being in more than one band

[LiquidMidnight]

When I was younger, I played in projects where someone else was in another project that also gigged. I loathed sitting home on a gig night because we couldn't work due to the guitarist playing with his other band. Now that I'm older - and hopefully wiser - I wouldn't hesitate to fire someone if their moonlighting was preventing us from working. I have no doubt that my BL would fire me if I started saying, "Oh, I can't do dates A, B, C, X, Y, and Z" because I'm playing with someone else...and he'd have every right to.

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by friskinator

I play in 2 bands that are completely unrelated, and my services are regarded as "first come, first serve" by both.

This is the way I handle it too. I'm currently in an 11-piece funk band (Tower of Power baby!!! Woot!), an urban gospel band, I play for a contemporary church choir and sub for a gospel choir. I also do freelance stuff: studio, musicals, etc. First come, first serve is the only way to go. Thankfully, they're all different enough that conflicts are fairly rare.

I'm also fortunate that everyone in all of my gigs understand, because we're all on a professional level. Not "big time" (yet!), but "professional." Example: the 11 people in my funk band have a combined total of 24 different gigs, not counting freelance.

Some simple things you can do to help make the multiple band thing work and be more "pro":
1) Start a gig calendar - Just trying to go by memory is next to impossible. I use Google's calendar since I have Gmail. At the very least, go to the mall and by a cute kitten calendar to write your gigs in.
2) BE ORGANIZED - an iPad is probably the best music gear purchase I ever made. Gig calendar, email, notepad, mp3s of music my bands do, etc AND all my music charts all in one place = WIN. Triple gig day? No problem, all I need is my iPad... not three different books. Not to mention having Garage Band to sketch quick ideas, an app with every scale imaginable, a tuner, metronome, drum machine, an app to slow down mp3s for learning... h3ll, I can even control the mixing board at church from my iPad. lol
3) BE PREPARED - know the songs to help maximize rehearsal time.
4) Keep your gear in top shape - check strings, batteries, tuning/intonation, cables, etc on a regular basis
5) Bring a backup bass - tool kits and extra strings are always smart to have, but ON the gig, you'll rarely have time to fix problems. Grab the backup rather than being out of commission and/or stopping the show.
6) Smile and have fun! - I know, I know... "Well, duh!" But seriously, if you're a jerkwad, you probably won't get called back.

5sg.

[Downunderwonder]

Originally Posted by Ewo

Your insights and experiences are much appreciated! More, please, if you have 'em.

The backstory is that in December band 1 (thnx for the numbering system idea!) lost its singer and its guitarist for a month-long booking in January. The drummer is the founder/biz guy, so he found a replacement guitarist but we still lacked a singer. Next the drummer found a guitar/front man, and the first guitar guy said he wasn't psyched about the repertoire (country, rock) for the January gig. So right now we're doing that gig with the second guitar/front man guy.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch <rimshot> the first guitar guy came up with a pair of excellent singers, one of whom doubles on guitar. This looks likes it's evolving into the spinoff band 2; the repertoire is dance/funk/RnB/rock. The first guitar guy has included the drummer in this project, and I've suggested to him (the drummer, whom I've worked with for the past year) that we just think of it as a second band. He seems amenable to the idea, at the moment.

So, if it goes this way, band 1 is a four-piece (drums, keys, guitar/lead vocalist, bass/backing vocal) and band 2 is five-piece (drums, lead guitar/backing vocal, lead vocal/rhythm guitar/harp, bass/backing vocal, and lead vocal/hand percussion). IOW, the keyboard player is in #1 but not in #2.

That's the kind of relational complexity I'm fretting about. (Insights much appreciated, on that point.)

As for my preferences, I like #2's repertoire better (I get to play funk and RnB, which I love) and the musicianship is at a higher level (the guitar player and I jammed with the vocalists yesterday and those guys are very good musicians).

So zero conflict aside from now having to learn 2x the material fret less practice more

[bluewine]

I would never want to be the reason band b had to decline a paying gig because I was in another band that had a date on the same night.

Blue

[chuck3]

I'm in two bands - my "main" band - which is a better band but doesn't gig as much as I'd like - and the second band, which is not as good technically but they're good guys and get themselves gigs, albeit less desirable ones than the main band. I've told the second band that my main band takes priority in the event of conflict AND (and this is important from my viewpoint), that since I'm one of the people responsible for getting gigs for the main band, I won't be out there trying to get gigs for the second band - because I view that as a conflict.

I'm as professional as possible with the second band - I'm on time and work hard for practices, and I'm all in for the gigs. So far, it hasn't been a problem. Frankly, the second band kinda needs me so they're not in a position to complain - I'm giving them what they need.

I'm up front with the main band that it's because they're not giving me enough work that I'm playing with the second band. I don't think they're crazy about it, but they're not in a position to complain either because they know that I'm right.

Now, where it might get interesting - I would love a regular gig playing jazz on upright, and a piano player I know just contacted me about that. I'm interested, but it will be difficult to do all three ... so we will see.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by chuck3

Now, where it might get interesting - I would love a regular gig playing jazz on upright, and a piano player I know just contacted me about that. I'm interested, but it will be difficult to do all three ... so we will see.

Being in multiple bands has always sounded like nothing more to me then a big pain.

Can't guys find 1 band that can give you everything your looking for in the whole band experience?

Guess it depends on the volume of opportunities in your area.

Blue

[rtav]

Three of the five people in my band play in other bands. Our guitarist plays guitar in another band, our keyboardinst plays bass ina Sabbath tribute band, and our singer is a singer in another local prog rock group. Our drummer sometimes plays bass or guitar in another band... I'm the only one not "cheating."

I've often thought of it, and it sounds like it would be fun to be another band (I don't think I could pass on a Genesis tribute or something like that), but I really can't seriously consider it.

It's all I can do to juggle all my other responsibilities and still be able to devote myself to practice and making rehearsals/gigs.

[socialleper]

I also did this when I was younger. If you have the time and he energy there really isn't a reason not to do it, unless the bands get jealous or something. Just make sure you gut check yourself. It takes A LOT of energy to do it. If chaos and being in a whirlwind isn't your thing, don't do it.

[chuck3]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Being in multiple bands has always sounded like nothing more to me then a big pain.

That may be your experience, although since you say "sounded like" maybe you've never done it.

It is not a pain at all in my case. It's actually a big plus, and there is nothing difficult about it.

Sure, if one band was doing exactly what you wanted so that you didn't need or want anything else, that would be fine, but that's not always the case.

[two fingers]

At one point I was in five......... not kidding. I had my own web site. It had a calendar on it with my dates. Whoever booked the date first got the date period.

Booking is the only possible hassle I see. Just make sure you are up front. Either give one band priority or let them book all willy nilly and whoever gets the date first gets it.

Good luck.