General Music Chat

Ski mask!!!! lol

For me playing music is all about confidence. In myself and the people I surround myself with. The circles I run in everyone is a good player and doesnt slag on the practice side cause we will call each other on it.

I dont guess I would get in your position cause I wont gig with someone unless I have confidence in them. I occasionally do pick up gigs that turn into trainwrecks, but its ussually pretty clear to anyone there that I know my stuff.

This whole deal sux, I hope you have learned something from the experience.

Honestly your playing 10-12 songs, make those guys rehearse the crap out of the songs over and over again. If they cant pickup 10-12 songs in what 3 weeks they shouldnt be playing gigs to start with.

In my group we discuss a song, learn it individually and then play it. If it feels good we keep it, if not we drop it. Our bass player and I picked out about 5 new songs last night and basically learned them I have to get comfortable with them on my own and we will probably wind up dropping 3-4 of em anyway.

I think a musician should constantly be learning new material, it just keeps you sharp.

I hope things work out for your gig.

Does it pay enough to make it worthwhile to drive up there? I can probably have the basics of your songs ready by then and add a couple of my own to the mix, and I'm not afraid to do a fill in spot with a band I've never met.

Unfortunately, it probably wouldn't pay for the gas to get there, which sucks, I'd almost bet I could pull it off. And I don't even know what kind fo stuff you're doing!

Look around, chances are you might be able to find someone closer to your area who can do it, then get rid of the wanna be's who won't practice. As with Crip, they wouldn't last 2 weeks with me. That's about how long it takes me to know you're not practicing at home and about how long I'll tolerate it.

I never bother with polls, but I say get someone to fill in and boot the ones who won't practice and work for it. Seriously, I'd drive up there to fill in if I could afford it, and if it would pay enough to make it worthwhile, hell, even if it didn't...I'd like to meet you and philby anyway, and maybe a couple other folks in VW and some other stops along the way. A couple are in Tennessee, (did that have an extra "s"?) I'd enjoy the trip regardless. It really sucks gas is so expensive these days, that pretty much makes something like this impossible.

If it were doable I'd get you guys to work up "Last Train", throw in "Silhouette of A Daydream" and maybe "Desperately Electric Tea", which is another single acoustic song I wrote 25 years ago, put your material together as well as I could and I have very little doubt it would work. I've done it too many times with no idea what I would be expected to play, what key they would be in on a lot of cover tunes or anything...meet the band, set up and start the gig...that's what I did for 3 years, most of the bands wanted to hire me after one set. Unfortunately they were usually mediocre bands at best and drunks to boot, so I always tried to find a tactful way to decline the offer. Two of them called me back a half dozen times or more each.

This sucks...I wish I had a few thousand in the bank right now, I'd drive up there just to help out, pay or not...I hate to see someone bogged down by the same sort of people that have held bands back for me in the past. One idiot won't practice and the whole band suffers...get a replacement, you might get lucky and find somone who can fill in and do a good job. As long as you stick to fairly uncomplicated cover tunes I could probably do it dry...I've done it lots of times.

Good luck...

There's no way on God's green earth I would subject myself to such an embarrasing situation.... I voted cancel the gig... I had no qualms doing just that 3 times already and definitely saved face! There are sooo many wonderful musicians out there and NEVER, EVER SETTLE!

There are sooo many wonderful musicians out there and NEVER, EVER SETTLE!

I agree.


I went through hell for 3 or 4 months weeding through musicians, but damn was it worth it!

We are recording a Double Album now as our debut album, and we have started a 50 State Street Team Campaign in advance of it's release to have help promoting it, and to build a fan base in other states.

We had reviewers from two different biker magazines at our last gig, both of which said we kicked ass, and told us we will be receiving good reviews in the next editions!

Don't settle. Get the right people on board. You will be happy you did!

Thanks guys...so many good points. My contact may just pay off for me, and although he said he can't do it , he has someone who probably can. I'll know in a couple of days.
Pete, I WISH I could get ya here. It's an okay paying gig, but not that okay.
JW's point about confidence is so right on. I have NO confidence in these guys. Fifteen years ago, I would have stuck it out with them, but that's because, as sh*tty as it sounds, I was at that level. The only reason I'm sticking around right now is that my friend assures my of some major changes-after this gig. I also agree that if you can't play 12 songs, you shouldn't be playing gigs. I don't know why, but I constantly get involved with bands that have gigs scheduled and no material. I hate that.
Scott-I knew you'd jump on the ski mask thing! I just knew it!
Thanks guys, for all the input. I'm going to go through with this thing, only because I know I've got a few bandmates on my side. Also, Wednesday night is a big practice for us, and we'll see what happens...

Oct. 3rd is actually time enough to fire the lead guitarist and hire a guitarist with experience. Check the local college music department and ask for a guitarist with the skills you need. Yes, guitar majors in college began as rock guitarists in the garage. Plus, they practice. I would not hesitate to hunt down a competent player and I would start at the college level.

One question guys, honestly. If you are just going to bounce musicians every time you find a better one, who is going to replace you?
For that matter why not just hire the Eagles to do your spot and stay home? You will never build a band with coheasion if every time some guy farts out of key you replace him. Its been said before, a room full of super talented musicians does not necesarily make a BAND.
No disrespect intended but seems a little loyalty is due band mates.
Few would argue that the Beatles were a great band in their day.
Yet they had studio musicians set in to do their recordings. (or so I've read)
What say you.

I've accepted gigs knowing we didn't have a lead guitarist in the band and got a fill-in guitarist who was supposed to be awesome. Guess what. The show sucked. I agree with Crip, if you don't have everyone in the band thoroughly well-rehearsed, then it's not worth doing the gig. You've got a reputation to maintain. I'll say it again, if your band sucks YOU suck. There's no substitue for band members being prepared AND being competent. I hate the idea of not knowing if we can pull off a song or songs. I want to KNOW everybody in the band KNOWS WHAT THEY"RE DOING. I want to KNOW the product we're putting out. I"ve done numerous musician replacement gigs in the last few years and it hurts MY reputation. I"m not doing it again. Later...

Sans, I know for me, the problem I see is the lack of motivation of the player. Not wanting to practice, not working at home. I would take a lower level musician with a great work ethic and good attitude who learned the songs, over a better player, with a poor work ethic and bad attitude. The poorer player, because of a good work ethic, will get better and better.

Sans, I know for me, the problem I see is the lack of motivation of the player. Not wanting to practice, not working at home. I would take a lower level musician with a great work ethic and good attitude who learned the songs, over a better player, with a poor work ethic and bad attitude. The poorer player, because of a good work ethic, will get better and better.

Couldn't have said it any better! My 2 biggest pet peeves concerning bandmates is not practicing at home every day and missing rehearsals.... If you can't commit.... put the instrument down and join a freakin' bowling league!

Me too. I've put too many years into being the best guitar player I can be, too many thousands of hours of practice working on songs to put up with some yoyo who won't get off his (or her) lazy ass and practice. It took me many years to develop into the guitar player I am now, and I had to overcome a handicap too, after a tendon was cut in half on my left hand. If I can do it, anyone without the handicap I have should be able to blow right by me with a little practice. I expect every musician in the band to be better than I am, and if I get it, we have a great band. I figure if I can play the way I do with fingers that don't wanna do what comes naturally to yours, you should be able to make me look like a rank amateur...with a lot of practice...

So how did Wednesday night go? I want to hear one word...PROGRESS...

I spent Wednesday night trying to record, only to see Audacity get some sort of illegal operation error and shut down before I had the presence of mind to SAVE my stinking work...lost it all...over a dozen takes, my left hand was getting really tired, voice was not up to par, but the final vocal take was planned for later anyway. It's my fault, I was dumb enough to keep right on going without saving trhe project after every decent take, had rhythm and 2nd guitar tracks ready and a rough vocal track, working on adding delay and so forth to the guitar tracks when I tried to do an overall fade out and this little box pops up...

DAAAAMMMMNNNN...I shut it down for the night...I'm all better now though...

I got a nice double Stilton & some Limburger last night. I'll share it with ya if ya drop by, Joseph. I'd even lend you my new guitar player, if he's willing. He lives over near Leesburg, VA, though.

Uh, thanks.

do a good job with your part
tell the band to just relax and have a good time
have a good time

if you do well it'll be obvious who the talent is. if you get the rest of the band to just relax and get into it and have fun, all will be well!


"Untill our fingers bleed"
"WE ARE ALL ONE"