So I'm in 4. One is gigging once a month (down from twice a month) the other three are still in the starting stages. I'm doing this because the gigging band seems to be running out of motivation after 4 years. We have had many personell changes over the years some for the better some not and lately it's hard to get them to practice and it's obvious during performances. The other three are in the startup stages. I'm juggling three at a time because many bands never make it out of the practice room so I figure I'm hedging my bet. Also, I have heard from pro's that it's good to play with as many people as you can. I do feel I'm stretching it a bit thin though as I have a wife and a full time day job that can also get demanding.
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I'm in three, half in two, maybe still in (half in?) another, and was jugging four potentials last week 
. Of the latter four, one's looking good after a first GTG and a second seems promising, first GTG on Thursday.
First three rehearse Wednesday night (8 piece horn band, blues/rock/R&B), Friday or Saturday night (classic rock, around my gigs), and the third (surf and classic rock) was a weekday afternoon but now needs to find a night as the drummer got a job (for now LOL) - the rest of us are semi-retired.
The two half bands are a duo (standards) I sit in as a third on Cajon when available (usually "rehearse" at a local weekly farmer's market), and trio (rockabilly) that I usually play half a dozen songs on so the bass player can play harp on those. The maybe is a trio (classic rock/blues) that two of the guys won't gig so when the other guy gets a winery gig (good $$$) or some such I play bass ukulele.
The four potentials are/were two female fronted classic rock/blues that don't seem to be able to get it together
, a bluegrass band that might be OK with me on bass uke. The fourth is a weirdarse situation with a "lives local" NY sessions guy that wants to do a power trio so he can wank out on leads for fun and maybe who knows (he has connections, management and sponsorship). I thought he was a CraigsList looney at first, worth a laugh to check out (I'm easily amused) but he actually checks out 
.
So, do I win? LOL
. Of the latter four, one's looking good after a first GTG and a second seems promising, first GTG on Thursday.First three rehearse Wednesday night (8 piece horn band, blues/rock/R&B), Friday or Saturday night (classic rock, around my gigs), and the third (surf and classic rock) was a weekday afternoon but now needs to find a night as the drummer got a job (for now LOL) - the rest of us are semi-retired.
The two half bands are a duo (standards) I sit in as a third on Cajon when available (usually "rehearse" at a local weekly farmer's market), and trio (rockabilly) that I usually play half a dozen songs on so the bass player can play harp on those. The maybe is a trio (classic rock/blues) that two of the guys won't gig so when the other guy gets a winery gig (good $$$) or some such I play bass ukulele.
The four potentials are/were two female fronted classic rock/blues that don't seem to be able to get it together
, a bluegrass band that might be OK with me on bass uke. The fourth is a weirdarse situation with a "lives local" NY sessions guy that wants to do a power trio so he can wank out on leads for fun and maybe who knows (he has connections, management and sponsorship). I thought he was a CraigsList looney at first, worth a laugh to check out (I'm easily amused) but he actually checks out .So, do I win? LOL
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I am in four bands right now. All of them are actively gigging, except one, which is in brand new startup mode, but we have an unpaid gig in three weeks, followed by a paid one two weeks later. The new band had its first rehearsal two days ago.
3 bands, about to be 2 as one is taking a potentially indefinite hiatus.Likely won't be seeking another "regular member" type group and focus on more one-off musical experiences and freelancing. I'm realizing being a regular member of a band gets old with me about 2 years in unless really exciting things are happening.
Why do you think this is? Lack of opportunities, lack of good material, lack of organization, etc? Which is the biggest driver?
I have one band that's on the ropes (for me) because although we have 4 upcoming gigs (2 paid, two charity things) we struggle so badly internally (musicianship, presentation, repertoire) it's a wonder that we ever get out of the basement. While it's good experience for me, I'm losing my motivation.
I also have a "blues gathering" at my house once a week. We're actually better than the other band, but we only "gig" as far as being featured at a local open mic for 30-45 min blocks. I'm fine with that as I think our presentation is not what it should be and "dishonors the blues"
I play in church and will play at blues jams and open mics, so I'm getting a lot of good experience. But, yeah @cman227 I totally get what you say about being spread thin.
Why do you think this is? Lack of opportunities, lack of good material, lack of organization, etc? Which is the biggest driver?
I have one band that's on the ropes (for me) because although we have 4 upcoming gigs (2 paid, two charity things) we struggle so badly internally (musicianship, presentation, repertoire) it's a wonder that we ever get out of the basement. While it's good experience for me, I'm losing my motivation.
I also have a "blues gathering" at my house once a week. We're actually better than the other band, but we only "gig" as far as being featured at a local open mic for 30-45 min blocks. I'm fine with that as I think our presentation is not what it should be and "dishonors the blues"
I play in church and will play at blues jams and open mics, so I'm getting a lot of good experience. But, yeah @cman227 I totally get what you say about being spread thin.
In my experience, it's usually someone who quits and they can't find a replacement. That person may have quit because they didn't like the direction the band was heading, they found a better band or just other demands on there time. A few times it was because the first few gigs didn't go well (bad bars, no one shows up etc) and one member leaves for greener pasture.
Two officially...
1. Main gigging band. Power trio, rock covers, minimal time/effort, busy, good money.
2. Main original band. Small handful of gigs, recording, and lots of different musicians to play with. The main band is the same group (singer, guitar, drums, percussion, me) and the BL will throw in basically anything else that will fit. It's fun.
3. Recording projects. One of the drummers from band #2 does a lot of recording with other players, so I get a lot of work from him.
1. Main gigging band. Power trio, rock covers, minimal time/effort, busy, good money.
2. Main original band. Small handful of gigs, recording, and lots of different musicians to play with. The main band is the same group (singer, guitar, drums, percussion, me) and the BL will throw in basically anything else that will fit. It's fun.
3. Recording projects. One of the drummers from band #2 does a lot of recording with other players, so I get a lot of work from him.
Two right now, one being my main project for the past seven years or so and the other just a studio project with a friend that may or may not ever be a live band. Recently tried to add a third to the mix but the drummer and I were already stretched between our current projects and weren't able to make it work. Used to have another regularly gigging band that ran concurrent to band #1, but #1 wasn't able to practice or gig regularly at that time, whereas nowadays we're staying pretty active and I don't think I could fit another gigging/rehearsing project in around that, which is why the studio project works just fine for me.
One "real" one at the moment, real in quotes because we're still working on the band name and perfecting some of our Zappa and Mahavishnu covers before we look for gigs.
One "friends" band with little ambition and only about 5 jams a year. I don't really count that one.
One "friends" band with little ambition and only about 5 jams a year. I don't really count that one.
1 ...sometimes I feel I could do more, but then the odd charity gig or fill-in ends up being enough for me.
At the moment I am in one band but I am an auxiliary member in another band. Their bassist is sickly and can't make all the gigs.
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Four and a half. I thought I was unusual, but since then I found out a lot of guys I know either play in one exclusively or with four or five.
I've always done only one band at a time, occasionally with a small personal recording project on the side. But maybe that's because most of my band experience is with originals groups. I've always found those to be more time and energy consuming.
If I were playing mainly in cover or "social function" type ensembles (I don't really think of most of them as proper bands if the personnel is interchangeable), I could see belonging to more than one if I were counting on the income.
If I were playing mainly in cover or "social function" type ensembles (I don't really think of most of them as proper bands if the personnel is interchangeable), I could see belonging to more than one if I were counting on the income.
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