is being in a group/band worth it?

[blackdragon6]

i mean the break ups,the egos,the artistic differences,money disputes etc etc


would'nt you rather be solo and save your self the headache?

[Eliot Johnson]

Well...in terms of rap groups, it's a lot easier to get studio time if you first become part of a group. For example, my friend is a member of Ontourage Click and he was on their first album. Now he's been given studio time to record his solo project (which I'm actually featured on).

[ghostrider666]

The 1st thing you have to remember about the music bussiness, is that it's a bussiness.

[Alex]

And on the non bussiness level, its often more enjoyable to create music with other people then alone. And besides, i can only play one instrument at a time.

[grendel824]

Not only is there bussiness involved, whatever that may be (something to do with busses?) but business as well. :D

As far as I'm concerned, playing with a band was some of the most fun I ever had.

[CHEYENNE-BLACKBIRD]

i think manufactured groups doesn't last long,basicly anything along the lines of boy,and girl groups,ESPECIALY girl groups.here a short list

kittie-they lost a band mamber i believe

swv-coko got the solo bug bite

jade-same as swv

destineys child

the supremes

xscacpe

hwa

bwp

all saints

the spice girls

i could go on and on groups that grew to geather and was formed outside the system tends to last longer.because theres alot of tolerance and understanding.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

i think manufactured groups doesn't last long,basicly anything along the lines of boy,and girl groups,ESPECIALY girl groups.here a short list

kittie-they lost a band mamber i believe

swv-coko got the solo bug bite

jade-same as swv

destineys child

the supremes

xscacpe

hwa

bwp

all saints

the spice girls

i could go on and on groups that grew to geather and was formed outside the system tends to last longer.because theres alot of tolerance and understanding.i agree.........

[Jonathan Bogart]

The 1st thing you have to remember about the music bussiness, is that it's a bussiness.
The second thing to remember is that it's spelled 'business.'

(Not picking on you, you just gave me a straight line.)

[chicainery]

The second thing to remember is that it's spelled 'business.'

(Not picking on you, you just gave me a straight line.)


Hey, it's exactly what I thought too.

[Punchy]

i mean the break ups,the egos,the artistic differences,money disputes etc etc


would'nt you rather be solo and save your self the headache?

I wouldn't call myself a "solo" artist but I learned a long time ago that it is better to depend on only yourself as opposed to a group or band.

I can play in many diverse situations and don't have to worry about promototing or supporting an entire band.

[Grant]

The second thing to remember is that it's spelled 'business.'

(Not picking on you, you just gave me a straight line.)

It's obviouss he has a lissp asssshole!

-Grant
I couldn't ressist.

[blackdragon6]

I wouldn't call myself a "solo" artist but I learned a long time ago that it is better to depend on only yourself as opposed to a group or band.


true.........

[ghostrider666]

Glad you guys got so much milage out of me misspelling a word.

[Michael?]

i mean the break ups,the egos,the artistic differences,money disputes etc etc


would'nt you rather be solo and save your self the headache?

I guess it depends on where you're playing music and who you're playing with. I learned early and often that if you get whiff of a rock star attitude to walk the other way. It's not worth my time or anyone else's to baby-sit someone who is too self-centered to look past their own little universe. I'm doing this for fun, and hopefully that's why most people are, too.

Also, there's a big difference between being in a band and what I consider being a musician. When you're in a band, you join a family and come hell or high water, you make it or break it. You spend all your time with them, you promote your material, you travel in cramped vans to places where not all of you want to go, all for the sake of selling your songs to your adoring public.

The upside? You get to be a rock star. It's almost expected. :D It can be a ton of fun, and you get to hang out with your best friends all the time and do something you love. The downside? The tensions there are omnipresent, and most bands never make it past their first tour. Egos, disputes, women (more often than you would think) will rip them apart. I've had it happen to me and seen it happen to others.

Or you can be more of the freelance musician type who makes music wherever you can. I did the band thing before, and it was fun. Now, I play in about four different groups at a given time doing very different styles of music. I don't get to be much of a rock star, but it's fun trying to pass myself off as "professional". I usually don't do a very good job. But, in this scenario, you get to drop the gigs you don't want, get paid at the end of the night, and go home a happy camper. Sometimes you stay with some people longer than others, but usually you're a musical vagabond. The downside? You don't get flashed nearly as often. :\

Bands are the most fun you can have with your pants on, if you find the right people.

PS: Hey, Punchy - you ever post at TalkBass.com? I used to mod over there. Great bass forum.

[GreenLantern2008]

I've been in a band and it wasnt really that great. so now im not in a band and i have more time to do other stuff. IMO bands suck. ;)

[Night]

I thought we all learned in junior high that it was "better to play in a band..."

Seriously, it depends on the people. Different people bring different things to music; if you can get a few of them together you get some nice music, plus you tend to pick things up off of each other. Working with the same people over and over, you get used to the subtle cues and the music making becomes easier. I've been lucky, I guess. Then again, it's not my dayjob, so the money hasn't been the drive.

[Motormouse]

i mean the break ups,the egos,the artistic differences,money disputes etc etc


would'nt you rather be solo and save your self the headache?

Don't bands get better groupies than solo artists? :eek:

[The Defenestrator]

Kittie lost, like, FOUR members. Fallon Bowman, Talena Atfield, Jennifer Arroyo, and Lisa Marx. I think people have trouble dealing with the Lander sisters.

Anyway, I think being in a band is a lot more fun collaborating from a creative and interpersonal standpoint. Even if you go "solo," you're still gonna end up needing backing from someone, and then your backing band will think you're an egotistical asshole because you're getting top billing and they're getting none at all. You'll inevitably need a backing band.

Unless you're Mary Lou Lord. That chick is awesome.