Who would you fire?

David Pennybaker · From: Conroe, TX USA

Just a hypothetical situation to stir the pot a little.

Assume you have a band with the following instruements (played only by one person -- nobody can play 2 instruments):

Drum
Bass
Guitar
Fiddle
Pedal Steel
Keyboard

Assume you're the lead singer, and play guitar (but can only strum it).

You've been asked to eliminate a member to cut expenses. Who do you eliminate first? (Assume all musicians play equally well). Who next? And who next? Also assume it's country music.

I'd get rid of the drummer first. I like my drums in moderation, and the keyboard and bass (and to some extent guitar) are quite capable of providing the rhythm.

Next would probably be the bass. Either the keyboard player or guitarist can get those bass notes if required.

Next I'd get rid of the keyboard player. While very useful on ballads, the guitar can subsitute if it has to.

Have a Happy Easter!

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

Fiddle and keyboard

Billy Johnson · From: Nashville, Tn, USA

Lets suppose your a petroleum engineer....

Chris Walke · From: St Charles, IL

Interesting dilemma.

1st: keyboard
2nd: fiddle
3rd: psg
4th: drums
5th: bass

I would keep a core of drums, bass, lead guitar, and singer (rhythm gtr) if possible. To screw up my order above, the fiddle could replace the lead guitar, but then again, lead gtr can add a bigger variety of tonal colors.

Drums would go before bass, especially if it's an upright bass. A 3-piece consisting of bass (again, especially upright), acoustic lead and acoustic rhythm can be very nice, and sound very complete.

IMO, keyboard (I may get in trouble here) is a superfluous instrument in country music, if it's there to add synthy-stringy sounds. Ugh! Now a piano, on the other hand, is fantastic on a country ballad.

PSG? Yikes. I tend to like hearing PSG in a larger band context. Just my preference. Drums, bass, rhythm gtr and psg would be a nice combo, probably the smallest I'd go with PSG.

...but what do I know? I'm a pop/rock/roots rock player.

Joe Smith · From: Charlotte, NC, USA

Well that's a loaded guestion. Keyboards would have to go first.It just ain't country
without a steel guitar. There are lots of great country bands with guitar bass drums fiddle and steel. The band that I play with now has Guitar, Steel, Bass,and Drums. Our lead guitar player sings and we have a female vocalist. We do all types of music.
Everything from "Listen To The Music" to
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E"

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Playing PSG keeps you on your toes.

David Pennybaker · From: Conroe, TX USA

David Pennybaker · From: Conroe, TX USA

Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

Well first off all I would try to see how I could keep all by seeking a gig that would pay the frieght..If it was impossible then I would have to keep what would give me the sound I needed..Since I never went overboard to hire a Keyboard (I never found one available) I would assume he'd be the one..Fiddle, lead, steel, bass ,drums would be the Ideal sounds for my type of music. I have seen Bands that use no bass and the keyboard left hands it. And they had a good sound. But I always had good bass players.

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CJC

Earl Erb · From: Old Hickory Tenn

The pianist would be the first and only one to go.If anyone else had to go I would quit playin'.

My last two years in the business(1985-87)I played guitar for the harp player(Loydd Lindroth)at the Opryland Hotel.Bass,guitar and harp...no drums.One of the worst gigs I ever had.Playing without a drummer just about ruined me for time.Loydd always rushed like an S.O.B. and if you think that's fun try slowing down a freight train with a bicycle and a rope tied to your a$$!

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

If it got to the point someone had to go.

Keyboard first.
Fiddle Second.

And although I hate to say it, steel third.

But, in reality it's the steel that goes first. Or if they are hiring another piece they will go for a keyboard over a steel.

I got hired for a winter RV park tour here in Florida two years ago backing up an older Nashville singer. A month before the tour was to start I was replaced by a keyboard player. Not because I couldn't play, but because the promotor thought the keyboard would be more versitile and better. Jack Greene was here the same year, doing a similar tour and the local promoter had hired a keyboard player for his backup band, too - no steel (I'm sure Jack liked that).

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Well,first,I would try to convince the club owner how important it is to have ALL the pieces in the band. Then,if that didn't work,I'd tell the club owner to go @#$% himself,& take my band somewhere else. Simple as that. Tell Merle Haggard or George Jones that you can only pay 5 guys insteadof 6,& see what happens. For Bob Wills' first appearance on the Opry,he was told that he couldn't use his horns. He just turned to the band & said,"Sack 'em up boys,we're goin' back to Texas." I've seen Joe Casey take NO MONEY for himself,to make sure he kept his band together. 'Nuff said.

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  ©¿©          ars longa,


  mm         vita brevis 


-=sr€=-

[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 12 April 2001 at 03:45 PM.]

Earl Erb · From: Old Hickory Tenn

Thank you very much rayman.Before I took the job my friends told me Loydd was Russian...what they really meant was...he was rushin'. Little did I know of the pain I would endure for those two long years.

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Hey Earl, How've you been? Long time no see.

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©          ars longa,


  mm         vita brevis 


-=sr€=-

Earl Erb · From: Old Hickory Tenn

Hey Smiley...my goodness,how long has it been? I met a guy today in Hendersonville that looks just like you and he even plays steel.

Go figure.

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Drum
Bass
Guitar
Fiddle
Pedal Steel
Keyboard

In reality, a modern country lead singer would get rid of the fiddle and steel first, after all he figures the guitarist can handle all the 'twang' that they need and the boot sccoters won't notice too much anyway.
After all, they've got to concentrate on their moves.

Gotta keep the drummer, you need that constant beat, maybe later when you get a bit more uptown you can hire a sampler and you can get rid of the keyboard player as well.
They keyboard player is pretty important though, he's (or she) is there to help keep the modern country fans comfortable, after all it's important to have those little tinkling sounds and rhythm fills that are popular in top ten records, and any old 1980s pop ballad that's needed when the band wants to get a little 'retro.'

It's very important that the singer has a rhythm guitar, after all Elvis seemed to always have a guitar and when the singer gets really famous and has a little wireless microphone on his head, he can still show he's salt of the earth and smash that guitar onstage.
But not in gratuitous rock star fashion, but to signify his roots with the working class masses who he writes songs for, or he pays someone to write songs for as he is busy trying to look country in that big black hat, playing baseball and appearing on talk shows and mentioning his 'country' roots in the suburbs of some city somewhere.

Later while touring he'll pass through a certain town and backstage his minders will kindly persuade the steel guitarist to leave.
After all they know that the big star never had a steel player in his band andthis guy must be having themon about wanting to catch up with his 'old boss.'

[This message was edited by Jason Odd on 12 April 2001 at 07:03 PM.]

Fred Murphy · From: Indianapolis, In. USA

I would keep bass, drums, and steel. Don Buzzard used to play here in Indy with just the three people, and it was the best sounding three piece band I have ever heard. They could play anything and sound great. They played country, pop, jazz, dixieland, and everything in between. I have forgotten the name of the singer who played bass , but he could sing a Ray Price song with the best of them. When Don Buzzard grabbed a handful of C6 it just filled the room with beautiful sound.

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

I once worked four years with bass, drums, myself on steel, and a vocalist that played "some" guitar. Everything was tight and sure didn't have to worry about getting on anyones "note" or vice-versa.I sure got plenty of playing time. So, from my personal experience, I would let everything else go.www.genejones.com

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 13 April 2001 at 05:38 AM.]

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I'd get rid of the b***o player first.

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Actually, now I'm being a lot less cynical, I've just been listening to a greatalbum by Michael Nesmith, where Mike handles guitar and vocals and Red Rhodes does the rest.

No-one else and it's a majestic effort.
Of course it was 1972 and sold like sh..oot, now I'm all cynical again.

It can be done, and it should be done, but when push comes to shove it's not the steel player who usually survives, at least not these days.
I did just see some Faith Hill thing, she had a steel player at least.

Boomer · From: Brentwood, TN USA

Who owns the PA?

Best, Boomer

David Pennybaker · From: Conroe, TX USA

I think the banjo player did, but we tied him up and stole his equipment.

I tried to make this simple, leaving out the banjo, harmonica, accordian, and 3 guitar players. LOL

I'm kinda surprised that everybody (so far) besides me wants to keep the drums. I knew it wouldn't be the most popular choice, but . .

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Alan Shank · From: Woodland, CA, USA

Just based on personal preference, and without considering the ability to get and keep jobs, I'd let the keyboard go first. After that, everything for me is essential, so I'd just quit the band myself (being the steel player, of course).

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Cheers,
Alan Shank
2001 Birdseye Green Carter D10, 9 & 7
early 1990's Nashville 400, w/Lemay
2000 Hilton ME-262B Super Pedal
1994 Mark IV Sound Int. Pac-a-Seat
1983 Korg AT-12 tuner
1946 Shank-family hands, feet and knees

Ken Lang · From: Simi Valley, Ca

To be honest, I'd fire the club. Assuming it to be a good band, there aren't any club owners or $$$$ worth breaking up what was put together with hard work and love of music.

It would be that or saying, "Guys, we are all taking a cut in pay."

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Smiley...ditto on the union.I carried a card for many years because I had to have a number for "contract" jobs...but I never could tell that it ever helped me get paid more than I could negotiate on my own. Also they never failed to send out duns for road-tax after you had toured through their local jurisdiction!

I can't count the number of times I received notices that I owed road-tax from somewhere I had never been, because someone had put my card-number on a contract to cover a musician who didn't have a card.

On an amusing note...I also remember back in the dark ages when I would hold out for $20 for a "bar" job when the bar owner was paying $10. I had one tell me confidentially once that he would pay me $12.50 if I would promise not to tell any of the other band members! www.genejones.com

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