Author Topic: Would you play in a band if you didn't like their material?  (Read 301 times)

richbass939

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Would you play in a band if you didn't like their material?
« Reply #30 on: November 16, 2009, 08:02:55 PM »
For a year in the late '70s I played full time.  I did not like the music.  The audience was not my kind of people.  I had a difficult time getting along with some of the band members.  The money was better than I had ever made up until that point.  It didn't take very long before I was very miserable.  I stuck it out for a year only because I wasn't ready to give up on my dream of making a career of music.
When I quit I sold all my stuff because I didn't want to play music anymore, even as a hobby.  That's how sick of it I was.  I didn't own an instrument for probably 5 years.
I have been in a band for about 9 months.  We play music I like.  The other band members are very good and cool to hang with.  The audience really likes us.  The money is pretty good but is really beside the point.  I'm happy with what is going on and where it seems to be going.
As 88persuader said, what will you get out of doing it and what will you give up?   I guess it's very different for someone who is making a living playing.  I don't think very many of us like every aspect of our main jobs.
Jazzy, I hope your decision about a gig makes you happy as well as pays the bills.
Oh, by the way, I saw a Smart car last week.  Very cool.
Rich

pace

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Would you play in a band if you didn't like their material?
« Reply #31 on: November 20, 2009, 10:21:36 AM »
This is a great thread, and there are so many tangents, that it would be easy for me to digress.... My rule of thumb is if the bandleaders ego is bigger than the size of the crowd, then forget it.  
 
I've had bad experiences in all original bands (ie~ yoko syndrome)
 
I've had bad experiences in 50/50 bands (ie~ every player has a different threshold for the material/rehearsals/pay)
 
I've had bad experiences in cover/GB bands (ie~ months of rehearsals & high hopes only to fall apart after the second/third gig)  
 
The one common factor is that I approached every one of these gigs with an open mind. My bad, so be it.  
 
 But if this is round two for you Jazzy, I'd lay down your piece of mind with the other guys... You've been there done that, it was tried and failed, now it's time for something different.

andbassforall

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Would you play in a band if you didn't like their material?
« Reply #32 on: November 24, 2009, 09:19:00 PM »
I get faced with that all the time. The guidelines I go by:
 
Are they good people. Are they good at what they do.   You don't have to like it, but will others?  Of course money comes into play.  If it's crap money and they people aren't any fun to be around, then don't do it.  If it's crap money but that part doesn't hurt your feelings and you appreciate the environment, it may be something you can do... as long as you feel you won't put a bad attitude behind your playing if you don't totally believe in the tunes.  Of course you want to be fair to the band as well.  
 
In the end, if you aren't falling in the love with the music at some point, no matter how good the gig is.. there's always an expiration date.  
 
Best of luck!