Just for fun, in addition to playing your instrument, what are the roles you serve in bands, sessions, jams, etc.?
I'm often the arranger. Not the musical director (not that I've ever been in a band at the level where that was an official role!) In the pro-am level bands I've been in, most players are pretty much expected to figure out their own parts. But a lot of times, the harmony isn't obvious, or certain instruments have important backup figures to play that other folks miss, and I'm usually the one figuring it out. Fortunately I can play the other instruments (except drums/percussion) well enough to understand what they can and can't (and often, "should") play.
That's despite the fact that I'm usually the least talented player in the band. Most of the time I play keyboards, and we keyboard players are lucky that there are so few of us, we can usually join bands with guys a level or two above us.
I can't help the drummer, though. I'd love to understand different rhythmic styles & genres well enough to do that, but I'd need to start over at square 2 or so. I generally can tell if the drummer is bad not by hearing what they're doing wrong (unless it's obvious like bad timing) but more by the fact that the whole band can't gel properly.
I'm never the guy picking out the tunes. Evidently I'm not great at that, except for in a duo I play in with me on guitar and a mando/fiddle player. At least, I must not be good at it because not many of my suggestions end up on the set list.
Making a set list is a skill, and other than in the duo, there's always (thankfully) been someone better at that. Other things I'm never good at are getting gigs and managing things. Thank goodness for people who are good at that!
Oh yeah, when we're not lucky enough to have a sound guy, I do that too. Mostly probably because I'm too demanding & picky about it, plus until lately I've had most of the gear. It's a real joy when I don't have to, though!
I was in a soul band (LOTs of fun!) and our female vocalist, also the bass player / lead vocalist's daughter, served the excellent role of getting lots of young people to our gigs!
So, what "extra" do you bring to the table? What other roles are important but often overlooked or unsung?
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