MaryO
Platinum Member
So I haven't reported to you for a while on my upcoming first gig that's happening in two weeks and there is a reason for that...I'm not feeling real good about the whole situation.
Where to even start....first of all...Band Drama, Drama and Drama. Nothing like being in band of all women...talk about moods. Ugh. Anyways I won't get into those details...
Mostly, I'm just not happy with this band and their level of performance and skill. While the singer has a decent voice (on some songs) that's about where the talent seems to stop. The singer plays keyboard but really is not that good at ti and it doesn't help that she's using a cheap Casio keyboard that literally cost her $60. No professional sounds at all and the tones she chooses to use for some songs, I just don't get. To me some of them sound like something a kid would use and it sounds very amateurish and lame.
The guitar player thinks she's Nancy Wilson but so isn't and she is supposed to be a back up singer but can't do the harmonies half the time or is so afraid to sing and you can't hear her. Of course this really doesn't work on the few songs she is supposed to sing lead!
My favorite was when the guitar player told me she was so used to keeping the beat in the band either because they were playing as a duo or because their last drummer couldn't do it and that it needed to stay that way so I just needed to follow her because she didn't want to have to relearn her actual part to all of the songs (excuse me but new drummer back here is having to learn all of the songs...period!). I guess they don't know what a drummer does!
And that brings us to the point that almost every song they play d...r....a....g....s so slow. I try to get them to speed up but it's always an uphill battle. Many songs that are supposed to be upbeat just sound depressing.
And rehearsals....ugh! They are so lax and we still have some songs that I can't get them to tell me how they end them or if they are playing a bridge in the song, etc. Getting them to count in a song, or let me do it, is like pulling teeth. And if we do a song once in rehearsal, that's it..they don't want to do it again, even if we mess it up or have questions about it. My favorite quote came after a rehearsal last week when I told them again I needed to know the endings because if I didn't, they'd stop and the drums would just keep playing. The guitar player said..."I don't know, I lkind of like it when that happens...it sounds cool". Seriously? Fine, I'll just do that on every song and look like a complete fool. Argh!
It's all very frustrating (can you tell?) mostly because I really wanted to get with some people who would push my abilities and teach me a few things and most of the time I feel it's been the exact opposite. I would never back out on the committment of this gig but at this point I'm actually almost embarrassed to get up and play with them. My boyfriend says just go and have fun and the audience will be able to tell that I'm a decent player but I'm afraid this band is just going to go down in flames taking me with them. As of now, I'm pretty sure I'll be parting ways with them after this gig.
I'd post some audio for you from practice but I'm too embarrassed. Yes, it's really that bad. At least my early gig for the night got cancelled out (part of the drama - long story) and I only have to play the one.
Are all first bands this difficult?? lol.
Sorry for the long, whining post but this is where I'm at. Who knows, maybe the night of the gig, it will all come together, the other girls will act like they give a damn and it'll be magic. I doubt it...but maybe. Please send all the positive vibes you can my way...I'm gonna need them!
I'll let you know how it goes when it's all said and done.
Where to even start....first of all...Band Drama, Drama and Drama. Nothing like being in band of all women...talk about moods. Ugh. Anyways I won't get into those details...
Mostly, I'm just not happy with this band and their level of performance and skill. While the singer has a decent voice (on some songs) that's about where the talent seems to stop. The singer plays keyboard but really is not that good at ti and it doesn't help that she's using a cheap Casio keyboard that literally cost her $60. No professional sounds at all and the tones she chooses to use for some songs, I just don't get. To me some of them sound like something a kid would use and it sounds very amateurish and lame.
The guitar player thinks she's Nancy Wilson but so isn't and she is supposed to be a back up singer but can't do the harmonies half the time or is so afraid to sing and you can't hear her. Of course this really doesn't work on the few songs she is supposed to sing lead!
My favorite was when the guitar player told me she was so used to keeping the beat in the band either because they were playing as a duo or because their last drummer couldn't do it and that it needed to stay that way so I just needed to follow her because she didn't want to have to relearn her actual part to all of the songs (excuse me but new drummer back here is having to learn all of the songs...period!). I guess they don't know what a drummer does!
And that brings us to the point that almost every song they play d...r....a....g....s so slow. I try to get them to speed up but it's always an uphill battle. Many songs that are supposed to be upbeat just sound depressing.
And rehearsals....ugh! They are so lax and we still have some songs that I can't get them to tell me how they end them or if they are playing a bridge in the song, etc. Getting them to count in a song, or let me do it, is like pulling teeth. And if we do a song once in rehearsal, that's it..they don't want to do it again, even if we mess it up or have questions about it. My favorite quote came after a rehearsal last week when I told them again I needed to know the endings because if I didn't, they'd stop and the drums would just keep playing. The guitar player said..."I don't know, I lkind of like it when that happens...it sounds cool". Seriously? Fine, I'll just do that on every song and look like a complete fool. Argh!
It's all very frustrating (can you tell?) mostly because I really wanted to get with some people who would push my abilities and teach me a few things and most of the time I feel it's been the exact opposite. I would never back out on the committment of this gig but at this point I'm actually almost embarrassed to get up and play with them. My boyfriend says just go and have fun and the audience will be able to tell that I'm a decent player but I'm afraid this band is just going to go down in flames taking me with them. As of now, I'm pretty sure I'll be parting ways with them after this gig.
I'd post some audio for you from practice but I'm too embarrassed. Yes, it's really that bad. At least my early gig for the night got cancelled out (part of the drama - long story) and I only have to play the one.
Are all first bands this difficult?? lol.
Sorry for the long, whining post but this is where I'm at. Who knows, maybe the night of the gig, it will all come together, the other girls will act like they give a damn and it'll be magic. I doubt it...but maybe. Please send all the positive vibes you can my way...I'm gonna need them!
I'll let you know how it goes when it's all said and done.