thepurpleblob Posted April 21, 2012 Posted April 21, 2012 Well, after five years the main band I play in seems to have fallen apart. The guitarist left at the end of last year and we've never really recovered. It's a shame because we have some really great players (mostly ex-pro types fallen on harder times) but there just doesn't seem to be the will to get up and carry on. I was easily the least experienced (good for me). The other band I play in is full of enthusiasm but we seem to sound better separately than together. I don't know that I've got any right to say this, having been playing little more than ten years myself (and now pushing 50), but they just don't seem to get that it's competitive out there in the covers scene and you have to be really spot-on these days. Gigs are getting really hard to find. Pubs and clubs are very cautious now and are reluctant to give unknown bands a try. Even in the few years I have been gigging I've watched this get pretty bad. Having said all that, I hate letting people down... I don't want to make a career out of it. I just want to play a gig once a month or so. How hard can it be? Quote
gjones Posted April 21, 2012 Posted April 21, 2012 You need to find a band with some 'hungry' band members. Either hungry for money or people who love to play. Don't get bogged down by musicians who like to 'dabble' and endlessly [size=4][font=arial, sans-serif]procrastinate. I play in one band where the members play primarily for money another for the love of playing and the 3rd is full of lawyers, doctors and financial advisers and which is a band in nothing but name, as nobody has a window in their busy schedules to actually get in a room together and play. Which is very frustrating (there's also been 19 members since it was formed 5 years ago in which time we've done about 10 gigs, which tells it's own story).[/font][/size] Quote
JTUK Posted April 21, 2012 Posted April 21, 2012 (edited) [quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1334995501' post='1624425'] Well, after five years the main band I play in seems to have fallen apart. The guitarist left at the end of last year and we've never really recovered. It's a shame because we have some really great players (mostly ex-pro types fallen on harder times) but there just doesn't seem to be the will to get up and carry on. I was easily the least experienced (good for me). The other band I play in is full of enthusiasm but we seem to sound better separately than together. I don't know that I've got any right to say this, having been playing little more than ten years myself (and now pushing 50), but they just don't seem to get that it's competitive out there in the covers scene and you have to be really spot-on these days. Gigs are getting really hard to find. Pubs and clubs are very cautious now and are reluctant to give unknown bands a try. Even in the few years I have been gigging I've watched this get pretty bad. Having said all that, I hate letting people down... I don't want to make a career out of it. I just want to play a gig once a month or so. How hard can it be? [/quote] Understand this... it is tough for venues and they need to be persuaded to take a chance on new bands,..but then that is also an opportunity as that can in effect, be the weeding out process. There is no substitute for hard yards in some games though, so making yourself known and putting in the calls is what brings about the gigs. Make sure they have nothing to knock you back on. I would stick with the old stagers if they can play as that is one thing you can't really graft onto your band..the ability to put up... Maybe you need to establish roles for everyone and if some are happy to take a back seat, make sure they don't p*** you about too much whilst you do most of it,. Get regular updated acceptance of what you are all willing to do... but if some people's attitude is dragging things down, then you have to consider cutting them loose.. Explain all things..the work involved in getting gigs and make sure they know they have to contribute something else other than a few licks.. That isn't really a feasible band for the long term otherwise. Edited April 21, 2012 by JTUK Quote
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