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When is it time to quit your band?

T

The_Low_Dude

Oct 16, 2009
66
0
#1
When do you think you should realize it's time to quit your band?

I play in a band with good musicians and good ideas, but I'm having where gonna get anywhere. At first I thought I was just being pessimistic, until I had a talk with our singer, who turned out to have doubts as well.

I'm starting to get a little frustrated because we're not getting anywhere. And the way we're working now, I think we're losing our style and sound, and are evolving into something too heavy. I also think we're focusing on the wrong things and lack a plan or goal, so I don't see us getting some gigs in the near future (at the moment, our calendar is empty).

The band is kind of our guitarist's band, since he writes most of the material and he is the only original member (and maybe our singer, depends on how you look at it). But he is really stubborn. Once he has an idea, it's really difficult to change his mind, so it's difficult to get any input.

I don't consider most of these issues a big problem, since I think most of them can be resolved with a talk or a small change in attitude. My biggest problem is that I'm pretty sure that things won't change.

Next rehearsal I'm just gonna say what I think, and tell them that I don't want to be in this band as it is now. If things haven't changed in a few months, I'll leave. But I don't really know if I have the patience.
 
#3
bassplayerbob said:
Its time to leave when you aren't having fun and enjoying playing. If you dread going to rehearsal all the time, then it might be time.
Click to expand...

I was going to say EXACTLY these 2 things before I scrolled down and say this post.

YES, when you no longer are having fun, and when you start to dread band reherasal. Word up.

As long as you are having fun, who cares if you never make a dime, or achieve a lick of success. FUN FUN FUN
 
#5
The_Low_Dude said:
If things haven't changed in a few months, I'll leave. But I don't really know if I have the patience.
Click to expand...

First, if you're not gigging, you don't have a band. You have a boys night out with guitars instead of poker chips.

Second, if you're already unhappy but STILL willing to invest "a few months" in wasted time...that's not exactly the fast track to anywhere.

So, in the interest of tough love, the time to quit is now.
IME, there are people you want to work with and there are people you don't want to work with. There is no bigger waste of time in the music biz that waiting around for the latter to become the former. It will not happen and the only one that will suffer is you.

IMHO
Good luck
 
#10
I agree that you should quit when rehearsals aren't fun anymore. But when we start to play, I get cool ideas, ideas that we're comfortable with. And when we work on a song, I have a lot of creative input and I can take songs to a higher level. So at the end of an evening I still feel productive.

I guess that's one of the reasons why I still want to give it a chance.
 
#14
Call a band meeting and voice your concerns.

Since you've already stated that your singer is kinda in the same boat you are, bringing this all to light may not be a bad idea.

IMO the last thing you want to do is quit before you get to voice your opinion.
 
#15
If you took the time to write that post, it's time to leave.
Go back and read it for yourself: You're not having any fun.

Seriously, don't give it a few more months. Have your talk with them, and then give it a couple more rehearsals. If you don't see any changes in two or three rehearsals, you won't see them ever.

The fact that you're making contributions that are working only says to me that you would be an asset in any band situation and that this isn't the right one for you. Make those contributions in a better environment.

Best of luck-
E
 
#16
The_Low_Dude said:
The band is kind of our guitarist's band, since he writes most of the material and he is the only original member (and maybe our singer, depends on how you look at it). But he is really stubborn. Once he has an idea, it's really difficult to change his mind, so it's difficult to get any input.

I don't consider most of these issues a big problem, since I think most of them can be resolved with a talk or a small change in attitude. My biggest problem is that I'm pretty sure that things won't change.
Click to expand...


A band should be a collective effort unless you are a hired gun to just play the part. That indeed IS the problem.

Original members only matter if you are trying to resurrect a famous band, starting out though it's equal tenure regardless of who had the idea first.
 
#18
Guitarists are a dime a dozen probably less today!!! If you can find a piano player looking for a bassman, not a "keyboardists" a REAL piano player. You'll most likely learn more music instead of sitting in a R&R pocket forced to hold everything down. Might be time to stretch out for a time and experience something new. Not talking about free lance playing but possibly a new approach of techniques with new changes in structures. If you have your own ideas maybe look for other players who share in your concepts. Lifes to short to be dissatisfied and if that feeling is brought to a session or on stage it can't be real. Get movin on a new experience and keep practicing if you really want it make it happen. Doc
 
#19
When the thing you're in the band for is no longer there.

If you joined the band for fun, quit when it is no longer fun (and it doesn't look likely to get more fun in the foreseeable future).

If you joined the band to make money, quit when the band is not making money (and doesn't seem likely to make money in the foreseeable future).

Etc.
 

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