I quit because I got sick of the hours complicated by lazy band members. I don't miss it, it was a paycheck to me. Most were not familiar of GB gigs just bands
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Why did you quit a band?
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in what kind of gig does one wait hours after soundcheck to start?
Almost all the gigs I do. Tomorrow sound check at 11:30am, we play from 4:50 till 6pm. That's over 5 hours of thumb twiddling. Last week sound check at 1pm, we played from 5-6pm. They're generally community events, so kids' groups, line dancers and similar clubs are all on stage before us, and we have to wait until they're done.
Almost all the gigs I do. Tomorrow sound check at 11:30am, we play from 4:50 till 6pm. That's over 5 hours of thumb twiddling. Last week sound check at 1pm, we played from 5-6pm. They're generally community events, so kids' groups, line dancers and similar clubs are all on stage before us, and we have to wait until they're done.
Gigs that require setup several hours before the performance. It happens. It isn't a reason for me to quit. It's just a thing about gigs I don't care for.
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We do number of gigs where soundcheck has to be over 30 minutes before the door opens (someone else may need the stage to prep for the event), then there's a presentation of some sort to open the event (frequently a fundraiser of sorts) or guests have to have time to mingle, then downbeat. Sometimes as much as 4 hours after soundcheck.
I am in a tribute band playing a biker rally coming up in a couple of weeks and is around 90 miles from home. I suppose the rally can be considered a community event as mentioned previously as to why soundcheck is completed hours before any music happens. We were just informed by the band leader that soundcheck will be at noon, so doing what we need to do and then chilling on the couch is out of the question. We are the headlining band and won't start playing until 6:00pm. There are two other bands that play before us, and I'm sure they will show up well after we do our soundcheck. Tom Petty nailed it: "The Waiting Is The Hardest Part".
Same with my bunch - sound, not lights. Nobody else is making any effort to learn the basic functions of our mixer, including our guitar guy... who actually owns the mixer and keeps it in his basement. I haven't enjoyed a gig since maybe last year with volume wars happening all too often and them little sound gremlins always lurking with nobody else willing to chase them.
Yes, I'll be leaving soon. I go way back with a couple of these guys and I'd rather do it gracefully...
...but they suck.
I chose the equipment in that band because even at my limited knowledge I was ahead of the rest. It became pretty apparent after awhile that I would be alone in running it. When it became apparent that there would be lots of complaining, belly-aching, and whining I was done.
And I chose to do it gracefully because the LS lives across the street from me.
In the band now I'm still that guy but the input from others is reasonable. 3 pc with cajon is much easier too. A teamwork atmosphere helps alot.
Singer drama
Singer drama
Singer drama.
and, a Guitar player that wouldn't practice on his own time only at rehearsal.
Haha, for me i have a very low tolerance for singer b.s. Just hits me wrong.
Singer drama
Singer drama.
and, a Guitar player that wouldn't practice on his own time only at rehearsal.
Haha, for me i have a very low tolerance for singer b.s. Just hits me wrong.
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Same here. In one of the bands I play for the leader is reforming without the guitar player and singers. I guess we'll be an instrumental background events band. Funny thing is when the singers joined they were all "tell us if you have any criticism we won't be offended." The first thing I said "you're pitchy, you have to get control of your voice. It makes the whole band sound bad." Again and again, "tell us if there is anything we need to improve we won't be bothered". I'm saying "you're so pitchy I pulled you out of my monitors, I can't stand it". No improvement, reformation is nigh. Guitar player is too stoned to know what he's doing when muscle memory fails him, it happens a lot.
Was in a band about 5 years ago that I quit. We got together, spent a couple months getting our setlist together, played a private party, and were just starting to prospect for gigs.
Then the guitar player just loses it one night. He had acted a bit strange once before but he was otherwise cool and great to be around.
That night he starts texting everyone and saying that we aren’t prospecting for gigs at all and he’s doing all the work.
Now, he hadn’t booked any, but said he was close and it wasn’t worth it if we weren’t going to do anything.
We had just started that week, so we called him on it. He then went nuts and started attacking us on the texts.
Well, the other guys remained calm and kept trying to reason with. Not me. Not proud of it, but I get very defensive when attacked.
We said some not nice things and next thing I know he’s wanting to meet up and fight. I was mad, but too old for jail.
Called the other guys and they said they were going to give him until next day to cool down. I said, nope, I’m out. Dudes crazy and I’m not dealing with it.
Turned out the other guys also parted ways with him the next day and said they were going to shut it down for a while. I miss the singer. Great guy, great voice and wish he would get back out there. He came to see my current band a few times and we got him up to sing some songs.
Epilogue: Didn’t hear from that guitarist after that night. Until, about 9 months later I get a text from him out of the blue. He asked me if I wanted to meet up and fight. I laughed for about 10 minutes. Haven’t heard from him since.
Then the guitar player just loses it one night. He had acted a bit strange once before but he was otherwise cool and great to be around.
That night he starts texting everyone and saying that we aren’t prospecting for gigs at all and he’s doing all the work.
Now, he hadn’t booked any, but said he was close and it wasn’t worth it if we weren’t going to do anything.
We had just started that week, so we called him on it. He then went nuts and started attacking us on the texts.
Well, the other guys remained calm and kept trying to reason with. Not me. Not proud of it, but I get very defensive when attacked.
We said some not nice things and next thing I know he’s wanting to meet up and fight. I was mad, but too old for jail.
Called the other guys and they said they were going to give him until next day to cool down. I said, nope, I’m out. Dudes crazy and I’m not dealing with it.
Turned out the other guys also parted ways with him the next day and said they were going to shut it down for a while. I miss the singer. Great guy, great voice and wish he would get back out there. He came to see my current band a few times and we got him up to sing some songs.
Epilogue: Didn’t hear from that guitarist after that night. Until, about 9 months later I get a text from him out of the blue. He asked me if I wanted to meet up and fight. I laughed for about 10 minutes. Haven’t heard from him since.
I absolutely loathe the type of people who would have a guy like me be their bass player.
I have been both drummer and bassist, singing from either spot, over the years.
Below, several instances of my departure from bands....
1. Lots of rehearsals.....no gigs
2. Singer was an *******. Bigger ******* than me.
3. Same setlist the whole time.
4. Guitarist quit....the rest of us did, too.
5. After repeated threats, the singer brought (and used) the smoke machine, anyway.
6. Drumming is too much work. I'm selling my drums and just playing bass from now on.
7. Bassist died.
8. Guitarist died.
9. Singer died.
10. Drummer got sober.
Below, several instances of my departure from bands....
1. Lots of rehearsals.....no gigs
2. Singer was an *******. Bigger ******* than me.
3. Same setlist the whole time.
4. Guitarist quit....the rest of us did, too.
5. After repeated threats, the singer brought (and used) the smoke machine, anyway.
6. Drumming is too much work. I'm selling my drums and just playing bass from now on.
7. Bassist died.
8. Guitarist died.
9. Singer died.
10. Drummer got sober.
I think it was Groucho Marx who quipped, “I want no part of a country club who would accept me as a member.”
I believe (as I recall) this was after he was denied entry somewhere, because they excluded Jews. So he made a public joke of it. Pretty classy move.
I believe (as I recall) this was after he was denied entry somewhere, because they excluded Jews. So he made a public joke of it. Pretty classy move.
