General Music Chat

I get the lack of practice / commitment part. I guess I am just a little sensitive on the subject. Just seem that a lot of folk on here would nut cut the first guy that hit a wrong note. A good coheasive band will cover each others ass. Everyone but the musicians in the crowd probably wont even notice most mistakes. A benefit of playin original music. I know if I blow a lead the guys will move along as if nothing happened and allow me to recover my composure.
And I for them.
I am my own worst critic for sure.

Hey Joe,
There is still time. Whip those boys in shape and go on out and rock your ass off!
Howlin'

Sans...point taken, but there's a difference between missing a note here and there, blowing a lead now and then, and having to deal with a band member who is not pulling his/her own weight overall. I'm pretty picky about it, if I'm the one who puts the band together and it's up to me to have the final say, it takes me about 2 weeks or so to figure out someone doesn't practice at home. Warning first, give it another month maybe...BOOT!

It takes a little longer than that to find out someone is habitually late or no show, has a booze/drug problem, attitude problem and so forth, but those simply can't be tolerated so yeah, someone has to go.

Once you do get sober, dependable people, there's no such thing as perfect musicians who never miss a note. It happens, and playing right through as if nothing is out of place is one of the hardest things I ever learned to do. You live with it and press on. But habitually missing rehearsals, late or not there at all, drunk...those only drag the band down and hold everyone back. Can't be tolerated. Even if it's your best friend, at some point you have to cut your losses and say see ya.

I doubt if many people on here are really that quick to boot someone out, we all know how hard it is to find musicians to fill some positions at all, much less good ones, but you can't let someone stay around who's dead weight either. Some people are more tolerant than others, but once a person has had a couple of years to get it together and still won't practice? Sorry but it wouldn't last near that long if it were up to me. I know what the result will be, I've seen it too many times. Many of these guys are the same way. I guess it's a matter of tolerance. How long do you want to tolerate someone who wallows in mediocrity? If they're dragging the band down with them, how far do you let it go?

This guy has a show staring him in the face in a couple of weeks and a guitar player who has had a couple of years to get the material down, hasn't done so and still won't practice?? A dozen songs and he's not ready? That's way beyond tolerant...I can learn a dozen songs between now and show time and I'm 52 and don't learn as quick as I once did. 20 years ago I could be ready in a week...now it might take a month, but every rehearsal you WILL know I've been practicing...For that matter as long as you don't throw anything too complicated at me I can do it without ever even meeting the band...I've played songs I've never heard many times. I'll be on time, sober and ready to go and my equipment will not be patched together with duct tape, barely capable of making the night. I expect no less of other band members. It's my job. Do you know of an employer who will keep you for long if you're constantly late, don't know your job and have a drinking/drug problem? Would that work at a hospital? No way, people would be dying... No difference here. It's your job, treat it as such or see ya...

I put up with way too much over the years from the drunk guitar player who forgot what key we were playing in, the drummer who habitually missed practice cuz he'd rather stay home & play with his kids, the singer who would rather catch that elusive buzz so often that he couldn't remember the words or the arrangements...& these days I've become a bit of a nazi about it all.

I figure if you can't do the work, you ain't good enough to play with me.

That being said, I'll admit that sometimes life just gets in the way of things. I try to be understanding when things get hectic for players & they really don't have the time for the work for up to a week or so. It happens. But when it's stupid crap like the above, & it's an on-going thing, eff off. I don't need ppl like that in my life. I've simply outgrown it.

I've found that as a band leader, anyone who isn't behind you, is in the way! I just split my band up because as was said earlier in this post, eventually you just have to cut your losses. I appreciate the effort that most of them have done but 2 were just slacking and to me, that's disrespectful to everyone in the band! you know when you have to make a move. these days I dont waste any time with that. I know what I have to do and I just do it! I'm moving to Cincinnati and starting another band. there are no full time players here because there are not enough venues to support them. so up the road I go!
www.myspace.com/blunderingeye

I'll admit that sometimes life just gets in the way of things.

Good point there Philby,
I'm at a point (between building another house all by myself, going to weddings and funerals, trying to get my head around quantum gravity, yackin' to Y'all, PLUS workin' the cursed day job), where there ain't much time left to satisfy the creative musical load building up inside!

anyways, ...Pete brought up some good points. Sometimes its best to be tolerant of a "less then perfect" player for a while until you see if they are
going to develop into a suitable band mate.

Tired ol' tolerant Howlin'

I understand what you guys are sayin, in a cerebral fasion. I suppose my lack of experience in these matters really shows. Not raggin on you all. I am smart enough to know if I play this game long enough I will be faced with these situations and am seeking an understanding of the process.