Mickeyboro Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 If you are a semi-pro in a band with a former professional musician, how do you relate to them and vice versa? I ask as I have recently spent/wasted four months putting together a band with an ex-pro keyboardist whose musical abilities far outshine mine. I pushed him as the musical director, but he stubbornly refused to direct; instead, he'd spend hours on the phone moaning to me about the shortcomings of our bandmates, who were rotated in short order. We finally found people he could tolerate, though the complaints continued. Then the phonecalls stopped, and I now realise he was bending someone else's ear about me! Then came the email: 'It's not working, is it - everyone thinks so. I'm not the leader...' You can say that again. I now wish I'd tried to be more proactive in the rehearsal studio to fill the vacuum that so frustrated me. In future, I'll not be nearly as deferential. And I'll not be so available on the phone! Any parallel or more heartening tales? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 I wasn't you, it was him. Pro or not, he sounds like a knob to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 With the numbers of members who have recently left, is it possible to "do a Sugababes"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Most of being a professional musician is your attitude. I think Lionel Richie said 10% aptitude 90% attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Don't blame pro's. This was only him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Yes, doesn't sound very 'Pro' in all definitions of the word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 "Ex pro" Maybe there's a reason behind the ex... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 As above, the definition of a true pro is there attitude. The guy sounds like a dick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Don't be put off. The label 'pro' just means they don't have a proper job like all the other bass players in the world. There are dicks in every sphere of life. If on the other hand you/other members couldn't keep up then its a lesson to go away and practice. All positive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1504718721' post='3366890'] "Ex pro" Maybe there's a reason behind the ex... [/quote] Russ, you are reading my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 The hardest thing about putting a band together is finding people who gel , not finding people with enough musical ability. This guy sounds like he is not a viable band member regardless of musical ability . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalpy Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Sounds like you've been unlucky. Granted I've played with one or two like that, but most of the time it's quite the opposite. The one example that comes to mind is a rehearsal where the number was a proper blitz, loads of changes and finished with this meltdown. We hit the last note and it was silent for about 10 seconds. Then the trombonist asked 'the quaver in bar 27, do you that staccato or broader?' I guess what I'm trying to say is that they do all the basic things right, with a complete absence of fuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 [quote name='ped' timestamp='1504716080' post='3366864'] Most of being a professional musician is your attitude. I think Lionel Richie said 10% aptitude 90% attitude. [/quote] My late father was an ex-pro musician, He always summed it up brilliantly (IMHO). He always told me 'an amateur practices until they get it right, a pro practices until they can't get it wrong'. To my mind there is no other difference. I am an ex-pro myself and the first time I had the great fortune to play with David Gilmour was before I turned pro. He never asked me what I did for a living. It's just how you earn the money to pay the bills, nothing more. I certainly don't draw any distinction between a pro or otherwise myself and if David Gilmour doesn't either then that's good enough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 (edited) My brother is a pro keys player - 95% of his working life is travelling or hanging around waiting. His view has always been successful pros are the ones you're just happy to hang out with. He's got a many bitter 'pro' acquaintances who are continually bemoaning why X or Y got a particular job when 'they're no better player than me' - not really getting this bitterness is part of the issue.. Sounds like the OP's 'pro' is in this camp. Edited September 7, 2017 by Drax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzbass Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 there is probably a very good reason why he is no longer a 'pro' .........I think we know what that is hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 I have both pro and ex-pro members in both my bands. It has caused me to raise my game and hasn't been an issue. Recently one said to me that I may not be pro but I was "pro attitude" which I took as my biggest compliment. It may be @OP that it just didn't click or it may be that he had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Im the only non pro in my quartet and my only problem is getting gigs where they are all available. Other than that all is cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 I have played with pro's and ex pro's in most of my bands. Pro's can be some of the biggest idiots out there. Attitudes, neurosis and hang-ups all over the place, but find the good ones and you get a higher level of ability, attitude and focus and they will be a joy to play with. The bad ones will filter out and won't get the calls. At least with the pro's you don't expect to have to explain or teach. As a species they just turn up and 100% deliver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 (edited) - Edited March 1, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Our guitarist recently got laid off and is on the dole. Does that mean he's Pro now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 I've never really understood the term 'pro attitude', or why people assume that a professional musician will have a certain personality. They're pros because that's how they make their living. My brother is a professional car mechanic, that's how he makes his living, as opposed to someone who does it as a hobby. He's reliable, friendly and good, but he knows an awful lot of people who only share a few of those attributes, some none. My mom was an accountant until she was forced to retire, that was her profession. From my experience I've met professional players who've been amazing musicians, others who've just been very average, but they still manage to make a living in their particular niche. They're people, and their personalities vary as much as anyone else's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 When I used to claim mileage allowance for cycling this classed me (in my mind at least) as a professsional cyclist. I've played and recorded with professionals, was semi-pro for a while and it's all the same. It's the same as a sense of humour, if you have to demand a pro attitude it's likely you don't have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 [quote name='Mickeyboro' timestamp='1504715117' post='3366853'] If you are a semi-pro in a band with a former professional musician, how do you relate to them and vice versa? I ask as I have recently spent/wasted four months putting together a band with an ex-pro keyboardist whose musical abilities far outshine mine. I pushed him as the musical director, but he stubbornly refused to direct; instead, he'd spend hours on the phone moaning to me about the shortcomings of our bandmates, who were rotated in short order. We finally found people he could tolerate, though the complaints continued. Then the phonecalls stopped, and I now realise he was bending someone else's ear about me! Then came the email: 'It's not working, is it - everyone thinks so. I'm not the leader...' You can say that again. I now wish I'd tried to be more proactive in the rehearsal studio to fill the vacuum that so frustrated me. In future, I'll not be nearly as deferential. And I'll not be so available on the phone! Any parallel or more heartening tales? [/quote] Yes. I wasted two months. I asked the chap that runs a nearby Open Mic if I could record his set to practice with on my own and then be able to drop in at will on the quieter nights for practice. We arranged to meet at his. He assumed I wanted tuition and tried to impart a lot of stuff that was, frankly, a distraction from getting on with our aim. Okay. I can accept that I need tuition. It is quite different from wanting tuition though. I told him that I wasn't going to re-embark upon a training in classic notation but he could not grasp the concept at all. I went with it for a bit and learned a bit on the way and he started giving me exercises for home work! As tuition fees are dear and he was happy to take a mere twenty off me for two hours of his time I went along with it. One week I turned up at his for what had become the regular Thursday session and he'd bailed. Not in to a knock at the door. No answer or returned call on the 'phone. I suppose he finally got the message and binned the idea of me becoming some sort of student of his. I never got my recording. A pity. No great loss to me however and no-one fell out over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 [quote name='Number6' timestamp='1504919350' post='3368360'] Our guitarist recently got laid off and is on the dole. Does that mean he's Pro now? [/quote] It means he's now fully committed to his music career and available for any and every opportunity (apart from every other thursday at 10am) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 At least you weren't swindled out of your gig money. It can happen if you're playing with Pros and Cons. ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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