Do you play in two bands?

[stratovani]

I'm now retired, and I have the time to play in two bands, but before I do I'd like a bit of advice. How do you reconcile scheduling issues, in other words, what do you do if both bands have gigs on the same night? I know the simple answer is to get a sub for one of the band, but what if you can't?

 

[LBS-bass]

I'm now retired, and I have the time to play in two bands, but before I do I'd like a bit of advice. How do you reconcile scheduling issues, in other words, what do you do if both bands have gigs on the same night? I know the simple answer is to get a sub for one of the band, but what if you can't?

I play with a few local artists. Whatever hits my schedule first gets booked. The bands I play with won't commit to a show unless they know they have the personnel to do it, so everyone gets a text about potential dates and everyone responds as to their availability. If everyone's available the show gets booked and confirmed with that band.

I just booked every first Saturday with an artist I hardly ever play with. My main band will probably be offered some of those dates, but they didn't book them, and the other guy did. That's just how it goes.

 

[jfh2112]

I'm in two bands. I've told them both, booking is first come, first served. I have a Google calendar just for gigs that I share with the band leaders so they can see what I have booked whenever they want, and they're both pretty good about personally confirming dates before booking.

 

[51PRI]

I'm in three bands, and it's pretty much first come, first served, with these caveats: one band is all originals and rarely plays, and one band is mostly old classic rock and soul for which it's easier to find a sub. The third band is my favorite to play with and I will attempt to make concessions to take every gig I can with them.

 

[catcauphonic]

Depends what kind of band it is...

I'm currently in 2 originals projects that try to play out at least once a month each on average. (3/4 of ea of those bands also play in 2nd bands.)

Some bands use subs, but neither of ours do. As soon as any member blacks out a date for any reason, it's pretty much off the table for that particular band.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Simple. You keep a current calendar available to both BLs. First to book a night gets you for that night. I don't care how good the second gig is, you do not bail on that obligation. Make sure both BLs understand this. Yeah, having a prepared sub at the ready will help ease things, although if you miss many gigs, he/she may end up with your spot.

 

[Biggbass]

Simple answer to double booking is to keep a constant and updated calendar and not double book yourself.
I play in two bands and by using a first come first served strategy I avoid double bookings. First one with the confirmed date gets the date.

 

[Thum5b]

Maybe it's just me but I'd feel a bit crap knowing a band was turning down gigs because of me, so it's one band unless I can guarantee there won't be any schedule clashes.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Maybe it's just me but I'd feel a bit crap knowing a band was turning down gigs because of me, so it's one band unless I can guarantee there won't be any schedule clashes.

Sometimes BL's need an incentive to get out there and fill the calendar. There's only a clash if someone else confirmed first. If BL's learn you're always available on short notice, they have no need to book early and communicate. Do all the other players feel the same way? They're only turning down gigs if they can't find a sub...

I had a project that thought it would be a good idea to book a gig on the only date I was not available in about a 4-week window - about which I had informed them many weeks in advance. Then they got pissy when I wouldn't go find a sub. Hadda tell them- "If I agree to do a date and I have to cancel, I will find a sub. If you want to book on a date I've already told you I'm not available, _you_ find the sub." That project was just looking for reasons to implode and did so not long after. Without playing a single gig...

 

[frankie5string]

Why can't you get a sub? You can't duplicate yourself. Is there not some consensus among band-members regarding show booking, or are you left out of that?

 

[brianrost]

How do you reconcile scheduling issues, in other words, what do you do if both bands have gigs on the same night?

Keep a meticulous calendar and communicate all your gigs to all appropriate parties. First come, first served when taking dates. Everyone I play with is doing multiple bands anyway so it's pretty painless.

 

[mikezimmerman]

My bands have shared online calendars, and everyone (ideally) makes sure to mark down dates that they won't be available as soon as they know. Remember, everyone has vacations, family events, and all kinds of other commitments, not just gigs with another band.

 

[marqueemoon]

I just joined a third band (two on guitar, one on bass) All are original material, so using a sub isn’t an option. First come first served is my policy. I do the booking for one band, so that work gets spread around. Booker offers date. Band e-mail or group text goes out. Everyone responds. Having a shared calendar is a valid way to do it too as long as everyone uses it. If the expectation is no conflict shown on the calendar = available obviously people will need to be keeping on top of it.

What can sometimes throw a wrench in the works is bookers, and sometimes it’s necessary to be assertive with them. Don’t assume that if they offer a date, everyone in the band says yes, and you tell them that the date is then confirmed. Sometimes they have other irons in the fire. It’s good to explicitly ask “Is this date confirmed?”. If you’re not getting a solid answer explain that in order to properly promote the show you need to know well in advance so you can get the word out to your potential audience.

Also, (and I sometimes forget my own advice here) make sure your significant other is aware of dates and doesn’t have their own conflicts with them. Letting down your bandmates is one thing. Ticking off your partner is another.

 

[DWBass]

Yes. Main band is Brasswind. 10pc Top40 horn band. Second band is an old school R&B band. Whoever books a date first gets first dibs. The R&B band does not gig as much as the main band so there is rarely a conflict but the BL has a guy he can call. The main band also has a sub that gets the call if I can't make it. I also have to be on call every 7 weeks which makes me unavailable. So far this year, the BL has been booking around my N/A dates and I saw just 1 conflict with 30 gigs already booked this year.

Get yourself an online calendar like Google Calendar or Band Mule (main band uses this).

I won't commit to just one band unless it was fulltime or damn near it.

 

[mrcbass]

Want to be, but can't find a suitable second project. Actually, my want for a second project is because my current one isn't working me near enough.

This seems to be a tough area to hook up with bands as bassist - regularly more "bassist looking" than "bassist needed" in my CL cycle. And the current "needed" are ones that I've either explored and passed on, out of my desired genre by a long shot, not in a workable location or ads that appear to be people fishing for email addresses and phone numbers.

 

[two fingers]

Yeah first-come-first-served is the only way to go. Yes, a few feathers will get ruffled on occasion. But a few feathers is better than being double booked and having to choose. The band you didn't choose will go from ruffled feathers to pure pissed.

Start a Google calendar. Invite both band leaders in. Even allow them to add dates. You need to be diligent about blackout dates. If your niece gets married you need to black it out the moment you know.

Now, you should also TELL both band leaders up front that you will play whatever dates are booked first. Have a discussion about subs up front as well. If they know someone they're comfortable with, offer the stay in touch with that person and help out with notes if they need it.

Rip the small bandaid now. That way you can avoid bigger problems down the line.

Part-time bands made up of grownups need to ACT like grownups. If you get your panties in a wad because you can't play Stinky's on the 5th because another band member already booked that date, you have a few choices. Fill the calendar earlier than the other guys. Find another band member who doesn't play in two bands. Deal with it. Either way, pissing and moaning about a pro going out and finding work is not productive. Grow up. Fill in players are a fact of life. If you get hit by a bus today, somebody will be doing your job at work by Monday. Nobody is indispensable. I'll never understand why local part time weekend warrior bands demand an unreasonable amount of loyalty.

 

[arbiterusa]

How do you reconcile scheduling issues, in other words, what do you do if both bands have gigs on the same night? I know the simple answer is to get a sub for one of the band, but what if you can't?

If you can't? Don't be in two bands. You can't leave people hanging.

 

[dlb1001]

I'm in two bands; actually, three but the third is an originals band, where the BL is still writing his next batch of songs. And I follow everyone else has mentioned, whoever books a gig first, gets priority on that date.
The Americana band's BL has been booking gigs, whereas the other band, isn't very aggressive about getting the EPK together. I may end up quitting since the BL is trying to get gigs with minimum effort and cost.

 

[mikopita]

I'm in 3, sometimes 4 if I can work it into my schedule. It helps that it's almost the same musicians among them. We do genre and tribute acts that require a complete segmentation of the different groups for booking (different types of venues aside from completely different types of music). It does make booking and scheduling tough though since not everyone is in all of the bands. My wife also sings in the bands, so it simplifies that work/play/life balance that often is tough with a family waiting while I'm out all night.

Occasionally for us gigs are either declined or fill-ins are necessary, but those are usually only for horns/keyboardists. I have 2 other bassists I look to for backup whenever necessary. It's just a fact of life that sometimes a band is going to want to play a gig (esp the weddings and corporate events) and I'm not going to be able to. I feel extremely fortunate that they're both solid players and reliable, so I feel comfortable calling them to cover for me.

It's crazy to me how many people don't keep track of stuff. In this day and age with technology (esp. cell phones and online calendars), it blows my mind how many people forget appointments, show times, addresses etc. and wait until the last minute to ask about them. They don't usually last long in most of my groups though.

 

[QweziRider]

...what do you do if both bands have gigs on the same night?

Two? Why stop there?

Seriously, though, I do multiple bands. I suppose the answer to your question varies by as many different situations there are among us all. One of my bands is a national act. That one takes precedence over local bands and my local bands know that. Fortunately, I almost always have much more than a month's notice, so subbing out the local shows is easy. BLs handle that, I don't even get to. The one rare time the traveling act gave a week's notice, that BL said "Nope, can't do it to your local guy, I can't hose him on such short notice, we'll make do."