Band Conflict

epictring · 2011-11-10T20:31:33+00:00

OK, so we had a really bad session today. Ended band practice with raising voices for each other over dedication, management and personal life type of conflicts. What is the best way to handle this and/or prevent it from happening in future? It's not healthy for the band.

TS10

You cant force a guy to play if he doesnt want to, worst dynamic ever. It will come through in the music.

let him go sooner than later, there are many talented guitarists out there and everyone is replaceable.

As for the gigs, venues know that this is the nature of bands. Chances are they will be cool and if you handle it right they will give you another shot when you have replaced the dead wood.

Finally, as far as having members dating, always a bad idea. I used to play in a band called Rubber Soul back in the 90s (giving away my age) and just as we cracked it and secured a R50k sponsorship from Durex condoms (Rubber Soul gettit?) to do a national tour, the drummer and singer broke up and that was the end of it.

I still remember driving all the way from CT to Oppikoppi to do a gig about a week after they split up, the black mood in the car was not fun for 13hrs ☹

Bob-Dubery

Promoters aren't THAT fussed about exactly who is in the band as long as the band turns up. Google "Black Sabbath"

sharonzaz

The real problem is the other guitarist who seems like some of you have described to see the band as a hobby, while I know the rest of us are dead serious about it and getting somewhere while still having fun though. So me and him have been having fights since the last 2 weeks since his commitment towards a new church band he joined and him not attending practice when asked anymore. Yesterday he gave us 3 months to find a new member and that actually means 1 month since we can't do anything this month (exams), next month is full of gigs and such, and we return home by the end of January. So now... I feel screwed, since we got gigs booked for next year that I might need to cancel - which I deem highly unprofessional.

Allow me to burst a bubble here - dude, if i got a few rands for every time
someone left on of my bands one way or the other
i could quit music for a living (not that i want to).

now, after years of this BS, i have found a solution:
i keep a few drummers and a couple of bassists who sing, plus a couple who dont on hold, to be called at any given time, cos even now, i get cancellations from a few of my musicians on a regular basis (everyone is playing for at least one or two other bands).

In reverse, the other day i offered a drummer a gig and he said pls allow me a day to confirm if i can do it.
i said cool.
3 days go by and no word from the dude.
i book another drummer.
an hour later he sends my bassist to tell me he can do it.
i said sorry, too late.

be smart.
musician (yes me too) are full of crap.
learn to work around it, its harder but at the end of the day
you stay on control and youre not left with your pants down.

Sheron

epictring

Thanks for the advice guys, I've ordered "One, Two, One, Two" by David Chrislett. Amazing book about bands, and the south african music industry. I can recommend it to anyone serious about their music. If you think you know it all, this book has an extra story to tell.

singemonkey

TS10 wrote just as we cracked it and secured a R50k sponsorship from Durex condoms (Rubber Soul gettit?) to do a national tour, the drummer and singer broke up and that was the end of it.

At least we can presume that no children came of the whole thing who had to suffer for it ?

deebee

Have a free for all punch up - the last man standing is the alloted leader by virtue of his skills, ''ducking, diving, avoiding being hit, kicked etc.'' >☹ >☹ >☹ ? ?

IceCreamMan

the concept of one leader should be scrutinised as i dont think its right .... in a band of indivudiuals each brings certain streghnths and weaknesses inherent in their makeup. Work with the strenghts of each and let that person lead for that activity. for instance in the band i play in i am the "organiser" , i schedule the studio , i make the financial arrangemetns , i generally do the logistics side of things, in that regard i lead the others follow. in other areas i happily follow while another leads. i dont think we subscribe to the 1 leader theory , however it must be said we are a hobby band nothing more.

epictring

IceCreamMan wrote the concept of one leader should be scrutinised as i dont think its right .... in a band of indivudiuals each brings certain streghnths and weaknesses inherent in their makeup. Work with the strenghts of each and let that person lead for that activity. for instance in the band i play in i am the "organiser" , i schedule the studio , i make the financial arrangemetns , i generally do the logistics side of things, in that regard i lead the others follow. in other areas i happily follow while another leads. i dont think we subscribe to the 1 leader theory , however it must be said we are a hobby band nothing more.

As a hobby goal I'm sure that may work. But handling the band as just another business requires a leader (or a CEO in the business world) to take care of things. We tried the other approach like you're mentioning but it didn't work. Maybe it also depends on the people in the band itself..

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