Quitting a band?

[zookie]

Originally posted by FlogRock It sucks so hard to spend a year rehearsing, only to find out at your first gig that they don't have what it takes on stage...

 

 

I agree completely.

 

I've experienced both ends of this spectrum. I auditioned for a band one time. The band leader lost my phone number and finally contacted me after a year. His band had broken up, but he was playing in a duo and asked me to come on board as a trio. We met, played some of the songs for a couple of hours, he wrote out chords in a notebook and left a tape for me. The next weekend, we were playing live. The three of us were comfortable playing live and it showed.

 

In another band when I was much younger, we practiced and practiced forever and finally got a spot playing live. Setting up at the place, the singer looked out at the growing crowd and then announced he just couldn't go out there. He hadn't mentioned the stage-fright thing before.

[Guitar Centaur]

Originally posted by Jimi Ray Halen As far as "B) willing to settle for something WAY less polished than I would goes - check out www.drivingblindlive.com and see what we put together in 3 months. We recorded the demo after about 6 months but we were playing out. We rehearsed 3 times a week. It was tough but listen to the results. Not bad for p/t cover band. I'm trying to get the guys back together or join an already established band. I have an audition in two weeks.

Point taken, and y'all sounded good.
Plus you're local. I'm from the Bawlmer area as well.

Are you trying out for the guitar slot in Relic?


Keep me posted when you get something going, and I'll try to make it out to see you. I like to support local folks.

[Jimi Ray Halen]

Originally posted by Crustycabs Point taken, and y'all sounded good. Plus you're local. I'm from the Bawlmer area as well. Are you trying out for the guitar slot in Relic? Keep me posted when you get something going, and I'll try to make it out to see you. I like to support local folks.

Thanks and yes. Why.....are you trying out for Relic too?
I need a good band. I miss it. That's why I may try to get the guys back together if I don't get the Relic gig.

Are you in a local band?

[Guitar Centaur]

Originally posted by Jimi Ray Halen Thanks and yes. Why.....are you trying out for Relic too? I need a good band. I miss it. That's why I may try to get the guys back together if I don't get the Relic gig. Are you in a local band?

No, I have a band. I tried out for Relic last year when the original guitarist quit. I was having a major equipment meltdown that night, and even though I played well, didn't get the gig.

Just as well....The drummer's not that good, and the singer seems like a bit of a prima donna. Besides, I'd rather do butt shakin' music than modern rock. That stuff just doesn't move me like a tight rhythm section layin' down a killer groove!

The bunch I'm with now is in development stages. There's me (singing and playing occasional guitar), two other guitarists who are incredible (one being Phil Jacoby of Philtone Guitar Co.), and an excellent keyboard player. We're auditioning a bass player this week, and were pretty sure he has connections with drummers who he feels comfortable playing with. BIG plus!

We're gonna be the next big party band in the area, and try to take a big hunk of Mary Lou's pie! Playin' all the dock bars and the A rooms. I think there's enough talent in this bunch to have Starleigh BEGGING us to sign with them.

We plan on putting our noses to the grindstone all winter, with hopes of busting out in a big way next spring/early summer. We might wangle a few small gigs in the Naptown area with a stripped down version of the group just to get a feel for what'll work, and what won't.

[Jimi Ray Halen]

Originally posted by Crustycabs No, I have a band. I tried out for Relic last year when the original guitarist quit. I was having a major equipment meltdown that night, and even though I played well, didn't get the gig. Just as well....The drummer's not that good, and the singer seems like a bit of a prima donna. Besides, I'd rather do butt shakin' music than modern rock. That stuff just doesn't move me like a tight rhythm section layin' down a killer groove! The bunch I'm with now is in development stages. There's me (singing and playing occasional guitar), two other guitarists who are incredible (one being Phil Jacoby of Philtone Guitar Co.), and an excellent keyboard player. We're auditioning a bass player this week, and were pretty sure he has connections with drummers who he feels comfortable playing with. BIG plus! We're gonna be the next big party band in the area, and try to take a big hunk of Mary Lou's pie! Playin' all the dock bars and the A rooms. I think there's enough talent in this bunch to have Starleigh BEGGING us to sign with them. We plan on putting our noses to the grindstone all winter, with hopes of busting out in a big way next spring/early summer. We might wangle a few small gigs in the Naptown area with a stripped down version of the group just to get a feel for what'll work, and what won't.

 

 

I hear ya! Let me know when you guys are ready. Me and the wife always go out and check out bands.

Thanks for the heads up. They must be having problems because now the guitarist and bassist are leaving. Who knows? I'll give it a shot.

Have you ever seen Never Never?

[Guitar Centaur]

Originally posted by Jimi Ray Halen I hear ya! Let me know when you guys are ready. Me and the wife always go out and check out bands. Thanks for the heads up. They must be having problems because now the guitarist and bassist are leaving. Who knows? I'll give it a shot. Have you ever seen Never Never?

 

 

I've heard of Never Never, but haven't seen them. They're a busy band.

 

Keep me posted either here or in PM how your audition goes.

[Jimi Ray Halen]

Originally posted by Crustycabs I've heard of Never Never, but haven't seen them. They're a busy band. Keep me posted either here or in PM how your audition goes.

 

 

Definitely.

 

If you want to see the best guitarist in the area come out to the House of Rock this Friday. He's a friend of mine and he's a monster. I'll be there.

[guitarmook]

If you still haven't responded to the bass player, you should, but carefully - something kinda like this...

"I'm not ever gonna tell anybody they should keep playing or quit playing - that's far too personal a decision - you have chops and if you wanna play, you should play.

The band, however, needs some work, and it needs to be directed by a leader. The biggest issue is that I don't wanna be that guy right now. It's not an insurmountable task, but all you guys need to work a little harder, and be a little more focused to be able to really get somewhere"

Then talk about how it felt like the drummer wasn't really learning the songs... that the bass player and the drummer weren't REALLY playing together... that the 'learn 5 (3) songs and be ready to play 'em' thing wasn't happening, and somebody needs to step-up and be ready to slap people around who aren't willing to do the work.

You should also tell him the obvious - it may be that the drummer, and/or the guitar player really don't wanna go any farther - they don't want to work that hard, or don't believe they need to. In which case, when the bass player learns that, he has his own decision to make - would he rather leave his friends to find a band that works, or hang with his friends, and never leave the garage...

[Jimi Ray Halen]

Yeah, that's kinda what I told him. At least the first part. I asked him how long he and the drummer and second guitarist have been together and how many times they have played out. Which turns out to be almost a year and twice. Let him think about that awhile.

 

Him being friends with them complicates matters. I don't like playing with old friends because if you have to part ways you lose a friend and a bandmate - potentially. That's happened to me.

 

But bass players are always in demand. I see more ads for them than anything else. He has to make the decision as to whether to move on or not.

 

I told him to keep playing. Who am I to tell somebody to quit playing? Nobody, that's who.