humabass Posted June 12, 2003 Share Posted June 12, 2003 Just thought I'd show you a copy of an email I sent to the guys in this group I was playing with. The email gives you a basic idea of the situation and I won't go into boring detail. Just thought you guys dealing with band situations might be interested and also curious to know if you think it was appropriately diplomatic. "Hey guys! Just wanted to touch bass(haha) with you. It seems that we all have very busy schedules what with summer,kids,vacations,etc. When I started playing with you guys I thought that you already had an established repertoire and was hoping I could just learn the songs and we'd be good to go. I really don't have time nor do I think many of us have time to learn one or two new songs every practice and be ready to play all new material any time soon. If your goal is to play out SOON then you'll have to find easy songs that everyone basically knows already. Also,I spent several years in a Southern Rock band and really had my fill. I'm not interested in playing Skynrd or Molly Hatchett. I'd be much more interested in funky R&B,Smooth Jazz(not toooo smooth-funky is the operative word for me!),Classic Rock,Blues,funky POP. I think the funky smooth jazz stuff would be well suited to some of your more "upscale" gigs. Anyway,the point to all this is that I'm currently not interested in practicing given our current direction. I like playing with you guys and enjoy your company but the current situation isn't working for me. Regards, Hugh" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prague Posted June 12, 2003 Share Posted June 12, 2003 First, you get 1000 kudos for communicating! I am not getting any firm decision on your part, though. If they were to go in a direction you agreed with, would you stay? My first impression was that you are just moving on. In other words, is their room for negotiation? Otherwise it is fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humabass Posted June 12, 2003 Author Share Posted June 12, 2003 Thanks for the kudos! I purposely left it open to give them a chance to digest it and see what may develop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fonz Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 actually if i were recieving that e-mail i wouldn't read it as open ended and inviting discussion but as a passive aggressive resignation. aside from that i'd just like to add my $.02 usd as to learning material (from a guy that has played with more bands than i can remember). everyone gets a tape of the material, even if it's just the singwriter taping himself on an acoustic guitar or keyboard, and chord charts would be nice. everyone goes home and listens and plays along until they basically know the material. everyone's time at rehearsal is too valuable to spend it teaching someone a song at a smails pace. learn the material outside on your own and then tighten it up/arrange it at rehearsal. Eeeeeehhhhhhhhh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humabass Posted June 13, 2003 Author Share Posted June 13, 2003 Originally posted by Bastid E: actually if i were recieving that e-mail i wouldn't read it as open ended and inviting discussion but as a passive aggressive resignation. aside from that i'd just like to add my $.02 usd as to learning material (from a guy that has played with more bands than i can remember). everyone gets a tape of the material, even if it's just the singwriter taping himself on an acoustic guitar or keyboard, and chord charts would be nice. everyone goes home and listens and plays along until they basically know the material. everyone's time at rehearsal is too valuable to spend it teaching someone a song at a smails pace. learn the material outside on your own and then tighten it up/arrange it at rehearsal.I guess I should clarify a little more. I met these guys through the drummer who comes into my wife's karate dojo. They had a band and I was led to believe they just lost their bassplayer and needed a replacement and already had a repertoire. I discovered that although they were my age they were not very experienced and average players at best AND wanted to learn "all new songs". I,too,have been in many bands and done hundreds of sub-gigs and agree completely with you about how best to learn material. I've told them this before but they didn't seem to get it and continued to want to "practice" by suddenly saying "here's a song we should do,let's listen to it now and learn it". Maybe I'm being selfish but I did tell them going in that I was already doing several part time studio projects and get called often to sub but that if given a tape of their songs I would quickly learn them and be ready to gig. "Passive,agressive,resignation"...hmmmm...maybe your right but I guess, in a way, I wasn't "inviting" discussion. I told them exactly how I felt but I'm always open-minded and willing to listen to someone elses point. Thanks for the feedback. It's helpful to hear how other people would react to what I said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 I gree with thE Bastid that it sounds like you are in "quit" mode. That's fine - maybe it will put the pressure on. A few other thoughts... My band meets once a month when we can get our act together. While it happens that someone "didn't finish their homework", we'd be bored and dead if all songs were decided at rehearsal. Anyone that was a bit less prepared this time knows their stuff next time. That's the point, and our playing time is too precious to waste. We do try things off the cuff and jam, but that's the lesser part of time spent. We will also listen to something to clarify any music that wasn't clear to everyone. I'm guessing the reason you stay with these guys is that they have enough talent and are decent people (show up on time, good to their mothers). Is there any leadership in the band, or does anyone that opens their mouth change the direction of the rehearsal? Do they recognize your deeper experience? Are they (and you) ready to sort of lead them in how the band should work (not who is up front performing)? And if they go along with you, study at home, follow your advice, then be flexible enough to deal with a few southern songs Despite my age I'm not a Deadhead, but we do a few of their songs. That's fine since I make them do a Cactus song Hope it goes your way Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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