Yeah, probably time to call it a day. Get out there and find a band that appreciates you. You have a lot to offer the right group and you'll enjoy it a lot more.
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Throwing in the towel tonight....
- Thread starter Volunteerk9
- Start date
I hear you. I play in two bands. The first one plays great classic rock and dance cover tunes that audiences know, want to hear and love. I really enjoy playing in that band.
I joined a second band because I had some spare time and I like playing music. However, the second band (still in the basement with the second band) are doing a few good tunes, the rest are tunes that no one wants to hear. Like your situation it's B sides, some really bad originals, and songs I think a few of the band members personally like, but no one in bar would recognize unless they were huge fans of the particular band.
For example, I tried to subtly bring up the fact that playing an old, slow, dragging obscure Led Zeppelin song or a Bob Dylan tune to a bunch of 20 year old's in a bar might not be a good idea, and I was shut down abruptly. Not sure how much longer I will be staying around in the second band.
Yes, you have to like what you play, sure, but I believe if you are in a band, and you want to get steady gigs, you also should be playing to your audience. I don't want to hear one more classic rock cover band tell me they don't want to play the songs everyone else is playing. "We want to play other more unknown covers" Good luck getting gigs. I quit one band the moment I heard that statement.
Most people in a bar like to get up and dance or at least be able to belt out a tune they already know the words to. It's fun. It's familiar. I'm not against mixing it up, but too many bands are going down the rabbit hole with their set lists.
As far as money, I always believed in splitting everything equally. I own the PA, practice is at my house, and I book most of the gigs. I could ask for a greater share, but I still split everything even with the rest of the band. Eliminates a lot of issues.
Dude, to sum it up. Move on. Don't waste your time with these guys. Life is too short. You need to find muscians that get it.
I joined a second band because I had some spare time and I like playing music. However, the second band (still in the basement with the second band) are doing a few good tunes, the rest are tunes that no one wants to hear. Like your situation it's B sides, some really bad originals, and songs I think a few of the band members personally like, but no one in bar would recognize unless they were huge fans of the particular band.
For example, I tried to subtly bring up the fact that playing an old, slow, dragging obscure Led Zeppelin song or a Bob Dylan tune to a bunch of 20 year old's in a bar might not be a good idea, and I was shut down abruptly. Not sure how much longer I will be staying around in the second band.
Yes, you have to like what you play, sure, but I believe if you are in a band, and you want to get steady gigs, you also should be playing to your audience. I don't want to hear one more classic rock cover band tell me they don't want to play the songs everyone else is playing. "We want to play other more unknown covers" Good luck getting gigs. I quit one band the moment I heard that statement.
Most people in a bar like to get up and dance or at least be able to belt out a tune they already know the words to. It's fun. It's familiar. I'm not against mixing it up, but too many bands are going down the rabbit hole with their set lists.
As far as money, I always believed in splitting everything equally. I own the PA, practice is at my house, and I book most of the gigs. I could ask for a greater share, but I still split everything even with the rest of the band. Eliminates a lot of issues.
Dude, to sum it up. Move on. Don't waste your time with these guys. Life is too short. You need to find muscians that get it.
Yeah, you've got "the patience of Job". I wouldn't have made it through two practices. You're better than them - move on out.
give notice courteously letting them know you'll fulfill any existing commitments (but they need to tell you what those are or they might keep booking and telling you those shows were already booked) and never look back! hopefully next time out you'll find a band you can really enjoy playing with 
I'd give at most two week's notice...and demand my share of the band fund.
These guys were clearly using you and you're a better man than I am to have tolerated the situation this long without losing my cool big-time.
These guys were clearly using you and you're a better man than I am to have tolerated the situation this long without losing my cool big-time.
Agree...you are a very patient guy. Kudos for sticking as long as you have.
I would suggest excusing yourself as politely as possible, bearing in mind that the High Road is the Nu F U.
I would NOT give two weeks notice to an entity that gives me no pay, no regard, no fun and only generates headache and heartburn.
And any monies you feel you're owed I would chalk up as "tuition". Been there done that over the years to the tune of several thousand dollars. Dollars to Donuts you ain't seeing SQUAT, and demanding something you won't receive hands them the power.
It's the Law of the Universe: You Get What You Give
Run, Forrest, Run.
I would NOT give two weeks notice to an entity that gives me no pay, no regard, no fun and only generates headache and heartburn.
And any monies you feel you're owed I would chalk up as "tuition". Been there done that over the years to the tune of several thousand dollars. Dollars to Donuts you ain't seeing SQUAT, and demanding something you won't receive hands them the power.
It's the Law of the Universe: You Get What You Give
Run, Forrest, Run.
Mandatory TB tradition.....
Fire the drummer and then rage quit.
Fire the drummer and then rage quit.
I understand what you are going through, I have been in a similar situation myself. Back in the day I ran Sound and Managed a cover band that played the typical tired cover songs and some rare cuts that were not well known. They thought they were unique because they would play songs like "Quinn, The Eskimo" from Manfred Mann.
At this stage of my life I play for Fun and Enjoyment, ( a little pocket change never hurts though). As soon as it is no longer fun, I'm outta there. I stand strong on my position to NOT play the same old, tired, beat-up songs that every other cover band plays. My philosophy, "Dont play the songs that people are going to hear being played on the radio while driving to see your band".
I went to an Audition a short while back and the sample songs they provided me where catchy fun songs so we scheduled a date and time. When I got there, not only were they not prepared, they started going to the list of "over played" cover songs. Needless to say, I thanked them for the opportunity and went on my way...
At this stage of my life I play for Fun and Enjoyment, ( a little pocket change never hurts though). As soon as it is no longer fun, I'm outta there. I stand strong on my position to NOT play the same old, tired, beat-up songs that every other cover band plays. My philosophy, "Dont play the songs that people are going to hear being played on the radio while driving to see your band".
I went to an Audition a short while back and the sample songs they provided me where catchy fun songs so we scheduled a date and time. When I got there, not only were they not prepared, they started going to the list of "over played" cover songs. Needless to say, I thanked them for the opportunity and went on my way...
Give your notice. Agree to play any remaining booked gigs but only if you get your full pay for the gig. If they don't agree to that or if you play a gig with them after that and don't get paid (no matter what their lame excuse might be) drop them like a hot rock.
Just wondering how it went for you last night. I know you have feelings of remorse. Things go amicable for you?
Give your notice, cover what gigs you need to, and ask to be paid your share of the band fund. Explain that though you've been paying into it, you haven't seen any returns and as such the money should be made available to you. Keep your expectations low, because something tells me these clowns have already spent it. Above all, make a clean break as professionally as possible and learn from the mistakes you've made in your association with them.
I'm a firm beliver that playing live is a 50/50 split between being a musician and being an entertainer. And in 18 months I'd have brought up the financial end of things long before now.
So far I'm in charge of money. I get the check, deposit it and write checks to the guys. Been ripped off before and it won't happen again. We don't do band equipment, we bring our own. Drummer has PA and guitarists have speakers and monitors. I do the money and try to arrange gigs (shared with others in the band) Set lists are interesting. We do a lot of obscure covers but we play a lot of wineries and breweries where people are interested in discussing the nuances of international bee breeding and the future Brie crop in Belgium. As they get more alcohol, our sets get a little more active and familiar. It works in a weird way. We try and choose lists for our audience and venue. I waited for four years to find people I wanted to play with after the last band debacle and met them at local jams. Worth it
I've done gigs with a guy like this, but only for at least $150, which make the pretentiousness and ego-feeding bearable...make a little list of lessons learned from this and move on.
That sucks man.. you deserve to be happy in a band, you deserve to be an integral part of the band. Good luck to you bro.. and don't let that happen evet again.
You're far too nice to a group of people who are clearly too self-absorbed and ignorant to reciprocate. This isn't a salaried job where you owe anyone notice.
The golden rule went out the window when the other members decided it was a good idea to steal money from you by not paying or misappropriating band funds to buy gear or settle their own bar tabs.
The drummer's wife would make me walk alone. Dealing with annoying significant others is out of the question.
I'd tell them all to screw and not feel bad at all. They will just find another poor bass player to walk over, and if they can't, screw them all still. Life is too short to deal with morons, their spouses, progeny or anyone else who is inconsiderate enough to handle themselves with so little decorum. Good luck.
I agree...you've been had and fully taken advantage of. These NON pros don't deserve the courtesy of a notice based on the non money clause. If they're half as good and cool as they think they are...well....they should have a list of subs just begging for a spot in the lineup.....shouldn't they????Good luck to you in your next project.
I quit my last cover band as well.
Many of the same reasons, particularly a penchant for playing "90s" Heavy songs too loud, which cleared the dance floor as fast as you can blink.
"Plush" may have been a cool song in the day, but it is dance floor poison now.
Money? Never saw a dime, because I doubt the band even broke even after renting a PA.
Many of the same reasons, particularly a penchant for playing "90s" Heavy songs too loud, which cleared the dance floor as fast as you can blink.
"Plush" may have been a cool song in the day, but it is dance floor poison now.
Money? Never saw a dime, because I doubt the band even broke even after renting a PA.
