No Band Time =*(

Insomnia_Junkie · #1 03-02-2007, 04:34 PM

How do you guys have a band? I got college full time and I also work PT and I still can't fit a jam time in

my band broke up because of it. I'm wondering how do you guys pull it off?

::Saint:: · #2 03-02-2007, 06:51 PM

Well, I work full time and I am married.. it doesn't seem that difficult to find at least 1 or 2 times a week to jam for a few hours. Just a matter of being organized and planning a steady day or night each week when you are all free.

For me, my band practices every sunday from around 11am to 2:00 or so, and then we usually manage an evening practice from 7pm to 9pm on tuesdays or thursdays.

You can find time!

Zappstorius · #3 03-02-2007, 06:56 PM

It's all about sacrifice. Everyone need to make one night a week (an evening 3-4 hour block) practice night. If you're committed to it, as well as the others in the band, it becomes habit. I feel your pain though, my band is going through a breakup because of some of the same issues.

invader3k · #4 03-03-2007, 10:35 AM

It is about sacrifice. Are you sure you can't really find one night a week, or perhaps more realistically, time during the weekend, to practice for a few hours? Sometimes making a band work means taping that favorite TV show, skipping a trip to the mall with the girlfriend, or not sleeping in 'til noon on Sundays (our band does a lot of practices early Sunday afternoon...it's not like you're going to be gigging during that block of time, and it leaves time to get home and get stuff done later in the day, or watch TV at night with the family). If you manage your time wisely, it's not that hard. Everyone has to be commited though.

We recently decided not to keep pursuing a vocalist who tried out for our band, because he couldn't make a practice at noon on Super Bowl Sunday, which he and everyone else in the band had previously agreed to. He claimed his family was having a party. Well, that's fine, but he really couldn't make a two hour practice for a game that didn't start 'til 5 PM? Not enough commitment...not worth my time.

It's about running an efficient practice, and making sure everyone is on the same page. If you're going to work on new songs, make sure everyone knows exactly which songs (and versions) to work on. Make sure everyone has a copy of the song to work on. That way you don't have to listen to "Well, I don't have that one, so I didn't learn it." You really can have a solid band practice in 2-3 hours if everyone is on time, and knows what is supposed to be worked on ahead of time.

Bayou_Brawler · #5 03-03-2007, 02:05 PM

well it's not easy....everyone in my band has 1,000 things going on...as most people do..you have to have a group of guys that are dedicated...

in my group wednesday night is rehearsal night....doesn't matter if you feel like it or not...tired from work.....or have other plans...wednesday night you are there....we cut back our gigging right now and are only doing "premium" shows so thats usually only one friday or saturday night a week....then maybe another 10 hours a week of promo/ org work...

hell for the first two years we were doing 2 to 3 gigs a week...and practicing more....

it's a labor of love....hard work...but i wouldn't want to do anything else

so what you work part time? 20 hours a week? go to school full time? 20 hours a week? study another 10 hours? that leaves you like 118 hours a week to jam????

IanStephenson · #6 03-03-2007, 05:30 PM

I've got an 8 month old daughter... One day you'll know what having no time means!!!

Get realistic, and figure out how big an impact 3 hours once a week is REALY going to have on the rest of your live.

Ian

SBassman · #7 03-03-2007, 05:58 PM

It's about managing your time and deciding what you're going to do with it.

On paper, I should not have Any spare time. I have a job and a large family. I stayed away from music for many years, thinking I wasn't supposed to be spending time on it. Eventually, I figured out that I was getting older, and I loved music too much to not have it be a part of my life.

So, I make the time. I'll never have the time - or ability - to become a Jaco, but I have made the time to practice enough to at least be competent at what I do, and I have made the time to play out. Fortunately, my wife supports it 1000%.

bikeplate · #8 03-03-2007, 06:01 PM

HI

We dont rehearse. We play about 180 shows a year.

Rob

Zappstorius · #9 03-04-2007, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikeplate

HI

We dont rehearse. We play about 180 shows a year.

Rob

lol, I guess your set list doesn't change much then?

bikeplate · #10 03-04-2007, 05:09 AM

Hi

We know a couple hundred songs

Rob

Descent2Cocytus · #11 03-04-2007, 05:12 AM

my drummer works dayshift, usually 11am-8pm, i work 12am-8am, my guitarist work 9am-4pm, singer doesn't work. we practice EVERY friday, the guitarist, singer and i get together at about 6pm and we practice until 10pm. and we write all of our own stuff, we don't do any covers.

PalaNIN · #12 03-04-2007, 06:35 AM

I'm currently:
- Studying full time (9-5 Mon-Fri)
- Working Wednesday and Friday nights, and Saturday afternoons
- Playing basketball Sunday and Monday nights
- Active on two committees (one at uni, one at basketball)
- Seeing my girlfriend roughly twice a week

But, I make time every Sunday afternoon from 12-6pm so I can rehearse with my band mates. It's all about priorities, and the band is pretty high up there. I generally cancel any plans with my girlfriend and family, unless they're extremely important.

If you really want to fit a band into your schedule, you'll make it work. Now all I need to do is find a set time to practice...

Fito Moreno · #13 03-04-2007, 07:24 AM

Sacrifice, discipline and commitment

Last year I left the band because the singer (single, young, worked only 6hrs 5 day's and no kid's) couldn't make practice on time or at all. We were playing large venues and getting good exposure. As the Bass player we all know we're always the first one's at practice or at the gig waiting for everyone else. Our singer always showed up 10 min before she went on stage and then still had someone tune her guitar, at practice she would come in and just sit down. We had a rental space 24/7 all access with all equipment and as a band we only used it 4hrs a week because she couldn't make it.

www.myspace.com/surferjoemoreno

36 yrs young
Married - Kid's 2,3,4,10
Job 6am-3:30pm

QORC · #14 03-04-2007, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insomnia_Junkie

How do you guys have a band? I got college full time and I also work PT and I still can't fit a jam time in

my band broke up because of it. I'm wondering how do you guys pull it off?

welllllllll....because it's important to me! because it's my passion!

I work 50 hours a week, sometimes have to travel in my job, I have a wife, mortgage and 2 kids under the age of 10.

but I manage to squeeze in one practice a week and 3 gigs a month.

I do it because I love it! Yes, it precludes some things (frankly, I can't maintain a lot of close friendships - no time), but it's worth it to me

Insomnia_Junkie · #15 03-04-2007, 02:24 PM

I see what you guys are saying. Now that I look at what time I have I realize I can fit in jam time, I guess I was just pissed that everyone else in my "band" wasn't taking it as seriously as I was.

seanm · #16 03-04-2007, 02:33 PM

I am surprised how many people practice on the weekend. Weekends are when I have most of my gigs. And if I don't have a gig, I try to keep the weekend free for family time.

I practice Monday and Tuesday nights. I think it is very important to have a set night and stick to it. Then you can plan things around the practices.

IanStephenson · #17 03-04-2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

I think it is very important to have a set night and stick to it. Then you can plan things around the practices.

definatly - if you start trying to fit in with everyones schedules on a week to week basis it's never going to happen. Keeping one night clear on a regular basis is far easier.

I'd also add that less can be more. I know of bands practicing three nights a week or more, or booking 6 hour rehersal sessions at the weekend. That's great if you're at the stage where it's your income, and you're all working at that level, but it's really not productive unless you're about to head out on tour, or go into the studio or something. If you're rehersing every night when are you actually going to get a chance to PRACTICE?

The bands I know that claim to reherse that much, turn up an hour late, spend an hour setting up, take a smoking/beer break, chat to the 4 or 5 hangers on that have turned up, play for 20 minutes, smoke/drink more, realise it's getting late and everyone's a bit to drunk/tired to get any more serious work done, pack up and go home.

Agree a set list, learn it all before hand, turn up, have your gear in good condition and ready to go so you can set up in 10 minutes, play for an hour, 5 minute break, play for an hour, go home. You'll get more done in under three hours once a week, than bands where rehersing is actually about hanging out.

I can't say my band always works like that, but we do better than some I've experienced.

IAn

Zappstorius · #18 03-04-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

definatly - if you start trying to fit in with everyones schedules on a week to week basis it's never going to happen. Keeping one night clear on a regular basis is far easier.

I'd also add that less can be more. I know of bands practicing three nights a week or more, or booking 6 hour rehersal sessions at the weekend. That's great if you're at the stage where it's your income, and you're all working at that level, but it's really not productive unless you're about to head out on tour, or go into the studio or something. If you're rehersing every night when are you actually going to get a chance to PRACTICE?

The bands I know that claim to reherse that much, turn up an hour late, spend an hour setting up, take a smoking/beer break, chat to the 4 or 5 hangers on that have turned up, play for 20 minutes, smoke/drink more, realise it's getting late and everyone's a bit to drunk/tired to get any more serious work done, pack up and go home.

Agree a set list, learn it all before hand, turn up, have your gear in good condition and ready to go so you can set up in 10 minutes, play for an hour, 5 minute break, play for an hour, go home. You'll get more done in under three hours once a week, than bands where rehersing is actually about hanging out.

I can't say my band always works like that, but we do better than some I've experienced.

IAn

+1 Right on there brotha

buliwyfff · #19 03-04-2007, 09:48 PM

Im playing in 3 bands currently and am going to college full time...(only one is gigging though)

Bassist_Ben · #20 03-04-2007, 10:56 PM

my band practises every Saturday from 12-5pm. Very good jammin time. I go to high school and yeah. nothing really taking up the space for band unless its parties i hafta miss.