Putting yourself out there kinda sucks

JiveTurkey

Goatlord
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So been yapping for a long time about trying to start up my wrestle metal band. I lined up a group of friends a couple of years back into what I hoped could be a classic metal/easier thrash cover band that instead became a 'let's practice once a month but nitpick over 128th notes in bar 6 of a 77 bar opus" that never amounted to anything. To be fair; the "vision" materialized in my mind but the others had their own hang-ups (as did I 100%) and oddball song choices (aka no one wants to hear a Keel song in 2022) along with no shared motivations meant it became nothing pretty quick.

I digress.

I still want to do the the wrestlemetal thing. I don't have any idea who would play in it as I have been in cover band that actually gets booked and makes sense from a fiscal perspective mode and trying to convince someone to do something probably for younger people and no money is not possible.

I'm typing this out just to see if I should try wasting other people's time with this concept or if I should cut my losses now and just play my bad Deftones variations at home and enjoy those sweet Sweet Caroline dollars instead. I love playing with my band and friends so it's not that; just have a hankering to play some mildly heavier stuff from time to time.
 
This is exactly my problem. There aren't a lot of people who just want to do play music for fun.
Myself included sometimes!

Even if you just try a jam and even maybe get yourself to a point where you play a set opening for some friend's established band? It's tough!

My group of friends in my active band are all cover band vets and great musicians. They are all busy and most are not into anything heavier or have the time to pursue something else musically. Living in a small area means the pool of available people is almost non-existent. Ugh. Had some wonderful friends over the years in doing the original metal thing but they aren't of the mindset to want to do the garbage I want to do (or deal with my crap)
 
If you never put the band together, you’ll never know if it was worth it or not!

I know I get into the “I dont’t want to deal with the audition/finding members BS”…..but at this point I also know I have it so built up in my head as being the ultimate burden/band PITA that my outlook on it doesn’t really reflect reality and does more to keep me away from doing it than anything.

I actually lined up an audition this week with a pretty good metal band that’s about 25 mins north of me, then decided to pass on it for various reasons, but the biggest being the drummer talking to me about them “making it” and what he believed it would take to do that, which doesn’t align with me at allllll. It just popped in my head “If you’re going to do this, it’s gotta be your own band”

I say put a rough demo tune together to demonstrate what you’re talking about doing so people have a better idea of what “wrestle metal” is and just start hitting up anywhere local bands are playing and see if you get any nibbles with musicians you find at the shows. Just because they’re in a classic rock/top 40 band doesn’t mean they don’t wanna throw some chugs down in another band for fun!
 
This is exactly my problem. There aren't a lot of people who just want to play music for fun.

I’m the youngest guy (at 55) in a “just for fun with the occasional gig” band, and I like it a LOT more than the bar band I was in when I was younger that gigged every weekend. The bar band was essentially work, because we had to frequently add new material to keep people coming to see us, on top of playing three nights a week.
 
If you never put the band together, you’ll never know if it was worth it or not!

I know I get into the “I dont’t want to deal with the audition/finding members BS”…..but at this point I also know I have it so built up in my head as being the ultimate burden/band PITA that my outlook on it doesn’t really reflect reality and does more to keep me away from doing it than anything.

I actually lined up an audition this week with a pretty good metal band that’s about 25 mins north of me, then decided to pass on it for various reasons, but the biggest being the drummer talking to me about them “making it” and what he believed it would take to do that, which doesn’t align with me at allllll. It just popped in my head “If you’re going to do this, it’s gotta be your own band”

I say put a rough demo tune together to demonstrate what you’re talking about doing so people have a better idea of what “wrestle metal” is and just start hitting up anywhere local bands are playing and see if you get any nibbles with musicians you find at the shows. Just because they’re in a classic rock/top 40 band doesn’t mean they don’t wanna throw some chugs down in another band for fun!
My own biggest problem is wanting to show up with a 10 song cover set we need to do and the ambition to write a song here and there. Probably too organized for most who don't want to "form a band" but but also "too obscure"/"aggressive" for someone who wants to actively gig. It's tough being "hey everyone should have their say" ...."as long as they agree to do everything I am suggesting" :ROFLMAO:

Wrestle metal is really just nu metal and modern rock garbage bolted together with one terrible genre name. Apologies to Zoltan in advance :bag
I’m the youngest guy (at 55) in a “just for fun with the occasional gig” band, and I like it a LOT more than the bar band I was in when I was younger that gigged every weekend. The bar band was essentially work, because we had to frequently add new material to keep people coming to see us, on top of playing three nights a week.
This is where I am at in a different way. I love gigging my main band now. Anything outside of it will have a high bar to compare to on a friendship level as well as just making $$$$$.
 
[…] Wrestle metal is really just nu metal and modern rock garbage bolted together with one terrible genre name. Apologies to Zoltan in advance […]
Sour Milk Fridge GIF by NTE Grøntforsprang
 
JT… when you say wrestlemetal… and the genres being played… I’m thinking you’d play My Way and have the promo reel of Austin vs Rock at Wrestlemania X-7 on a projector or tv somewhere. And I fully support this and if I lived by you we’d be doing this thing.
 
"making it"

Iron Man Eye Roll GIF


I'd totally be down to join a band that wanted to play a blend of heavy covers with a few originals thrown in if we get inspired. Even put some recordings together if it gets that far. But delusions of grandeur of "touring" beyond a few hour drive of Denver? Fuhgeddaboudit. This is about creating and performing for me, not cash.
 
The day I give up playing music for fun better be the day i die.

If your really asking if it's OK to give up imma be like it smells like bitch in here lol jk


Keep going even when it sucks. Even when it's hard to find people. You never know when you'll find one person and then another and it starts to build. When you get burned out take some time off but come back and rage.

Mentally I just couldn't imagine not creating music. When you have those moments of magic it's all worth it.
 
Follow @DrewJD82 advice, try to start the band and see what happens.

If you have a clear view of what you want you'd might find your self with a cool band.

The hardest part is finding the people, I guess. At least that's the hardest part here, in my area.

I have this idea of a trio with a female vocalist to play non-mainstream/unknown rock blues covers of great songs, possibly rearranged, but I haven’t been able to find the right people. And even after two+ years, the idea is still there, teasing me. And will be there untill I'll make it happen.
 
So reached out to a drummer who we used as a sub before. He just got out of a jam situation with the bass player I had in mind. Because they weren't "getting anywhere" which kind of concerns me as I already have a super active band. He said "it sounds like fun!" then went silent when I asked if he would be interested. I'm taking that as a no.

My list to self, so far
I Stand Alone
Bodies
Break Stuff, Rollin'
The Game
One Step Closer
Korn song (?)---Falling Away From Me
Dragula
Disturbed song of some sort
Deftones
3 Days Grace Let's Start a Riot
Powerman 5000 (?)
Rammstein (?)
I'm Broken
Any terrible suggestions? Am I dumb in thinking this would be a good time? :unsure:
 
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So reached out to a drummer who we used as a sub before. He just got out of a jam situation with the bass player I had in mind. Because they weren't "getting anywhere" which kind of concerns me as I already have a super active band. He said "it sounds like fun!" then went silent when I asked if he would be interested. I'm taking that as a no.

My list to self, so far
I Stand Alone
Bodies
Break Stuff, Rollin'
The Game
One Step Closer
Korn song (?)---Falling Away From Me
Dragula
Disturbed song of some sort
Deftones
3 Days Grace Let's Start a Riot
Powerman 5000 (?)
Rammstein (?)
I'm Broken
Any terrible suggestions? Am I dumb in thinking this would be a good time? :unsure:

FREEEE BUUUUURRRRRRRD!!!!!!!!
 
So reached out to a drummer who we used as a sub before. He just got out of a jam situation with the bass player I had in mind. Because they weren't "getting anywhere" which kind of concerns me as I already have a super active band. He said "it sounds like fun!" then went silent when I asked if he would be interested. I'm taking that as a no.

My list to self, so far
I Stand Alone
Bodies
Break Stuff, Rollin'
The Game
One Step Closer
Korn song (?)---Falling Away From Me
Dragula
Disturbed song of some sort
Deftones
3 Days Grace Let's Start a Riot
Powerman 5000 (?)
Rammstein (?)
I'm Broken
Any terrible suggestions? Am I dumb in thinking this would be a good time? :unsure:

Union Underground - Across the Nation
Nickelback -Burn It To The Ground
I see Dragula but you should add Superbeast
Dig, Happy? (I saw Mudvaynr last year and was very pleased with how good they were live).
Incubus - Certain Shade of Green
 
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