ok right good people of the internets.
Help me solve my moral conundrum
Im in a band, we have no drummer, we have 2 songs, and at least two albums worth of embryonic ideas 90% of which I've written, I can't find a drummer for love nor, well not actual money but you get the idea.
I have a potential band, its got a full line up, with a free private practice room where I can safely leave my gear, it's 80's rock and metal covers.
What would you do?
Ive been trying to get an originals band going for 2 years this Oct coming, every step has been painfully brutally slow and frustrating, I'm the only one that's seeming to try and find a drummer or organise the others, book rehearsal spaces etc.
Ive never known it to be soooo hard to get a band going.
I feel like like all I want to do is just play, have fun and unwind sometimes, without all this stress and frustration.
I dont really want to play covers, in fact last time I did it damn near made me give up guitar totally, but that was wedding band pub stuff.
I honestly don't know what to do.
" Why does it smell of bum?" Mrs Professorben.
Comments
Been in that situation, didn't conclude well.. Had a great thing going with another guitarist, we had written loads of great material, had singer/bassist etc... We sort of had a drummer.. but we just couldn't work with him.. i ended up playing drums.. i'm not a great drummer but i can keep in time and add a few fancy bits..
Didn't really go to well.. as when we finally started practising for reals turned out the singer was really, really shit.
We split blaming my lack of drumming skills as the scapegoat.. We're back to me and the other guitarist playing stuff trying to get a band sorted. We're currently recording all parts first and doing a mixture of me drumming and superior drummer before restarting the search..
To conclude.. Look like you're the new drummer!
Once it all came together though it felt worth it but the process isn't a quick one, you have to get up to speed with the songs and then sort out the gigs later, when you've been writing and rehearsing for months. The last band I played in took 6 months to write and rehearse a live set.
Ironically the band I'm involved in now I have known the members for about 6 years and always kept in touch. One tour they asked me to come along as a guitar tech so I went out on the road and it was awesome. Everyone was so cool, welcoming and the whole thing was a right laugh. It was like the perfect lineup as I knew I got on with everyone personally, we hang out all the time and can stand being around each other. We're all mates first and foremost and its great to be involved in the setup. Now I am the official dep guy filling in on any of the guitar roles when needed. I'm also involved in the writing for the new album, and everything feels right, and natural.
If you have the fire in the belly keep hunting for members, get an ad going. I had immense determination to get a lineup together back then and I did it, but it all went to pot in the end. Being in a band is very draining sometimes, but you can do it if you really put in the energy and time.
The other guitarist/singer I was in my first band with and we gel so well, the bassist..... I'm not sure, he says all the right things but then isn't available or moans like hell about rehearsals, I've put adverts out for drummers and there is just no one.
The singer wants to work with a guy we know who runs a studio, who can record and program drums for us to get a 'calling card' for sourcing a drummer with.
But really I just want to be in a band playing in a room having a laugh and making awesome original music.
Ive found a drummer I used to work with but he's notoriously over committed to work and outside projects, so it never took off, he's hopefully going to have a 2nd jam with us on Sunday, assuming he's not busy, he's gonna let me know....... maybe.
Its all so much fucking hard work.
My honest opinion is continue to write, and record as high quality as you can. Anyone who is good at an instrument can be picky about the projects they join, especially with originals, and your music is your advert as again anyone decent won't just join on the speculation you might be able to write a few tracks. When we did a music video, the next time we needed to look for members we got a much higher quality of musician applying in general than when we posted up rehearsal recordings on SoundCloud for example.
At the end of the day you should do whatever is going to make you happy. If you really want to do originals then you just have to accept that things can begin at a glacial pace, focus on writing and fill in the positions as the opportunities arise.
gah!!!
Best of both worlds.
Its either/or unfortunately
im 38 I've been gigging since I was 16.
Ive been out of the scene the last 6 years or so, but I know a lot of musicians in my area, I'd like to think I have a reasonable standing as a player, but finding it super tough to get anything off the ground these days.
Its all about the people in the band though, dynamics and personality. I hate egos and politics, they ruin bands for me. The last band I was in I didn't get on with the bassist as he was full of himself and a control freak. He was a replacement for the original bassist and was never right for the lineup I felt. It didn't really go anywhere so I left earlier this year.
It it is hard work but also very rewarding if you can find the right people, I've been in countless lineups and experienced every sort of personality known to man lol
On a serious note, hold on in there dude, these things take a frustrating amount of time to come together but you know that reward of playing original music is always worth it.
I just want want to get in a room with a full band write awesome songs and make a noise, I'm willing to compromise by playing live because you have to, to get anyone to join you.
But id rather write, record, release and then play decent venues should we get a following.
Maybe 5/6 a year.
That way, people know what to expect. Also...you're unlikely to find a drummer who doesn't want to play live, so you're probably going to have to compromise on that.
Failing that, ditch the idea and start a Mastodon tribute band. Much more fun than wedding/function covers.
Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."
https://www.facebook.com/benswanwickguitar