• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Your Background

PauFerro

PauFerro

Jun 8, 2008
3,361
4,204
United States
#1
In an effort to get to know everyone better, I thought it might be of value to ask a couple questions about your background as it relates to the issues that often come up in the band management thread. I find the profiles are a bit scanty. If you are willing, feel free to answer as many of these questions as you feel comfortable with.

1. Are you (or have you ever been) a band leader?
2. If so, for how many gigs, approximately did you lead your group (s)?
3. For how many years did you lead your group(s)
4. If you were a band leader, did you consider your band a business venture, a hobby, or a combination of both?
5. What do you do in your full-time work?
6. Why were you willing to assume the role of band leader given its many challenges?

I will start in a subsequent post.
 
#2
1. Are you (or have you ever been) a band leader?

Yes. Leading bands is what I do with most of my spare time. I am deeply invested in it.

2. If so, for how many gigs, approximately did you lead your group (s)?

In the last five years, about 120 gigs.

3. For how many years did you lead your group(s)

I have been leading them for about 15 years, but the last five years have been very intensive, having started 6 different bands and actively leading and managing four of them now. I also represent an existing band that has 17 musicians in it, although I am not their band leader -- I do sales and marketing for them.

4. If you were a band leader, did you consider your band a business venture, a hobby, or a combination of both?

I consider it a business venture, but recognize that at gross sales of significantly less than $20,000 per year, it is not a full-blown business. But it has all the operational and marketing details of a business.

5. What do you do in your full-time work?

I am a business professor in higher education of 22 years, and also president of a non-profit.

6. Why were you willing to assume the role of band leader given its many challenges?

I generally like the business aspect of it, although I find sales burdensome. I also like growing as a musician and a leader through the experiences. I have always been a doer, and found the best way to bring my ideas to life is to create the situation from scratch.
 
#3
Paul, I suspect that most TBers aren't band leaders themselves, but merely watch this forum for the opportunity to complain about their own BL. :)

Or their band is leaderless, and they are looking for clues on how to improve themselves.

Personally, I don't have the time, energy or inclination to search for gigs, and I'm happy to leave that task to the founder/band leader. But since I am the lead singer, I get my satisfaction by having some say in what songs we play.

I apologize, as I realize I'm not answering your questions as posed, though if it's of any consequence, I am semi-retired, working part-time, serving on the board at church, singing in the choir, and (for 20 years) being a Boy Scout leader. Not much time left to be a band leader.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bunk McNulty, PaulJSmith, hrodbert696 and 1 other person
#7
PauFerro said:
1. Are you (or have you ever been) a band leader?
Click to expand...

I seem to have informally fallen into the role in my current cover band.

2. If so, for how many gigs, approximately did you lead your group (s)?
Click to expand...

We haven't gigged yet... two are booked so far. This is a new project that just got together last fall.

3. For how many years did you lead your group(s)
Click to expand...

Less than one, so far!

4. If you were a band leader, did you consider your band a business venture, a hobby, or a combination of both?
Click to expand...

A combination. I don't anticipate it ever paying the bills. But I do want it to run professionally, market itself properly, and get paid for our gigs.

5. What do you do in your full-time work?
Click to expand...

I'm a history professor.

6. Why were you willing to assume the role of band leader given its many challenges?
Click to expand...

As I said, I kind of defaulted into it. I got fired from a previous gigging band and wanted to get back out there. After being in a few groups and observing others I felt I had a pretty good handle on what was needed for a successful group. So I assembled some players and started hunting for gigs. The alternative would have been to cast myself on the tossing waves of Craigslist hoping to find a group that wasn't flakes.

I'm not band dictator and no one ever formally said I was BL but, just by virtue of the initiative and marketing, I'm effectively in the leadership role. I do try to lead by consensus without letting it become incoherent - for instance, I refused to impose a name of my choice the others didn't want to play under or to insist on playing songs they didn't like. But the bulk of the set list are ideas of mine.

Renaissance said:
Maybe you could start your own club.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea - the BL club. This forum is "band management" in a broad sense - managing one's own role in a band, so to speak, like dealing with bandmates (including BLs!), marketing, logistics, all that stuff. A thread for being an actual BL might be useful.

I would point out, though, not to fall for the genetic fallacy here. This could be taken as having an undertone that anyone who isn't a seasoned BL has no right to offer opinions on band management issues. Experience certainly counts, but a good idea is a good idea no matter who says it. They might have learned it from personal experience or they might have learned it by reading about someone else's experience, but an idea stands or falls on its own merit, not those of the person who happens to be expressing it at the moment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DiabolusInMusic, fretter, Renaissance and 1 other person
#8
PauFerro said:
In an effort to get to know everyone better, I thought it might be of value to ask a couple questions about your background as it relates to the issues that often come up in the band management thread. I find the profiles are a bit scanty. If you are willing, feel free to answer as many of these questions as you feel comfortable with.

1. Are you (or have you ever been) a band leader?
2. If so, for how many gigs, approximately did you lead your group (s)?
3. For how many years did you lead your group(s)
4. If you were a band leader, did you consider your band a business venture, a hobby, or a combination of both?
5. What do you do in your full-time work?
6. Why were you willing to assume the role of band leader given its many challenges?

I will start in a subsequent post.
Click to expand...

Let me start off by saying that I'm in and have only been in originals bands my entire gigging career, so my answers will reflect that.

1. Yes
2. I was in 4 bands at one time, and was leading one. That band had approximately 20 gigs in the course of the two years or so that I was leading. By leading I'm referring to booking, promoting and negotiating. Musical direction was handled by someone else.
3. Two years (out of roughly 10 years of being in the band)
4. I considered it a band. We made very little money, as it was an originals group in a competitive area dominated by P2P shows. We all had day jobs, yet we took it a bit more seriously than a hobby. I suppose I would answer by saying it was a combination, where the goal was to open for big shows while not having to pay out of pocket.
5. I am an administrator for an aerospace firm. I specialize in construction management.
6. Because I wanted to play bigger and better shows. We were essentially a democracy, and someone needed to step up in order to drive the band forward. I assumed that role, and held that roll until our eventual demise.

I would also like to mention that I believe we all may have different interpretations about what exactly constitutes a "band". I view a band as a steady group of people that play together under a name and a common goal. I wouldn't consider a situation where there's a BL and a totally revolving cast of musicians to be a band. A collective? Sure. An association? Perhaps. A society? Sure. To me though, a "band" consists of the same group of musicians on a regular basis.

I appreciate and understand the intent behind this thread, and I just hope that it doesn't foster any feeling of superiority or inferiority among TBer's looking to offer thoughts and insight regarding band management issues. We've got a good knowledge base here, and while things may get contentious, I believe we all have something to offer to these threads.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DiabolusInMusic and Nev375
#10
Nev375 said:
I can't help but wonder what the motivation is to compare business credentials with the talkbass community.
Click to expand...

Agreed. It does kind of raise my spidey senses, especially since the creation of a nearly identical thread with an even narrower focus.

Also, I notice that PauFerro mentions peoples profiles being light on details. I noticed that his is a bit light on details as well. Not even a city is mentioned, nor is there any links to any bands or ensembles. What gives?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: DiabolusInMusic, MDBass, jmattbassplaya and 3 others
#11
PauFerro said:
In an effort to get to know everyone better, I thought it might be of value to ask a couple questions about your background as it relates to the issues that often come up in the band management thread. I find the profiles are a bit scanty. If you are willing, feel free to answer as many of these questions as you feel comfortable with.

1. Are you (or have you ever been) a band leader?
2. If so, for how many gigs, approximately did you lead your group (s)?
3. For how many years did you lead your group(s)
4. If you were a band leader, did you consider your band a business venture, a hobby, or a combination of both?
5. What do you do in your full-time work?
6. Why were you willing to assume the role of band leader given its many challenges?

I will start in a subsequent post.
Click to expand...

1. Nope, but I was sooooort of the co-leader of an originals band for nearly seven years.
2-4. Not really applicable.
5. I talk to people about anything related to cancer. If curious for more details, feel free to PM me.
6. Somewhat, but the type of band I would be interested in leading would be very small, probably a trio, and profit would not be one of its goals.
 
#13
1. Are you (or have you ever been) a band leader?

I'm a BL for a lot of jazz gigs, but not much else.

2. If so, for how many gigs, approximately did you lead your group (s)?

A lot. Mostly a few recurring gigs, a couple weddings, other private events, etc

3. For how many years did you lead your group(s)

5+ still going

4. If you were a band leader, did you consider your band a business venture, a hobby, or a combination of both?

Business i enjoy?

5. What do you do in your full-time work?

Music

6. Why were you willing to assume the role of band leader given its many challenges?

No one else was doing it fory for jazz. Diversification involves not 100% relying on other people.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PauFerro
#14
Nev375 said:
I can't help but wonder what the motivation is to compare business credentials with the talkbass community.
Click to expand...
C**k measuring.
Bring a yardstick :)

Addendum:
Ignore list candidates if your "background" doesn't meet minimum criteria to voice a "valid opinion" (see post #4 for confirmation) after all he DOES teach business...

as the saying goes: Those Who ____ , Teach.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Leonerd, Max Blasto, DiabolusInMusic and 5 others
#19
1. Are you (or have you ever been) a band leader?

Yes

2. If so, for how many gigs, approximately did you lead your group (s)?

many years, still doing it. 100's of gigs

4. If you were a band leader, did you consider your band a business venture, a hobby, or a combination of both?

Both. It's a good time and we make money!

5. What do you do in your full-time work?

Finance.

6. Why were you willing to assume the role of band leader given its many challenges?

Because I wanted to have a good time and get paid for it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PauFerro

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back