Looking for advice

Thank you for listening to the video and getting through my wall of words.

I thought that having read all of the stories and advice here on TB that I would be prepared for anything that came down and everything would run super smooth. Reality has checked me.

Not such a task listening and reading through at all. If you’ve favored me with the compliment of asking for my my input, the very least I can do is listen to everything you had to show and tell before putting my tuppence in.

It’s been said that no battle plan remains intact more than a minute after the actual battle begins. Business plans are no different. Trust me. I’ve made every mistake in the book at one tome or another despite being super organized and a careful planner.

You anticipate contingencies and do your best to plan for them only to realize reality will give you a run for your money every single time. Maybe you never learn to love it. But with experience at least you come to accept it as normal and muddle through. And what’s experience besides recognizing a mistake the second time you make it?
 
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There are some singers who really work best when they are out front. They take that singularity very seriously, especially when they can't really communicate what they want to another singer. Many singer just can't see beyond their own contribution to the band.

So I watched that video you posted and wondered if having two singers singing the exact same thing at the exact same time was actually a thing. I've never seen that before.

Anyway, so that caused friction, then you decided to take away half the songs from singer 1. Now having singer two is seen solely as a detriment to singer one - he gets to sing less. I've never heard of singers getting on and off the stage for each others material - someone has a tambourine, shakers, harmonies, guitar, something to do while the other sings.

I think you've dug too far with these two. Singer one is pissed with the shadow they had to put up with, and he's now being forced to sit out songs just to keep the other guy around? I think at this point you should cut your losses with both of these guys and find another singer. Then, if you really want it, find a another singer who can truly find those harmonies, operate some shakers, a tambourine, or do something else when his harmonies are not needed.
 
If I was Singer 1, I'd be weird about it too. You say you're bringing in a backup singer, and he instantly becomes a... doubled lead singer? And when the incumbent is understandably confused, the solution is to take him out of half the songs? ***?

I have no idea why you brought the second guy in in the first place, and if he's the worse singer and also maybe has an alcohol problem, the solution is simple -- get rid of the second guy. You never needed him.

I wish I would have read my post 6 months ago.
 
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I think you've dug too far with these two. Singer one is pissed with the shadow they had to put up with, and he's now being forced to sit out songs just to keep the other guy around? I think at this point you should cut your losses with both of these guys and find another singer.

I am having that same feeling.
 
Stuff happens. We're all only human, and many of us are optimistic things will work out. We learn, eventually. ;-)

Don't be so hard on yourself. Bands form and dissipate all the time.

Yeah, I know. But I thought...I've done my homework, I've read the horror stories, I've read the successes, I know what needs to be done! The drummer and guitarist are both solid, level-headed, and committed. This will be a piece of cake.
 
Oh man. I've been in bands where one singer felt like too many.

The most likely genre for two male leads is in the area of soft acoustic harmony stuff. I'm sure there must be hard rock bands with two male leads but they would be few and far between. I'll go further and say that two male leads singing in unison seems to me to be a pretty tough way to gig.

Having said, I wish the OP well. I have a sneaking suspicion that when one of your singers quits it could be a major step forward, depending on which one hehehe.
 
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Singer 2 is definitely not frontman material. He just does not look comfortable. Singer 1 is, and he can carry a show both as a singer and as a frontman. That singer 1 has some ego issues, some insecurity, that’s to be expected with a frontman or front woman. I’d tolerate that in spades for a great singer and frontman.

Now, trying these two together, well that’s never going to work. Forgive my smallness here, but their shirts tell you everything you need to know — one pink one black. I’ll bet their cars are similarly different.

Dump number 2 and ride number 1. Good singers are a hard-to-find.

Oh, nice playing BTW.
 
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Really only had to read the first couple of paragraphs. Been there, done that, know how it ends.

Two good singers in a band can be a great thing, if they get along. Otherwise it's just miserable. In all my years of playing, I've only experienced the good a couple of times. Every other time, it goes something like you described.

My suggestion: pick one. (For my money, it should be the one that knows how to get along with other people. Diva's are a dime-a-dozen. If you pick the Diva, there will be more drama later and you'll be right back here again.) Following that (and this is the most important part) learn to sing! I can't stress that enough. I should have done it years before I did. Suffered through great, but unreliable singers and/or their drama for a long time. And when I'd finally had enough and kicked the last one, I took over lead vocals on a lot of tunes and we adjusted our set accordingly. Turns out that I'm actually a decent singer, and it was probably one of the largest growth periods as a musician that I've ever experienced. Start by doing backups, and then pick a song or two that you know you can sing. (i.e. set yourself up for success).

Oh, and most often times your audience doesn't give a rat's a$$ how good the singer is. As long as you know the lyrics and hit the notes, that's all that really matters.

Good luck no matter what you decide.
 
I read all your post... it was actually a good read. Admittedly I skipped all the comments that followed.

All I can say is that you definitely are a bassist. In these types of situations it seems that we're the ones that have to do all of the psychological analysis and point out the obvious problems and solutions.

But..... for you to really get good at dealing with lead vocalists and the problems they bring... I think it's obvious what you need to do.... Bring in a female vocal that's a little bit high on herself. ;)
 
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