Being in bands you don't really care about

[Houndog]

Houndog: Doesn't it seem like some of the most talented players, and in my experience it has been lead guitar players, often have a proportionate amount of personal demons?

I have great friends who I love to write songs with or write lyrics for their song

You ain’t kidding !!
Guitar players sheeesh !!

 

[5 Style]

I think a lot of people agree, there are three aspects to being happy in a band...
1) The pay and conditions are good.
2) The music is good.
3) The people are very nice.
And ideally you need two out of three to make it a good experience.
That's how I measure up a situation before agreeing to take part.

I've never made much in the way of money from playing music, so the 2 and 3 parts have to rank high for me. I would say that in the two bands I'm in currently, I enjoy the music and the people are all decent. My complaint with both of these bands is that there's someone in each of them who on a purely musical level is having difficulty keeping up. I realize that for me, I'd rather be in this kind of situation than one where all of the players are perfectly up to speed but I don't care at all about the material being played. I have to remind myself of that here and there in order to keep from getting really frustrated with the situation...

 

[avedisschwinn]

I've never made much in the way of money from playing music, so the 2 and 3 parts have to rank high for me. I would say that in the two bands I'm in currently, I enjoy the music and the people are all decent. My complaint with both of these bands is that there's someone in each of them who on a purely musical level is having difficulty keeping up. I realize that for me, I'd rather be in this kind of situation rather than one where all of the players are perfectly up to speed but I don't care at all about the material being played. I have to remind myself of that here and there in order to keep from getting really frustrated with the situation...

agreed, I will take 2 out of 3, but not 1 out of 3.... one other thing: I have played in unhappy situations because I thought having work was important, but it hurt my playing. Hours of playing dumb songs with wankers, and I started turning into a dumb wanker of a drummer. I love when people say, "take every gig and play it like it is your last" but haven't really achieved that

 

[groovemastergreg]

What I have earned through playing over the years has easily covered all my past and current gear many times over so no complaints from my side

I'm more like Houndog. I've had a few bands that sent me home with actual cash money in my pocket. As a young student and then professional, that helped. However, as time
went on, the money stayed the same in Houston and Austin and generally covered my expenses for the gig and nothing else. Seems like the bars are now paying far less and at least in Houston and Austin, gigs start hours earlier and are over by 11. This too is fine with me but every now and then having three sets instead of two and that last set being the "rave up" where everybody, and the band especially, gets revved up in the music and dancing, well, that's hard to beat the adrenaline flow that comes out of that event. I am trying to find a new band and it's a lot harder than it used to be. In the early 80's, I hung out at at gigs like the late SRV's Fitzgerald local club gigs in Houston and met like minded musicians. Then I went to blues and rock jams and met tons of folks and that progressed into being in the house bands for several long term jams that lasted years. My dance card was always full. Then came our friend the pandemic.

We also had lots of rock and blues jam nights where random combos would get together and lots of original music sparked off of those sets. Today, it's the same crowd at all the small town blues jams and dreaded "open mic" nights. I went to an open mic night in my town a week ago and the local music store owner who was holding it in his huge store handed me a set of whatever those dowel rods wrapped together are called, and said no cymbals except closed hh please. I told him no thanks and came back home and watched some music dvds that interested me. There were a few electric guitars there for the jams but it was all country.

I scour online postings from Austin, but most of the folks I know that are blues players are playing in multiple bands doing multiple short tours. Subbing for friends is the only thing that's kept me sane the past few post-pandemic years. Lots of folks my age (65) out there playing, but they're either asses, have heavy duty demons I don't wanna deal with anymore, or have money/transportation problems. And almost all of the rental/leasable rehearsal studios have been out of business in both my towns since the pandemic. Just finding a place to rehearse in Austin has become a huge chore. At least in Houston there are still places, and I know clubowners of tiny clubs that will let a beginning band come get their wings at their venue in exchange for some free entertainment for them at the same time.

I may be a native Texas, but I don't wear boots and a hat anymore. Rarely.

 

[hsosdrum]

Exactly, you have achieved two out of three benchmarks.

And those are the only two benchmarks that matter to me. Substitute getting a decent paycheck for either one and I wouldn't do it. It's gotta be music I love and people I get along with or no dice.

 

[5 Style]

agreed, I will take 2 out of 3, but not 1 out of 3.... one other thing: I have played in unhappy situations because I thought having work was important, but it hurt my playing. Hours of playing dumb songs with wankers, and I started turning into a dumb wanker of a drummer. I love when people say, "take every gig and play it like it is your last" but haven't really achieved that

I don't want to begrudge folks who play in cover bands in bars and such to make their living. For me though that would be hell, as the last reason that I chose to play drums was to be part of what seems to me to be a kind of human jukebox. I feel like there's a certain kind of freedom which comes from not expecting to make money from the things that you enjoy the most. The fact that I don't feel that I have to make money playing music, gives me a lot more freedom to play the music that's most inspiring to me and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I think that if I had pursued music as a vocation and felt that I needed to make a living from it no matter what, which would force me to be a kind of journeyman player for all kinds of music that isn't particularly near and dear to my heart, I would have come to regret that decision. I surely wouldn't be having as much fun playing music as I do now...

 

[Houndog]

I don't want to begrudge folks who play in cover bands in bars and such to make their living. For me though that would be hell, as the last reason that I chose to play drums was to be part of what seems to me to be a kind of human jukebox. I feel like there's a certain kind of freedom which comes from not expecting to make money from the things that you enjoy the most. The fact that I don't feel that I have to make money playing music, gives me a lot more freedom to play the music that's most inspiring to me and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I think that if I had pursued music as a vocation and felt that I needed to make a living from it no matter what, which would force me to be a kind of journeyman player for all kinds of music that isn't particularly near and dear to my heart, I would have come to regret that decision. I surely wouldn't be having as much fun playing music as I do now...

I didn’t start playing music to play BTO at the VFW !!!!!



The 1st band I was in also had good originals , then a few more bands I was in did the same ….

I enjoy playing covers , and I certainly don’t begrudge anyone who does nothing but . I’m all about “ do what you want “
But man I gotta be a part of a creative process musically or I just don’t want to do it .

 

[Drumming dog]

I got to work with two songwriters for a couple of yrs. Really good stuff from both. It was fun recording. Everything from3/4 swing with 6/8 thrown in to train beats. Nicest stuff ive been fortunate to record thus far

 

[JimmyM]

If you guys find yourselves in a great situation that you enjoy in every way, you are of the few and not the many. Every band I've been in has never pleased me in every way, and I've come to accept it as part of the job to a certain extent.

 

[TheBeachBoy]

I don't want to begrudge folks who play in cover bands in bars and such to make their living. For me though that would be hell, as the last reason that I chose to play drums was to be part of what seems to me to be a kind of human jukebox. I feel like there's a certain kind of freedom which comes from not expecting to make money from the things that you enjoy the most. The fact that I don't feel that I have to make money playing music, gives me a lot more freedom to play the music that's most inspiring to me and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I think that if I had pursued music as a vocation and felt that I needed to make a living from it no matter what, which would force me to be a kind of journeyman player for all kinds of music that isn't particularly near and dear to my heart, I would have come to regret that decision. I surely wouldn't be having as much fun playing music as I do now...

Different strokes but I couldn't imagine doing anything else for a living, and I've done a bunch of different things. We play the music we like with the occasional Brown Eyed Girl or Margaritaville. I'd take a few minutes playing some songs we don't care for over a regular day job. We play/record our originals and I still write, play, and record music as a hobby at home and with friends.

 

[Whitten]

The fact that I don't feel that I have to make money playing music, gives me a lot more freedom to play the music that's most inspiring to me and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

This comes up often, but in reality I've always chosen which projects to work on and which to reject.
As a drummer in a band of successful songwriters, I guess I've always played covers, since 1984.
I just want to play great songs. I feel no joy working hard in a band that has average or quite poor material.
In the end, I would rather play a Fleetwood Mac hit in a bar band than play something original with boring chords and bad lyrics.

 

[hsosdrum]

....In the end, I would rather play a Fleetwood Mac hit in a bar band than play something original with boring chords and bad lyrics.

Sure, but each of us has a different interpretation of the phrase "bands you don't really care about". The chance to play Fleetwood Mac hits in a bar band wouldn't come within a mile of motivating me to pack, set up, play, tear down, and haul my drums back home. OTOH, the chance to play original music that I love in a bar band would motivate me to do all that and much, much more. One person's idea of boring chords and bad lyrics are another person's idea of musical heaven.

 

[Whitten]

Sure, I'm questioning the notion that professionals HAVE to work on music they dislike in order to stay professional.
Probably my least favourite thing to do in life is waste precious time on below average creative projects. Very hard to get out of bed on those days.
Going back to my three factor list, playing with lovely people and being well paid is probably my most compromised scenario. Which is why I have never backed a 'boy band' or mainstream female pop star on tour.
I've often worked with people I didn't particularly like if the music was superior and the pay was good. Probably my most agreed to scenario is earning low money, but playing superior music with very nice people.

 

[Steech]

Sure, I'm questioning the notion that professionals HAVE to work on music they dislike in order to stay professional.
Probably my least favourite thing to do in life is waste precious time on below average creative projects. Very hard to get out of bed on those days.
Going back to my three factor list, playing with lovely people and being well paid is probably my most compromised scenario. Which is why I have never backed a 'boy band' or mainstream female pop star on tour.
I've often worked with people I didn't particularly like if the music was superior and the pay was good. Probably my most agreed to scenario is earning low money, but playing superior music with very nice people.

What’s wrong with mainstream female pop stars?

 

[Houndog]

Sure, I'm questioning the notion that professionals HAVE to work on music they dislike in order to stay professional.
Probably my least favourite thing to do in life is waste precious time on below average creative projects. Very hard to get out of bed on those days.
Going back to my three factor list, playing with lovely people and being well paid is probably my most compromised scenario. Which is why I have never backed a 'boy band' or mainstream female pop star on tour.
I've often worked with people I didn't particularly like if the music was superior and the pay was good. Probably my most agreed to scenario is earning low money, but playing superior music with very nice people.

You never answered my question about your list of 3 things .

Do you ever play for free ?

 

[bigbonzo]

What’s wrong with mainstream female pop stars?

...or boy bands?

 

[Steech]

...or boy bands?

True

 

[jpalom01]

If I'm going to drive, cart, and load in / out a few hundred pounds of stuff, I'd prefer that it be for a gig where that (2 out of 3) rule above applies. Since the good money is rarely there, I'd settle for good music with good people.

It's easier to find a partner you love and a great relationship than it is to find a band you love. Strange but true IMO.

 

[JimmyM]

This comes up often, but in reality I've always chosen which projects to work on and which to reject.
As a drummer in a band of successful songwriters, I guess I've always played covers, since 1984.
I just want to play great songs. I feel no joy working hard in a band that has average or quite poor material.
In the end, I would rather play a Fleetwood Mac hit in a bar band than play something original with boring chords and bad lyrics.

What if it pays?

 

[s1212z]

1) The pay and conditions are good.
2) The music is good.
3) The people are very nice.

Hmm, I think I just need #2 and the rest is a bonus, and actually, I never really got #1 in my life ever, and several times had #3 with some great people.

But there are times I've felt I had to compromise a few factors as long as I felt musical growth...but like anything, balance is important if something is to be sustained. When I couldn't find any original music I wanted to play, I found it good motivation to write my own which was a trial and error process starting from scratch to have 'something'...but I preferred the challenge and process (and growth) as opposed to the frustration above, and I have no one to blame but myself if the music isn't good.