Reasons For Not Joining A Band

[mrtcat]

If they practice once a week and gig once a month. For me there has to be about 4 gigs to every one rehearsal at the most.

[tauzero]

They were in Milwaukee.

[Musicman20]

If the guitarist suddenly decides to take full control, despite the fact YOU started the band, and YOU had the initial guitar ideas and didn't want to play bass this time. I'm still in said band but it won't last long....music is just dull so far.

[gjones]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1468889557' post='3094129']
Finding out there were multiple personal changes happening. In other words you really wouldn't be joining the band you thought you were.

Blue
[/quote]

Yes this happened to me. The talented ones left just as I arrived. They went on to form their own band and joined the UK tour of a No 1 selling act as support.
Talk about bad timing.

[ras52]

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1468929262' post='3094365']
musical differences.
[/quote]

I was musical, they were different

[Stylon Pilson]

A lot of the answers here suggest that they're actually answering the question "reasons why you left a band".

For me, I once auditioned for a band who were pretty good, but I declined to join. The reason I gave was that the music they were playing was a bit bleak, and I needed something with a little bit more cheer in it. Other factors in my decision were:

* the songwriter was very much one of these "instinctive" musicians, who can't even tell you what chord they're playing. That lack of vocabulary can be limiting, and his right-hand man (lead guitarist) had to "prop him up" a lot.
* they were auditioning drummers at the same time, so I didn't really have all the necessary information to make a decision.
* there was something a little bit "off" about them. I had this inexplicable gut feeling that they weren't entirely stable.

S.P.

[MacDaddy]

They were not any good for metal.

[skankdelvar]

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1468919998' post='3094255']
The band starts off being the Jam then rapidly turns into the Style Council.
[/quote]

Funny you should mention the Jam. I was approached by this guy to join his Jam tribute. 'The bass player's leaving. Come down and see us at (x)'.

So I did. After the gig this guy introduced me to the band. After some idle chat I asked the bass player why he was leaving.

'Who says I'm leaving the band? What the f**k's going on here?' he said in a sort of choked voice.

It was clear that a nasty internecine row was about to ensue so I made my excuses and left.

[bassjim]

See advert....apply to advert....band advertising replies and gives a speech about how very very good they are....last bass player has left due to "illness"....learn some songs but really learn em good to impress....turn up at audition....in reality band is sh*t. Nice people but just people that happen to own instruments. Really ought to try something different like....golf.

[KevB]

I hate saying a flat 'no' to people so when I once auditioned for a band that seemed hopelessly disorganised and had actually chosen to audition both bass and drums at the same time, the room they planned to audition us in wasn't available and we ended up in someone's front room. Then one of the two vocalists was on holiday so half the stuff I'd learned wasn't needed. I was so worried they would offer me the job I pulled over halfway home to text them that I didn't think it was for me if they were considering me.

[blue]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1468922480' post='3094275']


In the past I've answered "bass player wanted" ads where I've been told that I would be expected to socialise regularly with the rest of them. The last band I joined actually started talking about all getting together with our wives/girlfriends at each others houses for meals on a regular basis before we'd played a note.
[/quote]

Depends on where your at in life, most folks my age (63) are not looking for friends or new people to socialise with.

My band, we only see each other at gigs. I think it's why the band had stayed together for the past 11 years.No drama , no personality issues,

Blue

Edited July 19, 2016 by blue

[blue]

[quote name='bassjim' timestamp='1468942188' post='3094544']
See advert....apply to advert....band advertising replies and gives a speech about how very very good they are....last bass player has left due to "illness"....learn some songs but really learn em good to impress....turn up at audition....in reality band is sh*t. Nice people but just people that happen to own instruments. Really ought to try something different like....golf.
[/quote]

That would be most of the start up opportunities . People that have a few instruments that think it would be cool to he in a band. But they have no clue that it takes work.

Blue

[PaulWarning]

lack of social skills, ( that is you're an awkward twat) don't enjoy playing gigs, can't find a band that plays the stuff you enjoy,lack of commitment, a none understanding partner/wife, the list is quite long really, but if you really enjoy the buzz of playing to an audience, you'll join a band

[blue]

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' timestamp='1468935716' post='3094464']
A lot of the answers here suggest that they're actually answering the question "reasons why you left a band".

For me, I once auditioned for a band who were pretty good, but I declined to join. The reason I gave was that the music they were playing was a bit bleak, and I needed something with a little bit more cheer in it. Other factors in my decision were:

* the songwriter was very much one of these "instinctive" musicians, who can't even tell you what chord they're playing. That lack of vocabulary can be limiting, and his right-hand man (lead guitarist) had to "prop him up" a lot.
* they were auditioning drummers at the same time, so I didn't really have all the necessary information to make a decision.
* there was something a little bit "off" about them. I had this inexplicable gut feeling that they weren't entirely stable.

S.P.
[/quote]

I think this happens a lot and the reason a lot of seasoned bass players decline offers,

Blue

[blue]

Here are anther two reasons;

You find out the band doesn't gig as much as they said they did,

Or

The band gigs a lot more than they said they did.

Blue

Edited July 20, 2016 by blue

[JTUK]

Reasons for not joining a band...?
Don't rate the drummer...
3 piece.
Don't rate their version of the set.
Take any gig because they need the money too much.

All pretty much deal breakers..IMO

[bassbiscuits]

[quote name='mrtcat' timestamp='1468931757' post='3094405']
If they practice once a week and gig once a month. For me there has to be about 4 gigs to every one rehearsal at the most.
[/quote]

This ^
I'm not a fan of rehearsing ever as a rule, and certainly not for covers.

[JapanAxe]

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1468952982' post='3094642']
Reasons for not joining a band...?
Don't rate the drummer...
3 piece.
Don't rate their version of the set.
Take any gig because they need the money too much.

All pretty much deal breakers..IMO
[/quote]

3-piece?

I've had some great times in 3-piece bands, on both bass and guitar (but not at the same time).

[JTUK]

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1468953645' post='3094655']
3-piece?

I've had some great times in 3-piece bands, on both bass and guitar (but not at the same time).
[/quote]

Yes, it would have to be a pretty special 3 piece, but chances are it wouldn't make it past the 'dep' gig.

Of course, every rule has its exceptions

[TimR]

Yes. There's always a musical compromise in a three piece. When the frontman is concentrating on singing vocals he's not concentrating on playing his guitar and vice versa. Even Sting and Geddy Lee acknowledge that playing live has to have some compromise.

[bigjohn]

Nah, nothing wrong with 3 pieces. If there is, just make it a 4.

[Skybone]

Not having enough time to dedicate to learning the songs, lack of "spark" with the other band members, realising that I hate playing covers (the odd one's OK for a bit of "fun", but not a whole set).

Was offered the gig, but after 2 rehearsals, I realised that being in a covers band was not the right thing for me.

[pete.young]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1468885987' post='3094117']
I'll start, after more thought you realized the rehearsals and gigs are too far from where you live.

Blue
[/quote]
If it was the right band, that wouldn't be an issue, only an excuse for some other reason more fundamental and awkward.

Although I realise that we think 100 miles is a long way, whereas you think 100 years is a long time :-)

[sarah thomas]

Realising I didn't want to be in a function band, particularly with a leader who again, was one of those 'instinctive' ones who I couldn't communicate musically with. Nice people, two rehearsals, songs not really to my liking. I was at the stage where I didn't want to say 'no' to any opportunity so learnt a valuable lesson!

[KingBollock]

A bloke, him self a very good guitarist, had seen me play a was very keen for me to meet his brother, who was also a guitarist and putting a band together.
I went along for a rehearsal and it was just him and his mate on drums. They were obsessed with Hawkwind and weren't interested in anything else. It was boring.

Another time a band turned up at my door (I don't even know how they knew where I lived) complaining that their bass player hadn't turned up for rehearsal and asked if I would jump in for him. I said yes because I was doing bugger all else that day. They were two guitarists, but one of them wouldn't even pick his up, he just wanted to sing, even though they had a singer there (neither of them could sing). The other guitarist was ok, as long as he was playing Enter Sandman and he was looking at the tab in his book, he fell to pieces otherwise. They said they had a drummer, but I knew who they were talking about and I also knew that he'd never owned a drumkit in his life. All the girlfriends and their friends that they'd brought along, were very enthusiastic... At the end they huddled together and then told me they had decided to fire their bass player in favour of me. Nope! Not happening!