Guys,... I'm looking for some sound (no pun intended) advice on something...
I've run into the situation where the band leader says play louder at times,.. when the sax player is telling me play softer because he's sometimes having issues hearing the chords when the rhythm guitar or banjo is playing,....even though he's positioned right by the strings. I'm trying to pay so much damn attention to everyone's suggestions that I'm finding myself loosing the damn tempo at times!!! Not to mention zoning in on the other member's playing, that tends to throw my tempo off,... (like I'm focusing on them to much to give them what they need?)
Tempo gets lost now and then due in part to me,... the mass amounts of fill-ins by other members (sometimes at the same times), and by the issues with some new "old" songs that we have not played much nor practiced AT ALL.
I have been urging like MAD to get the guys together for practice sessions on the weekends, or at least to get a few guys, whomever is available, so that I can improve on whatever the boys need me to give them, etc....and at the same time work on band signals from the band leader,..(ie, breaks/stops, tempo changes, chords, solo signals, etc.)
Nothing has emerged yet though from my loud squeeky wheel of urging,....:confused:
Is it me, or am I nuts,.... how can we tighten up with out practice and not just playing small gigs and jams out at gigs?
Thanks guys!