General Music Chat

Why is Steve a control freak? Who/what is he trying to unduly control?

I gt the feeling bandmates have been abusing his gear. He should have no control over his equipment?

What am I missing here?

The guy wants to find people who are as passionate as he is about being professional. That is not being a control freak.

. "Conform to organization". "Play by these rules". "Everybody wants to do their own thing". Those quotes are what you're missing. Control freak confirmed.

... Ridiculous and pointless...Depressed ??? Short fix ... GET LAID Long fix ...GET LAID MORE.

Ta Live Well Die Well

Vamp, you just might be onto something there.

Yep Steve sounds like a solo act in the making. In a 4 piece band every member is "entitled" to control 25% of what goes down. Usually one or two members will "contribute" more than 25% of the effort necessary to learn songs, get gigs, set up practices, run sound ect. but that doesn't entitle them to any more than 25% control. The exception is a headliner with hired musicians who are on a payroll and the golden rule applies. In this case the guy who has the gold makes the rules.

A four piece band is all about compromise so if you get 25% of your ideal musical situation you have done very well. In those rare moments when everyone is on the same page and are totally 100% digging the groove/crowd/paycheck/sound/loudness/room/air pollution/babes, take note. These moments are fleeting and as rare as the green flash.

To the OP I also own the PA gear for my band and do most of the marketing, but we all 4 have an equal say in what we play.

I wish you luck but finding people that will get in line for a non-professional group and face no matter what you think, with a regular job you are just a weekend warrior as I am, its going to be real hard to dictate to others what you want to play, unless you just want to hire some hired guns to play whatever you want.

The older we get the harder it is to find like minded individuals to be in bands with, your option would be as others said to start an open mic somewhere with your gear and maybe draw people to your nights and put a band together from that.

It takes patience and persisitance to get anywhere with music.

Hang in there, and just keep building your chops

I cannot believe you guys keep evoking the "G" name . . . and I don't mean GOD.

What the hell is wrong with ya's . . . lonely too?

Please, leave dead dogs lay.

Wow, you guys really do care. Yep, perhaps feeling a bit sorry for myself, but I'm a big boy and need to get over it. I've been a musician since I was 8 years old, "now I'm almost 60, still wearing jeans." I took me a long, long, long time to get it in my head that its about the music and the band - not me. I'm pretty good behind my Les Paul and not bad behind the microphone. I need to give my fellow musicians a chance to figure it out like I did, give them room and be there when they need their "big" brother, (or older brother). The investment we make in our music can't have a price tag on it, it costs too much to do that. It is part of each of us and can't be taken away. These guys I work with may not use (my) equipment correctly but they won't tear it up, they may not want to use it and if not it can sit in my music room for an awesome stereo or be sold -ouch, I have compiled this stuff for years, its a part of me also. But they can't take away what I have in my soul. I just need to enjoy. Thanks to all of you for your input, it has really helped me a lot.

i tried to get something together when i first moved down here. in spite of their "years of experience" the people who responded weren't very realistic and didn't have a clue. good luck with that.

Do you have an email/facebook?

I am an experienced musician with over 40 years to my credit. OK, I have a steady job and just want to play a few weekends a month. Play away from the cigarette smoke and drunk band members. I'm not in competition with ANY band or musician, I just want the best quality live sound possible. To provide entertainment to the audience, organized set lists with a variety of music, mostly Country though. I just want the folks I (we) play for to have a good time and come away from our gig with something they can take home. Am I so bad to want this? I'm upside down with equipment (spent more than I'm worth) - I've built most of it myself and it sounds awesome IF USED PROPERLY. I can't seem to find a band that has the same passion - everybody wants to do their own thing and not conform to organization. Of course I can say the same thing about me. I really do care about the audience and bring quality to whatever venue we play, nobody seems to want to play by these rules. Am I just crazy.

To the original poster-
It's all about how you write an ad, what standards you want and what people want from you.

Everyone who is in a band is in it for a personal gain, be it money, fame (even local), or just to feel good.

You will never find a band where you will be happy with everyone's skills, competency, and playing; everyone's habits, everyone's SO's, and everyone's schedules. The only way you do that is to hire all professionals and pay them per rehearsal and show, which can be mega expensive. Also expect them to do the bare minimum, because they are THAT good and don't need to do much more. But you are paying them to perform. They aren't responsible for carrying gear outside of their own, and they won't be helping you invest in merch and new PA equipment.

That being said, you just need to create a thoughtful ad, weed out the unwanteds, learn how to recognize flakes and posers, so you don't waste your time auditioning with them.

Eventually, if you are any good, you will find some form of a happy medium. If you insist on being a tone-snob and try to take over everyone else's, you will probably not find much happiness..

Being in a band is just like going to a Church. A preacher told a story about a person that thought they were "it." Ended u tha tthe Pastor told this individual that was looking for the Perfect Church not to join it because they woudl mess it up. I'll say I have to be the same abotu the "Perfect Band" I better not join it....

BTW - the post from Ruby Creek, you can use my phone number instead of Facebook - if you need me.

OK George - I give up. What is the 'G' word?

Talbot

lol "Glambert"..come on Talbot.. This way to the egress. lol

Yup. it's the ole "why can't everybody just do what i want, instead of what they want" deal.
Some think their perception and planning is perfect, and all others should just adapt to it.

TRY to let others in on the fun, and you may discover that a "group" has more to offer, and give.
You may also start enjoying music rather than being disgusted...


Me of course being an original artist must hammer down any opposition to my perfection in concept

Lighten up
Be part of something instead of in control of something

Yup. it's the ole "why can't everybody just do what i want, instead of what they want" deal.

Does that ever work?
Is it too late for me to start that sh*t?

I want to do that too !

The sense of fair play sh*t is boring and a fallacy for sure.

democratic bands never work in the end.

It will always have to boil down to someone having say over everyone else in order to succeed. Even the most democratic bands on the planet need a manager or someone to lay down the law.

There might be a few exceptions, but they are very few and usually because everyone is on the exact same page with music, dedication, and philosophy... which happens about as often among bands as someone winning the powerball among people.