How many bands are too many?

[Juniorkimbrough]

Don't let bands dictate who you can and can't play music with. Of course they have every right to not want a member in another band if it causes conflict, but it shouldn't matter if it doesn't do that.

The days of garage bands forming like they were your first girlfriend and playing with any other band was akin to "cheating" are over. At least it is for mature adults.

There are so many more opportunities to play music these days, and good bass players are always in demand. Not playing with other musicians stunts musical growth, and may very well prevent you from finding that perfect group or type of music that will change your life/career.

Besides, it's no different than having a job and wanting another part time job on the side. If my day job prevented me from being an artist and musician, I'd quit. It's my life and if how I live it causes no conflict then I'm not the one with the problem. Many musicians just need to grow up and get their head out of the "were going to make it big" fantasy land.

Any band that wouldn't let me play music with other bands is a band not worth being in.

100% agreed!

Noone should be able to tell YOU what you can do. Bass players are in demand, they need to realize that.

 

[SBassman]

They're in demand, but more in some areas than others.

No doubt the bass ads flow around here. But I wish there were even more.

While I think it's totally reasonable to be in multiple bands, still, I can understand the concern. It's not a loyalty thing, but a scheduling thing. Let's face it - if you're gigging with one band, all those gigs are days that are then crossed off the potential calendar of the other band. Yes, this can be managed, but I understand where the initial concern comes from.

As a matter of fact, the last band I corresponded with was looking for a new bass player just for this reason. They liked him, and he played well, but it was harder to schedule gigs with him because he was also scheduling gigs with his other band.

Anyway, I'm on the lookout Always, and eventually, I'll score the right second band. I insist.
Life is too short, and this is too much fun.
And the extra green helps, too.

 

[Sundogue]

They're in demand, but more in some areas than others.

No doubt the bass ads flow around here. But I wish there were even more.

While I think it's totally reasonable to be in multiple bands, still, I can understand the concern. It's not a loyalty thing, but a scheduling thing. Let's face it - if you're gigging with one band, all those gigs are days that are then crossed off the potential calendar of the other band. Yes, this can be managed, but I understand where the initial concern comes from.

As a matter of fact, the last band I corresponded with was looking for a new bass player just for this reason. They liked him, and he played well, but it was harder to schedule gigs with him because he was also scheduling gigs with his other band.

Anyway, I'm on the lookout Always, and eventually, I'll score the right second band. I insist.
Life is too short, and this is too much fun.
And the extra green helps, too.

I look at it this way. If, as a bass player, you want to play out as much as possible, then you either need to be in a single band that plays out enough to make it worth your while, or you have to be in multiple bands.

If you are in that scenario and band "A", isn't playing out enough, then band "B" might help fill your need. Now, if band "A" has a problem with scheduling because of your involvement in band "B"...and your only reason for playing in band "B" is to play out as much as possible, then band "A" should get off their butts and book more shows to prevent band "B" from even being an issue.

I've been down that whole road, and to be honest I'm no longer in band "B" simply because I don't need to be any longer. Band "A" realized that they weren't booking enough gigs and if they wanted me to be in their band "exclusively", then the only way they could was to book enough shows to render band "B" unnecessary for me.

Though I still occasionally play with band "B" if needed, and I fill in whenever I'm free with bands "C", "D", and "E" too.

I love playing in Band "A". no question about it. But if I have an opportunity to play with a band on a weekend we are not booked (and band "A" never books a gig within two weeks of the date...i.e. - if the 21st is open and it's already the 7th or later, then the 21st will remain open), then I'll go play it, with or without their blessing.

Sometimes bands don't like any of the musicians in their band playing with other bands for fear of losing that player to the other band.

IMO, that just keeps them on their toes and prevents the band members from getting complacent and too comfortable.