Can you be in 2 gigging bands and make it work???

kissmybASS01 · #1 09-09-2009, 12:51 PM

Here's my sit rep:

Our guitar player is in another band (currently not gigging). However, our band leader called to say that he found an internet ad for our guitarist's other band looking for a keyboard player "for immediate gigs."

(The band leader of the other band....our guitarist) Needless to say, our band leader was not too impressed with the whole situation. There's some other prima-donna issues there, but that's another story...

Here's the kicker tho, I'm going to be in the same boat. I'm looking to join a band as a trombone player in a funk band.

I dunno if I should reconsider or what? MY primary loyalty is with my current band, but....I'd like to play t-bone with a (different) band too. Im torn

Anyone out there play in two bands (sucessfully) at the same time. How does this work for or against issues like:

-timing/gig dates between the two bands
-loyalties
-rehearsing and general scheduling

fishsticks · #2 09-09-2009, 12:56 PM

I have a bunch of friends that play in a few bands together..as well as a few bands separate of each other. its like a musical group grope going on in my town. they all seem to make it work. scheduling can be a bit a a hassle, but as long as you make your priorities clear and stick to your word then no one should get their panties in a bunch.

BigMacDaddy · #3 09-09-2009, 12:56 PM

I don't gig, but I have a good friend that gigs with two bands in the Ithaca, NY area. He doesn't seem to have any problems with conflicts and such, probably mostly due to being up front with both bands about his availability. The bands tend to alternate what weekends they gig on.

roysloco · #4 09-09-2009, 01:13 PM

I'm in 2 gigging bands and I'm 'on reserve' for another while their bass player's out of town for a few months (and hopefully I'll be working on some recording work with another friend and maybe ... hopefully ... starting a blues / funk band with another friend

).
I also have a full-time job and a wife ... who doesn't like gigs!

I find juggling 2 bands pretty 'full-on' sometimes - especially if their both busy (I was gigging 1-2 times a week for a couple of months!). Fortunately the 2 bands know each other, and are both very flexible and reasonable when it comes to schedules.

If I do end up starting the blues / funk band, I'll try and juggle the three but I think ultimately I'll end up dropping one (since I'd love to be in a funk band!). But if it comes to that I'll start looking for a bassist to replace me, and I'll give as much notice as I can so no-one's being dropped in the poo (these bands are, after all, friends of mine!)!

kissmybASS01 · #5 09-09-2009, 01:24 PM

Interesting. I just don't to tick my band leader off. I respect him and know he works hard getting us gigs, supplying new PA gear w/o asking for extra $$ in return, and it's his bread and butter.

After hearing how upset is is, I didn't want to tell him about me "looking at the grass in the next yard." I realize that if something materializes with this new band, I will come clean.

jelpo · #6 09-09-2009, 01:30 PM

Here's a good post on this topic.
Being in more than one band.

I play drums in one band, bass in another and sub for other bands. It's great, plenty of gigs, good pay, great way to develop as a musician. I highly recommend playing in as many bands as you can.

The biggest thing is having good communications. Make sure you tell each band leader about your blackout dates (times you can't play) as soon as you know about them. This helps the band leaders when trying to book gigs.

Loyalties? This is not something I worry about. The band leader for the band that I play drums in was a little butt hurt at first, but that's not my problem. I just gave him some time to get over it. Most of the people in that band play in multiple bands too.

One thing that has worked out well is having backup players. That way if one of your bands has a gig the other band doesn't have to forego any potential gigs.

ThunderLizard · #7 09-09-2009, 01:35 PM

I gig in three bands. I try to maintain a first come/first served basis but I've also developed subs for all the groups. If one of the bands has an gig opportunity and I can't make it, I'll find someone to play the gig. One of the bandleaders plays music for his primary income, so I try to be very sensitive to his situation.

**T. B. Player** · #8 09-09-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelpo

Here's a good post on this topic.
Being in more than one band.

I play drums in one band, bass in another and sub for other bands. It's great, plenty of gigs, good pay, great way to develop as a musician. I highly recommend playing in as many bands as you can.

The biggest thing is having good communications. Make sure you tell each band leader about your blackout dates (times you can't play) as soon as you know about them. This helps the band leaders when trying to book gigs.

Loyalties? This is not something I worry about. The band leader for the band that I play drums in was a little butt hurt at first, but that's not my problem. I just gave him some time to get over it. Most of the people in that band play in multiple bands too.

One thing that has worked out well is having backup players. That way if one of your bands has a gig the other band doesn't have to forego any potential gigs.

EXCELLENT advice, especially the back-up thing. I'm a back-up for several bands, and although I don't get many gigs, my schedule doesn't permit me to play a whole lot, and when I do, it's usually as a last minute fill-in.

Communication IS key - with musicianship, business, family relationship, God - you name it.

If you have someone that says you can play for them and only them, and expect you to attend rehearsals, that sounds like a contract to me - and you should be compensated handsomely for the allegiance.

Z

kissmybASS01 · #9 09-09-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelpo

Here's a good post on this topic.
Being in more than one band.

Thanks for the link and the advice!! I must have missed that

Kael · #10 09-09-2009, 06:58 PM

I fail to see a problem here. First come, first serve. ALWAYS keep your word when you accept a gig, regardless if another act has a "better" gig offer. As for rehearsals, if there are no gigs in the immmediate future, what's the point in rehearsing? Maybe that's just my outlook on the matter, but rehearsing without a tangible goal in the immediate future is wasted time. You could be rehearsing with an act that does have a gig.

Hell, I am in four gigging acts right now and filling in with others. I have a tenative offer from another act on the table that will pay a lot but I might not take it as I think they are going to require no other acts. I don't think I want to go back to just one act, much less one style of music.

Kenny Allyn · #11 09-09-2009, 11:04 PM

My number ONE priority is to the band in my sig ...

However an interesting side project has come up, and I want to do it, but they know they have to work around any and all Blackkat Bone gig dates, which means they have to find a sub for me in the event of any date conflicts. I've always been a one at a time band guy, with the occasional sub gig. Several of my good friends play in multiple bands, but as sidemen (and seem to make it work), in my case it's always been as a main player/influence in any situation, so until now I've not been able to make the multi band thing work for me.

As the Blackkat Bone project progresses I'll just have to gauge how much time other projects can actually take up, as we are shooting for a fulltime/road gig with this and we have a label interested, so time will tell.

I'm gonna watch this thread and see how others handle this situation, with great interest!

...

realbadgroove · #12 09-09-2009, 11:20 PM

At one time I was in four and although it was a serious pain in the ass it worked until I got fed up with it. Two is no problem although the bands will bitch about which band you care more about and what not.

Matt Dean · #13 09-09-2009, 11:40 PM

I'm in two and it works.

rollcall · #14 09-10-2009, 12:04 AM

I play in about 6...

busmandan · #15 09-10-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelpo

The band leader for the band that I play drums in was a little butt hurt at first, but that's not my problem.

So you just gratuitously go around causing butt hurt and expecting no consequences, then?

-- Dan --

jaywa · #16 09-10-2009, 12:42 PM

Depends. On how much each of the bands is gigging, how much time they spend practicing, how well you can manage your own time and how diligent you are communicating with all parties involved.

Right now I'm in one "main" band, I'm also the first-call substitute for another band, plus I play a couple weekends a month at my church and I also pick up other sub gigs at the rate of one every couple months. Only the church commitment has any sort of rehearsal obligation attached, the rest of my gigs are pretty much show-up-and-play.

I keep all my gigs in a spreadsheet broken out by month, which stays on my desktop at work. I have those same dates entered into the calendar on my phone. So whenever someone asks me about a gig I can usually give them an answer in about 5 minutes whether I can do it or not. I roll totally first come, first serve and my main band is booking their entire 2010 calendar as we speak so I know what slots beyond that will be open for me to take other opportunities.

FWIW I have played about 50 dates this year so far and hold down a full-time job outside of music. So far it has all worked out well for me. YMMV of course.

two fingers · #17 09-10-2009, 12:46 PM

I was in FIVE at one point. There are only two ways for it to work with two bands. Either...
1) The first band to book a date gets it.
2) You join the second band with everyone in the band knowing that the other band is your primary gig. If they come up with a show last minute, and that means you're double booked, then the trombone band takes a back seat and you go to work with your primary gig.
As long as you are honest up front with everybody, then there should be few problems.

jaywa · #18 09-10-2009, 12:52 PM

This should probably be a sticky and/or FAQ by now. It's a great question, but seems to come up as a new thread every couple of weeks.

Melodicgroove · #19 09-10-2009, 12:56 PM

I have three projects as of now. All have gigs booked. It just depends on how much each band plays out and the amount of free time you have. Two to three practices a week and a show every weekend can take it's toll on you with a full time job thrown in the mix. Luckily one of the current projects is getting ready to be on hiatus until the drummer gets back from boot camp. We'll see what happens then. One of the other bands is a about a gig a month kind of band, no problem there. The main project has been recording since January and playing 3-4 shows a month. It's always easy to find an opening band if need be.

**Staccato** · #20 09-10-2009, 12:59 PM

What if you start looking for subs. for your trombone gig? Then, you'd have to ask yourself if the sub would try to take your place-permanently.

A temp. sub. could fill the bill on occasion if you're booked in the 'main' band for a gig.