Band calendar/scheduling tool?

[_Some Dude]

Does anyone have a good calendar tool for managing their band?

Basically, I'd like people to be able to log in and adjust when they're available or not.

I'll also add gig dates/times to it, but the round robin every time I get asked if we can play a date is getting old.

I'm also open to other ideas from people who've been there/done that.

 

[ArtechnikA]

There are apps, but there is resistance from the people who don't like installing apps, or don't have smartphones, or the apps you like are always for the flavor of phone everybody but one has - iPhone vs Android.

This usually comes down to Google Calendar, which should be easy, but getting people to use it is always another story.
Oh, and there's that one guy with no Google account who won't get one...

There are always a few solutions that work for a few people but nothing does everything for everyone.

That's the consensus of every time this topic has come up every 6 weeks or so for the last 10 years...

 

[_Some Dude]

Cool. I just did a Google Calendar. The one guy who works shifts is the least likely to be a problem, everyone else I'm less worried about.

 

[hrodbert696]

We use Google calendar, and at first @ArtechnikA is absolutely right, there's always someone in the band who insists he didn't get the invite, or someone who swears they sent an invite but what they sent was not actually an invite, or whatever. There's often the guy who doesn't know how to differentiate the band calendar from his personal calendar and now everyone in the group has his dentist appointments showing up in their notifications. There's a certain amount of ironing it out. But once everyone's on it and knows how to use it (and actually keeps up), it works fine for listing when you have gigs and rehearsals, and you can put your blackout dates on it and everything. It's also easy to share to SOs so that the wife knows when I have a gig and doesn't schedule something that night.

We combine that with a group chat to discuss things like what we're rehearsing or to confirm everyone's availability when there's a gig offer. That's important in case anyone forgot to include a blackout date. We got several pickup gigs this summer because we were on top of communications and got back to them first.

 

[bdplaid]

I gave up on people. I've spent money and time making sure they could get calendars, and monitor mixes to be controlled, on their phones. Always resistance somewhere in the pool. I finally decided they are adults who should be on their own.

 

[DWBass]

My old band used Band Mule. Decent but you have to get everyone to use it. Same with Google calendar or any other app. Right now, I created a sheet with all my band dates. I add dates as I get them. I print it out and have it taped to the wall.

 

[LBS-bass]

Good luck. I have never seen this work unless the band is everyone's actual job.

 

[newwavefrank]

I must be lucky, but my band has been using Google calendar for at least 10 years with good success. I will add in those years I may have had at least a dozen (probably more) different people in the band. People put their blackout dates on the calendar. When a club texts me wanting to book dates, I pull up the calendar, tell them our available dates, and we book them right then. Then I immediately inform everyone of the new gig dates. Maybe twice in that time we had an issue with someone forgetting to put something on the calendar, or I was booking at almost the same time they were updating.

 

[voodoobassist]

Have been using google calendar for about 8 years now. Fairly problem free. People that don’t want to use it are told , it’s a requirement. Want your job? Use the calendar.

 

[LBS-bass]

Have been using google calendar for about 8 years now. Fairly problem free. People that don’t want to use it are told , it’s a requirement. Want your job? Use the calendar.

Is the band their job? If it is my job, then I'm going to use it. If it isn't, then you're not qualified to boss me around. I'll find a better band to join.

The bands I've been in that do this sort of thing are long on rules and self-important bandleaders and short on everything else.

One band made sure we all filled out their calendar religiously but put one gig on the books in one year. I'm not kidding. But people got berated because they didn't remember to put their vacations on the schedule. How about putting some gigs on the schedule?

This only makes sense if this is your actual work calendar. Everyone has one of those. But if you're just doing a hobby band, there is always someone who is not going to fill this out. If they all do, it's extraordinarily rare.

Sorry, it's probably obvious I've never had a good experience with this. Good luck to those who do.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Does anyone have a good calendar tool for managing their band?

Basically, I'd like people to be able to log in and adjust when they're available or not.

I'll also add gig dates/times to it, but the round robin every time I get asked if we can play a date is getting old.

I'm also open to other ideas from people who've been there/done that.

The band I worked for in Virginia used goggle calendar. It worked great. The BL was the administer. Each member had the ability to enter data for themselves. There was a master calendar with everybody's availability viewable which was useful for planning things outside of the band.

For instance, if 3/4 of the band is off on a weekend, that might be a good weekend to plan some outside activities. Or when you are planning activities, check the calendar first and use the days already blocked off if possible.

It was a good idea to let the BL when you were changing your status just to make sure.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Team Up

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[voodoobassist]

Is the band their job? If it is my job, then I'm going to use it. If it isn't, then you're not qualified to boss me around. I'll find a better band to join.

The bands I've been in that do this sort of thing are long on rules and self-important bandleaders and short on everything else.

One band made sure we all filled out their calendar religiously but put one gig on the books in one year. I'm not kidding. But people got berated because they didn't remember to put their vacations on the schedule. How about putting some gigs on the schedule?

This only makes sense if this is your actual work calendar. Everyone has one of those. But if you're just doing a hobby band, there is always someone who is not going to fill this out. If they all do, it's extraordinarily rare.

this is a well paid casino hobby band. Working 3-5 nights a month. I insist on using the calendar because I want/need to be able to answer calls for jobs pretty much immediately. Give them the “let me check if everyone’s available “ answer sets you up to lose the gig, since there’s a long list of bands wanting these jobs. Why anyone would view something as simple as a band work calendar as a pain or an imposition is beyond me. Nothing self important or controlling about it. Just good business sense.

 

[Bonecat]

We built up a Google calendar and it works as well as folks are willing to use it. Unfortunately, the guy with the busiest schedule is also the guy least likely to actually use it. Horses to water…

 

[LBS-bass]

this is a well paid casino hobby band. Working 3-5 nights a month. I insist on using the calendar because I want/need to be able to answer calls for jobs pretty much immediately. Give them the “let me check if everyone’s available “ answer sets you up to lose the gig, since there’s a long list of bands wanting these jobs. Why anyone would view something as simple as a band work calendar as a pain or an imposition is beyond me. Nothing self important or controlling about it. Just good business sense.

That works fine for me. The ones I object to are the people who hardly have gigs but want you to remember to fill out a calendar that isn't your personal or work calendar so that every time you schedule an activity you have to remember this third calendar exists. If it's a job, I think it's important. But as I said, virtually every job requires a calendar, so it's not an extraordinary request.

Unfortunately it's something I've seen attempted by bands like I describe and it's a little too self-important for that situation. Just text people and ask them if they're available. If you need a fast answer and they aren't responding to text, call them. That is far better than saying yes and having to backtrack because someone messed up.

EDIT: I misread and saw Casino and thought this was a full time job. No, for a few gigs a month this would not work for me. It's too difficult to get people to remember to fill out a third calendar and this eventually causes everyone to scramble, but I suppose if someone wants this gig badly enough they'll attempt to remember to do it.

I'd probably pass based on this requirement. The gig would have to be super compelling in other ways for me to agree to this. Big shows in concert halls, probably would reluctantly agree. Casinos, probably not.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I’ve used Apple apps “Band”

and Time Tree

I think “Band” is a little better, but either will work.

 

[Ggaa]

Google calendar worked great in the one band that used it, because everybody used it, didn't want to double book or miss.

 

[Turnaround]

Band Helper does automatic notification of gigs to band members with email notification to the Band Leader of each band members acceptance of the date. It will also send out remindrs, manage contacts for the gigs, including follow ups, provide the venue with a stage layout, manage the finances and on and on. It is ridiculously feature rich and is inexpensive to boot. One subscription. Covers all band members.

BandHelper

 

[ebo]

We’re using Bandmule for rehearsal and gig availability. We use Google calendar for actual gigs. It works but everyone in the band are…wait for it… adults, so it works.

 

[bigboy_78]

We have a Google calendar. Works well. The calendar shows when we have gigs and it’s your responsibility to turn up or mark yourself unavailable.