General Music Chat

As a lead singer, you've got the ego in the equation. Are the rehearsals paid (to the guitarist) - in other words, is he a 'gun for hire'? If so, then your word rules. Was it made clear to him when he started that you were the leader of the band and called all the shots?
You've got to decide how you want to run the band going forward - is it a democracy or an empire? Is this guy good enough that you don't want to lose him? If so, then some compromise might be needed. Meetings should not be only you and him - they should be with the whole band - unless you are the agreed-upon leader/decision maker.

If you let them do it and it's not over 99% perfect, it will hurt your band. no one wants to hear pitchy vocals. Rehearsals together are a must. Nail those parts. Make sure they don't drown you out in the mix too. Good luck!

i'd say you have to decide what's more important to you....being the LEADER of a band...or HAVING a band.

there's nothing in life that ISN'T a compromise. and being in a band and dealing w personality and playing shortcomings of your bandmates is no different.

at my house band gig.... i play in a four piece band. the other three guys sing... and we do have a "front man" who does most of the singing.

they're smart enough not to let me anywhere near a mic. and not just because of my shitty singing, but because knowing me as they do....they fear what might come out of my mouth in the the way of patter!

but, they ALL have carte blanche to talk to the crowd, make jokes, announce songs, be a goofball how ever, whenever.......and that's a good thing! they're all smart and funny cats and it's never about having or keeping the focus on the "front man". if anything it keeps the crowd engaged and takes some pressure off of the "front guy".

We're a BAND. and i don't mean to compare us to the Beatles....but really, who or why would anyone care if the "front man" is Mac, Lennon, or......why should anyone care whether THAT person is the only one who gets to talk to the crowd?

so....i'd say you have to decide what's more important....LEADING a band.....or being IN a band.

that's not to say you have to bite your tongue and never express YOUR wishes for how you'd like see things operate.....just understand that there are several people/personalities in any band who ALSO have their own ideas.... and to make things work...yeah....you often have to let go of some control.... and compromise.

that's my three cents.

good luck. and welcome to the forum.

just contact jasirproductions in Memphis and discuss it with a real music professional

Nothing tells the story more than a video camera set up looking at center stage and plugged into the sound board. Watch the video as a band and make smart decision's from that. Watch the video as a fan and not a band member.

A little more of this and a little less of that.

and i wonder if maybe you're a feeling a little left out when you're not singing lead w/o an instrument to play or other way to contribute besides vocally????


they were a lot of bands....many of them great (from both artistic AND success points) back in the days of ...'60's/'70's that had several lead singers.... and often there'd be one them who didn't play an instrument.

Jefferson Airplane come to mind.... Marty Balin (orig lead singer....played no instr) but he shared vcls w Grace Slick and Paul Kantner and later at the end of their run....add Jorma as yet another lead singer.

so what did Balin do to keep himself occupied, engaged in the music, and not looking like a dork as he just stood there?

.....he played percussion. pretty much just tambourine...but like a lot of lead singers back then....he could play the $HIT out of a tambourine! and it added a lot to the band's sound.

obviously i'm not familiar what your music is like, but if it could benefit from some percussion (and every music i love always can) you might want to pick up a tambourine, cabasa/afuche, some rosewood claves, and anything else that gets your ankles hard.

playing percussion is an absolute blast and if it isn't already a part of your music making....you ought try it on for size!