When To Quit The Band

Warren

Need some thoughts please guys.

I've been part of this little cover band, Ruby Tuesday, for somewhere around 16 months now.

It has been the first and only band I've ever played in. We've done a handful of small gigs, nothing fancy, and not all of them paying gigs either. ?

We have some big age differences in the band, which has made choosing songs for our repertoire somewhat tricky. We also have very different needs in terms of what we hope to get out of the band. I see it as a hobby, something to hone my musical skills and a chance to learn from other musos. Some of the other guys want to take things more seriously, and practice and gig more (we currently only practice once a week).

All in all, I feel like I've achieved what I'm ever going to with this band: we've played live, I've learned all about the basics of gigging and band dynamics, my guitar playing is vastly better than before and I've learned SO much stuff about music in general and singing in particular.

So, I'm grateful for the experience.

But...

...practicing once a week, and gigging now and then...we're never going to really move beyond the very basic circles we're in. Since we don't play our own original music, I don't find our performances all that gratifying, and I'm not even really a massive fan of most of the songs we do. I don't MIND them as such, but they don't fire me up the way my favourite stuff does.

I'm feeling like I want to call it quits, and focus on writing my own material and recording for a while. I can do that at my own pace, and the results are very fulfilling.

The problem is that I'm a key part of the band: as the only guitarist / lead male vocalist, it will take some time for another person to get up to speed. I would feel somewhat responsible should the band split entirely. Our practice room is also at my parent's place in Linbro Park, but that's not an issue as my folks don't use the room anyway and I'm sure they'd be willing to let the band continue there.

So, long story short: I've grown apart from the cover band idea in general, and our band in particular. I have no enthusiasm to practice new songs, and we have no immediate gig prospects to work towards. We either have to take the next step up and become more serious and approach the corporate / private function crowd, or accept that this is as good as it gets. I don't really relish either prospect.

Should I tell the guys I'm calling it?

IceCreamMan

Yeah , if you heart aint in it ,best to pull it ...

no one is irreplaceble either.

Warren

IceCreamMan wrote: Yeah , if you heart aint in it ,best to pull it ...

no one is irreplaceble either.

No of course, I'm sure they could find somewhere else. Maybe it would even be easy, I just feel a bit bad is all.

costafonix

Seems like you've already made up your mind Warren, you've basically summed up what happens to most muso's in most bands. Key thing is to have direction and some kind of vision. If your vision is to create your own songs and play them live and that doesn't fit in with the rest of the band then follow your dream, being 'nice' in this situation doesn't help acheive your goals.

Bob-Dubery

You're not beholding to them, but you're also not the sort of guy to leave them in the lurch and wandering what happened. Talk it through with them, explain your thinking and aspirations, thank them for the times you've had together, and say you'll play with them for a month or two months so that they have time to audition a replacement.

If somebody else stands up and says "Well... I've also been thinking about this..." then that's not your doing and there's no need to feel responsible for that.

But think it through first. At present you're not getting many gigs. If you quit you may not get any gigs for a while. So weigh up the pros and cons.

AlanRatcliffe

Absolutely. Do it.

If the band can't replace you or limp on without you, they are not a real band anyway. Once you have reached the point where you are thinking of leaving the band it's time to go. Staying only staves off the inevitable and leaves you unhappy for the duration.

I was in the same situation once and it dragged on for years because I felt the band would implode without me (I owned, the drum kit, the PA and the practice spot). I knew it was going nowhere, but didn't want to let anyone down - these guys really enjoyed being in a band (not enough to practice at home, write new songs or even turn up for more than one measly band practice a week though). I eventually did leave, the band did implode, but we all ended up going on to bigger and better things (not necessarily in music, but still bigger and better). The only one with regrets? Me - for not doing it sooner.

To thine own self be true...

MIKA-the-better-one

The second you are not in it, or you feel there is nothing left to do, quit ?

Hammeron

If you are a passionate and good enough musician to be creating and performing your own material, which I am damn sure you are, it would be sacrilegious to let a cover band get in the way.

Bob-Dubery

X-rated Bob wrote: You're not beholding to them, but you're also not the sort of guy to leave them in the lurch and wandering what happened. Talk it through with them, explain your thinking and aspirations, thank them for the times you've had together, and say you'll play with them for a month or two months so that they have time to audition a replacement.

By which I mean putting a peg in the sand. Not something open ended like "until you decide what you want to do or find another guitarist". Make it reasonable but also absolute.

flatfourfan

question?

Have you discussed your concerns with the band, also about playing some more original material?

Warren

flatfourfan wrote: question?

Have you discussed your concerns with the band, also about playing some more original material?

It's practice night tomorrow, so I will bring up my issues then and see what happens.

Some background:

We've covered a lot of this sort of territory since we formed. Originally myself and our lead singer wanted to do some original numbers, but over time we've agreed that we're never going to be an original band.

It's difficult to agree on original music when we're all such different people. I feel that, for myself, if I'm the primary songwriter I actually want the bulk of the creative control in the band so that the final say rests with me. With a cover band you can be a bit more democratic, but I don't see how it will work with original music with this particular group of people.

Warren

Thanks for all your inputs guys. It really just cements what Costa was saying: I've kind of made up my mind and all that remains is just to do it. Will keep you posted on developments after tomorrow ?

DonovanB

Hammeron wrote: If you are a passionate and good enough musician to be creating and performing your own material, which I am damn sure you are, it would be sacrilegious to let a cover band get in the way.

This sounds like a plot for a movie

chris77

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. But knowing that doesn't make it easier to do hey. If your original stuff is like that fairy song you did for that one challenge, then it's the right thing to do imo. I'd buy that, I really would.

Hammeron

Donovan Banks wrote:
Hammeron wrote: If you are a passionate and good enough musician to be creating and performing your own material, which I am damn sure you are, it would be sacrilegious to let a cover band get in the way.
This sounds like a plot for a movie

?The song remains the same ?
I would love to have the time to practice 12 Sabbath songs and do some Sabbath nights!
But our own stuff just seems way more important.
Quite frankly I would rather be in a crap original band than a good cover band. ?

AlanRatcliffe

Warren wrote: I feel that, for myself, if I'm the primary songwriter I actually want the bulk of the creative control in the band so that the final say rests with me. With a cover band you can be a bit more democratic, but I don't see how it will work with original music with this particular group of people.

I dunno - everyone I've ever worked with has agreed that the songwriter gets final say over the production choices, regardless of musical differences. However in a democratic band, it is still possible that the band decides that the completed song doesn't fit into the band's identity.

Warren

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
I dunno - everyone I've ever worked with has agreed that the songwriter gets final say over the production choices, regardless of musical differences. However in a democratic band, it is still possible that the band decides that the completed song doesn't fit into the band's identity.

Maybe my motivation is more base, and I just don't feel like putting up with everyone anymore ? I dunno...

I have previously played some of my recorded stuff for the band, and there was a pleasant sort of acknowledgement ("Wow, that's quite good!") but no desire to really add anything like that to our repertoire. So in a way I already feel like the stuff I want to do won't fit with everyone: we're all quite different musically.

Spoke to our lead singer last night, and she has said that she'll be announcing her departure too, if I announce mine. Plus spoke to my mom and she's actually not keen (not surprising I guess) to make the room available for any band I'm not a part of.

Anyhow, tonight's the night! ?

Warren

Hammeron wrote:
Quite frankly I would rather be in a crap original band than a good cover band. ?

I admire the fact that you have your own original band, but I have to say that I'm very happy to have been a part of a cover band: I learned heaps of stuff about what it takes to perform certain types of songs etc. I think that one day if I do decide to create/join an original band I'll be a lot more prepared for it.

costafonix

Warren wrote: Spoke to our lead singer last night, and she has said that she'll be announcing her departure too, if I announce mine. Plus spoke to my mom and she's actually not keen (not surprising I guess) to make the room available for any band I'm not a part of.

Anyhow, tonight's the night! ?

good luck dude,
as they say, one door closes another one opens,,, its all part of your musical journey :yup:

Keira-WitherKay

Warren wrote:
Hammeron wrote:
Quite frankly I would rather be in a crap original band than a good cover band. ?
I admire the fact that you have your own original band, but I have to say that I'm very happy to have been a part of a cover band: I learned heaps of stuff about what it takes to perform certain types of songs etc. I think that one day if I do decide to create/join an original band I'll be a lot more prepared for it.

don't be so sure ......... i seen cover bands consumeor lets say devour potetially awesome original musicians......... i worked a long time ago with a guitarist who was a fabulous cover band guitarist and it took him years to reach that point of "cover perfection" and yes no denying his cover music was of the best i have heard in all my travels around this world ....but soon as he decided to record a solo original album he sounded just like the artists he had been covering , he became so good at "cloning" sounds he forgot how to have a sound of his own......

so yeah cover bands are great in some ways but can kill your uniqueness .as i've said before. no one wants a hendrix/satriani/jeff beck//ect/ect clone in original market and thats why most profecient cover band muso's never make the transition successfully to being original artists .....most great original acts .start out as just that original .and in turn ussually suck at being cover band players ? ....... and yes original bands do play covers at shows but in their own style but never like the original

there's no room for individuality in a "good" cover band.........

so yes the killer of inspiration and originality comes when you start working out covers note for note.........which all great cover/tribute bands do....... and ever wonder why jazz muso's never cover songs note for note in their sets.everyone plays summertime but if you got 3 bands back to back playing summertime they will all sound different even use reharmonised chords why .cos that way it breeds originality even if it's intrincically the same song

but anyway after all tha yeah good luck with "talk" and i think if you have material thats original , just get your own band where you call the shots.. no band is ever a democricy ....... one band leader and make that you