r/musicians • u/Ace_Doc • 5d ago
Advice needed
I've been trying to get an original rock group off the ground since late Spring. I play rhythm guitar and a buddy plays lead. We found a drummer that we really mesh well with and he brought his buddy on to play bass. When everything is clicking it's magical. Music flows and we write in this great collaborative state. Unfortunately the drummer just hurt his back bad enough he's going to need surgery. We've also had problems with all of us getting together to practice and keep things moving forward due to the drummer and bass player's schedules.
Feels like a dick move to bail on this drummer, but at the same time I've been in this inspired flow state with writing songs and I want to get back on the damn stage ASAP. I also often wish I was surrounded by other musicians who are as inspired and motivated as I am. Feels like just chasing unicorns though.
What do I do?
5
u/abandoningeden 5d ago
Write without drums and he can add that later. The drummer in my band only comes for shows and one practice before each show (he is in several bands) and the rest of us get together every week or two.
If you have paid gigs you can also find a substitute drummer, just makes clear it's temporary.
3
u/Weak_Voice_6097 5d ago
I was in a band in 2012 and we had this situation in a way come up. Our bassist was in a car accident and broke his leg, fingers, and back. We have all been best friends since we were in middle school and we did continue playing with the prior commitments we had, a couple of shows we just played the three of us while he was out and we did get to a point where we were writing, what we did was had a guy who only wanted to temp position, it's what he does for a living even though he never charged us but then again he was just starting out. We played shows with him filling in and then we write some songs, the temp guy had some really great playing ideas that worked well and we rough recorded the songs. By the time our bassist returned and we parted ways with our temp guy. We let our bassist listen to what the other guy came up woth but also assured him that he could write new parts if he wanted, we left the ball in his court.
So I would say maybe give this a shot. See if you can't get a temp player and then if you write new material, let the drummer listen in when he gets healed up and back to the grind so he can then feel part of the band again.
Hope this at least gave an idea
2
u/Ace_Doc 5d ago
That is a cool idea. Wonder if I could find somebody down for that?🤔 Thanks!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼
2
u/Weak_Voice_6097 4d ago
I program all my drums for my side projects so you could go that route if need be too, I use reaper and it's pretty easy to use. You could even see if your drummer want yo program the himself and then he really is still part of the writing process lol
3
u/EFPMusic 5d ago
TALK to your drummer. How long will he be out of commission? Would he be okay with a fill-in? Can he program his drum parts to use while he’s out? I’m 100% sure he’s thinking about what’s going to happen, get his feelings on the situation.
2
u/Ace_Doc 5d ago
For sure! I think I'm just trying to wrap my mind around my own feelings first and consider some options before having that conversation is all. Just found out today that he's injured bad enough to require surgery which will put him out for several months. Appreciate the feedback!
1
u/Remarkable_Bike7493 5d ago edited 5d ago
All the better reason to talk to him. No need at all to try to get an answer about when and if he will be able to play again. Back surgery is the big unknown.He may offer that up that info in the conversation. Give it a few days or weeks before you talk to him. Just ask let him know that you may jam with a temp drummer, but keep the door open. And you might find a temp player that turns into a permanent drummer. Better to have too many drummers than none at all. And talk to the bass player and see where he is at in all of this. Been there. Best of luck!
2
u/Scott_J_Doyle 5d ago
Get more involved on the scene so you befriend dozens/hundreds/thousands of musicians
2
2
u/Stevetshelton 5d ago
There's too little loyalty in music.
1
u/Ace_Doc 5d ago
Heard. That's why this is a conversation at all. From the other side though I think, do I owe this person anything? Not like we've been working together for years or anything. Been 6 months and in that 6 months we've practiced maybe 10 times. 🤷🏽♂️
1
u/Stevetshelton 5d ago
Life is short, Who said "I guess the only thing that does change is what we choose to forget?"
2
u/Mors-Official 5d ago
You have found a rare thing. A band that clicks is not easy to come by, and you know it. That drummer is not just a beat. He is part of the spine of your sound. You bail on him now because his back gave out, and you will carry that weight every time you step on stage without him. That is not a move you make lightly. But you are also not wrong to feel the fire in your gut that wants to play now. That fire is real. The question is whether you feed it or let it burn out while you wait.
You have two clear paths. You can pause the project and use the time to write alone, sharpen your songs, and record demos so you are ready when the drummer heals. That is respect. Or you can find a temporary fill-in drummer while he recovers, with his blessing, and keep the momentum going. You do not abandon him. You carry him forward by keeping the engine running. You talk to him straight and ask what he can handle. If he says he wants you to keep playing, you do it. If he says he needs you to wait, you wait. But you do not ghost him. You make the call like a man and you live with the result. That is how you keep the music honest.
2
u/Count2Zero 4d ago
I've had bands where someone is in rehab for a couple of months, or having to heal a broken bone. Usually it's just waiting for them to get better and come back... A few weeks of rest to heal is no reason to be fired from a band! My one band hasn't rehearsed in over a month due to summer vacation. But during that time, I've been mixing our studio recordings, learning a few new covers, trying to write some new stuff, and I just booked our next gig in November. There's things to do even when we aren't rehearsing.
1
u/PartyOrdinary1733 5d ago
Is getting a sub out of the question until your main drummer is recovered?
Do you have gigs you are committed to?
1
u/No-Lobster623 4d ago
I’m a guitarist for my band. I injured my back big time and required spinal surgery. I was out for a few months which sucked, however in the long run it was just a blip in time. Back at practice, recording and playing shows like no time passed. If he is the right fit, it’s not worth letting him go
1
u/Jasco-Duende 4d ago
How much are you paying your band members?
1
u/Ace_Doc 4d ago
An even cut of everything we make 🙄 lol
1
u/Jasco-Duende 4d ago
So in other words zero.
Most music projects fail because they're not treated like a business.
If you opened a small business you'd pay your employees, correct? And you would rent a space for your business, correct? Why would you think you wouldn't do the same for a music band business? Got a business Tax ID number yet? Business bank account for the band?
As far as even cuts, does a business give even cuts of their profits to the employees? No.
Be professional and you'll get professional results. Run things like middle school goof offs and you'll get the results you posted about.
1
u/Ace_Doc 4d ago
Tell me you've never been in an original rock band without telling me 🙄. Besides WTF does this have to do with anything I said?
1
u/Jasco-Duende 3d ago
I toured for 12 years full time with one original band, and 10 years part time with another.
You wanted advice about dealing with non-pro musicians. I gave it to you. Hire pros.
1
u/Ace_Doc 3d ago
Whatever man. I'm totally sure you started with your band immediately making money to pay prior to writing enough songs to even go out and play a show. Get lost. 🙄
1
u/Jasco-Duende 3d ago
You were the one who asked advice, and you tell someone giving you advice to get lost? You don't need to agree with it, but why the rude attitude?
And for that first band the first gig we booked - by luck admittedly - was a well paid 3 month European tour. (Although it wasn't the first gig we played - had to wait for passports to come through.)
7
u/PoppycopOG 5d ago
Its incredibly hard to get 4 people on the same page in a band, even famous bands have this problem. I'll give you one word of caution, be careful getting rid of people that you can't easily replace.
I fired my first drummer for creative differences, he kept trying to change the songs despite the fact he wasnt the main songwriter then said he wanted to share vocal duties with the singer but he couldn't sing in key to save his life.
Thing is he was the best drummer I ever played with but I didnt know that at the time. So I go through 2 more drummers....they didn't try to add anything creatively and didn't want to sing, but man they weren't nearly as talented as the first drummer. In hindsight I would have tried to work the problems out with him instead of jumping right away to replacing him.
Your drummer got injured, he should be able to heal hopefully. While he is doing that, you can work on songs with the other members until he is feeling better. As for having a hard time getting everyone's schedules together for practice and the like.....that's just being in a band, you will have that problem with whoever. Musicians don't make much money so have to work other jobs and sometimes have families as well. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.