The Technology Challenged

[klokker]

I just got back from six weeks in Tanzania. Most people I worked with make less than a dollar a day.

99% of them have cell phones (of course they are dirt cheap......phone companies rape us in the U.S. I don't know about other places).

Seems if you're in a band and need to be available on short notice you should have one.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Were all different. I want to be accessible 24/7.

Understandable, with me it's the other way around.

I'm hardly ever at home.

This is a case of "one size does NOT fit all". I have a wife and 2 young kids at home, so when I'm not at work, or on a gig or rehearsal (usually 2-3 nights/week), I'm at home with them. As much as I do play, and as much effort as I put into my craft, my main priority at this stage in life is my family. That means working to provide them necessities and it means being with them as much as possible.

I'm very blessed to have a wife who lets me out of the house as often as she does. I also often carry my wife's Tracfone to my gigs so she can get hold of me if necessary. But I don't give that number out as it's hers for emergency use and she has it 90% of the time.

 

[DBCrocky]

lowfreq - it's not that you don't have a phone that I find disrespectful, it's that "since it's for you, you pay it" line. If I were putting in a lot of time booking and arranging practices and recording sessions and needed to communicate constantly with band members, and you told me "I can't really afford a cell right now", I'd be fine with it. Even if you told me "I don't think I need one, I'm always available at either of these numbers or by email", I'd still be OK. But if you told me "If you want me to have a cell for your convenience, then you pay it", I'd be pretty insulted and I would question whether I really wanted to work that hard for someone who would say such a snotty thing to me.

But I did think of this, the time when a cell can really make a huge difference is when one member is running late for a gig. When it's 30 minutes to play or load in time and one member is still on the road, that cell phone call or text saying "I'm 15 minutes out" can make the difference between the rest of the band stressing hard or resting easy.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

lowfreq - it's not that you don't have a phone that I find disrespectful, it's that "since it's for you, you pay it" line. If I were putting in a lot of time booking and arranging practices and recording sessions and needed to communicate constantly with band members, and you told me "I can't really afford a cell right now", I'd be fine with it. Even if you told me "I don't think I need one, I'm always available at either of these numbers or by email", I'd still be OK. But if you told me "If you want me to have a cell for your convenience, then you pay it", I'd be pretty insulted and I would question whether I really wanted to work that hard for someone who would say such a snotty thing to me.

But I did think of this, the time when a cell can really make a huge difference is when one member is running late for a gig. When it's 30 minutes to play or load in time and one member is still on the road, that cell phone call or text saying "I'm 15 minutes out" can make the difference between the rest of the band stressing hard or resting easy.

I didn't say that I have said that to anyone. I said that I would say it *if* things got to the point where they demanded that I get a phone for their convenience.

Every hard-working band leader I know - and I know quite a few as I do a lot of freelance work - are on the ball and schedule more than an hour in advance. If they're so disorganized that they need immediate answers on a regular basis, then they can foot the bill. Again, on a regular basis. Otherwise, it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[DBCrocky]

Well, I'd think carefully before saying that to anyone, it really comes off badly, at least to me. That's my only point. Cheers!

 

[RustyAxe]

Every hard-working band leader I know - and I know quite a few as I do a lot of freelance work - are on the ball and schedule more than an hour in advance. If they're so disorganized that they need immediate answers on a regular basis

... they can call someone who likes to be "on call" 24/7. I do a lot of sub work, and really can't recall the last time I had less than a few days notice for a gig. I read my email and get my voice mail daily (or more frequently) and return replies promptly. If I miss a last minute gig opportunity, oh well. In the regular projects I play in we don't book last minute ... ever. A band that can take a Saturday gig when notified on Friday isn't exactly showing that they're in high demand, are they?

 

[jaywa]

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...

90% of success in life is just showing up. It's too bad your drummer hasn't gotten that concept yet.

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?

We set ours up exactly as you described and the tunes still sounded like dog squeeze through our P.A. I suspect it had to do with the quality of the sound files. Our guitarist was probably downloading the low bandwidth versions which sound fine through cheap earbuds but put through a 3-way P.A. at substantial volume... yuck.

 

[lfmn16]

However, I find the main reason band members don't have email/cell phones is because they are poor. I can't hold this against them...there but for the grace of god and all...

Some people can't afford instruments or amps or transportation and therefore can't be in bands. If you can't afford the tools you need to be competitive, I feel bad for you, but I'm not going to lose money or cause myself extra work by hiring someone who doesn't have the tools to do the job.

When I was auditioning people in my last band, we dealt with this upfront and let everyone know that we communicate through texting, cell phones and email and if that was a problem, then we weren't a good fit.

I've got no patience for these people who think that the world should revolve around them.

 

[MatticusMania]

90% of success in life is just showing up. It's too bad your drummer hasn't gotten that concept yet.

Yes, it is. If I were the bandleader I would have fired him already. Im urging our band leader to at least find a "sub". Less of a syb, but more of a second drummer, who can practice and play at times our current drummer cannot. And also owns his own drums.

We set ours up exactly as you described and the tunes still sounded like dog squeeze through our P.A. I suspect it had to do with the quality of the sound files. Our guitarist was probably downloading the low bandwidth versions which sound fine through cheap earbuds but put through a 3-way P.A. at substantial volume... yuck.

Thats odd. It could be low bandwith files, Im sure.

 

[bluewine]

Some people can't afford instruments or amps or transportation and therefore can't be in bands. If you can't afford the tools you need to be competitive, I feel bad for you, but I'm not going to lose money or cause myself extra work by hiring someone who doesn't have the tools to do the job.

When I was auditioning people in my last band, we dealt with this upfront and let everyone know that we communicate through texting, cell phones and email and if that was a problem, then we weren't a good fit.

I've got no patience for these people who think that the world should revolve around them.

The last 2 bands I have been in, including the new band made it clear that all off site communications would be by texting

As far as gear is concerned when we would pre- screen for auditions we would ask about their gear. If it was sub-par would ask if they were in a position to up grade their gear

 

[F-Clef-Jef]

I've seen many examples of a gig being "saved" or booked by people having cell phones, and one where a friend nearly died because he didn't. I'll go with the cell phone crowd, (I haven't had a land line in 11 years).

 

[bluewine]

Some of us are geographically challenged.

If it weren't for my Droid with GPS, I wouldn't be able to find the gigs.

 

[lfmn16]

The last 2 bands I have been in, including the new band made it clear that all off site communications would be by texting

As far as gear is concerned when we would pre- screen for auditions we would ask about their gear. If it was sub-par would ask if they were in a position to up grade their gear

That's smart to get everything discussed upfront. If everybody had a list of questions to ask new bands and bands had a list of expectations to give to potential members, there would be a lot less hard feelings.

 

[Gaius46]

Some of us are geographically challenged.

If it weren't for my Droid with GPS, I wouldn't be able to find the gigs.

Among other things I have on my iPhone -

A metronome

A strobe tuner

A tuning fork

A drum machine

A set list manager - which I can use to email set lists directly to the rest of the band from my phone.

A small piano

Amplitude which allows me to play my bass with headphone

A small app for writing basic standard notation

iRealB which contains the changes to most things in the real book (and also plays them back so you can practice against them)

And of course an iPod.

And that's just the music related stuff.


The iPhone - and presumably the droid - are hugely useful tools.

 

[Johnny Crab]

OP: No, not as far as cell phones go. I'm the BSEE in the band and have worked with tech toys for 20+ years BUT still have my 1st cell phone, a Qualcomm that has been dropped + drowned + stepped on since I got it and it still works fine. I can't have a picture phone here and a newer phone would never handle what this one has been through.

Tech challenged?
In the band I'm in that implies that you resist using modelling systems or software and insist on dragging around a 4x12 cabinet. Doesn't work out well when each member uses a BOSE system at most gigs(it's my amp and vocal PA/monitor).

There are no real excuses for not having a cell phone with Tracfone.
Scroll down to the middle of the page here:
http://www.pcmech.com/premium/newsletters/view.php?issue=421

My phone bill is $10 a month - how about yours? [RANT]
by Rich Menga
When I tell someone I pay only 10 bucks a month for my phone bill - which includes unlimited long-distance calling mind you - the reaction is usually one of disbelief.
How I get my phone bill to $10 a month is by using two services - Tracfone and Skype.

Loosing the Heart gig = fired?
I'd have fired 'em too. Their soundman is a friend from long ago.

 

[Bredian]

Is the guy who won't get the cell phone also holding off on his first amplifier purchase?

My cell number is about 25 years old now. yes, I've ported it.

 

[othefool]

My band uses facebook: we have a private group with just us 4 members. Of course, we have it set up so that anything posted on this group also buzzes our cell phones immediately...

Communication among band mates it so much easier than it was a decade ago; when gig opportunities arise our BL can typically confirm with the agent w/in 10 minutes.Before cell phones, when a band leader had to track down 3-6 people to confirm a date; it could sometimes take days. The only downside to convenience is that the pace of daily life keeps accelerating...

 

[bluewine]

Among other things I have on my iPhone -

A metronome

A strobe tuner

A tuning fork

A drum machine

A set list manager - which I can use to email set lists directly to the rest of the band from my phone.

A small piano

Amplitude which allows me to play my bass with headphone

A small app for writing basic standard notation

iRealB which contains the changes to most things in the real book (and also plays them back so you can practice against them)

And of course an iPod.

And that's just the music related stuff.


The iPhone - and presumably the droid - are hugely useful tools.

I like where your heads at.

blue

 

[dminer]

I have a cell phone but really don't get the "You've got to text" syndrome...why is texting any better/faster/ or more reliable than calling via cellphone and leaving a voice message. Often times when I'm at work I'll hear my phone ring but because I'm occupied/busy it might take me a couple of minutes to check out who called and if I'm too busy to answer my phone then I'm certainly too busy to text and, doesn't it actually take longer to type out the message than it would to speak it?
I certainly understand that some people can sneak in a text message from work and not get caught doing personal business on the company's time. But luckily, I work for and with real humans that don't mind if I answer an important (to me) phone call.

 

[ChrisB2]

I have a cell phone but really don't get the "You've got to text" syndrome...why is texting any better/faster/ or more reliable than calling via cellphone and leaving a voice message. Often times when I'm at work I'll hear my phone ring but because I'm occupied/busy it might take me a couple of minutes to check out who called and if I'm too busy to answer my phone then I'm certainly too busy to text and, doesn't it actually take longer to type out the message than it would to speak it?
I certainly understand that some people can sneak in a text message from work and not get caught doing personal business on the company's time. But luckily, I work for and with real humans that don't mind if I answer an important (to me) phone call.

No offense, but if you haven't had texting you really don't know what you're missing.

It's popular because it works. It fills a niche like nothing else.

Yes, it's BETTER than anything else at what it does. I still place calls, leave messages, and write emails. But texting is great. You just have to use it a while to understand...

Since you asked why, I'll give you a simple example. I can send a mass text, using "Groups," to all my band members at once saying "12-15 gig changed to 8 pm." No repsonse is necessary on their part, one text covers everyone, and they don't have to dial in to their voicemail to get the message. Nothing else is that simple or convenient.

Edit: Plus it's fun.