Saint Nick
Lifer
I'd appreciate advice from anyone, really, not just managers.
I manage the band I'm in. A couple of the guys in the band haven't really been doing their fair share of work involved with the band. And, not to mention, two of them aren't really up to par on their skill of their instrument. Allow me to elaborate:
Drummer:
The drummer is 22 years old and currently taking 18 credit hours, working ~25 hours a week, and also DJs on the side. He is an avid partier. He is habitually late to practice because of hangovers. He has a drumset at his house, but claims he doesn't have time to practice. He also skips out on tearing down at gigs so he can go party. His personality is a very confrontational one. I have made comments and he gets very defensive about whatever I said. I understand he can do whatever he wants, and I want him to, but obviously it seems like this isn't something he wants to do, but I can't say that I honestly know that. If this was something he wanted to do, wouldn't he put forth even the minimal effort required? I need some advice on how to approach this situation. I will ask him "Why aren't you in doing the band stuff so much anymore, man?" And he might get confrontational -- I don't want him to take this personally. We are relatively good friends and don't want to harm that. However, I do want him to WANT to do band stuff (does that make sense?). Otherwise, I want someone in the band that would do a better job than he. I mostly want him to practice a little more on his own, and maybe dedicate more time to it.
Bassist:
Almost a similar situation with the drummer. He works 40 hours a week and is in school part time, however he is graduating this semester. He is also VERY focused on his career (as he talks about it a lot...and how much money he makes :roll🙂 His personality isn't as confrontational than the drummer's. I want him to practice more on his own, and quite frankly, his technique is quite poor and just plain isn't that great of a bassist. I want him to take lessons to develop his technique and songwriting ability. He is a nice guy, and is a little more dedicated to showing up to practice than the drummer. My only current beef with the bassist is he isn't good, but I want him to be. He is another good friend of mine but want him to be better, and I want him to WANT to be better.
Anyways, I am looking for advice on how to approach both of these two from a management prospective. The only reason I would want them to leave the band is if they don't want to be in it, or if they want to dedicate more time to doing the things they want to. But, I also don't want them to think this is a personal attack towards them.
However, I do feel it is unfair to myself and the vocalist because this is something that we put GREAT effort into, but don't see it as much from the other two.
Thanks everyone!
I manage the band I'm in. A couple of the guys in the band haven't really been doing their fair share of work involved with the band. And, not to mention, two of them aren't really up to par on their skill of their instrument. Allow me to elaborate:
Drummer:
The drummer is 22 years old and currently taking 18 credit hours, working ~25 hours a week, and also DJs on the side. He is an avid partier. He is habitually late to practice because of hangovers. He has a drumset at his house, but claims he doesn't have time to practice. He also skips out on tearing down at gigs so he can go party. His personality is a very confrontational one. I have made comments and he gets very defensive about whatever I said. I understand he can do whatever he wants, and I want him to, but obviously it seems like this isn't something he wants to do, but I can't say that I honestly know that. If this was something he wanted to do, wouldn't he put forth even the minimal effort required? I need some advice on how to approach this situation. I will ask him "Why aren't you in doing the band stuff so much anymore, man?" And he might get confrontational -- I don't want him to take this personally. We are relatively good friends and don't want to harm that. However, I do want him to WANT to do band stuff (does that make sense?). Otherwise, I want someone in the band that would do a better job than he. I mostly want him to practice a little more on his own, and maybe dedicate more time to it.
Bassist:
Almost a similar situation with the drummer. He works 40 hours a week and is in school part time, however he is graduating this semester. He is also VERY focused on his career (as he talks about it a lot...and how much money he makes :roll🙂 His personality isn't as confrontational than the drummer's. I want him to practice more on his own, and quite frankly, his technique is quite poor and just plain isn't that great of a bassist. I want him to take lessons to develop his technique and songwriting ability. He is a nice guy, and is a little more dedicated to showing up to practice than the drummer. My only current beef with the bassist is he isn't good, but I want him to be. He is another good friend of mine but want him to be better, and I want him to WANT to be better.
Anyways, I am looking for advice on how to approach both of these two from a management prospective. The only reason I would want them to leave the band is if they don't want to be in it, or if they want to dedicate more time to doing the things they want to. But, I also don't want them to think this is a personal attack towards them.
However, I do feel it is unfair to myself and the vocalist because this is something that we put GREAT effort into, but don't see it as much from the other two.
Thanks everyone!
