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guitarded88

guitarded88

Member
Jan 25, 2009
159
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16
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Waterloo/Brampton, ON
Hi everybody,

As I'm trying to organize a working band, I'm a little concerned with people's commitment. I've basically written a bunch of full songs (all the parts) and am wondering what happens if I or someone else leaves the band?

Do I get to take the songs with me? Should I only be playing with people I trust? Should I just write new songs with new bands and keep my already completed work for later?

I'm basically afraid of people lifting ideas and rifts from me. (It's been an issue in the past... douchebag band members)

Is there anything I can do to "copyright" my material?
 
what's the worst that can happen if a dude steals a riff/song? so he plays a show or records a demo with your song or riff - chances are no one's ever going to know or care. most people don't play the same riff exactly the same anyway, the one who learned it usually messes up in some fashion or another.
 
So if someone lifted an awesome section of your song and you saw them use it in their "new" song at a show, you wouldn't "know or care"?

I see the argument that maybe they won't instantly become successful by stealing your riff.

But it is a bit of a concern for me. And I was wondering what people do if they bring an entire song to a band and then leave the band.
 
Look at songwriting less from what they can take from you,and more from the abundance you can potentially tap into.

If that's too way out there,

Read up on copyright in your country.
 
Usually once something is written and used in a song, that's the end of that material for me... Always move forward, I don't hold onto old shit and take it back from bands when I leave to try and include in new songs, where's the progression there? If someone "steals" your shit and tries to put it out there before even you do something with it that is one thing, but quitting a band and having them still play the songs is no big deal imo.

Waterloo eh? Cambridge here bro!
 
F0RBIDDEN said:
Usually once something is written and used in a song, that's the end of that material for me... Always move forward, I don't hold onto old shit and take it back from bands when I leave to try and include in new songs, where's the progression there? If someone "steals" your shit and tries to put it out there before even you do something with it that is one thing, but quitting a band and having them still play the songs is no big deal imo.

Waterloo eh? Cambridge here bro!
Click to expand...

:kickass: I actually just moved here recently but there seems to be a big ass metal scene in the area.

So you finally understand what I mean! I obviously wouldn't go and play with a band, write material then take it back with me.

I'm more concerned that at this stage, while I'm trying to find a band that I can work well with, I'll show up to a practice or two, they'll be interested to hear what I can do (which makes sense) and then I'll show em. Then who knows what they'll do with it after they know how to play it. I'm afraid I'll be working hard and getting screwed over just because I don't have a solid band going for me.

I absolutely agree one should move forward or else no new material would be made, but I'm trying to record a demo of my material here, and trying to find a band to record with, and trying to actually LEARN how to record. It doesn't help the process if I have to write new material every time I try out with a band.

Maybe I am just paranoid, but that's why I wanted to hear your opinions.
 
Understand man! If you are recruiting guys to play your stuff then you pretty much have no choice but to show them the material haha, but I think the chances of you recruiting a bunch of guys, teaching them the songs in a week and then all of them quitting and starting a new band with your songs but without you is pretty slim, I dunno. In my experience this has never been something you actually have to worry about, so even though there's potential for stuff like this to happen I've never actually seen it done. Just a risk you sort of have to take to get your music out there I guess man! Most people want to have their own shit going and I don't think anyone would ever be satisfied basically playing a set of covers of someone else and calling it their band, and anyone who would is a nobody who is going nowhere anyways and definitely not a "threat".

Curious what sort of stuff are you looking to play man? I've got a little home studio setup in my house and me and a couple other guys jam all the time when I'm not travelling for work, feel free to come by any time dude! Guessing based on your name that your 20-21, I'm 22 and the other guys I jam with are 23 and 24 respectively, we mostly just jam out At The Gates covers and bum around with some original stuff :lol:
 
guitarded88 said:
:kickass: I actually just moved here recently but there seems to be a big ass metal scene in the area.

So you finally understand what I mean! I obviously wouldn't go and play with a band, write material then take it back with me.

I'm more concerned that at this stage, while I'm trying to find a band that I can work well with, I'll show up to a practice or two, they'll be interested to hear what I can do (which makes sense) and then I'll show em. Then who knows what they'll do with it after they know how to play it. I'm afraid I'll be working hard and getting screwed over just because I don't have a solid band going for me.

I absolutely agree one should move forward or else no new material would be made, but I'm trying to record a demo of my material here, and trying to find a band to record with, and trying to actually LEARN how to record. It doesn't help the process if I have to write new material every time I try out with a band.

Maybe I am just paranoid, but that's why I wanted to hear your opinions.
Click to expand...

Record all the songs now, and put them out under a band name. Maybe hire/find a reliable drummer, otherwise use a good drum machine. Put out ads looking for members for this new band.

That's how Arsis got started...
 
F0RBIDDEN said:
I think the chances of you recruiting a bunch of guys, teaching them the songs in a week and then all of them quitting and starting a new band with your songs but without you is pretty slim
Click to expand...

I've actually had that happen to me. It took about 8 weeks, but I wrote 5 songs, we learnt them, then we broke up... only for the other four people to get back together playing my songs. They recorded them (badly), played a couple of gigs with them (really badly) and then split up again - they were together for about 4 months, and only wrote one new song in that time.

I shouldn't really complain though, as I'm now in one band with the bass player and another with the singer :p

Steve
 
As far as I know, all you need to do in Canada is mail yourself a copy of the material in order to "copyright" it. So you throw the tracks on a CD, write the lyrics on a piece of paper, put them in an envelope, then just mail it to yourself and when you get it back, don't open it. You have a government issued time stamp on the envelope which is apparently enough to hold up in court in the event that you need to "prove" you came up the material first. I suppose this isn't exactly the same as a "copyright" but if you're just an indepedent dude, you don't really need anything else.

Cue obligatory mocking of Canada now.
 
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