Thundernotes Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 I'm feeling the need to vent about a crappy gig last night and what I see as an emerging trend with my band: We have a lead singer who's more into recording and professes to "hate performing". Why he agreed to participate in this band is puzzling to me, but that's the way it is. Even more confusing is a recent kick he's been on to spruce up the website and work on advertising more. This weekend we were rocking a local bar and some issues began to worsen. Over the last few gigs, our lead singer/guitarist has been messing up with greater frequency and severity. Forgotten lyrics (for which he tries to make up funny replacements and fails miserably), muffed solos, screwed up arrangements, and the like all combining for an unprofessional display. I'm not talking about hitting a bad note or stumbling on a lyric here and there - I mean acting like he doesn't give a shit any more. He's been taking 35-40 minute breaks where he's getting trashed out in his car, apparently. I don't really care what the reasoning is, but we have some high-profile and high-paying gigs coming up soon. I'm not sure I want to take the stage having to fear a meltdown from this guy. I'm the one who books all the shows and has relationships established with agents and clubs, and I'm not about to blow the reputation I've built just to keep going with this guy. I want to keep working and expanding in this area, while it looks like he doesn't. His not being in the band would effectively terminate our operation. There's no getting a sub for someone who does 2/3 of the lead vocals and besides, he and the keyboard player are good friends - I think if one goes, the other does too. So how do I approach this? Straight confrontation? Ask what his preference for the future is? Lay down the law? Just quit and move on by myself? One thing's for sure, I'm not going to plead with him to clean up his act. I'm leaning toward saying that it's OK if he's not into it any more, and let's just cancel the schedule and move on with our lives. Thanks for listening
Matt Mattson Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 Are we talking drugs or alchohol in the mix?
RobB Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 I'm leaning toward saying that it's OK if he's not into it any more, and let's just cancel the schedule and move on with our lives. Given the circumstances, I would say the above is a good way to handle the sitch. If you're doing all the heavy lifting, and this jag can't even muster the energy to remember lyrics, seems like he should be cut loose, especially if the band is doing well and you're cultivating more high-profile gigs. Playing music is supposed to be enjoyable, made moreso if you can make some extra cash doing it. Don't let this pisher ruin everything you've worked for all this time. Tough love, baby!
BTMN Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 Thundernotes wrote:"I'm leaning toward saying that it's OK if he's not into it any more, and let's just cancel the schedule and move on with our lives." There ya go. Cherry pick the guys you need for your next band in a few weeks. Keep the contacts you book with and get a fresh start. Give that guy all the rope he needs he sounds about done anyway.
Guest Meshuggah Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 Does he have a cat? Nail it to his door and write a note in cat blood telling him what gives. I sawr it in a movie once. Worked there.
Steve Haynie Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 If the guy is really good when he is on top of his game, have the talk with him. If he can be replaced within a few months, cancel some shows and be honest with your clients. Booking shows is about business, yours and the club's. If you do not provide a good show, you lose gigs. If the club does not get a good show, it loses customers. Remind the people who book your band you are aware that your performance affects their businesses.
DaveH Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 What's his friend, the keyboard player, have to say about things?
BubbaVO Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 I'm leaning toward saying that it's OK if he's not into it any more, and let's just cancel the schedule and move on with our lives. Given the circumstances, I would say the above is a good way to handle the sitch. If you're doing all the heavy lifting, and this jag can't even muster the energy to remember lyrics, seems like he should be cut loose, especially if the band is doing well and you're cultivating more high-profile gigs. Playing music is supposed to be enjoyable, made moreso if you can make some extra cash doing it. Don't let this pisher ruin everything you've worked for all this time. Tough love, baby! +1
Scottcrud Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 Confront him, if he doesn't want to take the band seriously, fire/replace him.
Mindseyes Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 I had the same problem in the last band i was in.....cept i rolled with it for about 3 years till it came to a head 6 or 7 months ago when he walked out on us 30 min. into the set infront of 250-300 peeps.I say confront him!!! tell him to shape up or ship out!It isent worth it allways wondering what hes going to do or not do next all the time!Good luck sir!
elduave Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 Are we talking drugs or alchohol in the mix?A-What difference does it make other than the legal aspect? It's not like you need to make something up to fire him.B-Alcohol is a drug. T-Notes, I think your position is best. Just be matter of fact and try to keep your emotions out of it. Calmy go over the issues, ask him to think about how he'd like to proceed.
silentman Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 My band is having issues as well. 2 members are having trouble making practice and gigs have suffered accordingly. Thinking of throwing in the towel and reforming. Sucks.
bobbymack Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 T-Notes, I think your position is best. Just be matter of fact and try to keep your emotions out of it. Calmy go over the issues, ask him to think about how he'd like to proceed.Yep, a calm but serious discussion, handled with respect. That way if he recommits to the band, you can have his ego involved which should help get things back on track faster. If he can't recommit, you've saved alot of hassle, just cancel some near term gigs and be honest with the clubowners as suggested above...T-Notes, I think your position is best. Just be matter of fact and try to keep your emotions out of it. Calmly go over the issues, ask him to think about how he'd like to proceed.Yep, a calm but serious discussion, handled with respect. That way if he recommits to the band, you can have his ego involved which should help get things back on track faster. If he can't recommit, you've saved alot of hassle, just cancel some near term gigs and be honest with the clubowners as suggested above...
Matt Mattson Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 Are we talking drugs or alchohol in the mix?A-What difference does it make other than the legal aspect? It's not like you need to make something up to fire him.B-Alcohol is a drug. T-Notes, I think your position is best. Just be matter of fact and try to keep your emotions out of it. Calmy go over the issues, ask him to think about how he'd like to proceed.You treat the drug or alchohol problem and there's places to get a lot of help for that. An entirely different approach and take on that problem as opposed to the cheating wife/job stress/or just an asshole problem.
Thundernotes Posted October 1, 2007 Author Posted October 1, 2007 The recent change has been one of carelessness. "Fuggit - let's just play" In a way, it was almost nice when it started a few gigs back. He seemed to have relaxed a bit. Normally, the recording mentality made him all pissy if the mix wasn't exactly to his liking. But the relaxed attitude combined with a hefty dose of liquid brain-flush (schnapps) made our normally tight arrangements look like a train wreck on jam night. Not good. The keyboard player seems to be trying desperately to hold things together. I give him a lot of credit for that, since we've put a couple of years work into this. I'm sure there are family issues or something behind this problem, but we have a job to do too. It's a very frustrating situation.
Brooks Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 My band is having issues as well. 2 members are having trouble making practice and gigs have suffered accordingly. Thinking of throwing in the towel and reforming. Sucks. time to fire up that duo project! one asshole is better than 2-4 assholes, ha.
Thundernotes Posted October 2, 2007 Author Posted October 2, 2007 My band is having issues as well. 2 members are having trouble making practice and gigs have suffered accordingly. Thinking of throwing in the towel and reforming. Sucks. time to fire up that duo project! one asshole is better than 2-4 assholes, ha. I've already got that in the works - probably solo, but I may find a suitable duo. No matter what happens with the band, they don't work enough for my tastes, so I'd like to pick up 2-4 more gigs a month doing something. Too bad Lou doesn't live a half-hour closer: we could be "Silent Thunder".
Feynman Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 Yeah - "Man Notes" doesn't have the same ring to it.
morningstar Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 Move on. There are a lot of people out there who are serious.New Hampshire, eh? Carlton Chase is in your neighborhood. This is his modeler tones forumhttp://carltonec.com/wowbb/Carlton's a whiz with all sorts of musical stuff. He's a Rycher too.tatamorningstar
Hardrockracer Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 Straight confrontation. You've put far too much energy in this band (and are the worker behind the scenes) to have some B-S**thead ruining everything. If he wants to leave, no problem. If the keyboarder wants to leave too, fine (finally you can get rid of the keyboarder,he he. Seriosly, I am not into keyboarders, more into 2 guitarists). If you, as a musician, have something to offer to potential new members I don't see why you can't get a good lineup back quickly. I don't tolerate any kindergarden-like actions or behaviour in my band.HRR
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