have been good enough or is 4G now the minimum acceptable for pro bassists?

My keyboard player doesn't own a cell phone (but I do) and about the only time I'm sure to reach him is at work since he's usually in the studio when he's home but somehow we still manage to stay in contact with that good old stone age land line. If cell, text and email are a requirement then make that clear before there's a problem not after. They were jerks to fire him unless they made that clear. JMO.
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I am not sure what got me hired, I think they liked my playing but more important, they liked me.

It was the previous bass player's unwilliness to get a cell that caused the termination and thus created the opening.
 
#39
baileyboy said:
I could've written this... I could care less to have a cell phone, don't want to be that accessible all the time. The only reason I have one (my girlfriend insisted) is in case my car breaks down on the road or my girlfriend needs to reach me. I actually don't even know the phone number! Landline or email works for me.
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Were all different. I want to be accessible 24/7.
 

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