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Do you play in two bands?

#63
It helps when your in multiple bands to have band members that are also in multiple bands.
I play with 6 groups, 5 with one drummer and one with another. Total of 4 guitar players and three vocalists.
We all go by first come, first served.
 
#64
I am "IN" 5 bands, and support another 2 as a sub.

When it comes to scheduling I operate under a slightly modified "first-come, first-serve" rule. The modification is that my regular bands trump the sub slot. I've been up front with all of them about this and their happy for the transparency. The other benefit is it forces them to actually book stuff in advance so we rarely have a "got a gig for tonight" scenario.
 
#66
I play with a bunch of different people. Everything goes on a Google calendar as it comes in, and once a gig is booked I don't book anything with anyone else (unless the times don't overlap -- have done that a bunch of times; played a gig, then run across the street and played another gig with someone else).
 
#67
I did for a while at one time, but then had to personally cut back to one because work and the two bands became pretty much all of my life and I was not having the time I needed to focus on other things/personal life but that was my experience.
 
#68
I play in 3 bands and sub with a 4th.

My #1 band gigs regularly, usually nights, and takes precedent (and importantly makes the best money).

My #2 band rarely gigs (so far only afternoons at festivals) but does a weekly live stream to Facebook on Monday nights so #1 and #3 know not to schedule rehearsals then.

My #3 band also does mainly afternoon festival gigs. The BL is the guitarist from #1 so there is never any conflict there.

I sub when required with #4 if not busy with #1, #2, or #3.

Occasionally I get an afternoon gig with #2 or #3 and a night gig with #1, no big deal.
 
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#69
stratovani said:
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?
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I've played with two bands for a couple of years now and subbed for a third one from time to time. Basically the way it works is whoever books the date first locks in that date. One band is a blues/rock trio (band 1) and the other is/was a classic rock/80's rock group (band 2). Three of the people from the Band 2 also play in Band 3. I've subbed for Band 3 when their bass player couldn't make it.

When we got a tentative date for Band 2, they would check with me for a conflict with Band 1 and with the others for any conflict with Band 3. If either of the groups had a conflict, then we'd try to get another date for the Band 2. Band 2 recently disbanded so that makes things a lot easier for now.

Seems like it might be a little awkward, but it really wasn't. Some of the remnants of Band 2 are trying to pull something new together though and it might get more complex again.
 
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#70
jfh2112 said:
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.
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You ever wonder if you have a long lost brother? I could have entered the exact same response.
 
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#72
I play in one band but do sub when I am available. I get very busy in early spring through late fall and one band is perfect..

A while back I was in two bands and I did my best to manage the bookings but one of the bandleaders refused to hire subs which made things difficult.
 
#73
stratovani said:
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?
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I play in one band, but there are folks in that band that are considered part of the regular lineup that play in multiple bands.

Frankly, it's getting lame...You never know who is going to be one guitar or keys for any one gig, the guitar player thats supposed to our main guy is just simply never available. Main Keys guy is similar...limited availability.
 
#75
Thum5b said:
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.
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57pbass said:
I play in one band but do sub when I am available. I get very busy in early spring through late fall and one band is perfect..

A while back I was in two bands and I did my best to manage the bookings but one of the bandleaders refused to hire subs which made things difficult.
Click to expand...

Unless you have an agreement with a band to provide your own sub when you can't make it, it's a BL or band decision to turn down the gig, not yours. I never felt badly when I had a day gig and management made a poor decision, either.
 
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#76
I somehow ended up in 4 bands. They're easy to join, hard to leave!

The core group of my musician buddies/bandmates are into playing a lot of shows. My drummer and I are in three of these projects.

Anyway, I have a just below full time workweek, and I know as long as I get a solid hour a day in, I can rank importance of what to work on with said time. Usually the next 2 bands who have shows up will get 30 min each for a few days until I'm solid.

I would like a smaller music workload, but I'm going into the studio for my ska band's first album at the end of the month, so I've gotta just stay the course for the moment. =) I did get myself into all this.

Bottom line is it's my only real hobby, I have fun, and I like seeing my own development. It keeps me out of trouble.
 
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#77
stratovani said:
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?
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For me it’s always been a situation where I have a main project and then a side project. The main project gets dibs. The side project gets what’s leftover. I’m very upfront about it and only had one issue where a band had an issue and that didn’t last long.

I’ve personally never been in a situation where a band used subs. It’s interesting to read about on talkbass but it’s just not a common thing in my area. Really only for like open mic nights and occasionally drummers sub.

One thing I’d recommend is playing in two different style bands. That way the bands don’t have to compete with with each other. It helps avoid drama and because a lot of venues have their own theme so it helps avoid confusion over which band you’re talking about when your on the phone booking a gig

my advice. Be well organized. Use the calendar in your phone and if you’re married also copy the gig dates onto a real calendar hung up at home so your spouse can also see where you’re going to be at. The calendar thing was a big help for my marriage. My wife used to get really upset because she’d forget when I was playing and or if I was playing out of town and had to leave earlier, having a calendar she can see allows her to plan family stuff knowing I’ll be there.
 
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#78
I've got that covered. 1 ska, 1 pop punk, 1 metal'ish, 1 folky are my 4 projects.

Nephilymbass said:
One thing I’d recommend is playing in two different style bands. That way the bands don’t have to compete with with each other. It helps avoid drama and because a lot of venues have their own theme so it helps avoid confusion over which band you’re talking about when your on the phone booking a gig
Click to expand...
 
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#79
My wife is in a few projects and has almost as many shows as I do. We let each other know when we book them, but twice last month we were both playing on the same night in different parts of town!

Nephilymbass said:
if you’re married also copy the gig dates onto a real calendar hung up at home so your spouse can also see where you’re going to be at. The calendar thing was a big help for my marriage. My wife used to get really upset because she’d forget when I was playing and or if I was playing out of town and had to leave earlier, having a calendar she can see allows her to plan family stuff knowing I’ll be there.
Click to expand...
 
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