Re: What should I do?
- From: "Fletch" <geoffarnold@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 21 Mar 2007 08:53:01 -0700
On Mar 20, 6:03 pm, "Frederic Gelinas" <frederic_geli...@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I play in that top 40 band for almost 2 years. We had a couple of gigs
(maybe 10). Now, there is nothing on the calendar. Niet. Nada.
Rien. They are very cool people, professional, etc... The band
consist of me at the bass, the drummer, his girlfriend who sings, the
guitar. There is also a pro sax player (and keyboard) that plays with
us, but the other doesn't consider him as being a part of the band.
Mainly because he doesn't want to rehearse every 2 weeks if there is no
gig in sight.
Now that our repertoire is of about 60/70 songs, I don't feel that we
need to rehearse that often.
They asked me last week if I mind to try a new keyboardist. I know the
girl. She plays by ears only and have to learn every songs by heart
before being able to play it live. If she skips a note in the middle
of a solo, she is lost. In fact, I am probably better than she is on
the keys... I don't feel that she would be able to level up our sound
or anything. The sax guy can improvise for 10 minutes on a 12 bar
blues and your are not bored. And on the sax or the organ. Her? This
ugly sax sound (from a 1990 keyboard) makes you wonder why there is a
solo. They probably expect me to show her everything that she has to
play... no way. I know those songs on bass, guitar and keyboard, but
that doesn't mean I should spend all my spare time showing someone else.
But they want her because she will be rehearsing every week. She would
be part of the band...
What should I do?
- Explain them that I won't be rehearsing until they get a gig.
- Tell them I just don't want her to be part of the band.
- Try it and see, it may turn out ok.
- Find another gigging band. (Anyone knows a band that needs a bassman
in the Montreal region?)
- Other idea?
--
Frederic Gelinas
What prevents you from being part of more than one band?
You can be with this band and also gig through the Union or with other
bands you might find that don't play every week.
If something turns up in the interim that becomes full time, you
tender your resignation in all other bands/projects.
Why limit yourself?
On the chick keyboard player...
I agree with the two sessions assessment. Target five songs per
session and after the second session have a band meeting without the
girl and discuss the motives for replacing the sax/keyboard player
(which to me seems to be political, i.e. more 'sex' on stage).
If you disagree with the direction, tender your resignation,
respectfully mind you, and move on.
You want to become a professional musician from the sound of your
discussion. They seem to want to be 'week end warriors'. That's not
exactly compatible. And if the band is going in a direction with which
you disagree, tell them so, tell them why you believe it is wrong.
Agree to disagree if you must. That will help you make a decision
about your future with the band or without the band.
Life goes on. I've had to dismiss players and I've had to resign from
bands, all because of creative or visionary differences that would
compromise what I really want. In your career as a musician, you do
have to make some compromises, it goes without question. The real
issue is, what compromises are you willing to make and why? Do they
serve the greater goal you wish to accomplish.
Sometimes a compromise can be the best thing you can do for yourself,
sometimes it is the worst.
But, you have to weigh the benefits of staying versus going; the
benefits of staying, but pursuing other bands in addition to this one
so you are able to be on stage more often, playing in multiple bands.
You can avoid conflicting play dates beforehand by telling band A you
are going to be busy on such and such a date with band B or C and not
to book a gig on that date, or to find a substitute player if they
want to play that date.
Hope this helps a bit.
--Fletch
.
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