Another band, again.

[Busker]

I guess I'm in two bands again. I tried out for this band Monday night, and they want me back to begin rehearsals and will be giving me CDs of a list of songs to start learning. The good news is I already know about 15 of the songs, maybe a few more than that even.

Don't know how it will work out, time will tell. They have three guitarists. Three. One does double on keyboards though, and then bass and drums to make a five-piece. The three guitarists sing, and yet they still want me to try working up some vocals. Alrightee, I'll try. Then maybe that idea will go the way of the other bands I've been in. After hearing me sing, they just don't ask me to do it again.

One thing I'm wondering... some of the stages I've been on are so small, there is no way all this gear and five bodies will fit on those. The keyboards and drums take up the most space, but between five guys, their gear, plus PA.... it could be a nightmare.

Anyway, they are fairly close to me, which is a luxury. I have been having to travel long distance to rehearse with other bands, usually 35 miles or more one way. These guys are only about 20 miles away.

[CincyBassMan]

Hey Busker! I play in 3 bands right now: 1 is a 9 piece cover band w/horns & keys, 1 is a 5 piece cover band w/keys and a 4 piece blues band. You learn to get creative with setups...

Good Luck! Russ

[MoD_Scotty]

Congrats. Don't sweat the space issue, my band has 6 people (vox, 2xguit, bass, drums, keys), and we fit on some tiny stages, even with two halfstacks and my "tower of power."

[iriegnome]

We have 6 people in my band as well. 3-guitars, 2 drums and me. We fit. On every stage we have come across. On the stages we don't fit, the guitars set up on the floor off the stage. Adapt.. It is the only way.
By the way, Playing in and around 3 guitarists is a trip... Have a great time with it...

[DaveDeVille]

Originally Posted by Busker

.... They have three guitarists. Three.

..."FREEBIRD !! " ...




... oh , sorry , i just had to yell that one out



EDIT: best of luck with the new band !!

[iriegnome]

Originally Posted by david meissner

..."FREEBIRD !! " ...




... oh , sorry , i just had to yell that one out



EDIT: best of luck with the new band !!

LMAO

[agreatheight]

5 piece with three gits/two git and keys? Oh, I am not sure I'd take the gig.

I just had a gig on a tight stage and I didn't have a good time. We are a 4 piece (git, singer/git, drummer, me) and I found that I was crammed into a very tight corner. I made several flubs when the singer/git got too close to me or bumped me. I actually spent a lot of the show watching out for him. He doesn't play on every song so I think next time we play that stage I am going to ask that he leave his guitar and rig home. When he wasn't playing I had more space and played better, plus I could more easily hear the other guitarist and drummer. He's a good frontman, so I want him to be able to move about, but not at the expense of my playing.

[nsmar4211]

Don't worry about the space issue, long as you're all friends you'll make do. Things can be stacked.... mic stands can go off stage if they're boom mikes, etc.
Now, if you don't get along with the other guys enough that one of them repeatedly bumping into you is going to annoy you, perhaps that isn't the right band. Hardest part is watching out for cymbals, they don't move like humans do! And they really don't feel too good on funnybones..... Con the drummer into taking a minimalist kit on the crowded gigs .

"I made several flubs when the singer/git got too close to me "
I can see messing up when bumped.....but just cause they got too close? LOL Man, I'd much rather have mysinger nearby than the club patrons..... least singer doesn't try to grab your should and talk to you while your playing.... one advantage of being in the far far corner

Enjoy the band, worry about the logisitics stuff later

[Busker]

I've had it already.

I show up to my first rehearsal with these guys. The drummer never shows, so I ask if there is drummer trouble. Oh, he just doesn't show up sometimes, we should call this other drummer in, he sings too, blah blah. So we just noodle around for about an hour and a half, I'm watching the clock the whole time. We got not one thing accomplished. They've been together for months, and don't know most of the songs on their song list. That's not good.

I've made up my mind on the drive home that I'm not wasting any further time with them. What took me so long, I don't know.

[invader3k]

Ah, good riddance to that, then. Maybe they're more interested in hanging out than actually learning songs seriously?

[Busker]

Possibly. They are all pretty good players, but no organization, no definitive goals - at least that what it looks like to me. I told them last night, hey, nothing will motivate a band like having some gigs scheduled, so the band should get a demo together and try to schedule a gig or two sometime in March. I could tell that didn't go over. They are just going to noodle around forever. But I suppose trying to schedule a gig with a questionable drummer and a brand new bass player wasn't of foremost importance to them. But I think that's a good idea. Schedule a gig or gigs several weeks down the road, and get down to serious business with polishing the songs and performance.

I've had the worst luck trying to find a second band. Two have come and gone in less than a month. Maybe I should forget about trying to be in two bands for a while and just be happy with what I've got.

What I've got is a good band, but not without its problems either. But at least they have goals - and some gigs.

[jgroh]

Hey I am just trying to find ONE band! I am just getting back into seriously playing with other people again after a long layoff, but I am already through several auditions (in less than a month) and nothing is working out. I think I may start my own thing and have it be my band to see where that goes.

Good luck to you.

[punkbassistfc]

Easy solution, just play stadiums