[atlantaprog] Re: Bandleading 101
- From: Allen Welty-Green <agmedia@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: atlantaprog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 19:35:19 -0500
I would add - allow for surprises. If you have your mind so fixed on a particular style/approach/etc. that you want to find in another player, you may miss out on some interesting and inspiring approaches to collaboration.
On Mar 23, 2005, at 2:32 PM, Phil McKenna wrote:
Thought I'd start a thread on bandleading and have it be a spot for people to share their collective wisdom, experiences, opinions and more on this precarious subject.
I am now in the process of audtioning and checking out musicians for a live The Owl Watches band (instrumental prog, self-managed, self-producing).
Some things I've learned along the way:
1) NEVER settle for less, get the best musicians you can for your style of music even if it takes a while. COMPATIBILITY IS ESSENTIAL!!!
2) As a counterbalance, get people you can get along with!! I'd rather have someone who may not be a super-technical wizard on their instrument and be able to get along FAMOUSLY respect each other and work in close quarters for extended periods of time, as opposed to a super-technical prodigy who is an overbearing, controlling egocentric jackass!
3) Make your goals and expectations obnoxiously clear from the start. Spell it out upfront as much a s you can. Avoid unpleasant surprises as much as you can. COMMUNICATE!
4) RE: playing with other musicians, DON'T BE A CONTROL FREAK!!! Nothing sparks more resentment, bad feelings (or fistfights), kills creativity and causes more disillusionment than mercilessly micromanaging how each musician plays, thinks behaves etc. It's an evil, destructive way to act towards others. DON'T DO IT!! Allow people room to be themselves, they bring something to the table you might not have thought of yourself that will make the music that much cooler! Suggestions comments and direction are always good, but trying to absolutely control EVERY little detail is EVIL!!
5) A committed dedicated musician is one thing, but you need to have a life outside of that too, be VERY wary of people who are obsessive to the point of NOT having much of a life outside of that, it's a SCARY place to be.
Your turn------------------------
Hoo Hoooo Hoo Hoooooo
Phil
http://www.geocities.com/theowlwatches
Do you Yahoo!?
Make Yahoo! your home page
- References:
- [atlantaprog] Bandleading 101
- From: Phil McKenna
Other related posts:
- » [atlantaprog] Bandleading 101
- » [atlantaprog] Re: Bandleading 101
- » [atlantaprog] Re: Bandleading 101
- » [atlantaprog] Re: Bandleading 101
I am now in the process of audtioning and checking out musicians for a live The Owl Watches band (instrumental prog, self-managed, self-producing).
Some things I've learned along the way:
1) NEVER settle for less, get the best musicians you can for your style of music even if it takes a while. COMPATIBILITY IS ESSENTIAL!!!
2) As a counterbalance, get people you can get along with!! I'd rather have someone who may not be a super-technical wizard on their instrument and be able to get along FAMOUSLY respect each other and work in close quarters for extended periods of time, as opposed to a super-technical prodigy who is an overbearing, controlling egocentric jackass!
3) Make your goals and expectations obnoxiously clear from the start. Spell it out upfront as much a s you can. Avoid unpleasant surprises as much as you can. COMMUNICATE!
4) RE: playing with other musicians, DON'T BE A CONTROL FREAK!!! Nothing sparks more resentment, bad feelings (or fistfights), kills creativity and causes more disillusionment than mercilessly micromanaging how each musician plays, thinks behaves etc. It's an evil, destructive way to act towards others. DON'T DO IT!! Allow people room to be themselves, they bring something to the table you might not have thought of yourself that will make the music that much cooler! Suggestions comments and direction are always good, but trying to absolutely control EVERY little detail is EVIL!!
5) A committed dedicated musician is one thing, but you need to have a life outside of that too, be VERY wary of people who are obsessive to the point of NOT having much of a life outside of that, it's a SCARY place to be.
Your turn------------------------
Hoo Hoooo Hoo Hoooooo
Phil
http://www.geocities.com/theowlwatches
Do you Yahoo!?
Make Yahoo! your home page
- [atlantaprog] Bandleading 101
- From: Phil McKenna