Well geez where do I begin… The hardest part I find is to get everyone to be on the same page as far as the music selection…and motivation…….and commitment….”
Gunner – www.myspace.com/guitargunn
Gunner – www.myspace.com/guitargunn
Commitment has always been a MAJOR issue, music selection is always a pain and motivation is NOTORIOUSLY a problem. One more point I might add… It really bothers me when people refuse to play a song that everyone else in the band is on-board for…”
Padlockgrim www.myspace.com/padlockgrim
Padlockgrim www.myspace.com/padlockgrim
Finding talented musicians who are committed and responsible. Finding rehearsal space, getting equipment, finding gigs… those are easy workarounds. But you gotta have dedicated teammates! No show in a band means no show in a performance”.
www.infusician.com
www.infusician.com
Finding the right people to play with is the hardest thing. It’s easy to find good musicians, or at least people who can play well but their personalities and attitude are often more important than their technical abilities. Reliable people are vital. Don’t even consider anybody who might have a drinking or a drug problem – look for the signs.
Dark Lord Of Barnet – www.DarkLordOfBarnet.gb.net
Dark Lord Of Barnet – www.DarkLordOfBarnet.gb.net
My band went downhill the moment we formed a corporation. The money took over.. and led to trust issues between us.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Having the same line-up at the time of the booking that you had when you booked it (since gigs can often be months away). Musicians are like revolving doors. No sooner do you get players who are the right fit, the sound down, the tunes tight, beginnings and endings right… somebody leaves and you have to start all freakin’ over again. Especially if you are an originals band or playing something different than the same old crap everybody’s been playing. Guys just don’t seem to want it that bad anymore. The answer from this end of the country then is finding players who are serious and will commit for the long haul”.
Gail Gordon – www.sonicbids.com/ggg
Gail Gordon – www.sonicbids.com/ggg
Lack of commitment is an inherent disease for musicians worldwide, I have been dealing with it for more than 40 years and it is not getting any better today than it did with the first band. I just have to pay them more money theses days, but get the same attitudes and flakiness even from the good ones. Just keep three players deep on each instrument at all times, don’t ever rely upon one key player to be able to do your performances or not. They can all be replaced and probably will, even you sometimes, if they all walk and go get somebody else.
Running a band is one of the toughest jobs in the world and usually thankless too (I shoulda been a brain surgeon…).
Saint Gabriels Celestial Brass – www.ambassadorsofamericanculture.com
Running a band is one of the toughest jobs in the world and usually thankless too (I shoulda been a brain surgeon…).
Saint Gabriels Celestial Brass – www.ambassadorsofamericanculture.com
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If you liked what you read, you might also wanna check more more quotes on band issues at:
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Links:
Woozyfly.com : a social network that allows you to broadcast your own web show, create a profile, discover great music and promote your band with music videos, video chat, email and classifieds.
Infusician.com : a social network for musicians set up to help them collaborate on mix tapes and sound tracks. Also allows musicians to jam online.
Sonicbids.com: a website that offers an electronic press kit (EPK) and a vast list of industry contacts and ressources.
The Ambassadors of American Culture have been producing, booking and managing American Blues, Jazz & Gospel artists for over 25 years.
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[…] 2008 by gigdoggy A couple of months back we had gathered quotes on what musicians considered the hardest part about being in a band was. What essentially came out of it was that humans were the hardest part. Well If you’re […]
well, of the many concerns in an ensemble, I’d say that lack of preparation is the most peevish of my pets. I play guitar in an acoustic group, and have really just begun to play this particular instrument. I suppose I was feeling less demanding when we started, but have now realized that ‘practice’ was never a concern. I have had to practice on my own just to get proficient at it and have enough songs to play, but the others only practice increasing thier alcohol tolerance. I have to carry the weight of it on my shoulders at gigs while they’re thrashing the rhythm in a drunken stupor, often as loud as possible, as if they are out to undermine anything that is even remotely ‘musical’ and ignoring any oppurtunities to create textures with dynamics, and all he rest of the techniques that I hold dear as creative tools to be supportive of other instruments when it comes thier time to ‘solo’ or whatever. And when you get to that point yourself, they quit playing, like they suddenly forgot the chords (because I was the only one holding down the rhythm part anyway, apparently) this has caused me stress beyond measure. And to top it off, afterward, they sit around bragging about how great they thought they sounded, often ignoring or interupting me when I attempt to critisize constructively and create a lesson out of it so that we grow to be better musicians…
The hardest part about having a successful band situation is finding the right bandmates. Motivated, dedicated team players. A lot of people want to join projects and expect them to be up and running and do not want to put any effort into developing the band. A Perfect example is the bassist and drummer hired gun overload. Seem
s like that’s all there is out there lately.
the hardest part for me getting other band members to participate. also if your in a pre-teen band as i others don’t have… large attention spans
jozer33 waz haer 2009!!
well, it is easy for me to participate in any band activities.,. , all i wanna do is to study songs we want to play so that , if we are in the jam sessions i know what i am supposed to play.
I would say that the band leader/former (usually song writer or lead singer) needs to convey unconditional musical/personal respect with his band mates. Everyone understands someone needs to make the big decisions but dismissing everyone else’s musical input and using underlying friendships to smooth over inherent disrespect destroys the band trust and ruins a friendship. Not all star basketball players were meant to be coaches. If you’re pissed at people holding you back, get session musicians, record at home and get your art out there! Leadership skills are not something gained without work and practice. Band formers must consider whether their good buddies are worth losing due to their leadership teething issues?
Obviously guitarist pedal-playing, bass-covers in breaks and untimely drummers are annoying. As a cellist, tuning and fingering notes before we play must annoy the others. That said, my frontman occasionally corrects my pronunciation of H as “aitch” not “haitch”…and I find this abuse of our musical relationship toxic. I cbf continually telling a nearly 30 yr old how social skills work (also dislikes my musical opinions) so I’m playing basic chord progression bass notes and saving my string arranging effort for another songwriter.
Seriously, isolation is the only way some people learn. Get what you want out of it and keep the effort where it’s appreciated.