Would you stay in a "working band" that plays a gig every 2 months?

Busker · #1 02-03-2009, 07:08 AM

Man, I don't get it. People say we have a really good band. I've been asked what's the problem, why don't we work more?

I've been with this band for 8 months. We've had exactly four paying gigs, average of one every two months. I guess that's a little too much work all at once, because now we've taken a "hiatus". Haven't rehearsed for over a month, and its been exactly a month since our last gig. Even if they started booking gigs today, we probably wouldn't actually play one until March sometime. FWIW, this band has a history of not working much, but they've been saying be patient, that's all going to change, yada yada.

I told them already this was not what I bargained for, and last week told them that I was looking around for another band. The band leader says if I go the band is finished, they aren't looking for another bass player. Thanks for laying that one on me, but hey, if that's what he wants to do...

They finally scheduled a rehearsal, and the guitarist says we all need to talk about goals, etc. Fine. But I have a feeling its not going to go well - they won't like what I have to say. I would really like this band to work out as its the best band I've been in, quality of music-wise. But I have a feeling I'll be walking soon, if not fired, for finally growing a pair and speaking up.

Steve · #2 02-03-2009, 07:31 AM

If they're not working and they're not rehearsing, there's no reason why you can't get a second thing going is there?

If the second thing only wants to book once a month, there's room for a third, or a fourth.

I just went through the same thing. Effing great band but, everyone always has something better to do. Guitar player leaves for a month to visit family, as soon as he gets back, keyboard player leaves for a week to go to a car show or crosses 8 weekends off the calendar because he has season tickets for the 'Gators, then the drummer crosses 4 weekends off the calendar so he can go to Georgia...

I picked up another band and gave them the dates the first band had booked as my unavailables and did the same with the second band. Now it's whoever books first gets my availability or gets a sub.

Sorry, I love you guys but, I need to work. I want it to work out but, at the end of the day, I need to work. If you don't want to book, I'll book myself. It's not a first choice, it's whats left to do.

Busker · #3 02-03-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

If they're not working and they're not rehearsing, there's no reason why you can't get a second thing going is there?

No reason why I can't I suppose. I've been looking. Slim Pickins at the moment. One band is in the formation process and wants to try me out. They are trying to get a drummer. I'm waiting for a call back on that.

But I'd really rather not juggle two or three bands' schedules. I'd rather be in just one busy band.

smogg · #4 02-03-2009, 07:40 AM

Nothing wrong with carrying two bands if one can not keep you busy enough. Just keep your calender in order.

derrico1 · #5 02-03-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

If they're not working and they're not rehearsing, there's no reason why you can't get a second thing going is there?

There's your answer. I play with three bands. One gigs at least once a week, the second plays 2-3 times a month, the third only plays events May-September. When I can squeeze in more jobs, I take sub work.

And I'm just a part-timer doing this mostly for fun. IME, there's no reason you need to drop a talented band that's gigging 8-12 times a year, as long as they weren't demanding a disproportionate amount of rehearsal time and they didn't get bent out of shape about you taking other gigs.

Geddyfleaharris · #6 02-03-2009, 07:44 AM

I know where you are coming from. Pretty unfair for the leader to say the band will break up if you leave.

The band I am in has gone from being a mix of covers and originals (both in a metal vein) to almost strickly originals. And some of the members are vey militant about it being an originals only band. When I joined (2 years ago) they said they wanted to do some recording. I said fine but I am in music at this point in my life to play live so it would have to be a mix of both. Agreed. We did some recording 2 years ago and then some of the guys decided we should be a strickly originals band. Gradually all the covers went out the door so now we are very limited as to where we can play in our city being an originals only band. We have played 1 show since last August so we could "concentrate on more recording" with no shows even lined up at this point. Now the bill for recording has come in and I know a couple of the guys are choking on what is owed because they never have a lot of extra cash to begin with.

This is so far from what I want to be doing musically that I am 99% sure I am leaving the band. I have hooked up with a couple of other guys and we are going to do a trio playing classic rock with the odd original. The goal of this new band is to play live and have fun.

So I know where you are at. I won't be fired but I will be walking as trying to be a rock star at my age is just not in the cards for me. We have a band rehearsal/meeting tonight with the old band to discuss the future. I don't see myself in it.

Silas Martinez · #7 02-03-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

I'd really rather not juggle two or three bands' schedules. I'd rather be in just one busy band.

There's your answer. Stick with the band you're in, if perma-hiatus and gigs rarer than water in the desert still qualifies as a band, until you find a project that's working as much as you want - and then give notice. You know your goals. Only you are responsible for pushing to reach them.

Jefenator · #8 02-03-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

... The band leader says if I go the band is finished, they aren't looking for another bass player. Thanks for laying that one on me, but hey, if that's what he wants to do...

IME if it can't work without me, it can't work.

kraigo · #9 02-03-2009, 11:07 AM

If the band is fun and good, yes. Like everyone else has said, have multiple bands. It opens up more opportunities than a single band could, especially if they aren't in the same niche. You'll be more visible if you diversify. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

KO

Busker · #10 02-03-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefenator

IME if it can't work without me, it can't work.

I think he said that because he's tired of revolving bass players. The guy before me didn't last long, six weeks or something, then gone. And there were others before that. Bass and drums have been the most unstable positions in the band, and now rumblings from the bass position again.

Jason Hollar · #11 02-03-2009, 11:25 AM

Yeah -- but that's not YOUR fault.

Maybe the old rhythm section(s) got fed up with having so little work.

MNAirHead · #12 02-03-2009, 11:28 AM

Couple of mistakes

1-State your practice expectations (prepared and hours)
2-State your playing expectations (number of gigs and distance.. and pay)

I've found many bands are filled with lame folks who want someone else to sell it. In our acts, we give them the first 20% for booking and managing the gig.

T.

Basshappi · #13 02-03-2009, 11:28 AM

Uhm...

Why not put together your own band and book it as much as you want?

Passinwind · #14 02-03-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

Man, I don't get it. People say we have a really good band. I've been asked what's the problem, why don't we work more?

What would happen if you booked a gig (or ten) for this band ?

Silas Martinez · #15 02-03-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

I think he said that because he's tired of revolving bass players. The guy before me didn't last long, six weeks or something, then gone. And there were others before that. Bass and drums have been the most unstable positions in the band, and now rumblings from the bass position again.

Why would any bass player who wanted to gig stick with them? Sounds like the problem isn't the rhythm section, its the lack of commitment to gig out from multiple parts of the band - and if the band leader wants to keep the band together, /that/ is the problem he needs to address - not the problem of a bass player who wants to gig more than the band is (currently) able to.

He's addressing a symptom, not the disease.

Tony-bobs · #16 02-03-2009, 11:33 AM

I'm in a similar situation. We're an originals only band and every time I ask our frotman/writer how many songs he has done, it changes. And then he tells me we have a show booked on this date and we will practice on these two days. And then he gets all butthurt when we play a totally crap show and wonders what's wrong with us..."maybe if we had better gear, we need in-ears, the sound man f***ed us over on that one." but he wont make time in his schedule to practice regularly. I don't get it...

Busker · #17 02-03-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passinwind

What would happen if you booked a gig (or ten) for this band ?

I'd be willing, but I have not been given the go-ahead. Not yet anyway. I have suggested plenty of venues. Nothing is ever done. Bandleader wants to get into better venues, which is a fine idea, but we need a demo and promo pack for that, and that stuff is not ready and may not be ready for some time. I say meanwhile we play smaller venues. One bar likes us a lot.

Basshappi I'd love to do that. I was wanting to do that when this band contacted me. Matter of fact, I had an ad out there, bass player wants to form band, and they contacted me from that, I auditioned, and joined the band.

capnhank · #18 02-03-2009, 11:55 AM

I stand firmly in favor of diversification. If you're only gigging every other month, you should head back over to Craig's List and find somebody who's gigging every other week. Eventually you'll have a gig every weekend and rehearsals three or four nights a week. You won't ever get caught up on your TiVo, but at least you'll be earning.

And don't buy into any guilt trips about how the band will fall apart without you. Feel free to believe it (as I always do :-)), but don't use that as a reason to be exclusive with any one band.

MNAirHead · #19 02-03-2009, 12:00 PM

This band sounds like an average band..

Unfortuantely most folks want to play and forget they're in the business of selling beer, cheesecake etc.

Every band needs a manager type... otherwise they flounder in the basement or garage.

**IvanMike** · #20 02-03-2009, 01:57 PM

Sounds like a license to play in more than one band!

IF you enjoy this band, and the band is solid, AND the gigs you do have are good, what's to stop you from being in a second band that works more?

You have to ask yourself how often you want to play out, rehearse, etc.