SEQ CHAPTER 7
Time To Go
By Jarrett Maier
A few issues back
I wrote a
column titled “ Stay Put”. The subject
was longevity and a certain level of
commitment that is required to build
a successful band. The relationships
we build and manage to support our
creative processes are key to good
music and artistic expression. They
need to be nurtured and, more often
than not, require a great deal of work.
are definite indicators of a problem
heading your way:
1. Anyone
who objects to the legal
arrangement that I mentioned
above is not in any way,
shape or form a professional.
2.
Substance abuse is a prob-
lem. Yeah, we all like to party, it’s
Rock ‘n’ Roll. Keep it in check!
Egos do not get smaller. If state-
Now let’s talk about what hap- 3.
ments like “ my song” or “I’m the only
pens when these relationships fall
apart. First off, I hope that you have a
legal agreement of some type in place.
Something that spells out who wrote
what music, how the rights of each
member are protected and what value
they may hold. Emotions run way to
hot to be deciding these things during
a dispute. Just like a prenuptial agree-
ment makes a divorce go smoother, so
does a partnership agreement. So hire
a lawyer. Enough said!
one with new ideas” are
frequent
in an obvious collaboration, you may
have a problem.
4. When a change of direction or im-
age is discussed, agreed upon and then
disregarded. What’s the point of having
these talks.
5.
Criticism is healthy and required.
Let outside voices, like your producer,
help with growth. This is mostly tied to
the previously mentioned ego issue.
Secondly, what I am going to talk 6. Living in the past. Absolutely draw
about here is mainly referencing a
long period of time with a history of
ups and downs. So much baggage can
be accumulated over a ten or fifteen
year relationship that the origin of the
problem gets obscured by the general
dysfunction of the members. So I am
going to lay out some warning signs
and issues that may seem cliche but
Page 28
on your influences, we all have them.
Stop trying to create your version of a
power ballad from the summer of ‘91.
7.
Audience members and fans start
seeing problems. Worse yet, they actu-
ally verbalize them to other members
of the group. Uh oh!
GET HEARD. GET NOTICED.
8.
That guy who knows someone, who
works for so and so at blah blah Re-
cords. No, he or she won’t be helping
you any time soon. Here we begin to get
into the delusional aspect of a problem.
9. Major life issues like illness, chil-
dren and death. These are the most
complex to sort out. Just remember
that we all have them. Some of us deal
with it much better than others. Some
never deal with anything at all.
10. Poor performance. Obvious, as it
should be, but our gentler selves let it
slide. Sucking should not be tolerated.
Yes, we all had the same crappy sound
guy. What’s your excuse?
Click to discover the new music community.
This list could go on and on .
I’m sure all of you could add to it with
Spinal Tap or Rockstar jokes in tow.
Most of the time though it is a painful ex-
perience to lose a member of your band.
Whether by mutual agreement or with
hostility in the interest of self preserva-
tion, it is never easy when it is time to go.
Maybe this is just a cautionary tale.
Maybe it’s drawn from my own per-
sonal experience with some cathar-
sis attached. It might just be a bit of
both. Just know that we all go through
it. Maybe you can see it sooner rather
than later, to avoid the heartbreak.
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