Being in 2 Bands

My main gig is an original trio, and all 3 members are in more than 2 serious originals bands, and also do solo recording work.

It's encouraged. Everyone needs more than one outlet...but do whatever suits you. IF one band takes off or something, then obviously priorities tend to shift, but not so much to break as to bend to accomodate.

I'd hate to be in a situation where you're cornered by the other members.

 

Agreed with Mon Rominee, I happen to also be juggling quite a few projects and yes, when one starts up more so than the others, priority does in fact shift. Just have the courtesy to let your other bandmates know that if your priority shifts away from them that you will not be there with them temporarily or indefinitely.

Personally, I find it conducive to my playing because each of the groups I play with are vastly different in terms of style.

 

Honesty.. One is my main band and the other band is very clear that they I work around my main band. As long as they are cool with that and able to be flexible, then all is good. Especially considering that it's fun to play with bands that are different in style. So, be honest and communicate and no harm done. You can still be committed while keeping busy.

 

I always surprised by the perception that some musicians I work with, and some non musicians who wonder what I'm playing, have about being in the music biz. In terms of your question and the 'serious' part of it. I certainly take all the folks I play with seriously and I wouldn't be playing with anyone who wasn't serious in their approach.

Many non musicians can't grasp that fact that I am not in one band and one band only. "What's your band's name?" "What do you mean you never rehearse? You just show up and play?" They can't understand that I have about 5 or 6 potential projects that are in various stages of development and, for the most part, quite different.

One of the bands I work with and record keep commenting, "you're really busy these days." My only comment is I have projects that get regular paying gigs and some that don't and I have to focus on the ones that do.

I certainly wouldn't call myself a professional jobbing musician but that's generally the approach I take. I keep all the doors open and play with as many different people as I can because it leads to more and more work.

Not sure that I am adding much to the discussion but I keep everyone informed of what is happening hoping not to create conflicts. The other players can check my personal website to see when I am booked.

By the way, your band Walker's Line. Are you from Burlington?

 

I recently joined a second band about 2 months ago. We've got our first gig coming up this weekend so lately we've been rehearsing a little bit extra. Overall I like playing in both bands, it keeps me busy which I prefer to be and it keeps me where I always have a gig coming up soon. I think this next month is quite possibly the busiest month I've had so far...one gig every weekend compared to being used to playing roughly 1 gig per month. The band I've been with a while I really like the music we play, both the originals and covers, but we don't really actively seek out gigs....most of our gigs we get are from people approaching us. While on the other hand, the new band I joined all the guys are actively seeking gigs. So I get to play the music I really like and gig once a month or so with them while I get to actively gig with the other band...so I kinda get to have my cake and eat it too.

It could be good or bad depending on your personal situation and how much free time you have.

 

i always was in two bands, and then the one band recently broke up. Its for the best, though... we played some crappy music and i wasn't having a great time. So, now its just the one serious band. We're planning on ordering matching shoes from converse too!!

 

Keep your options open, but don't over commit. You never know which project will take off and which will fizzle. My house band gig has been a great addition to my calender. Thursdays nights filled from hell to breakfast no matter what my other band is doing. Now the house band line up is trying to get more gigs while the "main" project that I've put 2+ years into promoting is gigging less. (Guitarist bought a house and wants to spend more time with the girlfriend and kids, etc.) I pickup acoustic shows here and there with both band leaders so my schedule stays relatively busy without any one lineup booking more than a few shows a month.

 

When i played in 2 seperate bands, one original, one was just getting started so it was doing covers, with intentions of getting into origials

I prefered the originals band, and the guys in my other band always moaned about it, god knows why, anyway, im not in the original band and am in the other band now . . . which is still on covers, altho, we havent practiced since the start of september

It shouldnt bother the members of the other bands at all, and aslong as you are able to practice with them both, i see no peoblem with it

 

I like it, people can't give me any flack I can just say I've got a bunch of other people to work with anyways.

 

I don't know how "serious" my bands are. I'd say a lot less serious than some of the members think they are That's the main reason I'm in more than one

The members who have never been in more than one band at a time often don't understand, those that have (esp. all the pros I've worked with) know better. There is always some down time (what bands play 365 days a year every year?) so there is time to do other things.

As pros know, a day without a gig is a day without pay!!!!

 

I play in a three piece with a couple of guys from the states. The guitarist plays in two country bands, one of which the bass player lives in Paris and commutes here for gigs. The other is based in the German part of Switzerland. The drummer plays in a country band, and plays guitar solo in pubs. The funny part is both of them hate country but it pays very well. The three of us freelance as well, so it is not unusual for a combination of us end up together on someone elses gig.

This kind of arrangement makes it nice and open with minimal pressures. Our trio is a comfort zone for us as it's very unstructured with encouraged improvisation. It's a cover band with lots of room to move to keep it fresh.

I think opening yourself and keeping yourself open to different playing situations is great. It increase gigging opportunities, opens your spoectrum to different playing, styles and introduces new players.

 

I play in two very different cover bands. Both bands have regular bookings. I play every weekend with one or the other. There has been conflicts with bookings and it is a challenge to keep everything straight. It is a serious juggling act for me.

Between that and my job, its all I do. But I'm having fun, building a good reputation and making a few bucks.

 

That's the only thing I have trouble with. I do a lot of freelance and usually try to stick to one "serious" band, simply because of scheduling conflicts.

I hate to have to turn down a high paying gig because my other project is doing a freebie for exposure... but I also hate the "exposure" of cancelling a booking. So I try to keep my priority in one place or the other (art or money), and go on from there.

Luckily, I know fairly well that my freelance schedule gets pretty full in the fall (pit orchestras mainly) and thins out in the spring (mainly concert accompaniment there), so I can schedule my gigging band around that.

I've tried to join up with a couple of "regular" house bands, but they seem to want someone that can commit to a weekly Friday or Saturday night gig... not quite what I'm looking for.

 

I'm playing in 2 original bands that are polar opposites. To keep things straight I started a Yahoo calendar and gave both bands access to add things.

That way they always know what the other band's doing before booking a show and can't complain if we can't do it.

First come....first served

 

For awhile i was in two bands. I think I might start another project come spring. But while I was in two bands, my "main act." Seemed upset. I missed one practice once, and they got all upset. I really didn't think it was such a big deal. But I got a huge talk about if I was "serious" enough for the band. Which I thought was a buncha bull, since practice has turned into the singer playing 80's glam rock, the guitarist messing around on a talk box. The drummer playing some stupid beats that don't have any feel. And me just sitting there. But when swimming ends I might pick up another project. Either a harder rock or funk project. Don't know....

 

I've been involved with ~3 bands at the same time plus freelancing for most of the last couple years. As long as none of them are 'full time' gigs, there's no reason why you can't do it. Simply put, I like to gig as often as possible and not all my bands are on the same page as me. Rather than try to change their minds about how often to play, I try to fill my gig calendar via adding more musical projects.

The key is to maintain a calendar, keep yourself organized, and maintain good communication. I usually go by the 'first booked' rule, but right now my priorities lie more with one band so I'll reserve dates for them if I know we may have something coming up that isn't booked yet. They're mostly 3 weeks off, then on the road for a week so it usually works out pretty well.

 

wow...I've always had the feeling that I'd be "cheating" on the band if I played with another one. I never looked at it the way you guys do.

 

Anyone who feels like you playing in two bands is "cheating" is a headcase unless they're paying you 6 figures a year. At that point, I would profess my loyalty. Until then, I'm my own man and you should be, too.