Playing in multiple bands

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by Kryptos

A little technology, communication and planning makes it all quite painless and efficient.

I like that.

A common theme in the on-topic posts seems to have been about priorities; setting them and communicating them.

Things like Google Calendar make ongoing communication much better, and hopefully, as you say, painless.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by 4001

If you are in a band where the other members are all in other bands be prepared for your band to be put at the bottom of their prioroty list because let's face it, they dont really care about music, they care about $$. Even if they have day jobs too.

I wish I had a better feel whether or not if there are members that will agree with your position.


Blue

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by 4001

If you are in a band where the other members are all in other bands be prepared for your band to be put at the bottom of their prioroty list because let's face it, they dont really care about music, they care about $$. Even if they have day jobs too.

That sounds like a guilt trip to me. It may have nothing to do with pay. For many players, gigging adds a dimension that makes playing music more enjoyable. For me, the choice has to do with the music and the caliber of players involved.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by drpepper

I like that.

A common theme in the on-topic posts seems to have been about priorities; setting them and communicating them.

Things like Google Calendar make ongoing communication much better, and hopefully, as you say, painless.

Planning and priorities. sounds good.

But what about the guys sitting in some basement saying:

"Yeah we had a gig this Saturday but we had to decline. Jim told us 2 months ago that he had a gig with his other band. We couldn't find a sub that could sing lead and play lead guitar."

Blue

[Winfred]

Originally Posted by 4001

If you are in a band where the other members are all in other bands be prepared for your band to be put at the bottom of their prioroty list because let's face it, they dont really care about music, they care about $$. Even if they have day jobs too.

Nah, that's a broad statement, and it's just an opinion. I play in two bands because I LOVE playing.

If I was doing it for the money, I would have quit 20 years ago.

[Smit_Dogg]

currently a member of three bands. I have my main band which we play regularly with, my old original band who are mostly inactive apart from the odd charity events and an annual xmas gig, and i have a band i play at functions with ie weddings, christenings, anniversaries etc. dont find it too bad as they all have their particularly purpose.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by fdeck

That sounds like a guilt trip to me. It may have nothing to do with pay. For many players, gigging adds a dimension that makes playing music more enjoyable. For me, the choice has to do with the music and the caliber of players involved.

That's fine, but as I understand from other forum contributors, there are guys out there making a living from music and they need every dime they can get. It's not a hobby.

Blue

[4001]

Originally Posted by fdeck

That sounds like a guilt trip to me. It may have nothing to do with pay. For many players, gigging adds a dimension that makes playing music more enjoyable. For me, the choice has to do with the music and the caliber of players involved.

Everyone else in my band are involved in multiple bands and I cant even begin to tell you how many times rehersals and even some decent gig offerings had to be shelved due to their other projects. After awhile it gets old and makes me wonder why I got involved in the first place. I've invested a fair amount of time and $ into the band and this band is the last thing on the rest of the members priority list. Tell me that playing any more than 6 gigs in a year and a half is "over-saturating", because that is what I was told they didn't want to do..."over-saturate". Well, every other tribute band around plays way more gigs than that and the other pop bands the guys are in play every single week and they all play the same type of material and that is the same stuff that every other band in town plays. Want to tell me that isn't "over-saturation"? I say they are in it for the $$ and dont have the balls to say it like it is. How many bands does any town need that all play the same crap?

[4001]

Oh, and I'm looking for a second band to be in too but I dont want to play the typical pop music "over-saturated" set that everyone else plays because that is the only thing that gets booked.
I'm a tribute band player really, and dont want to be in the 110th band that plays "Brown Eyed Girl" or "Dream Police" etc.. every weekend. That gets old real fast.
I mean, how many times can you eat McDonald's before you get sick of it?

[1954bassman]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Planning and priorities. sounds good.

But what about the guys sitting in some basement saying:

"Yeah we had a gig this Saturday but we had to decline. Jim told us 2 months ago that he had a gig with his other band. We couldn't find a sub that could sing lead and play lead guitar."

Blue

Blue, in this hypothetical case, if a band is available for booking next week-end, then most likely either their band is not really a established band, and / or the booking is not that great of one. Jim's other band is apparently good enough to have bookings two months out.

I play in three bands - most of the time.

My main band is my own band with my wife and four friends. We play acoustic Gospel, and have been together for 25 years, the last six or so with the same line-up. I do all the booking, and if we wanted we could play 200 dates a year easy. I have the contacts, and we are well-established in our area. But we only take three or so bookings a month. Everyone in the band has at least two other projects they are involved with. We all have smart phones, and use a Google calender. I check regularly with everyone for "do-not-book" dates.

My second gig is bassist where I go to church. We play Wednesday night, and two services on Sunday with practice on Thursday nights. We have a back-up for bass if I cannot make it. I probably miss 4 or 5 dates a year.

Also, my wife and I joined a start-up CCM band. We are only looking at doing 2 or 3 dates a month, and we are practicing on Saturday afternoons right now.

And of course, my wife and I jam around a bit also, never hurts to network at local jam nights.

I never play in bars. Not making much money. But I love to play, and at 58, my playing days are numbered,.

So for me and my wife three bands are easy, most of the time. We never keep our involvement with other projects a secret, and yeah, we never brag on our other bands to another band we are in. In fact, we try to keep ourselves humble towards all our fellow band mates.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Winfred

Nah, that's a broad statement, and it's just an opinion. I play in two bands because I LOVE playing.

If I was doing it for the money, I would have quit 20 years ago.

Hi Winfred

Does that mean you play these gigs for love and your not being paid?

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by 1954bassman

Blue, in this hypothetical case, if a band is available for booking next week-end, then most likely either their band is not really a established band, and / or the booking is not that great of one. Jim's other band is apparently good enough to have bookings two months out.

I play in three bands - most of the time.

My main band is my own band with my wife and four friends. We play acoustic Gospel, and have been together for 25 years, the last six or so with the same line-up. I do all the booking, and if we wanted we could play 200 dates a year easy. I have the contacts, and we are well-established in our area. But we only take three or so bookings a month. Everyone in the band has at least two other projects they are involved with. We all have smart phones, and use a Google calender. I check regularly with everyone for "do-not-book" dates.

My second gig is bassist where I go to church. We play Wednesday night, and two services on Sunday with practice on Thursday nights. We have a back-up for bass if I cannot make it. I probably miss 4 or 5 dates a year.

Also, my wife and I joined a start-up CCM band. We are only looking at doing 2 or 3 dates a month, and we are practicing on Saturday afternoons right now.

And of course, my wife and I jam around a bit also, never hurts to network at local jam nights.

I never play in bars. Not making much money. But I love to play, and at 58, my playing days are numbered,.

So for me and my wife three bands are easy, most of the time. We never keep our involvement with other projects a secret, and yeah, we never brag on our other bands to another band we are in. In fact, we try to keep ourselves humble towards all our fellow band mates.

Hi Bassman,

Makes sense, however you are older, your niche is a little different than those of us hustling bar gigs, your established and have a network.

You gave me an idea for a thread which I think will be interesting.

Guys, look for it soon;

" Is Your Band Established "

The thread will help define what established means, the advantages of being established and ideas and ways to become established.

Enjoy the Super Bowl.

Blue

[4001]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Enjoy the Super Bowl.

Waiting for spring training.....
Go White Sox!

[Mr_Music90]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Thanks, I don't understand that kind of stuff, however , I hope your friends have good chops because you can't fake that sort of stuff.

I would say a band has to be incredibly good to pull off that kind of stuff.

Blue

Well if you take your time for practicing, buy some books and dvd's and play in 2 bands, you can pull off more then you think

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Mr_Music90

Well if you take your time for practicing, buy some books and dvd's and play in 2 bands, you can pull off more then you think

Hi Mr. Music

I probably had 30 years invested into books and practicing before you were born.lol

I'm 60 years old, I'm pulling off everything I need to be pulling off in music.

The next step for me will not be pulling off it will be pulling out. lol

Blue

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Planning and priorities. sounds good.

But what about the guys sitting in some basement saying:

"Yeah we had a gig this Saturday but we had to decline. Jim told us 2 months ago that he had a gig with his other band. We couldn't find a sub that could sing lead and play lead guitar."

Blue

If I wanted to play "internet tough guy," I'd say: If the band is a business, then turnover is a business risk. What happens if a vital band member gets run over by a bus?

But seriously, I sympathize and understand the hassle of dealing with turnover and absences. I consider this to be a major weakness of most rock bands, and it is one of the things that drew me into the jazz scene long ago, even though I love rock music.

Of course jazz evolved during a different era. I just read Robin Kelley's biography of Thelonious Monk, which paints a detailed picture of the jazz scene from the 30's up through the 70's. Those guys rarely played with the same personnel for more than a couple weeks before somebody would get hired away, quit in a huff, get sick, arrested, or go on the road. I've talked to players who worked in touring jazz bands in the 60's, and those bands were constantly replacing players or picking up a few sidemen in every town.

Today, there are few enough jazz gigs that the old ways are probably counterproductive, but still, the mixing of players adds to the fun, and nobody wants to turn down a chance to get out and play. Also, the skills necessary to function as a sideman are still taught to all jazz players.

When I join a band, it is with the intention of playing most of their gigs, but I make sure that the band can handle working with a sub. I consider it to be part of my job, to make myself replaceable.

[NawBabyNaw]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Hi Mr. Music
I'm 60 years old, I'm pulling off everything I need to be pulling off in music.
Blue

You state in another post you were born in 1954, how can you be 60 years of age?

[Mr_Music90]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Hi Mr. Music

I probably had 30 years invested into books and practicing before you were born.lol

I'm 60 years old, I'm pulling off everything I need to be pulling off in music.

The next step for me will not be pulling off it will be pulling out. lol

Blue

Eh.. Yes, I'm from 1990, so you are right there, lol.

Thing is, he's using several techniques to play that kind of metal : He plucks the strings with 3 fingers, he can slap 'n pop, tapping, sweeping and multi fingerpicking (Abraham Laboriel style).

He's now busy with a lot of John Patitucci stuff. Very cool.

[RustyAxe]

It's pretty simple for me ... my country band won't be playing jazz, my blues duo won't be playing folk music, my Americana duo isn't into Latin music ... BUT ... I'm into these and other genres. Multiple projects satisfies me.

[Mr_Music90]

Originally Posted by NawBabyNaw

You state in another post you were born in 1954, how can you be 60 years of age?

Maybe he pressed the 0 by accident instead of the 9