Join my band: another classic!

[Dan Dare]

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I think most of us can cope with stuff that's a bit more than three or four chords from memory. Even the odd bit of Bach 🙂

 

Agreed. I felt there was some macho posturing going on in the post I responded to. As I wrote originally, when you have to have a couple of hundred songs on tap, which is pretty standard for a function band, you can't perform them all at the drop of a hat (barring those that get a regular outing), without some form of aide memoire.

 

Many of us play in several bands and/or do deps, too, which compounds the issue. It's easier for those who have their one band, with a fixed set list of two dozen numbers, that plays or rehearses every week.

Edited Saturday at 18:52 by Dan Dare

[Stub Mandrel]

16 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

Many of us play in several bands and/or do deps, too, which compounds the issue. It's easier for those who have their one band, with a fixed set list of two dozen numbers, that plays or rehearses every week.

Edited 14 minutes ago by Dan Dare

 

I suspect things are different for every one of us. I'm in two covers bands, recently recruited to an originals band and currently looking at songs to help out another covers band... fortunately many of those do fall into the 3 or 4 chord bag - but not all! After performing my favourite bit is learning songs. If only I didn't keep getting distracted by songs I dont have to perform... 😁

 

As for tablets... it's really down to how people use them. There's no excuse not to learn straightforward stuff, but I've been known to look over someone's shoulder when jamming a song I haven’t played before.

 

The main issue is with vocalists... some use it as a crutch and lose their connection with the audience, others just use it as a safety net.

[Pseudonym]

On 10/05/2025 at 11:22, Dad3353 said:

Rather odd that there is no mention of the salary that such a position justifies. One may 'call the shots' when one is signing large cheques. 

 

I can imagine at least a couple of drummers thinking, "Well, it's usually like this anyway, so big deal."

 

I can imagine a few bassists thinking, "As long as I can get along with the drummer, it's all good. No one else ever understands the rhythm section anyway."

 

I cannot imagine many guitarists thinking, "Excellent! That's what I picked up the electric guitar to do, serve the interests of the singer with no thought for myself, and no ego at stake."