Band members......

[guitarmike]

The band:
Lead singer - never been in a band before
Drummer and other guitar player - has not gigged in 10+ years (the guitar player only gigged a few times).
Bass player and myself - 25yrs in active bands

The bass player in my current band has missed half of the practices since I joined 3 months ago. All were legitimate reasons. As you can imagine this is has pretty much halted progress and pissed off the rest of the band. I have been in bands that had 3 full sets by now, we have a little over 25 songs down. The band wants to change out the bass player (I do not disagree in principle). At the last practice the tension was thick and it is obvious that this configuration will not last.
After the bass player left practice I suggested to the rest of the band that staying the course and not changing out band members may be the lessor of two evils as long as he does not miss anymore practices. It also makes sense to try out some other bass players and see what is out there.

It is amazing that this crap is part and parcel to being in a band at any age and any style of music. Maybe I am getting old but I am getting tired of the whole band thing.

There is a distinct formula to being in a successful cover band:
1. Good vocals with 3 part harmony.
2. Play hits, not B sides.
3. Avoid extremes. Stay away from Bobby Sherman and death metal.
4. Don't play the same set list every other band plays.
5. Practice until you are tight.
6. Be available to play when asked (up to the # of gigs per month the band wants to play).
7. Always be professional and polite.
8. Do not play in a band to make extra $$$, pizza delivery is far more profitable.

As obvious as this someone in the band always seems to act like a rock star and screw it up. If your band is not dysfunctional, enjoy it while it lasts because it won't last forever. /End rant

 

[cecilbag]

Well said. I don't get the rockstar mentality when you're in a cover band. I do it for fun and it lets me use all the gear I obsess about

 

[El Mariachi]

SIGH... TRUTH!

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

sigh...... truth and yet that formula will still not get you gigs!

 

[d1469d]

Oh boy. Fire the bass player. He is whoring around. Tension in practice has to go. You guys need to sit down and duke it out. If things work out after that then your good. If not then it wasn't meant to happen. I have seen some shitty cover bands get all the gigs. They some how have a crowd following which sells beer and food. Bottom line,this is the only thing the venue cares about. So some the formula's you listed are not always the case. It would be a neat trick to see bands that follow that formula however it is a great surprise to see a band that follows the formula.

 

[guitarmike]

Oh boy. Fire the bass player. He is whoring around. Tension in practice has to go. You guys need to sit down and duke it out. If things work out after that then your good. If not then it wasn't meant to happen. I have seen some shitty cover bands get all the gigs. They some how have a crowd following which sells beer and food. Bottom line,this is the only thing the venue cares about. So some the formula's you listed are not always the case. It would be a neat trick to see bands that follow that formula however it is a great surprise to see a band that follows the formula.

That formula needs one more piece: a charismatic front man. That will sell beer and make it a party you want to be part of.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Fucking bass players. Been through 6 in the past 5 years. Finally got a good one, but can only rehearse on Monday. The worst day of the week.

 

[Chris6870]

Finally got a good one, but can only rehearse on Monday. The worst day of the week.

Nah I hate the guys who can only rehearse on Sunday. NFL, Nascar, boating, fishing, I got shit to do on Sunday!
Weeknights are boring as fuck,might as well jam.

 

[skoora]

Finally got a good one, but can only rehearse on Monday. The worst day of the week.

Nah I hate the guys who can only rehearse on Sunday. NFL, Nascar, boating, fishing, I got shit to do on Sunday!
Weeknights are boring as fuck,might as well jam.

Ha, we OnLY rehearse on Saturday and Sunday, tv on the weekend seems like a waste of time.

If I was to do a band again Sat and Sun would be prime as my job is so unreliable for getting off at a set time I would be bound to miss a weeknight rehearsal eventually. And rehearsal is so much fun when you rush from being on the job in your work clothes to go play and be relaxed and creative! Plus I'm so old and grizzled now setting rehearsal late enough to guarantee not missing it, is out. I laugh now at the idea of being in a band and having someone say "we got a gig, we go on at 11pm". ....can i play in my jammy's?!

Since I've been living outside of Marietta the thought of trying to drive any distance at 6-7pm to get to a practice is horrifying. The traffic here is off the charts.

 

[glassjaw7]

Now try being in a band that has been together for about 20 years and the singer and drummer are brothers!...talk about drama!!! Mental illness in that family but uber talent.

Multiply everything you thought you knew about dysfunctional band members by 10!

 

[Bishop5150]

I was in an original/ cover band for 20+ years. Can't even begin to count how many drummers and bass players and 2nd guitarist we went through. But for twenty+ years me and the singer and keyboard player were the mainstays. Me and the singer had a falling out though. Love the guys I'm jamming with in my Ozzy tribute. They were all together before me. I brought my keyboard player in from my old band. We all get along great and are on the same page. They are like family to me. We practice only on Sunday's as well. I got a DVR for tv shit I might miss. We practice on our drummers property which it about 45 min from my house. Not feasible to practice after work during the week.

 

[reverymike]

I was with you until #8.

Why not make some extra money? Playing covers is a GREAT way to make money.

 

[messenger]

The band:
Lead singer - never been in a band before
Drummer and other guitar player - has not gigged in 10+ years (the guitar player only gigged a few times).
Bass player and myself - 25yrs in active bands

The bass player in my current band has missed half of the practices since I joined 3 months ago. All were legitimate reasons. As you can imagine this is has pretty much halted progress and pissed off the rest of the band. I have been in bands that had 3 full sets by now, we have a little over 25 songs down. The band wants to change out the bass player (I do not disagree in principle). At the last practice the tension was thick and it is obvious that this configuration will not last.
After the bass player left practice I suggested to the rest of the band that staying the course and not changing out band members may be the lessor of two evils as long as he does not miss anymore practices. It also makes sense to try out some other bass players and see what is out there.

It is amazing that this crap is part and parcel to being in a band at any age and any style of music. Maybe I am getting old but I am getting tired of the whole band thing.

There is a distinct formula to being in a successful cover band:
1. Good vocals with 3 part harmony.
2. Play hits, not B sides.
3. Avoid extremes. Stay away from Bobby Sherman and death metal.
4. Don't play the same set list every other band plays.
5. Practice until you are tight.
6. Be available to play when asked (up to the # of gigs per month the band wants to play).
7. Always be professional and polite.
8. Do not play in a band to make extra $$$, pizza delivery is far more profitable.

As obvious as this someone in the band always seems to act like a rock star and screw it up. If your band is not dysfunctional, enjoy it while it lasts because it won't last forever. /End rant

How often do u guys practice? I'd tell him at the very least if he's not going to make practice to do some homework so he can keep up with the rest of the band. If he's been gigging for 25 years it shouldn't take him much work to learn the songs at home and just come in and tighten up with the rest of the band. I've had more than a few times where I've emailed a bass player 30 songs to come do a gig with us with 3 days notice.

 

[bish0p34]

Oh boy. Fire the bass player. He is whoring around. Tension in practice has to go. You guys need to sit down and duke it out. If things work out after that then your good. If not then it wasn't meant to happen. I have seen some shitty cover bands get all the gigs. They some how have a crowd following which sells beer and food. Bottom line,this is the only thing the venue cares about. So some the formula's you listed are not always the case. It would be a neat trick to see bands that follow that formula however it is a great surprise to see a band that follows the formula.

That formula needs one more piece: a charismatic front man. That will sell beer and make it a party you want to be part of.

This.

Also, make sure the band is entertaining on stage. This is more important than having a unique set list. Rocking or dancing around, looking like you're having a good time makes your band more enjoyable. My band plays a lot of stuff that other bands play, but we make it a point to deliver a good show. Minimal dead air between songs, everyone jumps around, drummer does stupid stick tricks, and two guys who can engage the crowd.

 

[Badronald]

Bass players.

Things are so much easier for us. Got rid of the keyboard, bass player and made the singer play bass. We're a Trio. Getting three guys together is waaay easier.

Singer is doing fantastic on bass. Much better than any bass player we ever had because he helps write the songs and knows them inside and out.

He doesn't have to re-learn the songs every week like a bass player. Morons.

 

[Racerxrated]

Oh boy. Fire the bass player. He is whoring around. Tension in practice has to go. You guys need to sit down and duke it out. If things work out after that then your good. If not then it wasn't meant to happen. I have seen some shitty cover bands get all the gigs. They some how have a crowd following which sells beer and food. Bottom line,this is the only thing the venue cares about. So some the formula's you listed are not always the case. It would be a neat trick to see bands that follow that formula however it is a great surprise to see a band that follows the formula.

That formula needs one more piece: a charismatic front man. That will sell beer and make it a party you want to be part of.

This.

Also, make sure the band is entertaining on stage. This is more important than having a unique set list. Rocking or dancing around, looking like you're having a good time makes your band more enjoyable. My band plays a lot of stuff that other bands play, but we make it a point to deliver a good show. Minimal dead air between songs, everyone jumps around, drummer does stupid stick tricks, and two guys who can engage the crowd.

This. One of the more popular bands in my area are just terrible... Wrong chords, off timing.....but they have a good front man. Not the best singer but he owns it up there. Hence the popularity. We are 3 part harmonies, no dead air and very few wrong notes....but we're all 40 something and don't have much for stage presence. So we're a middle of the pack cover band when it comes to draw. Yes, also enjoy it while it lasts cuz it won't.

 

[messenger]

Bass players.

Things are so much easier for us. Got rid of the keyboard, bass player and made the singer play bass. We're a Trio. Getting three guys together is waaay easier.

Singer is doing fantastic on bass. Much better than any bass player we ever had because he helps write the songs and knows them inside and out.

He doesn't have to re-learn the songs every week like a bass player. Morons.

I tried to convince my singer to do that a few years back (he's our second guitar player). Didn't take.

 

[Chris6870]

Finally got a good one, but can only rehearse on Monday. The worst day of the week.

Nah I hate the guys who can only rehearse on Sunday. NFL, Nascar, boating, fishing, I got shit to do on Sunday!
Weeknights are boring as fuck,might as well jam.

Ha, we OnLY rehearse on Saturday and Sunday, tv on the weekend seems like a waste of time.

Who said anything about TV?

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

Im going to stop playing guitar and play 12 string bass and take over the sound of the band!

 

[skoora]

If it's covers, who needs more than one rehearsal a week unless you're trying to develop a stage show? Rehearsal shouldn't be practice. Practice at home so you know it at rehearsal, you're just gelling it as a band at rehearsal. plus with the ease today of swapping files, it shouldn't be too difficult if someone has question or problems with a part to help them. But that would mean your playing with people who have a work ethic and are team players....not really the people I met in 20 years of doing bands...