Playing keyboard in a band, Is it fun?

[Synthoid]

Am I the only one who thinks the original post may be a hoax?

 

Indeed. The OP joined the forum, posted one question, and hasn't returned to comment.

 

[The Real MC]

I've been gigging on and off for over thirty years.

 

The important things I look for in a band are personalities, mutual appreciation of music styles, and mutual goals.

 

When the personalities all mesh together, making music is a lot more fun. A group of top notch musicians is not going to go anywhere if there are personality clashes.

 

When there is a mutual appreciation of music styles, the respect comes easier and I don't have to fight tooth and nail for it. I make it a point to compliment other players. When you give respect, you get it in return - if the personalities are there. It also makes it easier when song suggestions go around. If the guitar becomes too dominant in the band, I won't be shy about my frustrations. Given that, I tend to avoid bands with more than one guitar player as there is often little sonic room for keyboards and I have gotten outvoted too often. I stay out of the singer and guitarist's way, and I expect the same when I play a solo.

 

What goals do you have? If it is strictly a hobby and you want time at home then you may only want to perform once a month. If another member is in the band to make a living and he can't afford to play less than ten times a month then that is a problem.

 

Then and only then do I consider the caliber of musicians. I am open minded to musicians less talented than I am, but my patience does have its limits. I am too old to hold hands anymore. I was in one band that had a bass player who either did not practice or could not remember his lines. One day I spotted him watching my hands so he could pick out the parts. That was going to be a serious problem if the stage layout is such that he can no longer see my hands. I ultimately took over the bass parts, and the drummer suddenly could play the actual parts of the songs because he was no longer held back by the original bass player.

 

Guitar players who insist on playing loud will be a problem. Guys like these have spent too many years playing by themselves and have no concept of how to fit in a ensemble format with other musicians.

 

And if the female singer and guitar player start an affair... more often then not that is a recipe for trouble.

[Outkaster]

I have found that fighting tooth and nail for respect is not an effective way to get it.

 

It's a figure of speech. But it's true. Guitarists never have to prove their self worth most of the time.

[The Real MC]

And above all, remember that a club doesn't hire you for your talent - they hire you to sell drinks.

 

If your music induces the patrons to dance, they sweat. If they sweat, they get thirsty and buy drinks from the bar. The more people you keep on the dance floor, the more drinks the bar sells, and that's $$$ in your pocket. It doesn't take top notch musicians to sell drinks.

[allan_evett]

And above all, remember that a club doesn't hire you for your talent - they hire you to sell drinks.

 

If your music induces the patrons to dance, they sweat. If they sweat, they get thirsty and buy drinks from the bar. The more people you keep on the dance floor, the more drinks the bar sells, and that's $$$ in your pocket. It doesn't take top notch musicians to sell drinks.

 

So what it boils down to is this: We're on the same level as the nut bowls on the bar - get people thirsty and keep 'em drinking. Hmmm...

[Synthoid]

And above all, remember that a club doesn't hire you for your talent - they hire you to sell drinks.

 

If your music induces the patrons to dance, they sweat. If they sweat, they get thirsty and buy drinks from the bar. The more people you keep on the dance floor, the more drinks the bar sells, and that's $$$ in your pocket. It doesn't take top notch musicians to sell drinks.

 

So what it boils down to is this: We're on the same level as the nut bowls on the bar - get people thirsty and keep 'em drinking. Hmmm...

 

Wonderful thought, ain't it?

[allan_evett]

And above all, remember that a club doesn't hire you for your talent - they hire you to sell drinks.

 

If your music induces the patrons to dance, they sweat. If they sweat, they get thirsty and buy drinks from the bar. The more people you keep on the dance floor, the more drinks the bar sells, and that's $$$ in your pocket. It doesn't take top notch musicians to sell drinks.

 

So what it boils down to is this: We're on the same level as the nut bowls on the bar - get people thirsty and keep 'em drinking. Hmmm...

 

Wonderful thought, ain't it?

 

Bah ! Humbug !

[timwat]

Well, that puts arguing about clone wheels into perspective. Merry Christmas, indeed!

[The Real MC]

Guitarists never have to prove their self worth most of the time.

 

Having seen the crop of guitar players around Rochester, I have to agree with that.

[AnotherScott]

And if the female singer and guitar player start an affair... more often then not that is a recipe for trouble.

OTOH, if the female singer and the keyboard player start an affair...

 

Nah, that'll never happen.

[allan_evett]

And if the female singer and guitar player start an affair... more often then not that is a recipe for trouble.

OTOH, if the female singer and the keyboard player start an affair...

 

Nah, that'll never happen.

 

Once upon a time, a keyboard player and female singer started a fling, and then he woke up..

[ksoper]

OTOH, if the female singer and the keyboard player start an affair...

 

Nah, that'll never happen.

 

It did, and that was my first mistake in the music business.

[Joe Muscara]

Guitarists never have to prove their self worth most of the time.

Horse hockey! That's the whole reason most of 'em play guitar!!

[Al Coda]

 

It did, and that was my first mistake in the music business.

 

What were the other mistakes ?

 

A.C.

[opdigits]

I don't know about you guys, but I've gotten three possible future band names out of this thread:

 

Collective Legs

 

Nut Bowls

 

Horse Hockey

 

Whaddya think?

[Kevmo]

All these yrs I thought I was practicing my art ....... Turns out I'm just a beer salesman

[AnotherScott]

 

It did, and that was my first mistake in the music business.

 

What were the other mistakes ?

They're in college now.

[MuzikTeechur]

Am I the only one who thinks the original post may be a hoax?

 

Indeed. The OP joined the forum, posted one question, and hasn't returned to comment.

 

 

That was my initial reaction. Make way for trolls! Really.. kind of a simplistic question "is it fun?" I haven't read all three pages of replies, but if ITGITC isn't in here, he should be.

[ksoper]

 

It did, and that was my first mistake in the music business.

 

What were the other mistakes ?

 

A.C.

 

There's not enough space on the server.

[Chris Link]

Lots of good points. Playing in a band is damned fun and once in a while something sublime happens.

 

Playing a (thankfully rare) free benefit last night with the C&W band for an employee of our bandleader whose husband died unexpectedly.

 

I'm not a listener of country music, but they're great guys and good musicians and it's been a lot of fun and some very good music-making.

 

We have a newer tune, "Cruise" that has all these great high harmonies almost the entire song and I typically get stuck doing them. Toward the end there is an instrumental stop and the vocals continue ("... it'd look a whole lot better with you up in it") and we absolutely nailed it in perfect three part harmony. I honest to God had the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

 

THAT, my friend, is why you play in a band.

[garnermike]

Hate....HATE....playing weddings. Bridezillas abound. Whether there's a wedding planner or not, the wedding party seems to think everything can come off like planned clockwork---and it NEVER does (because, when it comes righr down to it, they don't plan well, and play it by ear). We stopped agreeing to play any requested tunes for the happy couple dance/father-daughter dance/mother son dance--not worth the prep time (we instead tell them that our PA is available for them to ipod any special tunes thru). We make the point (explicitly clear!) that they've heard us before, they love us, they now want us to play their wedding, but what they've seen/heard of us is what they will get---nothing special. If it weren't for the very good money, we'd play NO weddings. As it is, our wedding gigs have decreased from about 6/yr to about 3/yr, and I couldn't be happier about that.

[Michael W]

I've only played in a few bands over the years, but at my age and situation in life, this is my approach to playing out:

 

For me, there are three main factors I prefer to have with gigs if I am going to go through all of the work and hassle of playing out (which usually includes a lot of gear schlepping at 2am when it is 15 degrees and snowing):

 

- Ideally, I am mostly playing music I like.

 

- Ideally, I am playing in front of larger crowds, and not six people in a bar.

 

- Ideally, I am getting paid a reasonable wage for my efforts.

 

Just being a part-timer over the years, I have found it difficult to find a band where I was regularly playing gigs that provided all three of those things. As a result, I have learned to be happy with two.

 

If I am playing music I like, and getting paid well, I really don't care how many people are there.

 

If I am playing for lots of people, and playing music I like, I really don't care how much I am getting paid.

 

You get the idea. Just my situation.

 

 

 

[AnotherScott]

- Ideally, I am mostly playing music I like.

 

- Ideally, I am playing in front of larger crowds, and not six people in a bar.

 

- Ideally, I am getting paid a reasonable wage for my efforts.

 

 

4. Ideally, I am playing with good musicians and pleasant people who I enjoy playing with.

 

5. Ideally, I don't have to drive more than about an hour to get to the gig.

[Synthoid]

 

It did, and that was my first mistake in the music business.

 

What were the other mistakes ?

 

There's not enough space on the server.

 

Had a rough life then?

[richforman]

I don't care too much about "playing music I like," there has been tons and tons of music I have played over the years that would not be anywhere near my personal taste in listening-to-for-fun, but that I have still had a great amount of fun and rewarding experiences (and learned a lot and improved as a musician) learning and performing - in fact most of the music I've performed at gigs over the decades probably falls into this category. (And it's a pet peeve of mine, in band discussions about what songs to add, to hear someone say "I hate that song" - to me that's not really what is about and is irrelevant, I figure we're trying to pick songs that audiences will like and respond to and that will get us gigs and money - not just to play our individual personal favorites. Of course if you hate *all* the music you're playing in a particular band then that won't work either, but I'll settle for even having just a handful in there somewhere that I personally like or especially like playing.) The other factors you mention certainly come into play - not in deciding whether to take any particular individual gig, but rather for getting involved in a band project in an ongoing way. Good musicians and singers is an absolutely firm criteria - and applied to *everybody* in the project, if I think anyone is not up to snuff I won't want to be involved in an ongoing basis (although for a fill-in or pickup gig that can be fine). Pleasant to work with and I like them and get along with them personally is a very nice extra when it happens, but is a little much to expect to be the case for *all* the people in the band - hopefully there will be one or two that you're simpatico and can become actual friends with and that makes it easier to put up with the others' annoying quirks! Good gigs/crowds and decent money are two factors that, yes, I have become accustomed to and kind of insist on with a pretty good run of luck over the last six or seven years - but again, when considering joining a band, I consider whether I think those will be the case in a least a good number of gigs over the run of the band - I don't expect it to be the case with *every* single gig with them.