How do you keep your band motivated during the dry spells?

[PauFerro]

This question is for band leaders, or people who have been led by band leaders who keep the band motivated during dry spells (no paying gigs).

I've had dry spells in the past, in spite of my efforts to drum up gigs. Sometimes I find some members join other groups, lose interest in the group, or even start questioning whether the band is even viable anymore.

So, my question is -- how do you keep your band motivated during dry spells? Or do you?

 

[Kmonk]

My band is made up a group of very seasoned professionals. We get a lot of enjoyment out rehearsing and making sure everyone has their parts down correctly. We are always looking for ways to improve.This keeps is motivated.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Kelly has always has at least one weekend a month for us. On the slow months we might have a rehearsal and learn 4-6 new songs. But you can tell the band gets a little rusty when it's been 4 weeks since our last gig. The spring is usually our slowest season. This summer is crazy busy. Fall and winter are pretty steady with corporate and holiday parties.

Most of us play in other bands too, as hired guns or side men. Most of us have been doing this for so long and know so many bands in the area that there is no problem filling up an empty calendar. But Kelly is always our first option. Hopefully your band mates are committed to your band. You need to keep them busy enough to hang around. Good luck to you.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Play in other bands

 

[paulears]

Our drummer is in two other bands, and deps for another - the rest of us put shows on for other bands when we're not playing - providing sound lighting and staging - works very well, and having the PA and lights supplied by musicians goes down very well, because we know what they need.

 

[Not yet]

Learn new songs, even go do an open mike keep the stage chops. I'm busy w the day gig a lot so the guitar player does tons of acoustic gigs... Goes up and down

 

[buldog5151bass]

Use the time to learn new songs, or put a twist on what you already play, medleys, new harmonies, something like that.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

i guess your talking about cover bands? ive only ever been in original bands and any dry spells from gigs is time to write new songs.

 

[repoman]

We've been playing originals together for about 18 months. I'm still waiting for a paying gig.
Does that sound as pathetic as I think it does?

 

[Bassist4Eris]

i guess your talking about cover bands? ive only ever been in original bands and any dry spells from gigs is time to write new songs.

I was going to say that.

We've been playing originals together for about 18 months. I'm still waiting for a paying gig.
Does that sound as pathetic as I think it does?

Not really. Originals bands take longer to get off the ground. My current band took about two years to settle on the right lineup, write enough worthy songs, and start getting paying gigs. We're doing fine now.

I also find that for me personally, it's more meaningful to judge the success or failure of an originals band in artistic, rather than commercial, terms.

 

[PauFerro]

Yeah, I'm talking about cover bands.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

Yeah, I'm talking about cover bands.

well then, if i was in a cover band and had dry spells i would join an original band

 

[jasmangan]

I play in a band where everybody sings back up. To change things up a bit we will put down our instruments and do everything a Capella for the night. Having someone else learn the lead vox on a song can be fun. If you play with a tolerant bunch a guys learning some obscure stuff is fun. If all else fails bring a BBQ to practice and just hang out and jam

 

[fhm555]

You can always use the Beefheart method and just lock everyone in the house and don't let them out.

 

[Joe Louvar]

This question is for band leaders, or people who have been led by band leaders who keep the band motivated during dry spells (no paying gigs).

I've had dry spells in the past, in spite of my efforts to drum up gigs. Sometimes I find some members join other groups, lose interest in the group, or even start questioning whether the band is even viable anymore.

So, my question is -- how do you keep your band motivated during dry spells? Or do you?

Find new water holes.

 

[GBassNorth]

Just hang a few of these signs around the practice room when the band jams...
Link Removed

 

[Gaolee]

As a weekend warrior, I find it pretty easy to stay motivated, whether there are gigs or not. Most of the people I play with don't seem to have any problem with it, either. If we were relying on it for income instead of the occasional money to blow on music stuff, then it might be different. The cover band only plays a few gigs per year, but we still get together and play every week. It helps to have a catalog of somewhere well north of 100 songs, so there's always something we haven't done for a long time.

 

[RustyAxe]

Personally, there has to be some reason for me to show up once a week to rehearse ... no gigs or recording sessions and I'm looking for new projects. I'm in a good place now, with three projects that gig often enough to keep me busy ... but I welcome dry spells, and use the time to improve my own chops, do some writing, see some shows I couldn't because I was gigging ... ie, it's ME time.

 

[AdamR]

Dry spell = write or record.

 

[FretNoMore]

Record some demos ... or actually take a break, we have other things in life that need attention. Significant others sometimes think music takes up too much time anyway.