The Written Version of Unwritten Laws of Being a Good Bandmate, First Edition. 1. In an open jam, share solos equally with anybody who wants one. You know that player who takes his 12-bar solo ... and then takes your 12 bars as well? That guy is a douche bag. Even if this person plays great, no others onstage will hear what this solo hog actually plays over the sound of their inner voices loudly repeating “What a doucher. Seriously, what a complete, solo-stealing doucher.” 2. Help load and unload the gear. You know that guy who disappears when all the heavy lifting needs to be done, and then shows up after the van is unloaded or reloaded? We all hate that guy. Unless you have serious health issues, man-up and hump some gear. (If you’re female, carry a few little things in rotation with guys. It’s cute, it helps, and the boys will love you for it.) 3. Be on time whenever possible. Of course you’re busy—we all are. But when you’re habitually late, you send a message to your bandmates that says, “I’m more important than you.” They will despise you for this. Hell, I despise you for this and I probably don’t even know you. 4. If the soundman and your bandmates ask you to turn down, turn down. We all want to hear ourselves, but a good mix never comes from a volume war. Learn to compromise or be ostracized. 5. Do your homework. Even when we know the material, we all occasionally make mistakes, but we make a whole lot more when we don’t practice. Bands work interdependently like a rowing team, professional tag-team wrestlers, or people conducting a good orgy (I imagine). When you’re bad, you make everybody else look and sound bad. Don’t be the weakest link when all it takes is a bit of practice to get you hitting the right notes. 6. If you have long road trips or share hotel rooms, avoid food that turns your stomach into a toxic waste dump. Not only do your noxious methane leaks increase the size of the hole in our ozone layer, they can do some real damage to your bandmates’ morale and olfactory system. 7. Music is fun, so have fun. I’ve worked briefly with people who are the equivalent of a human storm cloud. Just as laughter is contagious, so is grumpiness. One sad sack can make an onstage party feel like a funeral. 8. Be loyal to your bandmates. We all have a family member who drives us mad.* Amongst family, we can discuss a black sheep’s shortcomings, but if somebody outside the family insults our siblings, parents, uncle, etcetera, most of us want to beat the insulter like they owe us money. That’s the way a band should be. Argue amongst yourselves, work out your problems, but stick up for your bandmates to the rest of the world. There’s the family you’re born with and there’s the family you choose. Be loyal to both. There it is—a good start to the written law. I’m sure I’ve missed many other unwritten laws. To be honest, I probably drive my bandmates crazy with my lack of self-awareness and personal glitches. I hope to become a better bandmate. If you’re reading this at premierguitar, please use the comment section to add your own additions to the unwritten laws of bands. Maybe collectively we can turn this list into a book—or at least a pamphlet—titled The Written Law of Bands and make music more fun for musicians who follow in our footsteps. *I suspect I’m the disgrace in my family. My sibs are all pretty awesome. Read more: premierguitar/Magazine/Issue/2013/Aug/8_Unwritten_Laws_of_Being_a_Good_Bandmate.aspx#ixzz2X6yMXlrc
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 06:16:28 +0000
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