OT- It's hard getting a band going...

[ProgRocker53]

Most of the musicians I know are either content with playing by themselves, already in bands (usually death metal or screamo), or too busy and aloof to play in a consistent band with me.

I have mediocre equipment and mediocre talent but I'd like to get better at what I do (bass, BG vox) by jamming and writing with others.. but this forsaken backwater burgh is deprived of enthusiastic musicians with any kind of taste or ambition.

If I was older, richer, and had my own recording studio none of this would be a problem, I'd just do all my own instruments... haha but right now I'm up shit creek without a paddle musically.

Anyone else ever had the same problem starting out?

[Rick]

A good friend of mine had a band for about 6 years. He was very enthusiastic about it, like you. He would get so exasperated though, trying to get them all to practice and learn new songs. Each of them were pretty damn good in their own right, and it wasn't any one of their fault, as you know, life tends to get in the way. They played classic rock, and I'd go watch them as often as I could. Even got a t-shirt. But it all finally got to be too much and when the drummer decided to pursue other interests, they just decided to hang it up.

Hopefully they'll regroup soon. I need a night out.

[AlteredDNA]

I had similar experiences as well...We did have one good run, though, summer / fall of 1985...then we all went our seperate ways...

We keep saying we're going to "get the band back together", but...

I do enjoy writing and recording at home...as I've gotten older, er I mean more mature, I'm finally able to afford some of the cool toys...

Keep trying...

[ProgRocker53]

I WAS in a band for three or four months that was legit and could've made a big splash on the local scene, but the lead singer was a controlling egomaniac that drove a stake right through the group... we had one gig but it all fell apart two weeks later, a few weeks before we were due to hit a local studio!

Maybe tricking the band into playing a Journey song that I masked as an original, and then surprising them with the real version of the song and showing them it was Journey, wasn't a very smart idea?

They all hated Journey and I was trying to prove to them that they were a fun band to cover and listen to.. I thought that trick would work but.... haha got my ass chewed out for that one..

[The Sushi Hunter]

Dude.....the band life is nothing but personality conflicts one after the other! The only thread that holds some bands together is the fact that they knew each other as far back as when they were in grade school. As you get older, it's harder to find members that can share that bond with you. That's when the personality conflicts kick in. One thing for certain.....musicians are a very strange lot. But I'm sure you already know that.

[brywool]

I've been in the same cover band for 10 years. There've been a few personality changes over those years basically centering around that one of our members passed away. The band itself has been in existence for about 30 years.

Bands are ALWAYS a personality-balancing act. It's too bad. It would be amazing to be in a band where everyone had their head on straight, took responsibility, and WANTED to progress. I have found that with every band I've been in, after a few years, apathy and laziness can set in (rarely am I that guy). If your market is crappy (as it has been getting everywhere for cover/classic rock bands in the past few years here) it makes you pick each other apart when you should just say "hey, it's the way things go" and just take things as they come.

Proggy- I would suggest you find other means for getting your yayas out. Buy a 4 track. Write and record your own tunes, or even covers if it's fun for you. Learn a new instrument!

I'm 45 and started teaching myself drums at Christmas because my wife got me a Roland kit because I said I always wanted to learn and because I was bored with my own situation. When my band's not playing or rehearsing, it's a great way to have fun AND pound out some aggression.

I've also started writing more and recording more. I've met some people here that I'm now laying down vocal tracks for. A band, especially a cover band, is a finite thing. It can be a source of happiness but also of great frustration. Different people have different goals and then there's the market which is always up and down. And- immaturity abounds.

Keep yer chin up and put your bummed-ness into some original tunes.

[brandonx76]

The only thread that holds some bands together is the fact that they knew each other as far back as when they were in grade school.

That's a good point. That was definitely the case for Toto, and they still had significant member change ups throughout the years. Another possible 'thread' or glue, would be a very agressive talent manager with a vision (like Herbie). Makes you really appreciate a band like Journey...the stars aligned for that one.

Progrocker - sorry to hear your are frustrated, it happens...Don't stop believin' though, if you can play bass, you can write songs. I wish I knew how to play keys, actually. At 31 I am thinking very seriously about picking it up again. I'd love to work on my own material / music, rather than depend on others to make it happen. I did the band thing long enough to know that it was an up-hill battle especially relying on other people who were only half-heartedly trying.

There is one thing, a good song, good playing, good anything, musically (however you define it), can inspire a band to work together and tends to attract others. Networking helps as well.

[brywool]

speaking of this, has anybody here sold songs to labels or anywhere else? If so, how'd you go about it?

[FishinMagician]

ya if i lived by you we could have a good band goin with journey and rush tunes and whatnot. everyone around here just plays metal as wel...

[WalrusOct9]

Most of the musicians I know are either content with playing by themselves, already in bands (usually death metal or screamo), or too busy and aloof to play in a consistent band with me.

you're in the states (like me)...what do you expect, something melodic that requires a certain amount of talent to do? Not likely in this country...

[The Sushi Hunter]

speaking of this, has anybody here sold songs to labels or anywhere else? If so, how'd you go about it?

I knew people in both Capital and Arista records in Los Angeles back in the late 90's and one thing you don't want to do is send a demo tape to those offices without having a lagit Attn To contact name included. They get demos daily by the truck load and if there is no Attn To contact name included in the address, the demo's go directly to the shreader, is what the people I knew there told me.

If you've copywritten any of your materials, you should be receiving a bunch of invites by small companies who wish to discuss purchasing your materials. I've never entertained any of those invites so I couldn't tell you what is in store for those who do. But that could be a place to start. I've copywritten tons of stuff but so far haven't been interested to sell it yet. I copywritten stuff only so I could work with outside sources on projects and wanted to be sure that if there was anyone I was working with who tried to copywrite any of my material that I exposed to them, I would have a legal right to sue the piss out of them for it.