Power & Tradeoffs

Here's the main fault line of the trade off for a bandleader in my position--power vs. group effort.

The first thing I gotta say is that my band mates give me more time and energy than I feel I deserve, quite consistently. Sometimes it's a promotional gig that doesn't pay, and they play it without complaint, play it well, and show no compunctions. Sometimes they have to give up precious precious time for other things--like having lives, doing various sorts of work, playing other music--in order to have an unpaid rehearsal for Renegade Minstrels. And each band member's ego is in a place where they will, in the end, defer to my judgement on most every musical issue. I can't remember ever having a spat with a band mate over music--certainly some creative tension now and then (which is only healthy), but never any sort of personal falling out.

That said, there is a price for the creative freedom that my band mates give to me. Beyond to occasional contributions like Luke putting up a few posters, Jon facebooking or handing out fliers now and then, it all comes down to how much work I put into it. I maintain the website, book the gigs, call rehearsals, write the songs, pay for studio time, pay for printing and promotional costs, network with other bands, and so forth. All the thousand things you have to do if you ever hope to be making a livable income off of your music.

Do you think the trade off is worth it? I do at least 90% of the time, usually more. For now at least, there is balance in this band, and that is a happy, and lucky thing to have.