Good to bad to worse to GREAT!
By craftcatcher
@craftcatcher (3699)
United States
July 3, 2008 7:50pm CST
The Good:
A friend of ours started this country band a few months ago and asked me and my husband to join up. We were just going to play in the small towns around the area. Even though neither of us are big country fans, our other band has broken up (the one on my profile page) so we thought ok, at least we'd be working again. It was not a high paying band by any stretch but cash is cash. Only problem was we didn't have a permanent guitar player. We had a couple people fill in for a couple of gigs but both were committed to other bands. Finally we got a new guitar player... shock shock, it was the guitar player from a band we were in 3 yrs ago. Cool! We were good friends, we all got along great and played and sang well together. We were thrilled.
The Bad:
About a month into this band our old buddy decides that he wants to start his own band. Now that's not really a big deal. BUT, he asked the lead singer and the drummer to join his band.... and they did! This was done without even telling us! The lead singer's wife got a case of the guilts and finally decided to tell us about it. We were both really hurt by this.
The Worse:
Now the lead singer is saying that our band is done, kaput, finished after we play our remaining gigs. So as of September we have no band at all. To say the least this was a shocker. We thought for sure the he'd just go find another guitar player and keep this band going. On top of that, our old buddy is now going behind everybody's back and trying to steal all our band's gigs! What a backstabber!
The GREAT!
Another old friend called a couple of weeks ago. He was looking to start a new band and wanted my husband and me to join up. This guy is an awesome guitar player. He can play anything from country to blues to hard rock and in his younger days played with a modestly famous heavy metal band and toured Europe with them for a few months. He knows a lot of people in the business and is well known in his own right in the area about 30 miles north of us. Well he called this morning and said that as soon as we get a drummer lined up we are going directly to the recording studio. Definitely COOL! He's already got some gigs lined up for more than double the pay that we're getting now.
We have been so upset about the stuff going on with the country band. But I told my husband, "When one door closes, another opens. You just have to be patient." I was sure hoping that was true because I was fairly scared to death that we'd be totally without a band here in a few weeks. But now we're both extremely happy. 
Do you believe that when one door closes another opens?
Do you believe that when one door closes another opens?6 people like this
17 responses
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
4 Jul 08
That's how life goes in the garage band kind of deal. I've been in and out of bands many times, or in a band that can never keep a bass player, or whatever.
There are always big egos in bands that break things up, shake things down, make things good or bad.
I'm only disappointed because I moved away from where I used to live, and one of my best friend's bands.. their singer just quit, and they would have LOVED to have me join instead. But now I live 1200 miles away.
2 people like this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
6 Jul 08
The egos tend to get in the way if you a garage band playing for the neighborhood kids or a band playing for thousands. Musicians tend to be a quirky bunch. Thanks cassidy
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
4 Jul 08
Wow..... such an entertaining music and you are a good singer. I check out your profile and saw that pics of you and your band singing. Well done. Of course every bad things that happen something good will come up. Your case is a blessing in disguise. You've got a better deal now. Wish you every success.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Thanks very much zandi! I appreciate the compliments. This definitely turned out to be a blessing in disguise and I'm going to run with it for as long as I can! 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
4 Jul 08
I believe that change is good, but the process is often painful. 
I have to keep believing that the right doors will open up, if I am faithful to what I am supposed to do. Sounds like you and your husband were honest and faithful in this situation. I am sorry to say it, but it sounds like the guy going around other people's backs is acting out a country song about cheating and stealing. All he needs is to get drunk, steal someone's dog, his mama to die and him to end up in jail.
I have to keep believing that the right doors will open up, if I am faithful to what I am supposed to do. Sounds like you and your husband were honest and faithful in this situation. I am sorry to say it, but it sounds like the guy going around other people's backs is acting out a country song about cheating and stealing. All he needs is to get drunk, steal someone's dog, his mama to die and him to end up in jail.1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Thanks much. Those kinds of people give Christians a bad name, sorry to say, and makes it hard to outlive the negative for the rest of us.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Thanks Gerty! Wonderful observations. Yes we call him the egotistical drama king. The sad thing is, as unethical and backstabbing as he is he'll never see that he's done anything wrong. He's an overzealous Christian Minister who believes that whatever he does is right because no one could ever conceive of him doing anything wrong. Some of us know better.
His whole life is a bad country song.
Yes we call him the egotistical drama king. The sad thing is, as unethical and backstabbing as he is he'll never see that he's done anything wrong. He's an overzealous Christian Minister who believes that whatever he does is right because no one could ever conceive of him doing anything wrong. Some of us know better.
His whole life is a bad country song. 1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
6 Jul 08
I take that as a big compliment from you my friend. You are the Queen of getting on no matter what! Hugs
Hugs
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
6 Jul 08
I am so proud of you my friend. You held you head up and did not fight dirty like the worm that left the band.
I have all the faith in you guys on getting new gigs lined up and making some extra cash. I am sure the worm will get his just deserts.
Good luck to you and yours.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Thanks so much teapot I really appreciate it. Worm.... I like that!
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
4 Jul 08
It usually does work out for the best, 90% of the time anyway. The other 10% you just have to live with until you can move on from there. Sort of a side step before you can move forward again. Thanks Ann! hugs
1 person likes this
@tammytwo (4298)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Just two weeks ago, I was fired from a job that I have held for two years. I have been hearing the whole "when one door closes another one opens." On many days I do believe it but on others not so much. I am sure hoping this saying is true as I can't go long without an income and still don't know if I will be accepted to receive unemployment without a fight from the old employer. The situation behind that is: We received a new boss just about four months ago and from day one she has been looking for a reason to not accept me in the position I was in. She felt because I didn't have a degree in that field I wasn't the person for that job even though I had been doing it for two years with no complaints from the public or fellow co-workers.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
6 Jul 08
So sorry about your job tammytwo. I can relate to that one. I got fired a few years back from a job I'd been at for 6 years. The reason?.. the boss was in a bad mood that day and my office was the first one next to his. He came in to do nothing more than yell and throw a fit and when I didn't react he got really mad. I still didn't react to his ranting and raving and that's when he fired me. If I had cried or backed down or acted weak, he would never have fired me. But I wasn't about to react like he wanted me to just because he was acting like a jerk. So I lost my job but kept my dignity.
Just keep your head high and keep a positive attitude. That will get the doors to open for you.
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
4 Jul 08
First, CONGRATS on the new band! Keep us posted on your progress please.
Most of the doors that have closed in my life have led to something better, so yes, I believe that as one door closes, another opens to us all.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Thanks visitor, I will keep everyone posted on our progress.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
4 Jul 08
I'm sorry you had to go through all this with your "backstabber" of a friend from your previous band. Things will come back to him threefold, my friend.
Yes, I do believe that when one door closes, another opens. That's life, and it always comes back to a balance. There's another saying... there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. This is so true, too.
Brightest Blessings my friend, and good luck with your future recordings and gigs. x
@Darkwing (21583)
•
4 Jul 08
It's good to see you again too, my friend. Yes, spoken by a true Libra. We get a bit out of sorts if the scales tip just a little bit, huh? lol.
You're more than welcome to my blessings and wishes of luck, my friend... I hope they help you on your way. x
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Hello my friend! So good to see you again. I'm a firm believer in balance, though sometimes I think those scales tip a little far to one side before coming back to center.. spoken like a true Libra don't you think .
Thanks so much for the blessing and luck Darkwing. I really appreciate it very much. Hugs to you.
.
Thanks so much for the blessing and luck Darkwing. I really appreciate it very much. Hugs to you.1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
7 Jul 08
Thanks so much lucy I really appreciate the compliment!
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Hi Raydene honey! I so agree with you. Good thing about fulfilling this need is it just kind of fell in our lap. Those are the ones to be grateful for and we certainly are grateful. Hugs :D
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Jul 08
hi craftcatcher yes I do believe that when one door closes
another opens, and most times the best happens to you that
might not have happened otherwise. sometimes a better thing comes along but not great, yet wait awhile and something even
better does pop up. So believe in that and work accordingly.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Hi Hatley! There are a lot of different doors that's for sure. Sometimes you have to kick that mother down, or you have to pick the lock, or you get out the C4 and blow it off the hinges. We were very lucky this time that the door opened without any major effort on our part.
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Hey great news Char! It must be nice to be so talented. Although I was in band in school years ago and played the flute, I was really never very good at it. Apparently it was one of those things that sounded good to try, but really didn't suit me. LOL So do you play at parties, or at bars etc?
1 person likes this
@MrsFairWells (921)
• Turkey
4 Jul 08
That's awesome, good for you all, congrats on the new band!
I think that sometimes this is the case, that when one door closes another opens but I think it's more due to chance than anything else because I have had doors close and no doors open in the past and then on some occasions it's been the other way around...
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Hi MrsFairWells, and thanks. I agree, it doesn't always work. Sometimes you have to kick that darn door open or pick the lock. But I'm glad this time the door opened on it's own.
1 person likes this
@ycanteye (778)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Wow, what a bummer to have happen. I've seen things like this so many times in the music business. Hubby played bass for almost 40yrs and has experienced similar things.
I do believe in what you are saying about another door opening when one closes you just have to recognize it.
Good luck in your new venture.
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
4 Jul 08
We've been thru this before so many time the shocker was that these people we considered friends. Sometimes egos don't care about friendship unfortunately. My husband has never backstabbed to get where he is. It's just so unnecessary when being nice gets you so much farther. Oh well, just gotta deal with it if you're gonna be in this business I guess. Thanks so much B. Check your messages too!
1 person likes this
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
4 Jul 08
not only do I belive this is true i know it is at least it always has for me good luck in all your enterprises!
1 person likes this
@novataylor (6570)
• United States
28 Jul 08
Hi, cc. And yes, when one door closes, if another door doesn't open up, then look for the window - it's probably opening as we speak. I think that things happen the way they're supposed to. And yes, hindsight is terrific, it all seems so easy, but when you're in the midst of it, it can be so very hard to see the reasonability in that thinking. But I always hang on to that belief, even when I'm right down in the muck and mire of a situation - my faith is unshakeable and very deeply rooted.
Hey, where can I go to hear you sing? On your profile page, there are only male members of the band - at least that I can see. So where are you? I'd so love to hear your voice. Please provide a link? That would be great. See ya out there!
Oh, and p.s. I forgot to say, I think your old buddy has turned into a jerk. He did you wrong. But now you know that he's not someone you can count on to be a friend. So you're better off. He'll hoist himself with his own petard, to be sure. I just hope you're able to witness it when it happens!
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Jul 08
Here's the old band's myspace page http://myspace.com/userfriendlybandrocks
On the music player in the upper right hand side of the page, you can hear me do a lead on "Other Side of Me" and I'm singing backup on the rest of the songs. The videos on the left side of the page are the same as the 2 on my profile page here on myLot. That's me in the middle of the top video.
On our current band's myspace page http://myspace.com/johnniecrainandtheshadows there's a video halfway down the left side of the page. It's just short clips of one nights performances but I do have a lead on there too and a couple of backups.
There's none of me on the music player though.
Great thing is it looks like we're getting a new band together! Our first practice is next week so I'm pretty excited about it!
And yes, when the jerk does hoist himself by his own petard I'll get to see it, front row center... LOL!
