who leads your band?

[Smurf]

"If, however, your band is pro, or evem semi-pro, then a committed leader is mandatory. A band without a leader is like a ship with no captain. It's doomed to founder from the gitgo."

This pretty much sum's it up for me. I've done it both ways, and both have merit, but I like the "Leader" and "Sideman" at this point in the game. I LIKE filling in with 3 or 4 bands on a rotation basis. Getting the set list, walking in and not having to do the set up for everyone, playing my best for each song, getting paid and leaving without having to tear everyone down. Of course I'll stay if they need help, but this is more satisfying for me right now.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

It's all about having a group role. Everyone shares opinions and comes up with what is best.

Word.

One of the reasons I started my own band was to try to establish a true democracy where everyone had an equal say. We are doing covers, so everyone gets to pitch in ideas for songs, and anyone can veto a song if they really are not comfortable with it. I am too old to deal with bs attitudes and prima donnas. I woul rather have a band mate with less talent and a better attitude any day.

 

[joeyang761020]

Great thread, man.

In my band, I am kind of the leader of the group, I am the songwriter(mostly), and I decide the musical direction of the band. In fact, I don't write the song on bass, but on guitar, because I am a lot better on guitar than bass. (I am a beginner on bass). You might be wondering why I am the bassist in the band, is because the guitar is amazing solo player, but has no idea of writing anything, so I have give the lead guitar position to him, and play bass. Lately, our staff actually really good, but I don't know about the future, but I have to teach him everything I wrote, and I getting tired of that. And, I am looking a more balancing positions in the band. Since the guitarist in the band can't write songs, I don't really what to do with that. Have anybody has this kind of expirences before????

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[Loren]

in every band i have ever been in, there was at least one, but sometimes even two people that never attempted to write or had no intrest in writing. they just loved playing.

Great thread, man.

In my band, I am kind of the leader of the group, I am the songwriter(mostly), and I decide the musical direction of the band. In fact, I don't write the song on bass, but on guitar, because I am a lot better on guitar than bass. (I am a beginner on bass). You might be wondering why I am the bassist in the band, is because the guitar is amazing solo player, but has no idea of writing anything, so I have give the lead guitar position to him, and play bass. Lately, our staff actually really good, but I don't know about the future, but I have to teach him everything I wrote, and I getting tired of that. And, I am looking a more balancing positions in the band. Since the guitarist in the band can't write songs, I don't really what to do with that. Have anybody has this kind of expirences before????

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[Loren]

Word.

One of the reasons I started my own band was to try to establish a true democracy where everyone had an equal say. We are doing covers, so everyone gets to pitch in ideas for songs, and anyone can veto a song if they really are not comfortable with it. I am too old to deal with bs attitudes and prima donnas. I woul rather have a band mate with less talent and a better attitude any day.

you dont have to act like a primadona just because you actively lead your band. i am without a doubt the leader in my band because im the one that gets **** done. maybe you're lucky and your bandmates are all of like mind, but in my band i have to lead it if there is even a chance of somebody scheduling the next rehersal! in return for me having to do everything or ride everyone elses ass to get something done, i am the one that says yes or no, so i always vote last, and my vote is the only one that counts in the end. but i will always find out what my bandmates are wanting to do before calling a vote. i do listen to their wants and they are happy with how i manage things. im not a primadona simply because i acknowledge that i am the one that keeps this band active and handles things accordingly.

 

[Figjam]

I guess you could call me the leader of my band. I currently have the more skill at my insturment although the others are catching up quite rapidly. I write most of the instrumentals of our songs. Ie; i write all the bass, and most of the guitar. THe guitarist makes changes to what i wrote to the guitar part to suit his style more and he also writes most of the lyrics. The drummer helps come up with ideas and themes for songs, and he writes the drum part to our songs. We dont have a singer yet so we'll see what happens when we get one.

 

[Morkolo]

The band I'm currently in started out as sort of a dream band. When we started out it was said that everyone gets equal input and equal rights. Unfortunately it didn't end up that way. With a guitarist that's afraid of playing shows, and comes up with every single kind of moronic answer to avoid it. And a drummer who is best friends with the guitarist, so he ends up taking his side. The guitarist simply won't play anything that anyone else wrote, doesn't practise the songs, complains about not having good gear ALL of the time, pretends to forget songs so we won't play them, won't give straight answers like "yes" or "no" and simply thinks he's that good that he doesn't need to get any better. I thought the guy was really cool and all at first but his obvious immaturity and lack of drive came through during two of our attempts to play a show in which I took time off of work, the drummer quit basketball and put studying off more.. and then to have the guitarist simply not give us a straight answer two days before both of the shows. Always complains about not having enough money for gear, yet makes no attempt at getting any. Plus much much more. The only reason I'm in this band is because it's the only one I can play in until someone notice's me, because there's too many hot shots going around saying they can play this and that. It makes someone's word seem weak, making a performance by this band all that more important to me .

 

[Pirate]

In my band, I set up the practices and most of the gigs. The drummer also does a lot with gigs and stuff. He got the band started, too. Our guitar player writes most of our stuff, so in a way he leads the band. We also have a very guitar-driven sound.