United States

Thank's JW,nice to meet ya, looking at you profile we share some of the same intrest.) I like to be silly alot but all thing's a side you make a excellent post their my friend for GA.Just by you'r commit i have a gut feeling you are an asset to whom you share the stage with.

Haystack out

JW, thanks for the advice, man. It really comes in handy. I have heard that before, that playing with others will make you better. I have not gotten a chance to jam with my friend in a bit, so hopefully I will. I look forward to the day I play live, hopefully I do not mess everything up. But it should teach me a lot about the instrument.

Metronomes annoy me, I cannot figure out how to use them properly. I am bad with the whole "beat" thing.

It will probably take me quite a while to get good at this instrument, but all and all I think I have done a decent job so far.

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

I might be looking for a bassist and drummer soon due to the fact the one's I've got are lazy ass shitz! they keep canceling rehearsals for the dumbest reasons even though we have a ton of gigs coming up and need to learn at least 15 more tunes! It's taking it's toll on my patience and now the bass players wife is chiming in that she needs more weekends together with him and I can see where this is going!! Problem is that the bassist and drummer are childhood friends and if I let one go, the other goes with him!

Crip2Nite, yes that whole buddy I'm gona quit if you do thing sucks. Hope you can work it out. Our band I guess is still in the honeymoon stage, we all make a point to communicate when to practice next although we have been fighting lots of illness this winter.
Playing live shows for me really showes me what I need to work on, The nervous energy makes anything thats not second nature unravel pronto.
Our Bassest is very experienced, and though he is a queit man he willingly points out things that help us all to grow and improve. I guess its a win win situation for him and us. He gets to play (he really loves to play) without stress. and we get to play and learn.

I'M READY TO FIND OUT WHAT IT'S LIKE AGAIN TO PLAY WITH A BAND. I HAVEN'T BEEN WITH A BAND SINCE @1982 AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE AGAIN. I LOVED THE TIME I WAS PERFORMING LIVE AND THE AUDIENCE IS GREAT. I, UNFORTUNATELY, HAD TO QUIT AND START A FAMILY AND HAD A HUSBAND THAT WAS NOT INTO MUSIC. THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT.
I THINK THAT YOU NEED HOME SUPPORT AND A TIGHT KNIT GROUP OF BAND MEMBERS WHO CAN REALLY WORK TOGETHER AND NOT GET OFFENDED. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THERE BEING ONE PERSON THAT IS KIND OF A LEADER, SO TO SPEAK? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT JUST KIND OF HAPPENS, IS THAT ONE PERSON IS SPOKESMAN AND ORGANIZER AND THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THINGS TOGETHER???? WHAT DO YOU THINK.

GUITARGAL

As with any group, there always will be the one person who the rest look to for a final say/leadership opinion. The Alpha. I've had to take that role in a couple of bands. IMO - it helps alot. Musicians can be some lazy indecisive procrastinators!!!!! LOL!

Now, there is a diference between a band alpha and a damn a$$hole control freak.

A BAND! Whats a Band! Everyone out there with a acoustic guitar wants to be a solo act. I deal with a group of songwriters so everyone wants to sing there own stuff and nobody elses. I only sing because I have to. I know I'm not a good singer. Have a bass player and drummer that are great, thats because they don't write or sing. Don't know any guitar players that don't sing and write. But I know some that shouldn't. Don't know any singers that want to do anyone elses stuff either. We just set up and do open mics because a band would require practice and we couldn't have that.
Oh for one of my songs to make it with a big name doing it and me sitting back collecting big fat roality checks. I can dream can'r I?

"Band alphas," "control freaks". . .
What a band neads is a leader.
A leader is someone who finds out what everybody wants to do, and gets them moving towatd it. He thinks fast, and makes the intelligent decision.
The key word is probably 'intelligent" . . .
What do you think?

True, but sometimes the "intelligent" or "logical" choices are the wrong ones. LOL! Sometimes you gotta put all sheets to the wind and risk it.
Alot aren't willing to do that and would rather stick to the "safe" complacent path. Yeah, every Friday & Sat nights at Bill's Sweaty Pig Hollar is a sure thing, why change it.......I need more variety.
Alpha, leader - tomato, tomata = same thing to me.

It never fails that 2 out of 5 in your band will want to do no more than Friday & Sat nights at Bill's than be in a van traveling and playing.
Just hope your "leader" is on the same side of the coin as you are or his "intelligent" decisions are gonna really cramp your mojo.

My take on the Alpha vs Leader thing was something like;
Alpha = rule by brute force; people follow him because they have to.
Leader = someone people follow because they want to.
.
Yeah; you're right, you've got to mix the intelligent decisions with a little emotional thinking . . .
After all, music IS emotion, and we musical-type guys are a real emotional lot, huh?

I guess a good band leader has to try to find a happy medium among all the possible choices of what to play, where to play, how to play, etc, etc.
A good leader might stop the band from doing anything stupid . . .
.
But, you're right; without taking a calculated risk now and again, we can stagnate . . .

Yeah - sorry if I sounded bitter....bad memories. LOL!

I prefer Alpha, if leader takes place along the way, ok.

But not necessary, you want to be and do what the Alpha is doing, great.

Otherwise you are some guy trying to get a group to do something other than what you were brought into the mix for.

"interloper" lol

Crip,
Looks like it is time to "take the bull by the horns" and determine once and for all where you stand with your rhythm section. Confront them straight up! Just when the band looks like it may be a serious group that requires a degree of commitment , the "lightweights" want to "bail" . If you intend to sign contracts with people like that club owner you gigged for last Saturday, you got to have band-mates who take the gig seriously! Take the alpha dog role and let those boys know what's the score. Frig "buddies", Panic Attack needs a dedicated rhythm section! I suggest taking action sooner then later. Just "playing around" is one thing, gigging is BUSINESS!

Good luck and "hang in there"

John

Holy Crap! I put word out on myspace and have the Bassist from"Countdown to Extinction" and the drummer from "Anger Management" come forth and volunteer their services. Both of these players are very well respected in the industry and they were very impressed with me and said they'd be glad to take over the spots!!! Woohoo.... All shows are a go... First rehearsal with new members are this Monday....... Whew!!!!

The original bassist and drummer just left me dry via e-mail because I complained about the frequent rehearsal cancellations and the lazy song learning attitudes!

this is my take on the leader thing.......i've been a leader for several years and the thing about you quit i quit is that you have a 50-50 chance. fyou have to have a couple of things........
first
the musicians need to be compatible in musicianship as well as friendship...that means you have to shredd yourself(leader)every night...you know the only as good as your last note thing...
second never tell them how to play...show them either on cd or score. trust me it 's two different things...

you have to let the band have it's sound..don't force anything and don't be hyper critical because it's not like the record.....

you definetley have to understand the phsycy of each instument. guitarist are different than bassists and we all are different than vocalists. you have to know and understand each individuals history. this is because their past will tell you who they are and why they play what they play..really get to know them. you will understand how and when you can push........

i think i'll stop at this one. YOU MUST LEAD>>>>> not be a boss. we musicians get payed crap but the music keeps us coming back....thats torture but it's so sweet. be a leader and if you can't, have the ability to hand that over....doesn't mean u shuold give up your money.....

oh and by the way if you can't read music you'd better learn.(at least your instruments notations....IE percussion as oppossed to piano.) i mean take the time to learn. most musicians will respect you in a different way. not more just different.