[Harp-L] Re: Was Rehearsals-NHDvsD

[Mike Fugazzi <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx>]

Regarding rehearsals with my band -

1. Show up with all songs learned as we don't have time to teach/learn
them.
2. Limit soloing time as much as possible.
3. We will practice starting songs, nailing progressions, and
endings.  If we don't have to play the whole song we don't.

Ultimately it is my band and I have final say on everything.  However,
I am not a dictator and I am pretty sure my guys have enjoyed working
with me thus far.  I like that no one can tell me what songs I have to
cover or when it is ok to play harmonica, etc.  I like getting to set
the stage volume, handling what people get paid, writing the setlists,
and fronting the band.  I am not huge into the business end, but by
default I have to do it. With great power comes great responsibility,
lol.


I think not having someone in charge of the band as it pertains to
business is always going to come back to hurt you.  That is exactly
what happened to NiteRail.  It was supposed to be a democracy, but no
one felt any real responsibility and therefore slacked off.  Then when
people tried to move in a focused direction, someone would cry foul
since they didn't get it their way.  Yuck.  Good way for good friends
to end up not playing together.

When it comes to the music, I think that's when being a bit democratic
will do you some good.

On Sep 16, 9:42 pm, Michael Easton <diachr...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 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 Eastonwww.harmonicarepair.com