... then it's clear that no progress will be made, mistakes are ignored and repeated. We hack through the songs and get lucky occasionally, but often it is a somewhat embarrassing trainwreck. I guess it's common to have different expectations arise... some care, some don't. I'm no perfectionist, but I like at least some desire to improve, and present myself with integrity. Retired Grandpa bands... is that my sad future?
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It's fun being in a casual band... at first
- Thread starter Kansas
- Start date
What is this casual band trying to do? If it's a bunch of guys who never plan to leave the basement, then it is what it is. If you are wanting to play out, then yeah, everyone has to be on board for working to improve.
Why play in a group at all if there is no effort put towards making better sounds? Mistakes? Repeated?
I’m 60, and if there is no effort towards a goal of some sort?
Not worth MY time and effort!
I’m 60, and if there is no effort towards a goal of some sort?
Not worth MY time and effort!
Actually declining health and mental acuity or just the effects of aging is more of a problem than a lack of accepted quality. Well, with us anyway.
What were we talking about again???
How casual? Khakis and short sleeves or are we talking Hawai'ian shirts and cargo shorts?
Retired Grandpa Bands, oh my(would use an expletive but you know how this site handles that). Played with one this year and they are fanatical about playing it just like the record even if it meant playing 10-12 songs per set. I didn’t like the 4 sets a night bar gigs plus the couple extra hours moving lights and PA in and out.
They were good but not great, mimics rarely are.
They were good but not great, mimics rarely are.
For many the casual band is an escape from a honeydew list or simply quality time spent away from the home.
The musical output may take a backseat to the camaraderie? To me it sounds like why many enjoy fishing with a full beer cooler?
The musical output may take a backseat to the camaraderie? To me it sounds like why many enjoy fishing with a full beer cooler?
My current band is 2 retirees ( the drummer is from Cliff Burton’s band Trauma)
And 2 30 something’s and gigging is a blast.
All members care very much about the product, and goal #1 is FUN.
And 2 30 something’s and gigging is a blast.
All members care very much about the product, and goal #1 is FUN.
I've been in a casual/hobby band with (mostly) the same folks for many years. We decided against gigging long ago because we just don't enjoy the work/fun ratio, but we're good enough to gig if we wanted to. (We didn't start as a "retired grandpa band," but have since aged into that category.)
Anyway, we are all serious about the quality of the music, if only because playing good music is more fun than playing bad music. Sometimes our band nights seem almost like rehearsals -- e.g., if we screw something up we'll discuss it and fix it -- but we've found a good balance between just having fun and playing well. So I guess my point is that being "only" a casual/hobby band doesn't have to mean settling for train wrecks if you have some like-minded souls who share this attitude.
Anyway, we are all serious about the quality of the music, if only because playing good music is more fun than playing bad music. Sometimes our band nights seem almost like rehearsals -- e.g., if we screw something up we'll discuss it and fix it -- but we've found a good balance between just having fun and playing well. So I guess my point is that being "only" a casual/hobby band doesn't have to mean settling for train wrecks if you have some like-minded souls who share this attitude.
The joy of a lot of blues and jazz is they are based on improvisation, rather than set pieces. Why perform when you can jam?
I've played in professional bands most of my adult life. At this point, at age 76, there is no going back to just " doing it for fun ", or, " just jamming ". I had a great run, and occasionally get to do some studio stuff now, but, if the pro opportunity, or at least a serious effort at becoming one does not present itself, then I'd rather stay at home and noodle around on my own.
No ties and top button undone. Cufflinks optional.
I moved to a new city a few years back, and have not gigged since. Career and family first, so no regrets. I do occasionally jam with co workers who appreciate having a competent bassist. It’s casual , sloppy and fun.
But the minute any one suggests playing a gig I will politely explain that my expectations and effort will be quite different. No more loosey goosey jams, nail down every bar, transition, intro and coda, expect everyone does there homework and so forth. Not sure what the appreciation will be then….
But the minute any one suggests playing a gig I will politely explain that my expectations and effort will be quite different. No more loosey goosey jams, nail down every bar, transition, intro and coda, expect everyone does there homework and so forth. Not sure what the appreciation will be then….
My band is going through a bit of this. Great musicians, not quite embarrassing train wreck, but, not polished, no regular practice schedule, almost never sticking to a set list, mixed opinion about content to be played. We still have lots of fun but there is an background feeling of unreached potential, at least from me. We are all busy with older kids, so timing can be tough. Came to a bit of a head a few weeks ago when the drummer threatened to bow out a few days before a show. We talked him down and had a come to jesus talk which seems to have us back on track, at least for the time being.
As per pepj's commentary , what does casual mean to you vs casual for the other members?
As per pepj's commentary , what does casual mean to you vs casual for the other members?
Well, on the opposite end. I was playing in a very serious band, I joined them nearly 2 years ago. My joining raised the level of the band greatly, not bragging, just facts. We range in ages from mid-50's to mid-60's, I am 62 so right in the middle. Our popularity grew very quickly, we were playing 6 to 8 shows a month and the requests for us just kept coming in and no one wanted to say no, everyone but one of us worked a full-time job. We finally slowed down after Christmas last year and took at month long break before we started on new material. The schedule started up again in late March of this year and the jobs just grew. We all burned out. Set up and tear down of a high powered show takes its toll on a bunch of old men. I suggested that we get some help, but everyone was too drunk on the money, it was very good, not great. By the time we got to the middle of June I was about done and gave my notice, I was done on July 4th. They convinced me to finish the schedule which ended at that time in October, my compromise was that I would not be there for set up or tear down, other than my equipment. By the time we got to July 4th, everyone was getting pretty chippy and after a show on July 3rd and some garbage comments from one of the guitar players, I quit on the spot. It didn't help that for most shows I was driving an hour more that everyone else, but not the deciding factor. I have been doing this since 1981, took time off when my kids were small, but pretty steady. Right now, I don't miss it.
I used to have a regular basement thing with some friends, we would get together every week and have some fun playing and fun doing some other stuff. Everyone once in a while we would play out, when we wanted, we could have done a lot more. Every once in a while we would go to a little hole in the wall neighborhood bar and have an open jam and the place would be absolutely jam packed. That was a lot of fun, no pressure, sometimes we ended up playing the whole night, sometimes someone would show up and want to play bass and they ended up playing the whole night.
Set your expectations properly and learn how to have fun in any situation.
I used to have a regular basement thing with some friends, we would get together every week and have some fun playing and fun doing some other stuff. Everyone once in a while we would play out, when we wanted, we could have done a lot more. Every once in a while we would go to a little hole in the wall neighborhood bar and have an open jam and the place would be absolutely jam packed. That was a lot of fun, no pressure, sometimes we ended up playing the whole night, sometimes someone would show up and want to play bass and they ended up playing the whole night.
Set your expectations properly and learn how to have fun in any situation.
Has the term “friends with bandefits” ever been used before? You know, lots of fun until someone gets serious. Maybe that should be a TB thing from here out.
Anyway, OP, it always spices things up to fire someone. Typically, the drummer.
Anyway, OP, it always spices things up to fire someone. Typically, the drummer.
Some people just do it for fun. There is no goal, the journey is its own reward.
Some people like to play checkers, or canasta, or gin rummy. They don't study these games, they don't read books on strategy, and clearly there's no opportunity for individual practice. They've learned all they care to and they win or lose on opponents' lapses or the occasional spark of intuition.
Not for me, but I'm not one to criticize someone who just likes to play.
Almost a year ago exactly I got thrown off stage in front of my whole town and half the musos in a 100km radius of town on the second performance with two really nice guys both of whom were off their heads. After we had a few solid jams in front of audiences they changed everything playing live and couldn't see we were not together enough to get away with that (we might, might, have got away with it with a drummer but not as 2 guitars and a bass). Since then I've played a few jam sessions and convinced myself I can play ok, but my fate is not playing polished music with people who are passionate about sounding great but jamming with a couple of friends and it being fun but rough as guts. Or walking up on stage at a jam and someone saying, "You'll know this one" and playing the most common 3 or 4 chord pattern we communally share and expecting me to know which of the 6847 songs recorded this decade it is and expecting me to play a fair facsimile the original bass line.
Sadly, I suspect this is my musical future. Actually I'm very sad this is my musical future...
Sadly, I suspect this is my musical future. Actually I'm very sad this is my musical future...