General Music Chat

Okay, heres a short version, for the first two years of our bands existence, we we're a really crappy cover band doing, a little blues, and some Black Crowes-ish type stuff, eventually we got sick of it, and decided to write all original music, and to start playing metal, which has always been where our hearts were to begin with, so now we have my bands current configuration and format, in the past we have gone without guitarists for months on end because we sucked so bad, we couldn't get anyone interest, for more than just jamming. Well Hard work does pay off, and with much more energy, and with some decent original songs to work with, our guitarist problem worked itself out, Awesome. Then our drummer informs us a few weeks ago, that he had to quit because he was moving to Illinois, which felt like getting a brick dropped on my head, because if we had a hard time finding a guitarist which are everywhere, then finding a drummer would be next to impossible, not so apparently.

We've had a young man trying out for us for the past two weeks, and he's done well, he's only 18 and has been in only one band before, he's classically trained, and he's picked our songs up pretty well, missing only a few change ups here and there., his attack is much better, and his timing is tighter than our original drummer. Now our problem.

Before this kid came along we had asked a drummer we've known for a long time, who was playing for a metal band on the verge of getting signed, who had just got into an argument with his bands douche bag of a lead singer, for the thousandth time and now was without a gig, if he would be interested in jamming with us, and to be frank he said he didn't have time, which we all knew was really code for the last time he heard us we we're that crappy cover band. Saturday night we had a b-day party for my lead singer and we played a set for the people at the party, and he got to finally hear our new sound, and now he's blowing up our phones to try out.

Now honestly this is a win/win situation, because both are a major upgrade over our original drummer, the "kid" has jumped through any hoops we've asked him to, and as I said, he's done well, but he is 18, he's got virtually no band experience to speak of, and no stage experience at all. He's still technically stronger than our original.

Tom, on the other hand, has tons of band and stage experience, much bigger stages in fact than the rest of us, he's played festival type shows, and opened for plenty of national acts, he knows the game, and could in fact, help the rest of us with our direction seeing as how he's been there, and his skill set is, solid. But then he did refuse us at first, but then honestly if the only memory of my band I had was from two years ago, I wouldn't join it either.

Point is, the kid hasn't done anything to warrant not getting the gig, but landing Tom in our lineup could be a big deal for us, I don't want to blow a very valuable opportunity just for principal.

It's kind of nice to go from having a hard time recruiting musicians, to having two of them competing for the same gig.

advice anyone?

Tell it like it is. Get both drummers together and ask what their commitment to the band would be. That would be the first step. Nice to have a seasoned drummer, but a younger drummer who is really enthusiastic and can learn fast might be more open to instruction and more creative in the long run. A big negative is knowing that someone who spends a lot of time arguing with the singer may end up doing the same in your band.

I would consider Tom because of his experience. Also, In my perspective, It is hard to perform in Chicago clubs with anyone under 21. I am sure if you tell the younger drummer about your reasons he will understand. good kuck!

Tell it like it is. Get both drummers together and ask what their commitment to the band would be. That would be the first step. Nice to have a seasoned drummer, but a younger drummer who is really enthusiastic and can learn fast might be more open to instruction and more creative in the long run. A big negative is knowing that someone who spends a lot of time arguing with the singer may end up doing the same in your band.

I know the kid would be totally committed because he's really working hard to gain our approval, but a 18 year olds work ethics aren't always set in stone yet, so far he's been good. JSantos makes a very good point, in that we'd also be locking ourselves out of strictly 21+ venues with him, and it's never good, especially in this weak market to eliminate opportunities right from the get go.

The lead singer Tom was arguing with, I also happen to know and he's a real piece of work, sort of a drugged out Scott Stapp type, and I can totally see how those two clashed, I can hardly stand the guy myself, and what made it worse, is the Lead singers, Brother was the bands manager, so it compounded the problem, and then they went and took a show that Tom booked, and had family coming in for, and they asked their friend and former drummer of Manowar, Rhino, to sit in for the night, they didn't even tell Tom, until a week before the show, so Tom quit.
I've heard their shows plenty and he's better than the kid, but he's got so much more seat time, thats to be expected, also, the members of our band and Tom have always gotten along wonderfully.

I just want to make sure, I do right by the kid too, he's earned that so far.

I've heard their shows plenty and he's better than the kid, but he's got so much more seat time, thats to be expected, also, the members of our band and Tom have always gotten along wonderfully.

I just want to make sure, I do right by the kid too, he's earned that so far.

^^^ Sounds like Tom is a perfect fit!

^^^ Sounds like Tom is a perfect fit!

I agree. That would be my choice as well.

Keep the kid drummer. Get him a fake I.D.

Keep the kid drummer. Get him a fake I.D.

That's never an option. When you're caught, you lose not only the gig, but lots of other gigs as well, as the word spreads about you.

Keep it all on the up & up.

Use the seasoned drummer. He can help you get those great gigs, if he's worth anything, after having played them with other bands.

Tell the kid you'll keep him in the wings, but that he's just too young for what you need to do right now. Give him great references to anyone who is looking for a quality player.

That's the best you can do, imho.

Tronix, I just want to get one thing kind of out of the way here for you. The kid can legally play ANY venue, even 21+. He just can't hang out in the bar. At one point we had 3 members under 21. It's really not a big deal. You just have to let the bar owner and/or security know beforehand. They will give their instructions from there. The only problem we ever had was when security wasn't told beforehand. You don't even have to tell anyone when you're booking, just when you show up. A 5-year old can play a bar, just not hang out in one.

That's never an option. When you're caught, you lose not only the gig, but lots of other gigs as well, as the word spreads about you.

^^^ I agree with Philbymon. You don't want to get blacklisted for bringing a minor into an 21 venue. Although, there are places that allow minors to perform as long as their guardian is present. After the show, the minor has to leave immediately. So if you stick with the 18 year old, you mayhave to bring his mother to your gigs.

Im speaking with Chicago, Illinois city ordinance in mind. May be dif in other states.

Never heard that at all. An adult within the band is sufficient. You don't have to bring a legal guardian or parent. He will have to leave the inside of the bar immediately though. That's usually the instructions of security.

How about some Allman Bro style metal ?


Just another day in Paradise !!!!

Keep the kid drummer. Get him a fake I.D.

That's never an option. When you're caught, you lose not only the gig, but lots of other gigs as well, as the word spreads about you.

Keep it all on the up & up.

Use the seasoned drummer. He can help you get those great gigs, if he's worth anything, after having played them with other bands.

Tell the kid you'll keep him in the wings, but that he's just too young for what you need to do right now. Give him great references to anyone who is looking for a quality player.

That's the best you can do, imho.

Pshaw... Don't ask dont tell.
Last original band I was in had two 18 year olds. We had a problem once or twice, but we never lost other gigs over it.
Generally you can work a deal - they play the show then get off the stage and leave the club.

Ooops, sorry Shredd. I responded to phil before I read your posts.
You pretty much corrected the notion.

A professional human resources person will tell you that you are always better off with the raw energy and talents of a mold-able newbie than the already ingrained bad habits of a seasoned pro when building a team.


That's my $0.02

Well, in my state, you must be 21 to even set foot in a bar, if it has those gambling machines in it ( & they ALL do, around here ). Parents can take their kids into a bar that doesn't have one, but it must be a parent or guardian that does take them in, not just any adult, by law.

If you're taking minors into your business venture with the bar, you're showing the bar that you have zero respect for their existence, because they can be shut down if they get caught with a minor in there, in my state, even if it's only once.

That's about the stupidest thing a band can do, imho. Sorry to disagree, Zip, but that's how I see it.

Let word get around that you got a bar busted over something as dumb as wanting to have a minor play in your band, & you won't be playing any more bars, EVER, around here. Word gets around about that kind of sh*t.

I would NEVER take chances with someone else's ability to do business. My momma & daddy would rise up from their graves & kick my ass into infinity if I did something so disrespectful.