So my band has it's first major gig at this local bar for two nights in a row (we had been playing short sets with other bands up until now). We were getting paid $600 a night for the band and were all excited. So, what went wrong? Our drummer, or should I say his wife sticking her nose in band affairs. After the gig on Sat. he quit because we told his wife (very politely) earlier that day, that we make the decisions about the band (more long involved crap which I won't go into here) as far as what we play etc…. She seemed to think she knows more than we do because her husband had been in bands prior to joining us. The worst part is, on Friday and Sat our drummer trainwrecked several songs (Friday was before we said anything to his wife so I don't think he did it on purpose) which was embarrassing (we recovered on most, but still…) However despite all that, the manager loved us and I am sure we will get invited back on the rotation of bands that play there. Now we are at another setback and have to get a new drummer and re-learn our set list with him. Who knows how long this will take? It never ends.

On the upside my Gretsch rocked it out with the new GFS pickups.

This will be our 3rd drummer. What is it with drummers lol !

drummers blow

Drum machines could bridge the gap till you find one.

Where do you live?

Edit: I just saw that you are in Florida. I'm on the other coast in California. If anyone has steady work for a professional drummer who can sing, I'm willing to relocate me and my family!

California is expensive and I want to buy a house or at least a Condo. With my day job and my gigs I still can't make enough out here to buy anything.

This drummer has a wife!!?? ....She must have a car...

There are times when person "A" makes person(s) "B" jump through hoops just for some time. If the drummer doesn't want to be in the group, he did you a favor. It sounds as if you got rid of two real problems, one bigger then the other! Congratulations...once the real deal takes the seat, you will be happy!

...wisdom

Drummers and Drama. Ah I know it well. best of luck to ya.

Hey, Craig (and all),

I hear this about drummers, but most of mine have been so cool... and loyal!

$600 for a night is a nice haul. Clearly, your former drummer is doubly, if not triply, if not quadruply, dumb. (1. Marries harpy; 2. lets her insert proboscis in his band biz; 3. fails to recognize a burgeoning money-maker in tough times; and 4. quits at harpy's instigation.)

You don't want you no Yoko Onos. Unless, of course, she actually is Yoko Ono.

Good drummers can become passable on normal bar-band material in just a few weeks. If you're a prog-rock band playing originals, the drummer will require more time.

Paul/FF909

isn't it always like that....sooo hard to find players that you can play with and hang on to.... my band rules: no drinkin, no druggin, no assholes... after that...it's still gotta jell and keep it all together... I run around being the band psychologist sometimes...keepin us smillin' not bitching...but maybe because we are older now....it's easier.....

Where do you live?

Edit: I just saw that you are in Florida. I'm on the other coast in California. If anyone has steady work for a professional drummer who can sing, I'm willing to relocate me and my family!

California is expensive and I want to buy a house or at least a Condo. With my day job and my gigs I still can't make enough out here to buy anything.

lived in Calif all my life brother, makin ends meet here at $50.00 (1960's wages) a gig sucks if ur trying to make a living at ...

Musicians are a strange breed. Maybe he'll come to his senses. If he's decent, give him a couple days to cool off & check in with him.

I know your pain.

I seem to have the same problem with bass players, my brother is behind the traps so he rarely lets me down. To bad hopefully you find someone fast, $600 chunk of change for a band for one night.

Not all places play that amount here. Just a select few. Also, we can't play there every week. Too many bands in rotation.

Not all places play that amount here. Just a select few. Also, we can't play there every week. Too many bands in rotation.

Still a nice amount, I have to fight to get a $250 gig thats 45 mins out of town and I have to lug pa. I like those bars that actually pay, but there seems to be a lot of bands around here that are willing to take a big pay cut to get the gig. Kinda screws things up for everyone else.

Craig, you may be better off.Even if he comes back your still gonna have that lingering wife of his...know what I mean.With one comes the other. My best friends band that I run sound for us going through the very same crap.This past Fri. night show @ a new club no less...horrible! The banjo player's wife doesn't want to travel,wants her husband to play local ALL THE TIME,she wants input on song selection and damn near started a fight with the bouncers while the owner was paying out!Hell ,I told the rest of the guys I'd 'fake' the banjo to get rid of BOTH of them. Good Luck to ya man

you ever hear yoko ono?

or seen her lately?

^

Our 3 piece stripped down version of our band just lost a weekly Thursday cash gig to a DJ and a drummer combo in Hermosa Beach, CA. The law states that the owner has to have live music in his venue so I guess having a live drummer play with a DJ technically counts. They probably undercut us by a lot also. I saw them perform after our last Thursday there, or should I say the DJ perform because while I was there for about an hour the drummer would not play even though he was set up and ready to go so I left. Life goes on. I have faith that the cream will rise to the top.

I also have faith that you will get a good drummer.

Maybe you could hire the DJ drummer Buddy Hollywood saw - sounds like he doesn't like sharing the spotlight with a no talent hack DJ!

Welcome to the world of Band Human Resources,Craig.

Better start getting drummers' numbers.If you have to advertise on CL or someplace like it,put up a link to the band's website so prospective players know what you do and what you sound like.Require that interested parties provide samples of their work so you can see what THEY sound like.Everybody has a job and a family anymore and there isn't a lot of spare time to actually get together and play to see if it fits unless you already have a pretty good idea that it will.

California is expensive and I want to buy a house or at least a Condo. With my day job and my gigs I still can't make enough out here to buy anything.

You need to move to Austin, TX... like the rest of California.

Ok, ok, I moved a little further south to the San Antonio area, but still... there leaving in droves from that mess of a state.

Came to Texas and am never going back 'cept to visit. Pretty sure you can find work in Austin... both day time and night time.

Good luck getting out -- I know plenty who have left and plenty more that would like to.

Ah yes, the Yoko Ono effect. So true.

Also recommended, these two movies:

'Spinal Tap' and 'The Commitments'

You hit the nail right on the head. The best bands I USED to be in were all destroyed by outside interference from women.

Really don't wish to sound harsh or be judgemental but the track record is.....

Just as a side note, I don't blame Yoko for the Beatle breakup, it was happening anyway.....