It’s ok I’m With the Band
There are many things that can be taken away after playing in a band for several years. For instance, sometimes point of entry into a band as a female is only through significant other. Venues may assume you are the groupie or merch girl or spouse before artist. Surprise! You are all of the above. Times have shown an upward trend, however, and this is less and less the case.
Noodling
What is noodling? Yes- it is a form of fishing where one catches catfish with their bare hands. Yes- it can be when one spits water on someone through a pool noodle. But the type of noodling the player may know all too well is when a musician (particularly strings players for some reason) travels to Neptune via their instrument in rehearsal. Noodling that isn’t witnessed is just practice. Some live to noodle. Oodles of noodles. In the bands I cut my teeth on, which were primarily comprised of late gen x to elder millenials- noodling was definitely frowned upon and collectively felt as a waste of everyone’s time. Noodling while serious band business is happening isnt noodling, it’s something different- rude-uh-ling. My current stance finds noodling for some to bring great camaraderie among players or for others a way to deal with the anxiety of the moment and even a time to sneak a bit of practice with a certain part. Ive been teased for having frustration with noodling by my colleagues and I can laugh at myself but too much noodling can hijack a practice. A good diet keeps carbs, in this case, noodly pasta in balance.
Games People Play
Who is the funniest? There is a decently accepted frame of thought out there that suggests rock stars want to be comedians and vice versa. This is true. Artists that devote parts of their lives to human expression have the right cocktail of talent, tragedy and delivery to keep you in stitches. Rehearsal is an open mic night not just for music but the hahas. Leave your thin skin at the home because nothing is off the table and you can be the butt or face of any joke at a moment’s notice. Good news is-the funniest person is subject to change practice to practice and the results can surprise you.
Who is the strongest? Feats of strength. I never win this one nor would I want to. But I imagine for some this is a rewarding feeling. Nothing like lugging and unpacking gear. In and out of trailers and up and down flights of stairs. Drums, speakers, amps and merch. From negative twenty to 120 outside. Before and after the show. Then travel.
Who is the smartest? Not the funniest or strongest today? No problem- here is your chance to prove you are the smartest. Musicians are often hobbyists and typically well versed in gear technology. This can bore bystanders to tears. Music knowledge is in a category of its own.
Who is the most attractive? This is more qualifying for bands that aren’t at the dad band level. When you get older and married this more or less falls out of play. But for the Youngbloods out there in competition for groupies and attention this is something to be considered.
Who is the best player? Now this one is always gonna be objective. Listeners often have proclivities to certain instruments or people in the band so that will always be a factor. Some like flashy skills, grandiose demonstrations, harder styles, pretty vocals, the list goes on and on. In my small opinion, the best player is one that knows the players around them, anticipates and adapts to them and amplifies everyone at once.
Who are the best friends? Band members can go from hitting below the belt to the most perverse innuendo imaginable on the same person in the same sentence. Again, this answer can change from practice to practice and many determining factors vary the data. My old man is my drummer so that puts in variables for the whole band. I don’t have my bass player’s phone number. It’s nothing that I take personally, it’s the structure that works for this dynamic. This steers me to the concept of friendship, adult friendship, male friendship and the crisis of friendship the world seems to have. Men and women can be friends, great friends, as long as intentions are pure and identified. Your best friends may be the ones you share your silly dreams with, the ones you weave invisible frequencies alongside. The longer your band goes on the more you will hurt alongside each other. The music may find itself as a refuge or impossibility depending on the storm at your door front. Maturity will find the right band keeping the home fires burning and resentment nowhere to be found. Important things will bring out the best in you.