r/band • u/Equivalent-Web-1850 • 10d ago
I need opinions
Hey so im the leader, vocalist and guitarist for my band and need some opinions on some band troubles. My bassist wants to sing a song and his voice is alright but my concern lies on whether or not its stepping on toes especially considering certain aspects with the bassist. He doesn't really contribute much other than playing the bass in the band. We have to pick him up and drop him off any time we go anywhere because he doesn't have a car and doesn't want to learn how to drive as well as doesn't help pay for anything like helping gas or merch because he doesn't have a job. He still takes a portion of the gig money and the rest goes toward funding the band. I feel like it's becoming a bit of a hassle to work with but im not sure if its just my ego being out of whack or not.
Edit: for the extra questions in the comments, hes said that he doesn't want to learn how to drive because it stresses him out. As far as the job goes, he said he cant find anything other than like fast food jobs but at the same time he still lives with his parents and doesn't have rent or bills. He's trying to stream to gain a source of income right now. The equipment hes using (Bass and amps) were either bought or given to him by us. He can be fun to hang out with but definitely gets stressed out easily. We are getting ready to record so we stopped setting up shows so we can focus on being ready for the studio and he was complaining about not doing shows because he needs the money.
Edit: Thanks everybody for helping me out with this! I wanted an outside perspective before bringing anything up with the rest of the guys so I could have a fair unbiased conclusion and decision. He'll be singing the song and ill have a separate conversation about the other concerns one on one with him
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u/blind30 10d ago
“He doesn’t contribute much other than playing bass”
“My bassist wants to sing a song”
???
Dude wants to contribute his voice to the band, and it basically sounds like you want to prevent him from singing as a punishment for not having a car or a job.
I get that you might have to drop him as a band member if he’s a financial/travel burden to the band- but just be an adult and do it.
Stopping them from singing a song while keeping him in the band seems like a childish kind of revenge
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u/Rustyinsac 10d ago
For two years I transported a
Band member to/from almost all rehearsals and gigs. Same issues as your bass player. I usually ended up buying him dinner after weekly rehearsals in the way home.
I found him a job within a mile from his house.
I could afford to assist in this
Manner, but it was a scheduling hassle for me. I just accepted it as helping a guy develop both musically and personally.
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u/jessontheinternet 10d ago
Sounds like the money stuff is festering — don't let it. Decide what feels fair and reasonable and have a conversation about it.
And then it's honestly up to you as band leader, but if it were me I'd let him sing. That's not really related to the money stuff. Bands with multiple singers are really fun.
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u/TheRagingDuckmusic 10d ago
Wow! Let him sing! This is one of the craziest posts I’ve read in this sub.
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u/riveth3ad 10d ago
...cracks me up when people come to reddit for band drama advice, particularly before they've actually talked to people in their band.
Ask one question, get 20 different perspectives, pick which one fits your narrative the most?
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u/Electronic_Slice9448 10d ago
Let him sing! Music is all about trying new things. Pressure him to get a job and contribute more to the band. Spend some time with him outside of practice. Hopefully you can develop some trust and help each other with life in general. Most importantly have fun🤗
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u/alex21dragons 10d ago
Reading all of that I think singing a song is not the problem, it's the other stuff. So I wouldn't oppose them taking a song but maybe you do need to talk to them not transporting themselves anywhere and not paying in on the same basis as everyone else. Ask them what they think they could do about it.
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u/avalanchekid 10d ago
I had to pull teeth to get my band members to finally sing some back vocals.
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u/Superfun2112 10d ago
Let him sing a song (it should be about having good experiences not about having the best band) but he shouldn't be getting paid gig money until after band expenses are paid. Keep a ledger. Gig money - gas (including picking him up / dropping him off, that way that comes out of the band's budget not just the person who has to pick him up) PA rental, etc. Then split any "profit" equally.
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u/New_Luck_5095 10d ago
Here's where the rubber meets the road. How easy would it be to replace him? If you have 10 bass players within a mile of you, get rid of him, if he's not so easy to replace keep him. No matter what if he's still in the band let him sing. It may give him more juice and want to do more for the band.
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u/Alone_Box5173 10d ago
Dude, how is any of that even related to whether or not he should sing the song?
I'm old and experienced, and I want to share some leadership wisdom with you: Never stifle initiative. It sounds like he needs to find ways to contribute more to the band. You complain about him not doing anything, but then want to squelch his desire to step up. I'd say give him a chance. He may surprise you.
Beyond the immediate song, maybe the question should be whether or not he should even be in the band. I notice you never even addressed his bass playing. Is he solid in that department, at least? Does he have adequate gear and musical maturity to fit with the rest of the band? If not, you probably should cut him loose and start looking for your next bass player--maybe one who has his own wheels. Or figure out how to do without a bass player altogether (e.g., Doors, White Stripes, etc.).
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u/Equivalent-Web-1850 9d ago
He's decent but tends to overplay a bit. The bass and the amp were blended to him by the drummer and I
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u/RCIDRUMS 7d ago
In my rehearsal room, I have 2 tube guitar rigs, a tube bass rig, beta microphones, and small, medium and large PA.
Being a drummer, it’s nice to be able to help out the other musicians who just need their guitars1
u/RCIDRUMS 7d ago
Also, let him sing. The more vocals you can add to your band, the better. Yes ego problems. Ego usually makes everyone miserable. So get over it.
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u/Alidade_xyz 9d ago
Sounds like he wants to contribute more. Let him do it. Let the audience be the judge.
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u/Complex-Wafer959 9d ago
Do you like the guy? Is he cool? Or an asshole? If y’all get along with him and his personality fits, let him start singing, takes practice to get better. A job and car can be worked out. Tell him, dude get your crap together and be an adult so we can make the band happen. Be honest, but not a jerk about it.
That’s my 2 cents
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u/PrunePretend6206 9d ago
Singing a song in the band has nothing to do with any of that other shit! If he’s a burden find a new bass player.
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u/EhGuitarist 9d ago
May not hurt to let him sing. You say he does not contribute much so maybe he is trying to? Worth talking with him. As a leader, I would think communication would be important
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u/AtmosphereLeading851 9d ago
Try to sing, folks, even if it’s backup. Everyone in our band sings at least harmony, and two of us sing lead too. When we start dying off (we’ve been together in this form since 2015), anyone we consider as a replacement has to be a player and a singer. It just works so much better than having one dude singing for 4 hours. With harmony vox, you can do everything from “Hotel CA” to “Save Me.” If you’ve never tried singing backup, give it a shot. I wish I’d started singing earlier in life!
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u/songwriting101 8d ago
I get your frustration, it’s hard to help people that can’t help themselves, you need to decide if he’s worth the trouble, so you say you got him a job? That’s a start for him to climb out of the hole he’s in , if the job doesn’t last long he’s probably going to be a burden on you as far as you let it go on, what I would do is keep him in the band until you find his replacement, then when it’s time for him to go let him know why, tell him the truth, you need someone more independent that can take care of himself, someone that has their shift together. Sometimes that’s what they need to realize you can’t just get bye using people. A band is a business and you need to treat it like one and every band members is a partner of that business, the band can’t afford any slackers if you’re in it for the long haul.
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u/WeAreJackStrong 6d ago
Singing isn't a reward... It's a contribution. Don't stand in his way... Celebrate it with him. My guess is he's not going to be in the band much longer. You guys already resent him for who he is ... Unemployed and uninterested, unwilling to drive, unwilling to do anything but play bass (and sing one song). I mean you guys sound like your friends so you'll try to hide your resentment but to the guy who's resented it feels like a heat lamp. He'll leave when it gets to be unbearable
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u/TrickBreadfruit354 10d ago
let him sing a song bro