| Have you given the Saturday night guys a firm decision yet? If you're still at the stage of "I'll get back to you" (or even "you'll get back to me, right?") then no worries; you'll have to be a bit more cautious if they've started turning down other inquiries because they think they've got the bass chair filled. With music, it's very hard to predict where things are going to go or who you're going to meet again in a year or two.
Since the beginning of this year, I've been casting around for new playing opportunities as the 'jones have been a bit slack on gigs and rehearsals and and I wanted to take on some new musical challenges. As always seems to be the case, I went for ages without turning up much and then several things came along at once.
I ended up joining another band and also getting a place for a two week event in September (plus the 'jones saw a bit more activity). I ended up having to pull out of another audition as I realised that, assuming I came out on top, I would be too busy to keep all the plates spinning. Therefore, I called them up (with a few days notice), explained the situation and offered to audition if they understood that I probably wouldn't be able to take up the position but might be available for pickup work in the future.
They decided to decline that offer and concentrate on the better prospects for them but it was all amicable - no bridges burnt either with the band I might have joined or the people I had already committed to.
Also, consider the option that you might be able to do both as long as they get their gig and rehearsal bookings in early.
The previous time when I was looking to do more music, I spent about three months searching and then two leads came to fruition at the same time. One was filling a hole in an established rock covers band and they were the first to get a gig in. However, not long after that it drifted apart - we were all busy and the lead singer / guitarist was finding the demands of a new baby and new job too much. After the gig we had a couple of incomplete rehearsals, a couple of socials and that was it. The other group was Lovesjones. Building from scratch, it took six months to gig and longer before our first decent gig but it's been a great foundation and I'm still a committed member even if it's not as intensive as it has been in the past.
I remember feeling torn over the first month or two about whether I could keep up with both bands and I was quite tempted to go with the rock band (familiar stuff which I'd done before) rather than the melting pot of the 'jones. I reckon the rock band would still have wound down and my musical history would have taken a very different path; therefore, don't be too swayed by suggestions of future potential when considering present commitment.
Wulf | 
