[Harp-L] Re:Was Rehearsals-NHDvsD

[Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I always wind up being the so called office manager for the bands I'm in
since some bandleaders tend to focus more on song selection and  
arrangements.

I've taken over the role in my current band by default.  After a year  
the website wasn't being built,
promo shots weren't being taken, zero self promotion. Everybody knew  
somebody that could do it
but when you rely on people outside the band to give a damn about your  
needs its a tough climb uphill.

I don't want to be the bandleader. My strong points are organizational  
and multitasking skills.
The bandleader and others don't see me as a threat. I'm the guy that  
keeps the monkey off their back and
the line of communication open so no one is left out of the loop.

 I also set up the bands email account and private website for the  
band members ONLY  to keep abreast of
vacations and dates some members aren't available.
This prevents any one of us from booking a gig then having to cancel  
it 2 hours later because of prior commitments.

I take care of setting up and following up on studio dates and special  
events to see what backline gear is  provided and email all members as  
soon as I find out.  While the bands email address is on my computer I  
have it set up so all band emails are fwd to the bandleader
as well.  I keep track of the songs we practice each week. The new  
ones we go over. What we rehearsed last week. Copies of all our set  
lists in case someone forgets to write it...  oh yeah and I play  
harmonica. :)

 Tomorrow night the website goes public.  Exactly 2 weeks after I  
took the reigns.


On Sep 16, 2010, at 8:03 PM, Rick Davis wrote:
> I think a band needs a leader who is an occasional benign and  
> benevolent
> dictator.  At some point, somebody has to choose between competing  
> ideas and
> opinions regarding songs, arrangements, gigs, etc, etc, etc...
>
> That role has fallen to me in my band.  I make the call when there  
> is a log
> jam or when consensus would take too long.  I've played in bands  
> (and known
> plenty of other bands) that have a dreamy-eyed vision of some kind of
> totally democratic band that shares all decisions and thinks they  
> will end
> up agreeing on everything.  There is a word for bands like that:   
> Defunct.
> It never works for long.

Michael Easton
www.harmonicarepair.com