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There's no such thing as a "great" guitarist who doesn't have any equipment. Is he a drug addict? Has he pawned his equipment? Would he come back and steal your equipment and pawn that also? When I hear about someone not having any equipment it sets off a red flag for me.

Ditto^
There are great bands with 2 and 3 guitars. There are great bands with 1. If you can hold it down. Do it!! I totally feel you on this one. I have way more respect for great 1 guitar bands than for great 2 - 3 guitar bands.

Ironically, up until last night , my new band has been a trio without ANY guitar players!

We were considering the three piece Synth, bass and drums as a permanent lineup because we have strong vocals and I run my keyboards in stereo.

Thanks to BandMix, however, I've found not only my drummer, but also a good guitar player who seems to be willing to drive 20 miles from New Jersey to play in our band. All that's needed now is to shake down our song list of fifty tunes. (six of them are originals that he has never heard before)

Looks like This site did the job for me!

Thanks BandMix!
Howlin'J

P.s. I will still keep my membership open, as I have become addicted to this damn ol' forum. I may soon upgrade to BandVista. Then we'll be ROCKIN'!

We set this guy up with a basic mic and guitar amp to sing thru, but it struck me odd he had nothing but a 6-pack walking through the door.

The six pack would send him right back out the door, I always make it quite clear that I do not tolerate drunks onstage or at rehearsals. Show up drunk or get that way while you're there, I won't be calling you back. Walk in with a six pack, you're gone. Probably won't even bother to listen to you.

Should a singer have a mic? Hell yes. I have several thousand dollars tied up in guitars, amps, effects, stands, mics, cables, sax...I'm not giving up my sax mic so some idiot with a six pack in his hand can show me how much beer he can drink while he steadily sings worse and worse as the beers disappear. Not to mention spitting all over my mic...dropping it after a few beers...stomping all over my mic cable...It's around $150 for a good vocal mic, $20-30 for a good cable, that's a tiny percentage of what I've spent on my rig, and I still have to have mics too. Singer can bring his own and leave the beer at home where it belongs.

Way back when I was the front man, I didn't have a mic. I guess the difference is that the band sought me out, cuz I'd done some stuff for them before (running thier sound & stuff...& they'd heard me sing). So I never felt the need to bring my own mic.

These days, I often see these ppl with fancy mics & stuff strutting around like they're singing gods or something...having a mic or not makes no dif to me. Can the singer sing? Is he/she a team player, ready, willing & able to help carry the equipment (don't forget to help the drummer!), & is he/she able to take constructive criticism? Do they learn the material or carry around lyric sheets?

Still, all in all I'd much rather work with ppl who sing & play an instrument. I've done plenty of it myself, & usually work with others who sing as well as play. It's much better all around, as far as I'm concerned.

These days when I solo, I rent a PA from a friend, although I DO have an old SM48 Shure that works just fine for me. If I were gonna front for someone again, they'd either be happy with my SM48 or hafta supply a better mic.

And Pete....sorry to say, but I'd probably show up with a 6-pack, too. I have about a beer a set, & don't feel the slightest bit guilty about it. I am a responsible adult who doesn't let any substances interfere with my work. I also expect nothing less of those I work with....I guess it's just a matter of degree, eh?

I agree and disagree with the drinking issues.

Our drummer can pound away a six pack in a practice and never miss a beat. In fact, I can't even tell he's been drinking. I have a relative likethat, dude can have a case in him (and often times does) and you couldn't tell, no sloppiness, no personality changes, same fun guy before & after.

But yeah, this singer dude got clearly sloppier. We never gave him an answer on the audition, but asked him to come back next practice. He said he was getting over a bad cold and wasn't singing up to par. I agreed he wasn't singing up to par *winkwink*

Don't recall if I mentioned it, but at the end of the audition, he spilled a little bit of his beer on the bass players amp. I know the dude was pretty pissed about that.

A singer shouldn't even bring beer to an audition.

The cold temperature of the beer is restrictive to the muscles in your throat, and alcohol in general will dry out your throat due to dehydration. I've heard of taking a shot or two to take a little nervousness away, because that can also dry you out, but he should really just be drinking room temperature water.

I don't personally care what other people do, but if I notice even a little of it affecting the music be prepared for the wrath of me! I do not tolerate anything that f*cks with my vision. I've fired a lot of drummers, sorry to say but in my experience they are usually the big drinkers. I do not drink before a gig or rehearsal but will have one on stage to support the illusion that we're there to party. But I'm really there to play music, just don't tell anyone.

If you guys had to provide inpatient medical care for one of those case daily drinkers.
Watch them DT sreamin bout snakes under the bed, bugs coming out from the lights and pissin all over themselves like a infant you would not want him in your band. No one notices how hard alcohol is on you untill you cant have it for a week or so. And no you are not immune.

Oh jeez guys!

I didn't say I was gonna drink a whole 6-pack at practice! I share!

It's just a polite thing to do, unless the ppl you're around have told you they don't drink, or whatever.

I try not to show up to ppl's homes empty-handed, is all.

Yeah, SHREDD, it dries out the throatical area, & you really shouldn't. If my voice doesn't feel wunnerful I don't drink anything but warm water & tea & stuff.

I hardly ever drink at home, & I've only been known to "tie one on" in my community about 5 times in 25 years of living here.

I think I'm established enough in my area, adult enough, & secure enough in my experience & abilities that I can have an occasional drink with friends, if that's what they do as well ( I don't hang out with drunks & other addicts, either...well...other than those horrid evil nicotienne freaks!)

I've known more than a few reformed alkies that would actually frown at my moderation...dunno if any of you fall into that category...but I'm not gonna change for them. If you don't drink, I usually don't drink around you, unless we're in a social situation that makes you the only guy in the place who doesn't.

One drummer I work with is a reformed fellow, & I never take beer to his house when we practice...well...not after that 1st time...but he was very understanding of the fact that I was being polite.

No sense being a nazi about stuff like that, imho, unless, as jimmyd says, it's interfering with the work. Then I, too, put a stop to it, & become quite the nazi, meself..

Yes moderation is the key to everything except ROCK !! YEA BABY YEA!!
Sorry that just slipped out.

I don't have much of a problem with someone that has one or two...3 by the end of the night isn't up to awful yet...although it's a rare person who isn't a bit sloppy after 3...but I've seen no more than a half dozen or so who actually do it in 30 years of playing clubs, at least off and on. 3 of them were in the same band, along with myself. That made 4 of us with no more than 2 beers each, they just didn't care to drink much. Best band in town. I think I saw the keyboard player have a third one after we shut down a couple of times, that's it. Usually two each.

At an audition? No. Never. Forget it. Really bad idea...I've seen way too many people make a band look like crap to even think about hiring, or even trying out actually, someone who doesn't care if my first impression is DRUNK...If the first thing I see is a beer in your hand I immediately think trouble. If you won't show up for an audition without beer, will you show up for a gig without getting wasted? Do you drink it while you practice too? And what else is running through your system at any given time?

Nah...bad first impression...

Ive been in bands with drunks and Ive also been in bands that are serious about the music. If the music matters I would think you would wait to start drinking until you really have your songs down. I personally cant imagine showing up for an audition with a 6 pack in my hand. I think it sends the message that you are there to party, and thats fine if everyone is on board. Im with Paleopete on this one, no beer at an audition.

Ive been on both sides of this and for me when a group is drinking a lot they really dont get a lot accomplished. If you go to a doctor, would you let him look at you if he was having a cocktail when you walk in. I wouldnt. I dont want to pay money to see a band get on stage and get drunk. I can stay home and do that.

ah yes the demon drink

being irish the whole drinking culture is very different in ireland to what it is here in the states...to many americans i could be classed as an alcoholic but to many more im nothing more than a man who enjoys to drink guinness(its more of a hobby than a drinking problem) and when i fancy the hard stuff i have some jameson irish wiskey(the best wiskey in the world..if you like real wiskey check it out).....

i dont drink during jam and would never turn up to try out for a band with a f uckin six pack under my arm thats just bollix...
but i do have one or two guinness before a show...one or two during
and more than one or two after...i never get fall down drunk(gave that up years ago) and always remember all my leads and equipment and sh*t.

i drink when i can drink...but it doesnt over ride my music or any other elements of my life..i still work..earn etc...but when i have down time i drink guinness...and if you dont drink guinness it hard to understand the enjoyment it brings.....its not like any other...we dont drink guinness to get drunk in ireland(but it happens)...we drink it for enjoyment...as we say if your gona do alot of drinking you may as well enjoy what your drinking...

the thing with drink is that some people can handle it and some people cant...ive seen musicians who cant play great unless there f ucked up and ive seen great players who cant play because there f ucked up....as i always say...
"each cripple has his own way of walking"

slain.

Ya know...you guys may have helped me dodge a bullet, here.

I got together with a couple guys the other day to start up a band, maybe.

I bought a 6-er with me to the guitarists house, but left it in my car, & after we'd played a bit, I said to the him, "Hey! Where are my manners! I have a 6 pack in the car. Do ya want one?"

He declined. I knew the drummer would decline, cuz he's the reformed guy.

It became a non-issue, & I still looked like I hadn't come empty-handed.

Yeah, perhaps you're right after all...bringing it to audition or to establish a new project might not be the best idea.

I took 'em home. They're still in the fridge. I'll take 'em to my STICKMASTERS meeting tomorrow night.


Oh, & Anthony, ya mick...Jamesons is the ONLY whiskey I'll drink...but it can make me do stuff...LOL...so I don't do more than a shot or two very often. you're quite right. It's the best blend on the market!

Gimme a call if you ever get to the Eastern Panhandle...we'll hafta tip a couple.

Jenna Jameson whiskey!