Need advice quick
Need advice quick
Hi all,
I've been asked to join a band here in Seattle as one of the members is quitting, and I'm paralyzed by indecision. On one hand, they are playing regularly, gaining some exposure (recently featured on Anthony Bourdain's show), and it would be good for me to play with other people to keep my skills up.
On the other hand, I'm not really into their music—I think they are more glittery style over substance, and the lyrics and image are pretty corny by my standards. I've had my heart set on the project I'm about to start which is much darker, so this invitation comes at kind of a bad time since all of my free time would be taken up by being in this band, leaving none for my own music. So to sum up, I don't want to miss a good musical opportunity, but I think my heart would always be elsewhere. What would you do?
I've been asked to join a band here in Seattle as one of the members is quitting, and I'm paralyzed by indecision. On one hand, they are playing regularly, gaining some exposure (recently featured on Anthony Bourdain's show), and it would be good for me to play with other people to keep my skills up.
On the other hand, I'm not really into their music—I think they are more glittery style over substance, and the lyrics and image are pretty corny by my standards. I've had my heart set on the project I'm about to start which is much darker, so this invitation comes at kind of a bad time since all of my free time would be taken up by being in this band, leaving none for my own music. So to sum up, I don't want to miss a good musical opportunity, but I think my heart would always be elsewhere. What would you do?
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Re: Need advice quick
They do seem pretty corny. "We got an app for that" indeed.
I guess you have to ask yourself if the opportunity for more gigs/exposure is worth it versus doing your own thing? Which I honestly can't answer for you.
I guess you have to ask yourself if the opportunity for more gigs/exposure is worth it versus doing your own thing? Which I honestly can't answer for you.
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Re: Need advice quick
I say absolutely join 'em now. You're young, you got time to work on your own stuff, but take the chance of making some cash, traveling, networking, all the stuff that comes from being young, alive, and playing in a rock band. Don't be too precious about being a professional musician - it's getting harder and scarcer these days, man. Enjoy yourself. As the good Doctor H.S. Thompson said: "When the going gets tough, the tough turn pro".
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Re: Need advice quick
I'd say don't bother if you're heart's not in it. I hate watching musicians who look like they're mentally ticking off household chores while they're onstage.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
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Re: Need advice quick
I agree with Heston. Music is a labour of love for you, and if you don't love what you're doing it'll become work in the most pejorative sense. The stuff that is most important to us shouldn't be compromised.
edit: An additional point to consider: Is it fair to the band to sign on someone whose heart isn't fully in it?
edit: An additional point to consider: Is it fair to the band to sign on someone whose heart isn't fully in it?
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Re: Need advice quick
I say go for it if it means you're going to start doing promo photos in one of those pink suits. Should photoshop nicely 'round these parts.
The music didn't really impress me. Unless this is a gig that would help keep a roof over your head that's otherwise going away, I say keep at the passion project. Doc is right, too, that the band deserves to have someone who actually wants to be there.
The music didn't really impress me. Unless this is a gig that would help keep a roof over your head that's otherwise going away, I say keep at the passion project. Doc is right, too, that the band deserves to have someone who actually wants to be there.
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Re: Need advice quick
I think the band are pretty decent by the way.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
Re: Need advice quick
Thanks all, you've mostly confirmed my suspicions. I've also got some inside knowledge that working in the band is not quite a democracy. The rightmost pink-suited guy is quitting the band because it's too stressful for him to spend all his money on tailored suits and plane tickets to NY to open for Cindy Williams in front of an audience that has never heard of them.
I think musically they are generally sound, but they are lacking something special, considering the image they're trying to project. They're just a little bland for my taste. There's a lot of filler on their albums, and as I mentioned, the lyrics ain't anything to write home about ("where did you get that mojo from/you're like a brand-new stick of bubble gum"). Unfortunately, I'm not the guy to help them with any of that stuff as I've never written a pop song in my life.
I think musically they are generally sound, but they are lacking something special, considering the image they're trying to project. They're just a little bland for my taste. There's a lot of filler on their albums, and as I mentioned, the lyrics ain't anything to write home about ("where did you get that mojo from/you're like a brand-new stick of bubble gum"). Unfortunately, I'm not the guy to help them with any of that stuff as I've never written a pop song in my life.
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Re: Need advice quick
The lady in the UPC barcode pantsuit runs the show?
How else are you ever go to meet Lenny or Squiggy?The rightmost pink-suited guy is quitting the band because it's too stressful for him to spend all his money on tailored suits and plane tickets to NY to open for Cindy Williams in front of an audience that has never heard of them.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
Re: Need advice quick
That's my understanding. I hear it's quite a struggle to shift things in a direction if she's not into it. It was described to me that things most often go her way. She's the only original member, so it's kinda her band, I think.
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Re: Need advice quick
And what kind of band fires the original member?Kory wrote: ↑20 Feb 2018, 3:02pmThat's my understanding. I hear it's quite a struggle to shift things in a direction if she's not into it. It was described to me that things most often go her way. She's the only original member, so it's kinda her band, I think.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
Re: Need advice quick
Now we know to the fire whose feet we should have held!Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑20 Feb 2018, 3:07pmAnd what kind of band fires the original member?Kory wrote: ↑20 Feb 2018, 3:02pmThat's my understanding. I hear it's quite a struggle to shift things in a direction if she's not into it. It was described to me that things most often go her way. She's the only original member, so it's kinda her band, I think.
That sentence was fun to write.
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Re: Need advice quick
is everyone's expectations for the next stuff I produce going to be really high in light of declining the invitation to this band?
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Re: Need advice quick
I expect to grow gills and wings after just one listen, and then one new superpower mutation every five listens thereafter.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
Re: Need advice quick
Believe me, if I could just get the gills right, I could die happy.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑20 Feb 2018, 3:19pmI expect to grow gills and wings after just one listen, and then one new superpower mutation every five listens thereafter.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc