Welcome To Flakeville...Population 99% of Musicians

After many rehearsals, learning more songs I’ve never heard of before, and going through the ever popular “honeymoon over” period, it seems that the band I joined earlier this year has idled. I get this feeling because --*poof*--the calls stopped and it’s now been 3 months since I’ve heard from anyone in the band.I report this like its earthshaking news. In fact- I’ve come to expect the “I fallen off the face of the earth and I can’t get up” silent treatment and apparently—it has no bounds.A church---I SAID A CHURCH—called me a few weeks ago to sub in and possibly take over the drum position in their “praise and worship” band. It’s a big church—I’m talking large and I got pretty excited about the opportunity. I’m a Christian and have absolutely no qualms playing praise and worship music. The guy who called me is the music minister and I told him I was available and probably familiar with a lot of the music they’re playing. He told me to plan on being there the next day at 5 to rehearse and then play in the 7:00 service. He asked me what I charged. I gave him my rates and he happily agreed. I asked for a list of songs that I‘ll be expected to play the next evening and he said he would e-mail me the list. Well, you guessed it, the list never came. Instead, I get a cryptic voicemail the next day saying he forgot—HE FORGOT—to e-mail me the list. Not only did he forget to call but that it was too late to bring me in now and would I be interested in subbing in for them sometime. FLAKE, FLAKE!

I’m just stubborn (or stupid) enough to think I can find 4 musicians/vocalists in the DFW area who are normal. Well, I know I've found two...one is a Yamaha Motif ES6 and the other is Digidesign Pro Tools. I thought at one time that I'd found an actual human bass player who seemed like he might be a good fit, but he came down with a rabid case of “I’ve fallen off the face of the earth and I can’t get up”. I know, I know. I might as well be looking for Atlantis to rise up from Lake Lewisville—but as I said, I’m just stubborn enough to keep up the search for the others pieces I need for another go at a legitimate live project. Other drummers know what I’m talking about. Yes, we do network and we know and discuss a lot of the typical players out there that keep surfacing in the “drummer wanted” arena.
We talk in detail about the never ending search for a group of talented, experienced, friendly, responsible, hard-working, patient, amiable, fun loving musicians who aren’t redneck, racist, lazy, know-it all, drunken, dope addict egotistical wanna-be rock gods, who firmly believe that playing biker bars is the end all/be all!

That shouldn’t be too hard, huh?

Dilemma: Should I Talk or Shut Up?

It’s a quandary. When I joined "Impact", they had a pretty good plan together. They had executed the plan before. They had confidence in the plan and really weren’t looking for any ideas. The only question for me personally was: do I join them or not? Easy…
Same thing happened when I joined "The Saints" in 2002. They were a working, gigging band. There was no ambivalence about the direction of the band or what they wanted to do. Again, the only question was join them or not.
So, it’s really come to this: I will no longer simply agree to an audition with a band before meeting with them to find out, specifically-- what they want to do, what they want to play, where they want to play, how much they expect to play, how much they expect to earn, where and how often they want to rehearse and how firm they are in the execution of the plan; whether or not there’s any wiggle room in the plan, the set lists, the players, etc.
When that doesn’t exist—when there is no set plan—when there is no clear cut decisive direction in place, I have traditionally offered a few suggestions. It’s never intended as a power play. I really, truly don’t WANT to manage a band. I have and I will –reluctantly—but I really don’t want to. I would much rather learn my songs, show up on time, play with fervor, collect my pay and go home.
So it is-- that, on occasion, I speak from my experience to a few of my beliefs. What I think works well in live environments, what songs might play well in which rooms. I always suggest to bands that aren’t working to go to the rooms they want to play—several times and study hard what is being played and how it’s going over. That “should” tell you everything you need to know about what you need to do.
Still, whatever advice or suggestions that I impart are never received well. I can’t help but wonder if it’s the drummer syndrome—“just shut up and play”. I’ve dealt with that a lot! Or is it fear that I would be trying to take things over? Or is it simply that they want to learn for themselves or maybe they already know but don’t want to say anything.
This is getting too damned difficult. Hell, I just want to play. "Shut Up" has worked well in the past, but "Talk" has never seemed to work. Funny too, that when I take the "Shut Up" approach--invariably band members come up to me at some point wondering if I’m happy or not because “I’m so quiet”.

The new 30?

In a recent interview with Drum magazine, Stewart Copeland (drummer for the Police and other bands) said that "50 is the new 30."
What he was saying is that, at age 53 he feels mentally and physically like he did at age 30. He might be stretching it a bit, but the general meaning behind the comment certainly has me thinking.
Like, why-- at my age, would I be entertaining the idea of entertaining? Why, when so many variables seem to be against me ever playing again--would I continue to seek opportunities to play the drums. Why don't I just accept the fact that maybe my ship has sailed, sell my toys and take up shuffleboard?
Well, for one thing, I feel more mentally prepared to play than ever before. I don't have undue pressures and distractions sucking the life out of me (like I did at 30). I can better express myself in a band environment and I can devote more mental energy to my performance now than I ever could in the past.
One crude example: I'm not only way past stage fright--I actually covet and treasure my time on stage. I enjoy being on stage so much that I get depressed at the end on the night when it's over.
Secondly, for the first time in my life I have time and resources to devote to being a drummer. I can invest in great equipment and more quality time to prepare myself for a band. Earlier in life, (at 30) it was all about the family, the kids, the career. Those things can consume a lot of time and resources AND SHOULD. But now that those are somewhat behind me, I feel like it's my turn to be a little selfish. Not a lot of people can say that.
Third, I just think I'm playing better right now that I've ever played in my life (at 30). Maybe that's because I'm playing with better musicians. Maybe it's because I'm playing with more confidence and less pressure. Maybe it's because I finally realized that I have nothing to prove--but I know I sound better now than I did 20 years ago. I should!
Now, if I could only figure out how to overcome the unattractiveness that my age presents. I realize that that this is an image conscious business and that when given the option, someone would generally snare a younger performer. I know very, very good musical artists who still have great ability and have been put out to pasture because of their age. It makes me think there might be enough of them out there to form a great band to play to mature audiences.
Just a thought.
It all reminds me of something Sheryl Crow told Ed Bradley on "60 minutes" a few years ago. She said, "Music success has nothing to do with music. It never has and never will. It has to do with having something that can be packaged, marketed and sold". True.
I hope there are enough "boomers" out there who can take this concept of "50 being the new 30" and run with it. I think Stewart may be on to something. It sure has me thinking that it's not over---yet.

One and Done

Nothing surprises me anymore--nothing!
So it should come as no surprise that the only band I "officially" joined this year--Impact-- was a one and done project. They played one gig at Shakers, lost the bass player--or, at least, that's what I'm told--and apparently could not replace him.
So, with no fanfare and no announcement, they have simply disappeared.

Ho-hum---life goes on.