The demise of my blues band - Page 2

pedro · #21 01-25-2013, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

Ok, fine, but it comes back to the gigging issue. What happens if one band starts gigging every Friday and Saturday night 9:00-1:00?

Or are we talking about bands that don't gig. I've learned from this forum that's not uncommon.

Blue

The band that's not gigging as much is gonna have to start booking things further and further in advance so that they can lock up the member that's in the gigging band.

mattbass6945 · #22 01-25-2013, 05:30 PM

as soon as one band books, i immediately call the other band so they don't book that date. simple fix. i don't play in multiple bands now (i took full custody of my offspring, slightly higher priority), but it was never a problem before. to each their own. just sharing my experience.

pedro · #23 01-25-2013, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbass6945

as soon as one band books, i immediately call the other band so they don't book that date. simple fix. i don't play in multiple bands now (i took full custody of my offspring, slightly higher priority), but it was never a problem before. to each their own. just sharing my experience.

We use google calendar and block out any days we aren't available.

mattbass6945 · #24 01-25-2013, 05:42 PM

good idea! hadn't thought of that, sounds like a great resource. thanks pedro!

pedro · #25 01-25-2013, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbass6945

good idea! hadn't thought of that, sounds like a great resource. thanks pedro!

We block any dates we're not available such as other gigs but also vacations, work travel, etc. Seems to work out fine IF all the members of the band have regular internet access and are conscientious about it.

mattbass6945 · #26 01-25-2013, 05:52 PM

yeah, i'm sure there's always one guy who doesn't block time like they're supposed too, at least there would be in my band! *facepalm*

pedro · #27 01-25-2013, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbass6945

yeah, i'm sure there's always one guy who doesn't block time like they're supposed too, at least there would be in my band! *facepalm*

Yea but also some folks have good intention but just aren't very computer literate.

mattbass6945 · #28 01-25-2013, 06:08 PM

this is true! i wish good intentions were more effective.....i guess i was venting.

carl h. · #29 01-25-2013, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbass6945

yeah, i'm sure there's always one guy who doesn't block time like they're supposed too, at least there would be in my band! *facepalm*

My band just picked up a gig due do a different band having a member slack off on this. He's out of the country, so we got called.

Kind of screwed with us as we just added a new guitar and had planned on taking time on getting him up to speed as we rework our charts to include another guitar.

mattbass6945 · #30 01-25-2013, 06:10 PM

gotta take advantage! hope all goes smoothly carl.

EddiePlaysBass · #31 01-26-2013, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

Who knows what the variables are. It might not be that easy.

True, blue! It's not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

Ok, fine, but it comes back to the gigging issue. What happens if one band starts gigging every Friday and Saturday night 9:00-1:00?

Which is exactly what has happened with the "other" band. They play originals, got picked up by a booking agency and off they went! Got 20+ gigs booked between now and May, and more keep pouring in.

boombloom · #32 01-26-2013, 04:44 AM

C'mon Eddie and the rest of you. It's the nature of bands.

zenman · #33 01-26-2013, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boombloom

C'mon Eddie and the rest of you. It's the nature of bands.

-1 boombloom. Apparently it's the end of the world. Couldn't possibly do a blues gig with a replacement guitarist on short notice.

obimark · #34 01-26-2013, 07:14 AM

I am not saying people in multiple band can't PLAY... I am saying that in the end one or the other band will lose out, and break up.
I don't know about the rest of the world, but here, most gigs are either Friday or Saturday night. Now yes, my band is not booked every weekend, nor do we want to be, but let's say we were booked two weekends out of the month, in Band A, and Band B has a great opportunity on the same weekend, you really think they will pass it by because one I can't make it?? No chance. So that is the end of Band A or Band B for me.

mattbass6945 · #35 01-26-2013, 07:27 AM

it shouldn't be an issue if there is open communication. we aren't using smoke signals or carrier pigeons anymore. c'mon fellers! to those who handle multiple bands, great! to those who prefer to focus on one, great!

lfmn16 · #36 01-26-2013, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenman

-1 boombloom. Apparently it's the end of the world. Couldn't possibly do a blues gig with a replacement guitarist on short notice.

Maybe they could write out I IV V.

lfmn16 · #37 01-26-2013, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedro

Yea but also some folks have good intention but just aren't very computer literate.

Yet bands were able to successfully book gigs and coordinate among band members before computers and Facebook.

derrico1 · #38 01-26-2013, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obimark

let's say we were booked two weekends out of the month, in Band A, and Band B has a great opportunity on the same weekend, you really think they will pass it by because one I can't make it?? No chance. So that is the end of Band A or Band B for me.

One upside of playing with musicians who gig in multiple projects is that they tend to have fairly good networks of capable subs. They're also working gigs on weekdays and early hours, so it's not as if using players with busy calendars automatically freezes a band out of Friday/Saturday night gigs.

I can't imagine having to cancel a blues date for lack of competent subs. One local BL I play with regularly books R&B/funk dates, trusting that once the date is booked he'll be able to pull together a line-up from the circle of freelancers in town (and Charlottesville is not a big town).

EddiePlaysBass · #39 01-26-2013, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boombloom

C'mon Eddie and the rest of you. It's the nature of bands.

Of course it is, boombloom. But my frustration stems from this fact:

I was "stuck" in a terribly mediocre band with lousy musicians and bad gigs, which managed to stay together for over 7 years. This blues band of mine was good, had the best musicians I have played with so far and we got some really great (and some really not-so-great) gigs. Two years and it's over.

Sure, it's the nature of bands. But it's always the ones with the most potential that blow up the quickest. I am glad because I was part of it and I really learnt a lot from it. I am a much better bassist now than I was two years ago.

I've been jamming with the drummer and guitarist from my soon-to-be ex-band because we wanted to keep busy while the singer and other guitarist (he who will now be quitting the band, which will cause the singer to quit with him) are off with the other band.

One door closes, one door opens ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenman

-1 boombloom. Apparently it's the end of the world. Couldn't possibly do a blues gig with a replacement guitarist on short notice.

zenman, totally not "zen" of you, man. I never said anything about doing a blues gig and not finding a replacement for it. No idea where you got that from, but it's just not here ... My turn to roll eyes?

bluewine · #40 01-26-2013, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JumboJack

Very,VERY few bands are booked every Friday and Saturday of every month.

Depends on your location in Metro areas some bands are booked every weekend.

Regardless there's potential for all sorts of conflicts. The OPs story is an example.

For me, being in more than 1 band would be a big pain in the " you know what "

I'm not sold on the multiple band model unless it's a bunch of originals band where gigging is not the mission of the band and there's no money involved.

Blue