OK, so anybody that knows me knows I've been working on this band Alice Sweet Alice since 2009.  Well, we were just contacted by a celebrity that has been working with bands since before the Lollapaluza days.  He is going to help us get an agent, and get on some big festivals, tours, etc. - perhaps for up to 2 months at a time.
 
Myself and Ali Kat, the two founders of the band, are both willing to do what we need to do to make arrangements in our lives to make this happen - as daunting and "impossible" it may seem.  We WILL figure out a way.  We're in it to win it.
 
Having a conversation with our guitarist and drummer, they gave us both the impression that making any sort of sacrifice would NOT be a welcome, and extremely daunting proposition.  (You would think after playing in music for 25 years, that some would have a reason - or ultimate goal in mind.  And all of the money and time that is shelled out, and the blood sweat and tears - would be done for some sort of payoff?)  It's disappointing to say the least.
 
As a result, I'm at a crossroads.  Frankly, and what I told them both was, the decision is up to them whether they will do it or not.  Nobody can be forced to make such a large decision.  But I also said that if they can't do it, that we need to consider "stand ins" or something because there is NO WAY that any sort of potentially excellent opportunity is getting passed by - by myself and the other co-founder.  It just won't happen.
 
So I'm fishing for opinions on how I should handle this, and if anyone has had similar experiences.  I should say here that we signed a Band Agreement last year, basically acknowledging that I own the band name and all VETO rights, and that the music created by current members in collaboration becomes the property of the band.  So there are no worries there.  In the event that one of the current members decides they cannot do it, I plan on letting them keep royalty percentages for work done with the band to date.  We also have legal representation through Sheridans in the UK, and our legal counsel is referring us to a firm that they work with here in the states.  So, we have the business side of this pretty worked out.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and for any advice you can give.  

I think all the current band members should get away privately and have a heart to heart about what IS going to happen. Don't let this opportunity go by even if it means a personnel change. Show your commitment at all costs to go for it. You won't get another chance. Please don't put yourself in the position to look back one day your heart drop and you wonder "what if " or "if only".
Do it for all us that never got this chance! DO IT FOR ME!!!

bayoubill
Do it for all us that never got this chance! DO IT FOR BAPU!!!

Yeah!!!!!!!

I don't envy the position you're in. A very uncomfortable situation, and also sad in a way.
Do the hardest decisions if necessary, and don't look back. If your bandmates are not willing to take the necessary steps, changing personnel wouldn't affect your friendship anyway...or?
 
OTOH, who am I to say anything? I missed a very, very potential opportunity once. It was just because I did not want to let down my bandmates (and did not have the guts?).  

I passed up the invitation to go to England and become "famous". Our guitarist said it was the only way. It was for him.
 
However, if I had gone I would probably not have married the woman I did, had the children I did and thus have my three wonderful grandsons.
 
Would I go back and do anything different? 
 
NOPE!!!

In the late '80s I was singer/guitar in a "pop" band.  We gigged 2 - 3 times a week all summer, built up a big following on the local circuit, played most of the "big" venues in London, our manager worked hard getting us gigs and exposure.  Then as soon we started getting professional interest that could have taken us "all the way" the drummer and bass player announced that they weren't prepared to "risk their day jobs"...   The band split soon after.
 
A couple of years later I was bass player in a glam rock band. The band had been going for several years and I was replacement for the original bass player who had moved away. We gigged, recorded, wrote our own material, got interest from Virgin Records...  Yayyyyy   we've made it..!!!
 
Nope, once again the drummer (different from the first band I must add) gets cold feet and the band ends up folding.
 
If you're going to put years of your life into playing with bands, make sure you know what you want out of it from day 1.  If you aim to "make it big" make sure there is no one  in the band with a day job that currently pays their mortgage..  They WILL NOT give it up.

Hmm tricky one. Playing Devil's Advocate, I can sympathise with anyone not wanting to take a risk if they have commitments like a family, mortgage etc in the current economic climate. Then again, they should probably have been upfront about that sometime in the last 5 years...

bapu

bayoubill
Do it for all us that never got this chance! DO IT FOR BAPU!!!

Yeah!!!!!!!

Agreed.
 
Opportunity does not ALWAYS knock on your door twice. And many times, it is the diference between getting "there" and not getting "there".
 
However, I'm su****ious about someone wanting to get an agent to do this and that, and wanting to do this and that and they want something in return. If you are Joe X or Joe Billionaire, and you want a band in that show, you won't need an agent and you won't need anything else. You get some plane tickets mailed and you get it all together and off to the races you go ... another gig!
 
I think it depends on your position and where you stand musically and such. Is the offer the real thing, or just the devil trying to destroy another band? You and I do not want to think that, EVER, but it is sad to see this, and the part I don't like is the "deal". You might as well shake hands with the guy on fire, so you can get bigger, better and make more money? Is that what all this is about?

Moshkiae
Opportunity does not knock on your door twice.

Actually, it does.  Read my post above... 

Karyn

Moshkiae
Opportunity does not knock on your door twice.

Actually, it does.  Read my post above... 

Fixed.
 
In places, like California, for example, at the end of the year for advanced acting folks, all of them take an "exam" that is supposed to be seen by "industry professionals" and since I helped a couple of them with their scenes I went to see it. It was a cattle call at the Pantages (old theater in Hollywood) to make you feel important, and there were 3 judges. 1) was asleep. 2) was looking at Playboy magazine. 3) was discussing to his friend on the left how he would like to get that one blonde in his bed.
 
1981 and 1982 was all about how many you could score. Had nothing to do with "talent" or "ability". It was take it or leave it, and that was that.
 
That's not an opportunity. That's MERDE! And it still happens today.
 
Friend of ours has a 19 year old modeling, and she has been taken and done in by several photographers and what not, but her mom and her know that the day she says no, her career is over! It's the only chance she has. Prostitute herself. Her only hope is to get enough work behind her so she doesn't have to deal with these amateurs, but she's already thinking that it might not get any better after that!
 
Music bands is the same thing, although if you can make it on your own, you can tell these leeches where to stuff it, and what to do with it. You don't need more people stealing your hard won earnings.
 
However, that is the way I think, and yes, I agree with you. But you and I would always wish that it was all just days of winde and roses and dresses, and fun, and sometimes, it isn't. But you do NOT want to lose your gift by having it stolen!