Being in bands you don't really care about

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Wow, lotsa good points here.

I guess I was lucky... I really enjoyed playing a huge VARIETY of styles, and the two pro full time bands I was in for twenty years from 1980 till 2000 allowed me to do that. Classic country, newer radio country, oldies rock, 60's rock (lotsa Seger and CCR), bluegrass (I even played mandolin on a few songs!), disco, Eagles, Ronstadt, Emmy Lou, Little Feat, Warren Zevon, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Queen, Waylon and Willie, Temptations, even did a Judas Priest song for a while (followed by Merle Haggard!). The list goes on and on. I learned to enjoy all styles and embrace most.

I also learned to PLAY all styles from slamming 4/4 rock to Buck Owens shuffles (look it up) to slow-as-hell half time waltzes to train beats.

AND I earned a living for twenty years playing my drums.

I never would have CHOSEN to play Sweet Home Alabama or Takin' Care Of Business or On The Road Again or Margaritaville but I never really minded playing them, just another song for me to bash on my drums and get paid! And to be up on stage with a gang of guys and gals who were my compadres and who appreciated my skills and abilities (I was also a tech nerd who built speaker cabinets and set up the PA and ran sound from behind my drums for the bands. I would also arrange set lists, and call off / count off the songs).

Yeah Boy!

Plus my bands usually had house band gigs here in Prescott on Whiskey Row (a really happening night spot area that was within walking distance of my house) , so there was very little setup or breakdown, not much driving.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I know folks here like to talk about the "singer/songwriter original" project/band, but those situations (IMHO) were always WAY TOO limiting both in my involvement in the group and/or the quality of the music. Plus there just never was the VARIETY of musical styles that I always needed to keep me interested, nor was there ever much money. The worst of all possible worlds...
 
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I don't think I've ever not cared-- playing well is always interesting no matter the job, even trying to figure out how to tolerate a not very good situation. Some of them do make it hard to focus on that.

Something has to be worse than indifferent to challenge me that way-- it has to be music that is really repellent, or with players who are missing the boat like catastrophically.

I'm talking about paying work-- there are a lot of situations I wouldn't do just to play.
 
Houndog said:
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 .
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BTO! I kind of remember growing up that whenever there was some rock and roll cover band playing by the lakeside or at any other spot for some event, that they always seemed to play "Takin' Care of Business," which to me is about the most comical, unintentionally silly song imaginable. I always think that if I were to play in some kind of oldies cover band, I would have to play that song!

The first band that I played in was primarily an originals thing. All of us were kind of geeky, creative kids, but for the most part, not great musicians and without enough life experience to write songs that were very good. Listening back to old tapes of that stuff, the music was embarrassingly bad, yet I wouldn't have traded it for playing in the kind of nore-for-note cover bands that so many other kids were doing at the time. I felt like even if the product ultimately wasn't very good, there was something about the process of all throwing together to create something out of nothing, and that's what really got me into music. My mom, who wasn't much into music, was a visual artist, doing pottery and drawing/painting and she was all about the idea of expressing one's creativity, which is something that rubbed off on me and informed the way that I involve myself with music. For me, the joy of playing music isn't merely the physicality of playing the instrument as much as it is about developing and expressing my own style, and I don't feel that one can really do that if they're stuck playing covers type music that's meant to sound as much like the original versions as possible. I simply gravitate to the creative part of it more than anything else, and if I wasn't doing music, I'd surely just pour more of my time into other creative pursuits like photography, graphics or maybe picking up something new. I'm just attracted to that part of it, no matter what the medium is: film, literature, dance, etc...

I'm certainly not against playing covers though, so it isn't like I'm stuck on playing in situations that are only original music, and in fact have played jazz standard stuff for a very long time. I find that jazz, blues and a number of other genres actually allow for lots of creative freedom (and improvising, which is creative by nature). It's just that the concept of the rock cover band that I grew up with, playing music from the 70s and 80s in a note-for-note fashion, wasn't anything that drew me to it. I totally get that learning to play songs as much like the originals is a certain kind of challenge and surely teaches one some valuable skills, but it never really matched the reasons why I got into playing...
 
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Whitten said:
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.
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Yeah, I certainly get the "below average creative projects" thing. I seek out creative situations in which to play, but the fact that a group plays originals, even if they're all very accomplished musicians, isn't enough to keep me interested. I've checked out plenty of bands when shopping for opportunities to play that had pretty decent players, but the original material came off as so stock/cliche that I never ended up perusing it. I have, on the other hand, found myself playing with people who struck me as really creative types, who were playing music that really had it's own flavor and I felt had lots of potential, but who ultimately didn't have it together enough musically to reach that potential... which is a bit sad, and very frustrating, but I'd still rather do that than play with either note-for-note cover bands or with an original group playing really boring, uninspired material, even if the players are very good. It's a choice that I've made, which surely keeps me from playing out more and making money, but it's just where my heart is at...
 
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Whitten said:
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.
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Wha????
Aren’t they one and the same...don’t matter if you are the coverer or the coveree....... I’m sure the FM bunch thought their chords were exciting, with superlative lyrics as well, but to some folks maybe not so much....;)

Besides how many “original band” bands are basically cover bands of themselves still “playing” boring chords and “singing” bad lyrics.....let alone hoards of weekend warriors “covering”.....

On a similar but more lighthearted note (from an exciting chord hopefully), choosing said “hits” can be deal breakerz......


bt
 
mebeatee said:
Wha????
Aren’t they one and the same...don’t matter if you are the coverer or the coveree....... I’m sure the FM bunch thought their chords were exciting, with superlative lyrics as well, but to some folks maybe not so much....;)

Besides how many “original band” bands are basically cover bands of themselves still “playing” boring chords and “singing” bad lyrics.....let alone hoards of weekend warriors “covering”.....

On a similar but more lighthearted note (from an exciting chord hopefully), choosing said “hits” can be deal breakerz......


bt
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I didn’t have to watch the video to know why bands play Mustang Sally .

It never fails to get folks dancing ….
 
mebeatee said:
Wha????
Aren’t they one and the same...don’t matter if you are the coverer or the coveree....... I’m sure the FM bunch thought their chords were exciting, with superlative lyrics as well, but to some folks maybe not so much....;)

Besides how many “original band” bands are basically cover bands of themselves still “playing” boring chords and “singing” bad lyrics.....let alone hoards of weekend warriors “covering”.....

On a similar but more lighthearted note (from an exciting chord hopefully), choosing said “hits” can be deal breakerz......


bt
Click to expand...

Don't you be dissing Albatross like that!
 
I always play in bands i care about.

For whatever reason.
If the band has a commercial intend then i never ever do it for free.
Why should i, why should anybody ?

And why shouldnt i play in a band because i dont get paid when the band is not commerical, but i like the
fellow players and the music. :icon_e_biggrin:

And if one does not like the music
(for whatever reason like not wanting to expand the horizon, skills, or just mere taste),
does not like the fellow players and does not get paid-
why should he play in this Band ?
:icon_e_biggrin::icon_e_biggrin::icon_e_biggrin:

It looks i do live in some sort of parallel universe.
 
three dots said:
It looks i do live in some sort of parallel universe.
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Really? I think you are agreeing with most of the people posting.
People will do something free if it's fun, they enjoy the company of the other musicians and it's good music.
If the artist or band are professional, then you would rarely if ever do it for free, unless it was a try out, audition or one-off favour (rare). So you are in the same universe as most people.
 
Yes sir, some people do agree with me.

I meant this more have jokingly regarding the threads question and the agony some people have playing in bands "they dont really care about".

An agony i can imagine, but not a problem i share.
 
Nubs said:
Anyone else in this situation? Ever since moving to AZ a year ago, I have had to settle for playing in bands where the music isn't/wasn't really what I wanted to play. So far, I have been in 3 original bands and I'm currently in a cover band that I really don't give a $ about. I don't practice the songs and I don't really put any effort into it. Often I wonder why I continue with them, but I suppose something is better than nothing.

Anyone else?
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Yep. Been there. In a band I was not comfortable promoting cause of inconsistencies from the guitarist/singer. Very frustrating. I had limited choices due to a smaller scene and coming out of covid. Contemplated leaving many, many, times. It was not up to par with my experience level. Totally my fault to stay. I still wonder if it was better than nothing. It probably would have been better to cut bait and keep searching.

My advice is to move on. Life is too short.
 
Nubs said:
Anyone else in this situation? Ever since moving to AZ a year ago, I have had to settle for playing in bands where the music isn't/wasn't really what I wanted to play. So far, I have been in 3 original bands and I'm currently in a cover band that I really don't give a $ about. I don't practice the songs and I don't really put any effort into it. Often I wonder why I continue with them, but I suppose something is better than nothing.

Anyone else?
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I certainly have liked more situations more than others, but I’m thankful at 63 to still be active and playing. I’m grateful
 
Whitten said:
Really? I think you are agreeing with most of the people posting.
People will do something free if it's fun, they enjoy the company of the other musicians and it's good music.
If the artist or band are professional, then you would rarely if ever do it for free, unless it was a try out, audition or one-off favour (rare). So you are in the same universe as most people.
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Will you ever play for free ??
I’m not talking about benefits either .
 
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I have played for free many times but those events were to raise money for charities or flood victims etc. here......Once at a blind school to raise funds where a young blind drummer took over and wowed me. Those occasions were uplifting as well as with great musicians of a like mind.
 
Nubs said:
Anyone else in this situation? Ever since moving to AZ a year ago, I have had to settle for playing in bands where the music isn't/wasn't really what I wanted to play. So far, I have been in 3 original bands and I'm currently in a cover band that I really don't give a $ about. I don't practice the songs and I don't really put any effort into it. Often I wonder why I continue with them, but I suppose something is better than nothing.

Anyone else?
Click to expand...

You may to look for something/anything to like about each of those bands. It can be tough, I know, and I have a whole listing of songs I never want to hear again, much less play.

One possible solution is to start your own thing for fun, performing songs which might be considered "off night" music so that you kind of get the best of both worlds.

1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence

This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...
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Mike
http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com
https://drumcavedave.com/
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bbunks said:
Get out. You’re doing not anyone any favors - including yourself - by sticking around.

Plus, life’s too short. You’re wasting time. Find a teacher and work on your craft because that’s valuable on its own merit.
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I would or expand to this by stating that you don't want to stick around, all the while building resentment. Find something to like about it or move on for nothing else but to keep the friendship alive and the door open.

1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence

This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...
1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Mike
http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com
https://drumcavedave.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/drummermikemccraw
http://twitter.com/mikemccraw
http://www.skillpages.com/mike.mccraw
 
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