A common thread I see in band crisis stories here is "so and so is such a nice guy but he sucks at keys/drums/guitar"... it's a tough position to be in for sure, but is it worse than an excellent player who's an awful person?
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Nice guy but terrible musician vs. D-bag amazing player
- Thread starter Bass Master General
- Start date
I'll take the Jerk but I will tell him about himself so he can cut it out! Terrible musicians have no place in bands! I know that's harsh but it's the reality.
I'll take the jerk but keep him on a tight rein. If he doesn't improve his personality FAST, he'll be out - because he will quit in frustration.
But I prefer the third option: Someone that is pretty darned good and at least fairly easy to work with.
Been there, done that. If it hasn't happened in the first few years of them playing..........it ain't neva gonna happen! At least in my experience. I prefer working with and playing with serious musicians.
Neither. No chops, he's no use to the band. I wouldn't hire him in my band, and I wouldn't abide it in someone else's band (since that BL obviously has a tin ear). The definition of "a jerk" varies according the observer's viewpoint. If his jerky-ness becomes a problem for me, the band, the venue, or the audience ... he's gone ... regardless of his great virtuosity. As DWBass says above, I prefer working with serious musicians, and I'm fortunate that I have for the most part.
You left me out. Nice guy. Extremely average musician. Certainly not terrible. Definitely not an amazing d-bag.
I'd take you over either of the options stated above.
Neither is ideal. I just quit a project with a drummer who was probably playing in his first band. The nicest guy.....but and I'm nothing special (especially on bass) it annoyed me after a while...I couldnt take it any more.
Depends on the goals of the group. This started out as "therapy" for the BL and I wanted to play some bass (I'm a guitar player) so it worked until it didn't
The rub is, we all say "play with those better than you..." But there has to be a limit I suppose.
Depends on the goals of the group. This started out as "therapy" for the BL and I wanted to play some bass (I'm a guitar player) so it worked until it didn't
The rub is, we all say "play with those better than you..." But there has to be a limit I suppose.
I am usually one until the other kicks in.
Same here.
I'm nice until I get into "righteous indignation" mode. Interestingly, the older I get, the quicker I seem to flip that switch.
I was just telling my wife today that I've noticed a phrase leaving my lips or my finger tips a lot lately: I don't suffer fools.
And yes, there are those that disagree with you and then there are fools. They are often not the same. I'm just tired of putting up with the crap. I'm going more and more "non-PC", and quite publicly so.
Yes there are. Both the drummer and the BL thanked me for everything I taught them during my tenure. So I feel good about paying it forward...but I had my limit. Bass gives you a lot of time to think about how frustrated you are.
In my experience, a terrible musician can get better with practice but a jerk will always be a jerk...
I've always found that the really great players are always nice. It's only the ones who are good, but not great who are jerks...
No room for jerks. The nice guy can practice and become a better player, and probably will be more likely to do so based upon feedback. The jerk's always going to be a jerk, and when you DO find an area he under performs in...good luck.
The nice guy has potential to become a better musician.
Jerkism is a permanent affliction unless they have to go through a huge life tragedy, and even then, some emerge as worse jerks.
Jerkism is a permanent affliction unless they have to go through a huge life tragedy, and even then, some emerge as worse jerks.