David Hooper
Quitting your band is one of the hardest decisions you’ll ever make.
You’ve devoted time, money, and your heart and soul in to this group.
Every band sees some trouble from time to time, and you don’t want to
be a weenie and quit just because someone used your guitar pick to
clean their teeth. But there may be a time when you have to seriously
consider if being in your band is still in line with your personal
goals.
Here’s a list of things that may serve as red flags.
1. You don’t feel inspired any more.
Music
is art. If you don’t have the inspiration to keep making more—or if
you feel like you’re just going through the motions in your practice or
performance, it’s time to re-evaluate whether or not your band is the
right vehicle for you to express yourself. There are a lot of reasons
why “the thrill is gone”: personal changes, artistic growth, or the
discovery of something new and more exciting in your life. Whatever
the cause, you can’t “fake” inspiration, and you’ll resent your band
the more you try.
2. Practice sessions are unproductive.
So,
one of the guys is late…again. Another one brings his girlfriend to
practice and they spend twenty minutes making out on the sofa. The
drummer’s cell phone rings three times and he insists he can’t turn it
off because he’s waiting for his roommate to call him with the game
score. It is pretty clear that no one is taking things seriously.
When people don’t take practice seriously, it is a clear indication
that the creative energy is low, or worse, non-existent. If your
efforts to keep things on track are met with continued lackadaisical
attitudes by the other members—it’s probably time to find another home
for your talent.
3. There is regular conflict between two or more members.
Everyone’s
been here: egos clash, opinions are aired. It’s actually healthy to
have some disagreement and dialog in the creative process. But if there
is regular conflict between members of the band, the negative energy is
only going to stifle the creative process. Not to mention it’s a pain
in the ass for everyone else to have to set aside practice time only to
have it turn into a bad reality television show. If the conflicted
members are not interested in resolving their issues, there is only so
far you’ll ever be able to go as a band.
4. Creativity has come to a standstill.
You
may have had a good couple years. Maybe you’ve recorded a disc and
played a series of shows with success. You’ve built your name in the
community and have a following. But now, there’s nothing new and you
feel like you’re rehashing the same old same old stuff during
practice. There needs to be a serious discussion in the band about new
material. If you’re not constantly creating new music, you might as
well be a cover band. If it’s not happening here, then you might want
to find another outlet.
5. You feel that your contributions are being ignored—or resented.
A
band is not a dictatorship. Everyone has a role to play, and
everyone’s contribution is important. That’s not to say that your
drummer can come in to practice one day and decide he wants to play
lead guitar; but it is important that every member feels comfortable
making a contribution and that everyone is able to push themselves in
new, exciting directions keeping them stimulated and creative. If you
feel that your band mates are trying to keep you in a creative “box”
and resent your efforts to expand your contribution, then you need to
decide how long you’re willing to do that before it’s time to move on.
6. You have an opportunity to further your career somewhere else.
When
you’re in a band, you are part of a team. So when something else comes
along, you don’t just run off and leave your buddies high and dry. But
the bottom line is that your career is your own. If you have an
opportunity to do something that will change you life, it is worth
considering. There’s no right or wrong answer—only you can tell if
it’s worth taking the risk of leaving your band for another
opportunity. Don’t automatically discount an offer for something big
just because you’re already in a band. Weigh the decision carefully,
and if you decide it’s worth it, make your choice and stand behind it.
7. Members have started flaking on practice and rehearsal.
Unless
you’re independently wealthy, chances are that you’re not only in a
band, but you are working to pay your bills; and you have family
commitments, relationships, and other responsibilities that are all
vying for your time. A band is not meant to be a cult where you shun
everything else in your life: members need to be sensitive to one
another and not make unrealistic demands on time. However, if someone
can’t carve out regular quality time to practice with your band, they
need to admit it. You can’t just show up once a month and play a gig
without regular practice.
8. One or more of the members has a serious problem with drugs or booze.
Musicians
are famous for their partying, and there’s no reason to expect your
band mates to be Quakers. But when someone crosses the line and their
drug-use or drinking affects their relationships, their commitments,
and their performance—it’s time to take action. If you’re dealing with
an addict, you need to talk to a professional about how to approach
them. Confronting someone about their addiction is painful for both
sides, and the bottom line is that you care about the person—but you
can’t let them continue to destroy themselves and take advantage of you
and your time. If the band doesn’t want to have this conversation with
the member who has the problem and doesn’t think it’s important to
address, you are wasting your time. Additionally, if the whole band
seems to spend more time partying than practicing; it’s time to move on.
9. There’s not an equal commitment or contribution by all members.
An
independent band requires its members to play more than one role.
Often you are responsible for your own management, public relations,
and marketing. You need everyone to cooperate if you’re going to make
it. It’s unfair to expect one or two people to handle all the ‘grunt’
work. There’s no room for a prima donna in a band. If people are
slacking and you can’t seem to motivate them, you have three choices:
continue to put up with it and hope your band magically achieves
success; try to convince them to step it up; or leave the band.
10. You can’t keep up your end of the bargain.
You’re
the only person who can make this call. If you’re over-extended in
your time and energy, or if your energy is being used up by your
wedding, a new baby, a job, your PhD or the Boston Marathon—then you
need to admit it to yourself and your band mates. Being in a band
isn’t supposed to be juts another obligation in your day planner. If
that’s what it has become, then you need to seriously reconsider
whether or not you should be doing it.
Reprinted with permission by www.musicmarketing.com
