Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: cozmik_cowboy on June 04, 2010, 01:35:45 PM

Title: 33 Important Rules for Bands
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on June 04, 2010, 01:35:45 PM
This has going around the net for awhile, but it's always good for a reminder....
 
1. Never start a trio with a married couple.  
 
2. Your manager's not helping you.  
 
3. Before you sign a record deal, look up the word recoupable in the dictionary.  
 
4. No one cares who you've opened for.  
 
5. A string section does not make your songs sound any more important.  
 
6. If your band has gone through more than four bass players, it's time to break up.  
 
7. When you talk on stage, you're never as funny as you think.  
 
8. If you sound like another band, don't act like you're unfamiliar with their music  
    (Oh, does Rage Against The Machine also do rap-rock with political lyrics?)  
 
9. Asking a crowd how they're doing is just amplified small talk.  
 
10. Don't say your video's being played if it's only on the Austin Music Network.  
 
11. When you sign to a major label, claim to have inked the best contract  
       ever. Mention artistic freedom and a guaranteed three-record deal.  
 
12. When you get dropped, insist that it was the worst contract ever, and you asked
       to be let go.  
 
13. Never name a song after your band.  
 
14. Never name your band after a song.  
 
15. When a drummer brings in his own songs, and asks to perform one of them,  
       begin looking for a new drummer immediately.  
 
16. Never enter a Battle of the Bands contest.  
 
17. Learn to recognize scary word pairings such as rock opera, white rapper,
      blues jam, swing band, open mike, etc.  
 
18. Drummers can take off their shirts or they can wear gloves, but not both.  
 
19. Break it to your parents: it's rock 'n' roll, not a soccer game. They've gotta stop
      coming to your shows.  
 
20. It's not a showcase. It's a gig that doesn't pay.  
 
21. Getting a tattoo is like sewing platform shoes to your feet.  
 
22. Don't hire a publicist.  
 
23. Playing in Akron, Ohio doesn't mean that you're on tour.  
 
24. Don't join a cover band that plays Bush songs. In fact, don't join a cover band.  
 
25. Although they come in different styles and colors, electric guitars all  
      sound the same. It's not necessary to keep changing them between songs.  
 
26. Don't stop your set to ask that beers be brought up. That's what girlfriends are for.  
 
27. If you use a smoke machine, your music sucks.  
 
28. We can tell the difference between a professionally produced album cover and  
       one you made with the iMac your Mom got for Christmas.  
 
29. Remember: if blues solos are so difficult, why can so many 16 year olds play  
      them?  
 
30. If you ever take a publicity photo, destroy it. You may never know where, when,
      or how it will turn up.  
 
31. Don't wear shorts onstage. Or a suit. Or a hat.  
 
32. Rock oxymorons: major label interest, demo deal, blues genius, $500
      guarantee, and Fastfall's second hit.  
 
33. Three things that are never coming back: gongs, headbands, and playing slide
      guitar with a beer bottle.  
 
 
Peter
Title: 33 Important Rules for Bands
Post by: rjmsteel on June 04, 2010, 03:12:15 PM
Thank You, Peter:  
 
btw never have done #16.  
 
On #20 I believe its you PAY to play, at least thats my experience.    -Rich
Title: 33 Important Rules for Bands
Post by: hb3 on June 04, 2010, 04:12:29 PM
1, 2, 16, yes.  
 
But gongs and headbands are never coming back? Bite your tongue!
Title: 33 Important Rules for Bands
Post by: keith_h on June 04, 2010, 04:39:17 PM
If you don't use a beer bottle as a slide how will your girlfriend know it's time to bring you another beer?  
 
Keith
Title: 33 Important Rules for Bands
Post by: terryc on June 04, 2010, 06:27:07 PM
No. 24 sorry that's UK #24..cover bands..what's wrong with cover bands..who want to listen to some unknown song on a Saturday night when you are out drinking??
Title: 33 Important Rules for Bands
Post by: benson_murrensun on June 08, 2010, 04:15:06 PM
So I started this trio with a married couple, one of whom was the manager. We got a record deal after opening for ________ and __________, but the manager insisted we use a string section in order for us to sound more important. The string section had more than four bass players, two of whom used to make small talk on stage, which, we were told, made us sound like one of those other bands, which we had never listened to. The record contract gave us lots of artistic freedom and guaranteed us three records but after recoupable expenses (one of which was the string section) we realized it sucked and then they dropped us.
(I could go on, but why?)