United Kingdom

Why is it when when you reply to musicians available ads and advise them that the Band works with a team effort and that all are expected to get work they suddenly lose interest, over the last 25years I've been the one that supplies the gigs that funds the bands I put together I turned my money into the gear that that all the bands have used saving thousands of pounds, yet after all this time I've still yet to play at a gig that a band member has got. Now when I look through musicians available sites I wonder what sort of musical parasite I'm going to get, its not as though they are pro musicians most of the time the equipment they use is not up to standard and their understanding of their role in a band has to be questioned, maybe my expectations are too high and that a musician should understand his role in a band or perhaps time I retired and found a solo hobby where I dont have to rely on others.

A lot depends on whether its's "your band" or "a band" and what is established up front.
I was playing with some guys last year for a couple of months, only to find out they had never had a paying gig, and the leader (it was HIS band) didn't have a clue about promotion or getting gigs.

I feel your pain.
This is the sacrifice we make to chase that which we love.
My wife and I basically mortgaged our home to finance our projects & mission.
( how many "musicians" will you find willing to take that risk? )

And some days I feel just like you . . . yesterday was one of those days.
( not sure about today . . . need more coffee )

Then I rest, relax, and re-relate to my passion.


Onward through the fog.

I feel your pain.
This is the sacrifice we make to chase that which we love.
My wife and I basically mortgaged our home to finance our projects & mission.
( how many "musicians" will you find willing to take that risk? )

And some days I feel just like you . . . yesterday was one of those days.
( not sure about today . . . need more coffee )

Then I rest, relax, and re-relate to my passion.


Onward through the fog.

Now that is commitment and I admire the stick to it .Camel Hump it seems as though you have taken on the band manager role on your own.
seek out the gigs that pay the most and you keep the lions share of the proceeds .Let musicians know up front what is up and they can take or shove it.If you have to settle for what your getting ask for something better,but don't I repeat DON"T quit or retire you know and I know that's not in your nature.Now buck up little miss and do that thing.

Friend of mine Had a Tribute band Then charged the band for hire of his van and the hire of his gear and commision on gigs he got plus his cut of the performance, me a sucker Provided the transport provided the main gear and lights provided the engineer provided the gigs and then took the same cut as the rest of the band thought that was fair. Put one band together what I mean by put together is did all the communication necessary to get all in the right place at the right time Won the competition got offered shed loads to gig by agent only to have some opt out because they did'nt want to be tied down to playing. So many musicians out there just want a free ride had one mail me last night, not interested in what we are or what we play just how many gigs have you got now at my age I've had my share of free loaders.

Hump,it's all up to what you value,down to where you are.If you want supply
all the equipment,transportation and share the proceeds of your metal,then do it who gives a sh*t.If your getting frustrated about getting calls about know I don't want to play in your band or I don't like your taste in music,f**k them too.Create your own band,your own musical style,your own Frankenstein.IF you won a chance to get free equip,and perform sounds like your off to a good start.Sometimes it's my way or the highway is not a bad thing.

When you own all the equipment, you get a little more control provided you can keep it all together.

If you are a bit disillusioned, you can join anyone's band, not give a sh*t and basically be what we all hate in a musician...undependable and unconscious.

But it can be fun to be a dipshit and make everyone provide equipment for you to abuse and not value the situation AT ALL.

Those people don't usually last very long at all.

I like the bands that attempt to extort rehearsal hall fees from you because they think that every member should pay for what I person believes.

"If you lay with dogs, you are going to get fleas".

Thanks for the positive views still trying lol.
I dont get the idea that band members should'nt share the cost of rehearsal they expect a share of the proceeds so they should expect a share of the expenses my reasoning is, if this was a pro band then management and agents would take a fee for services provided I do all the work in building the band and giving it direction getting the gigs and transporting the equipment I do not think I'm being unreasonable to expect you to cough up £8 once a forntight, a well rehearsed band will attract better gigs, The last tribute band I started rehearsed for a year before I started getting the work all the members were there for the love of the music not one out of the thirteen people in the band ever bought up the subject of money their reward was gigs earning around £5000 per night, the shame is over the last ten years musicians have come into the game to make money and here in the uk thats not a good idea the music biz is over subscribed ten years ago my bands earnt between £300-£500 for a pub gig cos the bands were good and well rehearsed we bought the punters in, now see how much you get maybe 10% of the bar takings, to earn more you have to have better gigs hense Rehearse Rehearse rehearse and maybe think about a day job.pessimist or realist