#1626781 - 06/25/03 04:51 PM
Is your band a democracy?
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The Thrashole
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 05/21/02
Posts: 2221
Loc: OH, UNITED STATES
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How are decisions made in your band? Every band i have ever played in seems to have a different dynamic in regards to how things get done.
Currently my band is run by a crazy dictator(Me). It seems like the guys are all way too comfortable in a "support" role and nobody wants to actually do any non-musical work. for example, the guys were talking about getting a small run of stickers and t-shirts. I suggested that everyone get some ideas on what they would like to see on the items and everyone get two price quotes. i also suggested that the guys with computers search the web and get quotes and the others get local quotes. Yep you guessed it- not one person brought anything in. I would prefer more of a group effort but that is currently not the way it's working out.
So how does yours work
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#1626783 - 06/25/03 05:16 PM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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Lee Flier
10k Club
Registered: 09/13/00
Posts: 15398
Loc: Atlanta,GA,UNITED STATES
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Ours seeems to just... work. It's crazy. We are really a democracy and yet there are no ego battles that often come from being equals, either. Everyone seems to be well aware of the responsibility that comes with having a democracy, as well as the power. So everybody pulls their weight and nobody feels like they're the one doing all the work or making all of the decisions. This dynamic has been apparent since day one, and two years later (having all previously been in bands where somebody wasn't pulling their weight), we still can't believe it's this easy.
As long as the band is willing to accept you as the dictator, a dictatorship can work too. If you're the dictator though, they can't bitch about lack of "creative input" or if you take home more of the pay. There are bands where people don't pull their weight at all yet still expect equal pay and equal part in the creative decision making. Now THAT's a problem.
I agree though, the ideal situation is where it's a genuine group effort. I wouldn't enjoy being a dictator, personally. But it takes a LOT of patience and a bit of luck as well to find individuals who can pull off a democracy. I feel very, very fortunate to have done that and none of us take it for granted.
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#1626784 - 06/25/03 05:20 PM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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Tom Capasso
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 7622
Loc: east meadow,NY,UNITED STATES
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thrash,
I tend to "drive the bus" for my band. We're not as aggressive a band as you guys, so the issue isn't as severe. I don't mind doing some pushing. Every once in a while, somebody pushes back and I back away. We are pretty democratic about song choices and so on.
We do have a problem arranging rehearsals. Some of us have the time to play more often than others. I was pushing this for a while, but after meeting some resistance I backed off. The beautiful thing is that now others are pushing this. Cool.
I find the band has a life of it's own with and ebb and flow. I push, but just when momentum is needed.
One aspect about being dictatorial is that some people are not strong enough or willing to stand up against a strong leader. You know your band and I don't, but consider backing away a bit. You may find that others either ask you to push or step up themselves.
Tom
_________________________
www.stoneflyrocks.com Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt
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#1626785 - 06/25/03 05:54 PM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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JDL
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/29/02
Posts: 2187
Loc: The West
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Yes! Democracy rules!!
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#1626786 - 06/25/03 06:09 PM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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CMDN
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 11/13/01
Posts: 6058
Loc: Philadelphia,PA,UNITED STATES
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I think we're not quite a dictatorship and not quite a democracy... I don't know what you'd call it.
I handle LOTS of the band's business -- shows, merchandising, etc. I also come up with a lot of the band's music and some of the lyrics.
However, even if I come up with the kernel of a song, we always compose the final song together, with everyone adding ideas. When it comes to designing artwork, etc, I usually leave that stuff to people who really know what they're doing. Although I DID design the covers for all of our releases... I always got help finishing the final designs.
I used to be a lot more rigid about stuff within the band (the way everyone looked, what was said onstage, etc), but, as the other guys gained experience, this has happened less and less. I no longer have to worry about someone showing up for a gig wearing something corny or acting like a deer in headlights onstage.
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\m/
Erik
Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket?
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#1626787 - 06/25/03 06:11 PM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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The Thrashole
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 05/21/02
Posts: 2221
Loc: OH, UNITED STATES
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Tom, What you describe is exactly what I'm going for. I just want to give the guys a gentle nudge in a certain direction and let them go. I will be the leader by nature of experience and age but you nailed exactly where I want to be.
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#1626788 - 06/25/03 06:34 PM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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Tom Capasso
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 7622
Loc: east meadow,NY,UNITED STATES
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In my case, the drummer has more experience than the rest of us, but clearly doesn't want to do the mundane "lead the band" thing. As you say, I do it naturally - I'm a manager whatever else I'm doing. The drummer will step up when he feels we're not going the right way, and that's fine.
It's a tough line to walk. Some people love to be nudged and don't want to think. Some people are insulted when you "tell them what to do".
Tom
_________________________
www.stoneflyrocks.com Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt
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#1626789 - 06/25/03 06:58 PM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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mstreck
Gold Member
Registered: 12/27/02
Posts: 876
Loc: MD
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Because of all the stuff I do to make the band thing "work", everyone says that it is my band (it most definitely is not one person's band). I have been jokingly labeled the "band nazi" because I am so meticulous in planning ot practices and I'm always looking ahead for opportunities or potential problems, but no one else does these things.
I'm not much for anything that presents me as a "leader" but someone has to do all the stuff that needs done. Basically, I will present something and unless there are no steadfast objections, we end up trying/doing it. It doesn't matter if it is a song arrangement, potential gig, weekend bbq/jam session... everyone pretty much goes with the flow.
The problems arise when people start ignoring their own responsibilities. Two things happen: everyone else gets pissed and someone ends up doing even more work (usually me).
That very thing happened this past weekend. Our singer STILL doesn't know the words to the songs (after a year!) so he was going over them while the rest of us were setting up. It was an outdoor gig and we were all sweating while he's sitting under a tree. So once I got my gear all ready to go, I ended up over at HIS monitor trying to make sure he had a good sound out of it. But, again, SOMEONE had to do it. By the time we started to play, we were still thinking those things that you can't say to your singer in front of a microphone audience. Fortunately, most of the resentment subsided by the end of the first set, especially since he barely needed to use a lyric sheet -- definitely a first.
Of course, as soon as we finished playing, he disappeared... leaving the rest of us to pack up. :rolleyes:
Mike
_________________________
Petting Hendrix Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked in the head by an iron boot? Of course you don't--no one does--that never happens.
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#1626790 - 06/26/03 05:41 AM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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KenElevenShadows
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 12/20/00
Posts: 8586
Loc: Los Angeles,CA,UNITED STATES
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Our band is very much a democracy. Pretty much everyone has to be in to the song and the parts before it gets done. Like all bands that are friendly democracies, one can end up doing something that is not quite to your liking. But we try and capture the synergy. We jam, come up with songs, shape them into something while still retaining the feel and emotion of the jam. It's something that we cannot come up with on our own, but have all our personalities intertwined in the song. I like it. My band is basically friends, friends I have known for a long time. I really love it. I don't always have songs come out the exact way that I would do it, but that's okay. I really enjoy the process and the idea of getting together with good friends to make music at least twice a week. We get along really well, and don't have arguments. It's wonderful.
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#1626791 - 06/26/03 12:48 PM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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mark_dog
Gold Member
Registered: 09/19/02
Posts: 536
Loc: cleveland
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I'm the dictator. My biggest flaw is that I'm controling.
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#1626792 - 06/27/03 06:05 PM
Re: Is your band a democracy?
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bassplayer7770
Senior Member
Registered: 10/26/01
Posts: 282
Loc: Hilliard,OH,UNITED STATES
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Kristi always lets the entire band help make decisions. She wants everybody's input. This does not mean she's a pushover, however. In fact, she's very determined to succeed. Check out the link to her website in my signature.
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