Our "bandleader?!" doesn´t want us to play with other people...

Nobody gets me on an exclusive basis unless they are paying me a salary.
Meanwhile - I'd never deny any of the players I work with a gig opportunity.
The whole arrangement sounds pretty sketchy if he's providing all the gig contacts _and_ transportation.
(What is your plan for working the gigs you want to play without him?)
I wouldn't buy into the guilt trip of him suggesting another band is interested. You just say "Cool, let us know how it went!"
If he can't play out until these mythical gigs "next month" can he not practice until then too?
Any opportunity I have to play out makes me a better player - to the benefit of every project.
IMO - go play your sax-less gigs with the guitar guy.
If sax guy is playing power-trip games this early, it won't get better...

 

Sounds like he didn't want to be excluded. I play in 2 bands and sub in 2 other bands. Unless someone is paying me a wad of money to remain exclusive..........not happening!

 

True friends won’t try to deny other friend’s opportunities.

 

Seems workable although outlandish. Definitely you guys have fallen in behind the leader now. It might work out with Moneybags McSax running the show. Keep us posted.

 

Most musicians I know, play in multiple bands unless they're being paid a decent salary.

I play in two bands and do session work with a couple guys. Most of the other guys in my original band are in two bands also. First one that books a date gets it.

No one has an issue with any of it. If you were truly "friends", he wouldn't have a problem with it since the one "friend" needs some extra cash.

 

Unless you are gigging regularly for good coin, to the point where your schedule is full, I don't see the issue with doing other gigs.

 

I have seen this so many times
The "less experienced musician of all "

or as some would say "weak link" in a band will step up and shine shoes and cut your lawn and do everything necessary to make themselves appear most valuable


So....... no one holds me to one band,and if we choose to play trio ,or I fill in elsewhere then thats the way it's gonna be
Hope the lessons help....

 

This. He's not your friend if he doesn't want you to do what's best for you.

 

Is the sax player's name James Hetfield by any chance?

 

I think I was married to her.

 

As soon as I see that happening, I state “I am not his or her bass player. I play many situations. If this was busy enough, perhaps I could get along on one group.”

 

What everyone else has said so far. I've been on salary and you'd better believe that I was giving that gig much higher priority over others, but if we weren't booked out for a show two weeks or less away it was understood that we could fill in our schedules as we saw fit. Other bands/artists that I've played in/for were understanding when they weren't busy enough to keep us solely occupied with their music and had no issue with us taking other gigs as long as we honored the gigs we had already committed to with them.

This "bandleader" is indeed doing a lot of the work of a bandleader and I don't see that aspect of your group's dynamic changing unless someone else is willing to do all the work that he's doing. However, if this wasn't explicitly discussed when the band was formed then he can't keep you for taking shows with OTHER BANDS; where it gets tricky is you guys do a show as a trio without him. My guess is that he'll feel "pushed out" and that you guys are benefiting from the shows that he's hustled and booked himself (which is a position that has some merit).

Regardless of what happens with this group, it sounds like all of you guys (and the guitarist that needs money in particular) need to start networking and playing with other bands and artists.

 

How old are you guys?

 

Good question (one that I had myself...)
And where ?

 

I've never been told that I could only play with one band. I wouldn't react in a positive way if that were to happen. The person doing that must think he's James Brown.

 

Band leader/sax player is wrong.

You and the trio need to confront him. There is no good reason for him to limit your performance if he is unavailable.

I can understand if he wants you to make his project the priority, but if he doesn't book one and leaves you free for a weekend, "free" means just that--free to do whatever you please, including making some coin playing music.

 

Kick him out, and then he can play with himself...……….by himself. I meant to type "by himself". Honest.





But yeah, he's got no reason to deny you an opportunity. Sounds like an insecurity issue.