Background: I spent 7 years trying to get my previous band to go somewhere (anywhere would have been nice) but, much like jmattbassplaya describes in his thread, they never listened. When that band broke up, I made a vow that I would just be the bass player and let someone else handle the managerial side of things.
Well, I am in a blues band that is very productive, gets frequent gigs and is slowly building up a name in the blues/cover circuit. But band drama is rearing its ugly head: one of the guitarists seems to be deaf and always plays at earache volume. When told that he plays too loudly, he replies that the rest plays too softly
Yesterday, by the end of rehearsal, the volume discussion came up again and the other guitarist clearly had enough. Told him this discussion has been going on for 2 months, every rehearsal. Much to everyone's surprise, the loud guitarist then said: "Why don't you guys tell me? I don't mind turning down." A blatant negation of his own previous actions. Worst part is, it sounded like he really believed it.
I broke my vow there and then, by suggesting that from now on we sound-check before rehearsal (...) to get the volumes adjusted. I also have a good mind to call both guitarists separately for a talk, because I know where this is headed. At least one of them will want to quit (the not-loud guitarist told me as much) and I am pretty sure the singer will at one point suggest we fire the loud guitarist.
Thing is, I really do not want to go down the band management road again. Been there, done that and did not enjoy it. Plus, at 31, I am the youngest member of the band. They should be adult enough to handle these things.
So my Q is: should I step up and talk with them, or sit band and see if the singer will handle it? He is kind of the default band leader even if everyone (himself included) seems to think this is a democracy. I'm afraid that doing nothing will result in us finding a new guitarist (or two) or the premature abortion of the band. On the other hand I am curious to see how events will unfold if I sit back and do nothing.
Well, I am in a blues band that is very productive, gets frequent gigs and is slowly building up a name in the blues/cover circuit. But band drama is rearing its ugly head: one of the guitarists seems to be deaf and always plays at earache volume. When told that he plays too loudly, he replies that the rest plays too softly
Yesterday, by the end of rehearsal, the volume discussion came up again and the other guitarist clearly had enough. Told him this discussion has been going on for 2 months, every rehearsal. Much to everyone's surprise, the loud guitarist then said: "Why don't you guys tell me? I don't mind turning down." A blatant negation of his own previous actions. Worst part is, it sounded like he really believed it.
I broke my vow there and then, by suggesting that from now on we sound-check before rehearsal (...) to get the volumes adjusted. I also have a good mind to call both guitarists separately for a talk, because I know where this is headed. At least one of them will want to quit (the not-loud guitarist told me as much) and I am pretty sure the singer will at one point suggest we fire the loud guitarist.
Thing is, I really do not want to go down the band management road again. Been there, done that and did not enjoy it. Plus, at 31, I am the youngest member of the band. They should be adult enough to handle these things.
So my Q is: should I step up and talk with them, or sit band and see if the singer will handle it? He is kind of the default band leader even if everyone (himself included) seems to think this is a democracy. I'm afraid that doing nothing will result in us finding a new guitarist (or two) or the premature abortion of the band. On the other hand I am curious to see how events will unfold if I sit back and do nothing.
