Conference napalm::heavy_metal

    
    
   	Let me explain how I came about this "music" related topic
    	(just kiddin, there so much controversy about what should be
    	 in here and what should'nt, I just threw the "music" thing
    	 in there for some fun. So don't get all excited....sheesh!
    	 ;')
    
    	Ok now where were we, oh yeah, now first off I'd like to say
    	that our band (2EZ) practices go pretty good, but I kinda feel
    	there still somethin' missin' and I don't quite know what it
    	is. I mean we go in as early as possible, get loosened up,
    	jam for a few, then down to business, we're currently trying
    	to get 2 new people up to par with the rest of us. And I think
    	that's where my problem lies. I get this "wasting time" feeling
    	just for the fact that we're going over the same material and
    	it's boring me. Now don't get excited yet, I'll never be 
    	completely bored for I am the king of creativness (ha!) and
    	my love for music is of the upmost importancy to me. But I
    	just feel like somethin's missing and the way it is right
    	now I think we have the right people with the right attitude
    	to do something with ourselves. And I don't want anything
    	to screw it up. But we all know that the unavoidable "shit
    	happens" things come up and we go on. 
    	
    	I guess all I'm lookin' for is some fresh ideas that I have'nt
    	heard of before. Anybody got any?
    
    	Hollywood................who does'nt claim to be a "know-it-all"
    				 which leaves plenty of room to learn
    				 with.  Thank You
    

    
    
    	Hollywood,
    
    	I'm not in a band, nor am I musical in any way,
    	BUT! I would tend to think that if you've "recruited"
    	a couple of new folks it's, of course, going 
    	to take time to get up to where the rest of the band
    	members are, isn't it??
    
    	I have got zilch for patience, but sometimes I have
    	to force myself to be patient because I don't realize
    	that whoever it is I'm trying to teach doesn't know
    	everything I do and that's why I'm teaching them.
    	Does that make sense??
    
    	As far as letting other people hear you practice...
    	Well, I think it might be an asset if you can find
    	someone objective that can give you an HONEST opinion
    	on what's being played.
    
    	Anyways....that's my two cents, for what it's worth.
    
    	Tig~~
    

    In my opinion, it's best not to have more than one or two people
    hanging around at rehearsal.  More than that and it often becomes
    sort of a "party" atmosphere.
    
    When trying to bring new band personnel up to speed on your material,
    it is quite useful to give them a tape of all the tunes.  Or, you
    can give 'em a tape with like five tunes on it.  Let them take it
    home, then when you get together for rehearsal you cover those tunes.
    This will also show you how quickly the new folks learn stuff so
    that you can get in-line with their pace.
    
    joe.

    The couple I have been to, I would say that it is good not to have
    anybody there, but if you have one or two, thats okay.  Its okay
    to stop and talk for an hour in the middle of an all-nighter, it
    keeps your spirits up, and keeps your senses sharp.
    
    Its good to have an all night store open around somewhere too!!!!!
    
    HITMAN

    
    I've always been accused of running hard-a$$ed band rehearsals,
    but then again people used to wonder why my old band won every
    battle-of-the-bands competition it ever entered (that's right,
    13 consecutive first place titles)!
    
    First, let me state my views on people at practice:
    
    My band always had `closed' band rehearsals.  At one time this was
    not true.  It started with a couple o friends showing up, the more
    and more people.  With any number of people, its band for the band
    because they'll always tell you "you guys sound great, incredible,
    I'd come see your band in a second" etc etc.  This feeds the heads
    of the musicians into thinking they're better than they really are
    thus they don't try as hard to be a tight, well rehearsed ensemble.
    Also, when people were there, my band always felt like they had to
    `perform' for their friends.  Hey, this is band REHEARSAL, let `em
    come to the gigs if they wanna see a show!!  The guys used to feel
    funny about reheasing a song over and over becuase their friends
    might get bored (Awwwww, too bad!).  Also, their concentration when
    actually playing was nowhere.  They'd be making faces at girls and
    irrelivant sh*t like that instead of concentrating on their parts.
    
    As far as the band is concered, my view was KNOW THE MUSIC.  Thats
    inside and out.  The songs WOULD be learned at home.  Practice was
    for practicing!  Also, we're run through the material minus vocals
    for the first week or two of learning a song...this makes the musicians
    relay on their minds rather than the vocals.  Vocals are worked
    out separately and the two are fused together at a later point.
    Once the vocals and the music are together, I do `sectionals' on
    the tunes tofurther break down the learning process.  The tunes
    are run through in small groups of the ensemble...bass and drums,
    guitar and drums, bass and guit, drums bass and guit, etc.  This
    is a great technique for getting tight with the other players.
    
    One bitch the people in my band always had was that the above 
    techniques made them really learn the music, thus they would come
    to learn to hate the tunes.  Well, IMO the music should be air
    tight and playing them correctly should be second nature.  Then
    fun comes in performing and improvisation.  I think know the
    music that well is better than liking the music because its `fresh
    and fun to play'.
    
    Buck

    
    As Buck sez, push them real hard.
                         
    Once they know the tunes real well, and have them completely upto
    scratch, then they can concentrate on the show - the image, it 
    should never be the other way around.
    
    Once they know the tunes they can concentrate on the babes in the
    crowd!!!!

    
    
    
    Our Band "CLOSED Sessions" reason .-1 explained perfect,,We have
    
    Had that problem many of times, girls,Then The Beer, Then the colored
    
    Spot lights, 'The Party begins',and nothing gets accomplished. 
    
    ALTHOUGH......Our Girlfiends do "Once in a while come up when we
    are only Running through the Set, and not writting, I mean how can
    you write with 50 million people in your studio....?
    
                                                        jim..tama
    

    
    Gee, mind you, my band practise gets lonely sometimes......
    
    I play/practise on my own......  :-)

    Bucks pretty much got the winning style down.  We've done it this way
    for 6+ years with our current band, and even though we don't enter
    Battle of the bands, or win prizes, we *always* get damn good results.
    Our practices are always productive.  (save a bad night here and there
    that you have got to count on at somepoint..) and when we play out,
    we're always sharp, and ready.. 
    
    As far as having *guests* down at practices, thats a bad move. They
    should be closed.  No one else there but the members in the band.  Get
    someone down to listen, and usually 'someone' will start to 'perform'. 
    Your not there to perform, your there to screw things up and make
    your mistakes.  It's what it's all about.  Practice is not a talent 
    show.    

    When it comes to learning material, sometimes you can get buy with
    learning material on the spot.  If everyones got a good ear, and learns
    quick, fine for some songs..  But the best way is to pass tapes around,
    and everyone knows what songs on that tape to learn.  Don't matter what
    order you learn them in,. but if there's five songs on that tape, come
    down knowing five. No excuses ! 

    IMO on volume at practice...  Keep it down...  No need to wreck your
    ears for practice.  If you're driving home from practice with a head
    ache or a ringing in your ears, something is wrong.  Remember what
    you're there for..  To practice, to get the vocals down, to work
    on dynamics (something so many rock bands forget about...) to get the 
    tunes you learned at home, smooth together... 
    
    Frequency is  not a big issue.  I don't think it neccesary to go
    any more then 3 times a week.  This is were passing the tapes around
    in between practices is most benifical.  When you are involved
    with musicians with families, you have to realize that their families
    come first.  Any musician who says his family comes after the band
    is either lying, or has some problems... If you want to keep harmony,
    and want the band last don't take any members family time lightly and
    make room for it in your practice and playing schedules.  If you're
    all single, with no family, than have at it 7 nights a week.  I
    don't believe that is necessary though.

    Recognize when you've pick a cover song to learn thats just not gonna
    work with your band.  Don't beat your head against the walls trying to
    get a song down that either doesn't fit your bands style, or it's just
    too involved for what type of a band you are...  Don't waste time
    beating a dead horse.  Three rehersals, and if one or two of the songs
    just don't come together, trash em, there's millions of songs to cover,
    and putting songs together succesfully, is much more rewarding than
    putting alot of effort into something that all or some just can't
    get comfortable with.  plus for some more insight, you'll be surprised
    at the crowd reaction you get out of some songs. 

    For instance, work for three months to do Bohemian Rapsody, and do it
    perfect, but yet when you play it out, four people clap.... Then you
    play Twist and Shout, or some other popular oldie, the roof blows off
    the place..  Worst yet is, work to get a tune down that has a prominent
    part in it that one of the band members just can't cover consistantly
    everytime..  when you Play it out, and you got that one guy/girl thats
    shakey on that prominent part, and they just might blow the tune for
    you.   Staying within your abilities as a band is just as important as
    staying within your abilities as a musician. 
     

    well anyway, there's my 15+ years of band practice experiences for
    ya.

    /ray

    Buck has got it right.
    
    The one thing I should add is that:
    
    	When a band is writing material there should be no-one but 
    	the band involved. This is for two reasons:
    
    		A) Girlfriends/Wives tend to harbour grudges for a while
    		   and if they are at a rehersal, nothing gets done,
    		   and, bad feelings start to show.
    
    		B) You the band are writing the material. Not your best
    		   friend, not your girlfriends, not members of other
    		   bands. It wouldn't be the first time a crackin' riff
    		   has been ripped of by a "Friendly Band".
    
    
    There is one exception that I concider nessessary. If you are about
    to embark on a gig after a long lay off in the studio (for whatever
    reason), it is advisable to get your sound man in. For a start he
    has to know the songs inside out. Not just a guitar break, but
    everyones parts (including drums). He should know the songs as well
    as or better than the band. Coz it is him after all that has to
    mix it all down live, and try and cover any emergency situ's.
    
    
    		Well thats it IMO
    
    		I'll be waiting for the demands for my b*lls,
    
    
    With rabid anticipation,
    
    			Your Friendly pain in the a$$,
    
    				BONZO.
    

    I'd love to cover Bohemian Rapsody!!!!

                I have  to  pretty  much  agree  with .5 also.  I
                don't mind one  or  two people at practice, but I
                also tell the I don't want to even know that they
                exist for the rest of  the  afternoon.    Another
                important  one.    If you practice  at  someone's
                house, shut off the phone.
                
                Regards, Rob
                
                (LET ME GO!!!  No, we will not let you go.)
                
                

    << I'd love to cover Bohemian Rapsody!!!!
    
    Yeah, great peice, but I think you see my point.
    
    The general listening crowd (and I'm not referring to the small
    percent of any crowd that is populated by musicians) meaning your
    basic Ma and Pa front Porch, don't really pick up on things like
    how good a musician is.  I mean they'll pick up on a bad band, or
    bad singing, but I think thats the extent..
    

    
    Also On the subject of Non Members in a studio, One thing I hate
    
    (This should go in the hate note) When your jamming and you look
    
    at the door that you thought was closed and see a group of people
    
    who feel free to walk in and listen/ see we are in a studio complex,
    
    and guests of other bands, walk or hang out in the halls or they
     
    are in the discussion room,
                                  jim..tama

    
    
    	Whew! I just read all the replies and I thank y'all for some
    	new ideas and comments about your experience's. 
    
    	I guess Buck's way of donig things looks to be the most
    	positive and rewarding way of rehearsing. and congradulations
    	on the 13 in a row 1st place battle of the bands. I'd like
    	to come up and hear you guyz sometime.
    
    	Here's another question about "the image" part of practicing,
    	my way of thinkin' is during practice (with people or without)
    	I try and do a little "really gettin' into it" kinda style
    	and most of the time I am really gettin' into it, but you know
    	what I mean, the showy stuff, well, my question is........
    	Do you guyz have any suggestions on how a band should go 
    	about puttin' on a stage show?  Ya' see in the past when we've
    	played out it's been more of a do your own thing kinda style,
    	which ain't bad or nothin' but I was just wonderin' what 
    	other people do before they put on a show. Do they rehearse
    	and choreograph (<-sp?)the whole show or do they just show
    	up at the club and jam out?

    	Hollywood......................I finally picked a topic
    				       people reply to. sheesh! ;')
    

    
    choreography ????
    
    Geez, you sure you don't wanna join the Shadows ?????  ;-)

    
    
    
    	OK, OK, so it was a stupid question, sheeeeeeeeesh!
    	and I thought I was on a roll......I hate it when
    	I do that.........sheesh!   ;')
    
    	Hollywood.......................oh well.....
    

    I think when y'all get uptight, it's time to play a gig.  If the
    band isn't ready yet, then have a party at your studio, invite lots
    of girls and show out to the max...  Have a good time, and don't
    worry about how the tunz come out, cuz you'll be all relaxed, and
    generally, you'll sounds GREAT !  You HAVE to break the monotony
    of practicing the same sh*t over and over and over...
    
    Thats what 2EZ is doing Friday night, in full costume.  It's gonna
    be a blast !
    
    jc  

    
    
    re:choreography (?sp)
    
    	We set up our practice studio just like we would on stage...
    We found that in doing so we have less mixups during the real
    thing... When I'm jammin' I like to run around the stage, as
    long as my cord reaches anyway, and it's good to know where
    everyone's at... ie; Tangled cords..stompin' on everyone's effect
    pedals... boppin' the vocalist between the eyes with your axe
    during your during your strap-spin.... I've even seen a vocalist
    do a kick-jump off the drum tier(ala david l roth) and end up 
    doin' the splits on stage only to find out he can't do the splits
    and can never have children........Specially if he lands on your
    heavy-metal pedal which later has to be surgically removed from
    his HO!
    
    At any rate some practice should be dedicated to how and when you
    move....So you don't end up in a big pile on stage.....I'm not
    saying you should study the Temptations or anything, but a good
    stage presence is a must to keep a croud pumped..ie;Killer Dwarves
    I've seen some real good bands that were very boring to watch....
    
    IMOO
    
    EARL (_}===#
     
     

         <<< IRDEV::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
                       -< And get the priest as well... >-
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Note 589.0                PLACE FOR HM BAND TO PRACTICE                4 replies
NECVAX::DESHARNAIS                                   21 lines  30-JUN-1989 16:12
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    I need some advice.  My 19 year old son is into HM music and
    is a drummer.  He has two guitarist and they have formed a band
    and practice in our family room or garage.   They have built up
    their equipment of amplifiers so that they could play at the
    Worcester Centrum (Worcester, Ma for those who don't know the place)
    
    Before I lose my hearing and my sanity, does anyone know where 
    bands find places to practice?  My neighbors have already called
    the police once.  This kids don't have much money to rent out
    a hall or anything like that.   Marc is a naturally  talented drummer
    and his dream is to make it big with videos on MTV and play in clubs
    etc. 
    
    
    Any suggestions would be appreciated.  By the way we live in Nashua,
    NH so it would have to be some place fairly close.
    
    Thanks for you help.
    
    Barbara
    

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Note 589.1                PLACE FOR HM BAND TO PRACTICE                   1 of 4
FINS::JMINVILLE "breaking like the waves at Malibu"  17 lines  30-JUN-1989 16:24
                             -< Some suggestions >-
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    Sounds familiar Barbara.  As one who has been through this a few
    times, here are my suggestions:
    
    	1.  They should rehearse at times when they won't be as likely
    	    to upset the neighbors (like Saturday afternoons, or some-
    	    thing);
    
    	2.  Rotate the practice spot (e.g. once at your house, once
    	    at another guy's house, once at the last guy's house then
     	    back again);
    
    	3.  When I was a kid, we used to rehease once a week in a local
    	    church hall.  One of the band members was a member of a
    	    church with a very "progressive" priest and he'd open the
    	    place up for us.  Might be worth a try.
    
    	joe.

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Note 589.2                PLACE FOR HM BAND TO PRACTICE                   2 of 4
MARKER::BUCKLEY "Motor Man"                          40 lines  30-JUN-1989 16:46
               -< some GOOD food for thought, if he's *serious* >-
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    Barbara,
    
    With a growing metal band like your son's, he's eventually going to
    have to face the fact that he and his band are going to have to rent a
    rehearsal space somewhere.  Believe me, I know every cop in the
    surrounding towns to mine on a first name basis!!!  Practicing at a
    family's home just doesn't work!  The neighbor's don't care for it and,
    eventually, the household rejects it as well.  At a rehearsal studio,
    the guys can come and go as they please, as well as play as loud as
    they want...its more geared space-wise and sound-proof wise to a loud
    rock band.  FYI, there is a rehearsal space for bands in Lawrence, MA
    next to the Heads_Up boutique. 
    
    Also, you should note to your son early on..._VOLUME_ as a factor in
    rock music will not get him or his band ANYWHERE fast!  Seriously, he
    and his band will quickly be put on most clubs and soundmen's "black"
    list if they play loud...and the higher powers will only tell them to
    turn it down anyways (and they mean it!), so cranking it up at practice
    is a BAD habit for his band to be forming.  I would seriously try and
    drill this into his head...if he and his band can learn to really rock
    out at a real LOW volume, it'll only be a BIG plus for them when they
    hit the club scene...AND they'll sound MUCH better as a result of it
    (as well as saving a bit of their hearing). 
    
    Buck, whos band gets out of hand with volume at times, but never
    on a gig!
    
    PS - If they can't afford a rehearsal space right now, Joe's suggestion
    of "off" times like saturday afternoon's is the best way around the
    cops/neighbors (for the time being).
     
    PPS - If you son is *really* serious about getting on MTV/gaining
    success in the field of music, I suggest for him to take a music
    business course.  Anyone can have good playing ability and the "look",
    but its those musicians who are smart and know the business (and the
    meaning of contracts) that pull away from the crowd of wannabee's.
    Also, if you can teach him a bit about market research and how to study
    market trends will help out too.  He should realize this (music) is a
    business, just like Digital is to the field of computers. 
    

         <<< IRDEV::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
                       -< And get the priest as well... >-
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Note 589.3                PLACE FOR HM BAND TO PRACTICE                   3 of 4
SSDEVO::GALLUP "sometimes it cuts like a knife"      13 lines  30-JUN-1989 17:30
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	 I've known some very "serious" bands that rent warehouse
	 space (like a storage type-unit)......but I would imagine in
	 NewEngland that would be expensive, whereas out west you can
	 barely GIVE the space away....

	 but what do I know!  ;-)

	 /kath

	 PS:  Agreed, Buck.....louder is NOT better!  ;-)

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Note 589.4                PLACE FOR HM BAND TO PRACTICE                   4 of 4
PFLOYD::ROTHBERG "cause I'm FINISHED!"               13 lines   1-JUL-1989 14:40
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                The switching  practice  places  all the time may
                not be too  convienent,  or even possible.  I'm a
                drummer, and there is  no  way I would break down
                my set and move it  every few days, nor do I have
                a  vehicle large enough to do  so.    I  used  to
                switch back a while ago, but I  happened  to keep
                my old set when I bought a newer  one,  so  I had
                two sets.  I kept one in each place.  
                
                - Rob -
                

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Note 589.6                PLACE FOR HM BAND TO PRACTICE                   6 of 8
OFFPLS::DESHARNAIS                                   10 lines   5-JUL-1989 10:00
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    Thanks so much for the suggestions on band practices.  I was so
    surprised to hear from you guys!   I will give my son the suggestions
    and highlight the points you make about *loud* music.   They played
    two gigs over the weekend so they are getting exposure slowly. 
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Barbara
    
    

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Note 589.7                PLACE FOR HM BAND TO PRACTICE                   7 of 8
VCSESU::COOK "Leon, the unseen force."               10 lines   5-JUL-1989 10:17
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    	I'm going through this right now with my thrash band.
    
    	I keep telling them, just because we're a obnoxious metal
    	band doesn't mean we need to practice at an obnoxiously
    	loud sound level.
    
    	A good metal band can do it quiet as well as they can loud.
    
    	/prc

    Sorry but I can't stand it....
    
    I cannot see myself moshing to low volume thrash... It needs to be loud
    or I won't go see it...In Texas if it's not loud enough the crowd will 
    make you turn it UP! 
    
    You know what they say, if it's to loud your to old!
         
    SLAM
    
    
    

    re: -1
    
    If the band is to be loud, then it's the PA that should be doing all
    the work.  You'll have nothing but a lousy mix if the guitarists and
    bassist are cranking away on stage.  The guitars are right in the
    vocalists frequency "energy" range anyway, so when they play too loud
    onstage: 
    
    1) The singer can't hear him/herself.
    2) The sound engineer can't get the monitors up to where the singer
        could hear him/herself without the monitors feeding back.
    3) The sound engineer can't effectively mix the band through the
        mains.
    3a) You can't hear the vocals.
    
    Now, try and tell me one reputable, touring band that has a real
    loud stage volume...there is none!  The speakers onstage are for
    monitoring first and looks second.  
    

    re.34
    
    to a tolerable level..
    
    i just dont wanna lose my hearing for the next 80 yrs..
    
    btw: when i was goin to my SO's gigs and sometimes mixing sound,
    i noticed my ears ringing, but worst i felt awful in the morning,
    like hungover. i mentioned it to my doctor, he said it was from
    the sound compression on the ear drum and someother stuff as well,
    anyway he said it was noise depression, some people have also said
    they have gotten that and also used to term "noise depression"
    
    i also heard that is your ears ring, there has already been damage.
    

    
    When your ears ring, its a result of damage done to the ear itself.
    Its like when you get a tan, its the result of your skin's reaction to
    ultra-violet radiation.  Anyways, ear damage is PERMANENT and
    irreversable!  Its a degenerative processes that connot reverse
    itself!!  If your ears ring loud and for a long time, you know you've
    done a good job abusing them.  Eventually, all you will hear is ringing
    in your ears...this is a condition refered to as Tinnitis (sp?). I knew
    this rock musician whos career was ruined when he eventually came down
    with this condition....he used to walk around all day with this
    screaming-loud ringing in his ears, and thats all he could hear, so be
    forewarned! 

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USCTR1::EDEGAGNE "Dr. Ed...at your cervix"           11 lines  14-NOV-1989 13:10
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    Pete,
    
    By the way, which room did you get?  I used to have the
    one right at the bottom of the stairs on the right near the fusebox.
    I did alot of work to that too.  Put up a suspended ceiling, completely
    framed the walls and insulated them and rewired the whole room and
    put new lights in.  Wish I didn't give it up!
    
    Mr. Ed...

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VCSESU::COOK "Your suffering will be legendary..."   11 lines  14-NOV-1989 13:14
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    re .45
    
    As far as the space goes, we're at the top of the stairs. I like the
    place, it's great!
    
    Why did you give up your rehearsal space? ALot of good bands in there.
    
    /prc

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USCTR1::EDEGAGNE "Dr. Ed...at your cervix"           22 lines  14-NOV-1989 13:27
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    Pete,
    
    The band was getting out of hand.  We had excellent music (all
    original) but a poor singer with a drug/attitude problem(Chris Lyons), 
    a guitarist that loved his long hair more than his guitar(Tom
    Greenawaldt), and a drummer that had a hygiene/drug/attitude problem
    (Jeremy Beudoin)!  Read this letter to Paul and ask him if I'm not
    explaining it right.  It just didn't work out, so I took all my
    songs and left the room to them.  Two days later Tom left and two
    weeks after that they lost the room 'cuz they couldn't afford it.
    I had told them if they did that tell me so I could get it back,
    but it was too late by the time I found out.  Since then I havent
    done anything because I really can't find anyone to do it with.
    I tried to with Tony of Sudden Impact, but I later told him I wasn't
    interested because of his ego (extremely big!) and basically because
    he didn't know who to get or how to put together a band!  Right
    now my old band from Germany might be getting back together in this
    area.  All of us are meeting in Houston in January to talk about
    it.
    
    Mr. Ed...

================================================================================
VCSESU::COOK "Your suffering will be legendary..."    6 lines  14-NOV-1989 13:32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    re .47
    
    Tony is the lead singer of Sudden Impact right?
    
    /prc

================================================================================
USCTR1::EDEGAGNE "Dr. Ed...at your cervix"            5 lines  14-NOV-1989 13:47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Yes.  Do you know him?  What do you think of him?
    
    Mr. Ed...

================================================================================
VCSESU::COOK "Your suffering will be legendary..."    9 lines  14-NOV-1989 13:53
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    I met him kind of. Haven't talked to him yet. I saw them at Sir
    Morgans, they played after us. They are supposed to open for us
    at Monkey Tech on the 8th of December so I'll find out then I guess.
    
    Paul, George, and Mike really never say much about him.
    
    /prc

================================================================================
USCTR1::EDEGAGNE "Dr. Ed...at your cervix"            8 lines  14-NOV-1989 14:01
               -< Rather sell my originals than play with Tony >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    They get along with him I guess, I still do also, but his ego is
    known by many.  I gave up with that situation also because I felt
    that they aren't going to go anywhere at all.  They are no different,
    nothing original. Know what I mean?  Those guys will be playing
    around here until they break up (again).
    
    Mr. Ed...

                Pete, funniest  thing  I  ever  saw  was  when my
                friend ...   WALLPAPERED his drums!!!  HAHAHAHA!!
                Interesting thing was I couldn't even tell it was
                wallpaper.  He did a  great  job on 'em!  Still a
                crappy set though... :')
                
                

    
    
    
    "Shelf Paper!" ORANGE! 
    
                   BaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrF!
    
    
    
    tama

                What does doing your drums in shelf paper have to
                do with experience?   Maybe he wasn't experienced
                in doing drums with shelf paper... :')
                
                PS, Pearl makes an orange set of drums... UGLY!
                
                

    
    I saw a neon Yellow export series by pearl,,,Orange NO!
    but that color yellow I thought looked pretty wild
    
    
    
    jim

    re:/prc
    
    with your drumz i would really sand them down WELL! and then use
    maybe an air compressor to aply a lacquer paint, that way you dont
    get the air bubble spray can effect ;^}
    
    
    btw: i know two people that have nice PEARLE drum sets for sale
    i think they are around 1k.
    

    
    	Not that I have anything really important to volunteer to
    	this conversation, but I saw a really neato set of drums
    	at some store somewhere
    	
    	they were black with silver cross type thingies in 'em.
    	Well, *I* thought they were neat.  (8
    
    	And some really cool hot pink and black drumsticks, too.
    	(8
    
    	What a trip.  (8
    
    	tigga~~~

    
    Colored Drum sticks,,,,No F$%#&'en way
    
    I used a pair and The marks they left on my cymbal's  NEVER AGAIN!
    
    
    
    tama

    
    	I saw a kid do "Wipeout" with glow-in-the-dark sticks.
    
    	With the lights off, it looked great!!
    
    							GTI
    

                
                Re: .55
                
                Those were  almost  definately Yamaha's.  Strange
                looking.
                
                
                Re: .56
                
                Ditto on colored drum sticks.
                
                Re: .57
                
                I brought a  pair of glow-in-the-dark sticks with
                me to the FAG,  but  I  didn't use 'em 'cause the
                light were on all night :'(.
                

    
    
    	Beat's me what they were....I'm not a drummer!  (8
    
    	I didn't say you had to use them.  Don't you poseur type
    	dudes with a hair out of place...ROB (!)...just sorta
    	carry them around to throw to the girlie fans.... (^; X10000
    
    	Tigga~~~ (8

    
    	I saw a real cool looking 3 pc in the SEARS wish book this year..
    
        BK
    

    
    Hey Pete,
    
    Saw a really nice Dbl. Bass Tama at Union Music a few weeks back
    with all Sabian cymbals.  Bright red.  Nice looking set.
    
    Mr. Ed...

    
    
         Ya' Pete go w/***TAMA***
    
    
    
    tama

    
    
    You know what is really hot in the top list of the line quality...
    in shell's/Hardware......The New Premier Kits,,,My friend 
    sold his Swingstars and ordered his Kit,,,*REALLY NICE*


    tama

                                                                      
    

                Sonor Signatures rule...
                
                (of course  the  same size set that I have now in
                the Signature series  with Signature hardware was
                about $11K though!!)
                
                :'(
                
                

    
    
    
    11K???????
        MAN WITH THAT CASH....
     
         Oh what I can make my tama's Loook Like  ;^)
    
    
    
    tama

    
    
    RE:.5
           I couldn't agree more with this reply. Exactly the way I
    like a practice to go. No people. Another idea for practicing that
    my old band Hott used to do was something we called "Dry Practice".
    We basicly have no amps (Real low if we use them but you should
    be able to talk over them (not scream over them)) and with no drums.
    Take it from there. You can really write well, good and quick
    with this atmosphere. Once everything is ready (everyone knows their
    parts and the changes,breaks,etc...) crank it up and wail through
    it. In fact the new band that my drummer and I are in the process
    of forming is about to do this all weekend. 
         I also would say that when the set is done to have a few honest
    friends who know what they are talking about (Like Buck (^8) ) to
    listen and give critisism. It can't hurt.      
    
    
    
                                                       Digitally yours,
                                                                       R.C.
                                                                           

    
    
    Hey Pete don't know if I told you or not but, you sounded great the
    other day.  Glad I finally got to hear you play. - Kim

    
    
    - Just might stop by - But I don't know the BRUINS are on tonight.
    
    P.S.S. Don't forget about Savatage on May 24th - The Living Room - I'm
    going to both!!!!!
    
     - Kim

    Im getting sick of my band because itsw happening again.. what happened
    with all my past bands...Im forced to take over... Everybody wants to
    play in a band but wont do anything unless I bug them about it and it
    gives me a headache.. I dont want to be the bands dictator but I have
    no choice and it gets results but I would like to relax and have
    somebody tell me what to do for a change
    

    what you shuld do , is keep a list and have bi-monthly meeting about
    the direction of the band and deligate the responsiblities and
    tell them up front, they dont do it, the rest of the band can beat
    on them not you. I takes a couple of months, but after a while they go
    the the responbilbe for that...
    
    		wendy o'
    
    (might be worth trying, and it takes time)
    
    

    I somehow find myself wearing the directors hat a lot - but you can
    have things your way a lot of times too.   8^)
    
    You have to "assign" certain duties to members if they won't help out
    on their own, tactfully, of course.  Luckily the band I'm in now is on
    fire to work, and there isn't much "coaching" going on - it's a welcome
    change.
    
    Yo Wendy .. good P_N .. my band played that this weekend and we ripped
    the roof off !   8^)
    
    
    Scary

    
    re:-1
             I liked her old P_N name.....B^)  JMHO
    
                                                             Marko

    re:-2
    
    I liked "CUZ I'm a BLONDE!"

    re. scarey ... tactifully??
    
    COME NOW!!! is there really a tactiful way to DEAL with
    egotistical (sp?) musicans :*}
     besides wasnt that what i said :*}
    
    	
    
    
    		wendy o'
    
    
    

    
    
    > egotistical (sp?) musicans :*}
    
    I just HAVE to ask, wendy o', does the "(sp?)" refer to the word
    "egotistical" (which you spelled right) or the word "musician" (which
    you spelled wrong)????
    
    ;-)
    
    Just razzin' ya...
    
    kat

    I constantly ask them if they really want to attempt to make music
    thier career.. As long as still want to everytihng should work fine.. I
    still would like a band that would call me up asking ME when we are
    getting together instead of me calling them 80% of the time
    

    Are you the most Angriest of the Toliets?
    
                       HEEHEEHEEHEEHEEEHEEHEE
    
                               Frizkid
    

    re: Aherb (you got a first name or what?)
    
    I know what you're talking about.  It's incredibly frustrating trying
    to play with people who won't put in the time it takes to make things
    sound good (whether or not they want to make music their career).  I'm
    in a similar situation now, where two of us (in a three piece) are
    putting in a lot of time and the other one keeps coming in unprepared
    and  is reluctant to schedule any extra practices and all (even when we
    are scheduled to play somewhere soon).
    
    I don't know what you're supposed to do to motivate people like that,
    it seems like nothing helps.
    
    Greg

    
    Greg, love your p-name by the way!
    
    Hers's what I would do in your situation. Call a special practice
    and tell all the members to come prepared to discuss the band, not
    to play. Lay it all out and be honest. If everyone is not putting
    in 100% explain that if they are not willing they will be replaced.
    or maybe it just might motivate them into taking things seriously.
    I've found honesty with feelings and and how feel about other band
    members is a must. And you're right, being in a band IS TOUGH.
    
                                                                mike
    

    re/ last
    
    i'm sorry you cant do that, if you arent the band manager you cant go
    say play by my rulz or i'll find another bass player... good tude ,
    dude..
    
    Like i said you gotta have meetings to sit down and talk.
    people that come up with ideas, make notes and write down who 
    committed to what. Like say the guitarist was compalining about 
    on stage attire. Tell him ok, you come up with some looks he would like
    to acheive and we'll discuss them next meeting. If he doenst come up
    with the ideas, he was only yappin his jaw. (tell him to **ckin shut up
    :*) )
    
    just one of two meeting isnt going to do it, this is something that
    should be ongoing. You also need to talk about goals and the direction
    of the band. (and they will change direction) if the goals are
    discussed the indivuals can make up their mind if they want to continue
    to put their time in , or join another band that might be more geared 
    towards studio work, that would be more in line with that persons
    personal goals..
    	
    		wendy o'
    
    

    
    
      Well, if 2 out of 3, or 3 out of 4 are taking it seriously and
    the rest of the band isn't, Your history. Sorry if you don't like my
    attitude but thats the only way to get things rolling. Its worked
    for me and the bands I have been associated with.
      Then its tough looking all over again for a replacement, wasted
    prctice time, building new relationships etc, I know, I've been
    there a hundred times. No one said it was easy and that feeings
    would not get hurt. I'm just saying its a must to have EVERYONE on
    the boat, you have to work as a team and as one unit. If not, don't
    drag around an anchor. 
                            mike
    
                                                     

    Well the tude you seem to have is that you do have control over the
    band :*}
    
    I just wouldnt like it if i went to b_P and went to a meeting 
    and someone said, Ok everyone, listen up, either you pull
    100 percent or your being replaced..
    
    I think thats rude and I also think that its very threathening.
    Its just *not a good policy in my book..
    
    SO THERE!!!
    
    
    
    
    wendy o
    
    
    
    	wendy o'

>    Well the tude you seem to have is that you do have control over the
>    band :*}
    
    I don't think that's what his attitude was at all, if the other members
    agree there's a problem and they agree that's the way to deal with it,
    how is that "having control over the band".  What's the other solution,
    having the band split up because one person won't pull their weight? 
    That seems totally counterproductive.
    
>    I just wouldnt like it if i went to b_P and went to a meeting 
>    and someone said, Ok everyone, listen up, either you pull
>    100 percent or your being replaced..
    
    Well, what *would* you like to happen if that were the situation?  Like
    it or not, you either deal with problems or you don't ever get anything
    done.  Yeah, you might make some mistakes in how it's done sometimes
    and maybe people's feelings get hurt sometimes, but if you want the
    band to do anything, everyone has to be together and putting in
    equivalent amounts of effort.
    
    gh

    
    you guys are being nit picky,
    but you do have to give people a chance, sometimes things dont sink
    in, but sometimes people realize what they might be losing.
    
    I dont wanna get into this anymore, just I would  organize **MY**
    meetings and say  and do things in a nonthreathening matter. People will 
    want to work with you more. You can also turn off people that have a 
    good tude and are good players..
    
    		wendy o'
    

    
    Things get pretty funny at our practices. Steve, our bassist, is really
    hard to deal with if you don't know him. It's taking our new guitarist
    some time to get used to him. 8-) Steve feels it's his band, and in a
    way it is, he started the whole thing and recruited all the musicians.
    We've been friends for such a long time and he really has alot of
    respect for my playing so we get along great and respect each others
    opinions. We can work out issues really well and we write well together.
    Basicly, me and Steve run the band and I like it that way.
    
    /prc

    The "all for 1" attitude works great, once a psuedo-leader has been
    established.  EVERY band I've ever been in has been like that.  I'll be
    honest, I like calling the shots because I *hate* to have to depend on
    anybody else to get something done.  
    
    The last band practice we had consisted of all of us sitting down and
    listening to a tape of all 4 sets made the previous weekend.  We wrote
    down what worked well and what didn't, and noted some things to work
    on.  Tapes don't lie.
    
    Bottom line - if you don't have a driver, you'll always be lost.
    
    
    Scary

    
    Well said Scary.
    
    I guess alot of it boils down to what are your asperations with your
    band. Take it lightly for fun and stay a garage band, or get serious
    and make the changes needed to get where you and your fellow band mates
    are happy with the sound.
                               mmike
    

    I remember my old band that made it into battle of the bands I quit
    becasue 2 PEOPLE WERE TAKING OVER THE BAND... They didnt care what
    anybody else wanted to do...it was no longer fun so I quit..and when
    they played at school..They wered kicked off stage
    

> I quit becasue 2 PEOPLE WERE TAKING OVER THE BAND...
    
    Everything was up front with us. The singer and guitarist knew what
    they were getting into. Don't get me wrong, we don't rule the band
    and all the song writing by any means. Everyone is encouraged to
    contribute to the material, have a say in the set list arrangement,
    general decision making, etc, etc... It's just that me and Steve 
    are the ones that take the ball and run with it. 
    
> Note 330.89 by RAVEN1::JERRYWHITE 
    
> I like calling the shots because I *hate* to have to depend on
> anybody else to get something done.  
  
    Exactly!
      
> Bottom line - if you don't have a driver, you'll always be lost.
    
    Definitely!
    
    /prc

    Damn, firt Buck and I start agreeing, now Pete ... gee, hope I get the
    "package" before I ruined for life ...  wagagaga .... 8^)
    
    Scary (listening to a band tape right now - kickin' !)

    I quit Peasant Kings (ex-Jam Vac) for the same reason...we had reached
    a pinnacle, and could not progress any further without band cooperation
    and a little hard work.  Instead, we got one sole ego that arose to
    take the band his HIS direction...  Dats fine, but they could do it
    without ME (and they did, I split!).
    
    RE: Pete's band
    
    I played with them for a stint.  I thought the material was really
    kicking...some great tunes...but Steve is sort of an odd charater.
    Don't misconstrue me, a nice guy, but kind of hard to read on a
    personal level, and I didn't feel very comfortable playing in 'his
    band'.  If you can't get along on that level, the rest will never
    float.  Also, Steve had a 'vision' of the overall sound that *I*
    personally didn't really have.  He really liked the 'old Crue' sound.
    One guitar, One bass, and drums...and the guitar just solos over the
    bass when the solo comes.  Thats fine, but I really don't like that
    sound...I'd prefer keyboards or an underlying guitar part, even if
    there was only one guitarist in the band.  Even Ynwgie has guitar parts
    under his solos (they double the bass line!).  So, anyways, I choose
    not to join the band.  I'm still looking, but IMHO it's better to join
    a band when it feels 'right' then to join and have to quit 2 months
    down the road cuz it ain't gelling.
    
    Buck, who wishes he could scoop Scarys LP!

    Aye,it`s a shame when ego`s come into a band,and people start taking
    it EVER so seriously. Ok,take it seriously in that you practise
    seriously and write seriously,but...you`ve got to strike the right
    balance. The bottom line is enjoy it,isn`t it?
    
    Besides,the best bands seem to be the most down to earth. Probably
    don`t feel like they have to prove something. Like me. Even though
    i`m the best bass player in the world,and i`m really sexy.
    
    Joe Strummer.
    

    
    re: -1
    
    Dude, you're priceless! 8-)

    
    	re. .95
    
    	Ack!  another 'boxer invades H_M!  ;)  Hiya Joe!