• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Playing in two bands... Who does it?

#41
I play in as many bands as I can. I have one that gives me 8-15 gigs a month so I cancel other gigs if one of theirs comes in, but I make sure everyone knows that when I book other stuff. Never had a conflict, though the drummer for that band makes snide comments occasionally about being a "submaster." I once let him have it over it, though, so he tends to keep his opinions to himself now. Good...that's how I like his opinions about what I do on days off ;)
 
#42
I play as much as I can.

1) Electric guitar/vocals. An original band that has been together for about 5 years now. We're just breaking in a new drummer, though, so once a week practicing (2 hrs or so) and slowly but surely putting back together a set list. No gigs for now. Maybe after the beginning of the year.

2) Bass/occasional vocals. A cover band with some killer musicians. 70's-80's rock and blues. Little bit of homework, but not too bad. Rehearsal about once a week for 3-4 hours (usually Saturday afternoon). It's a good way for me to remember how to sit into a band situation, and it's fun, too. I've never done a cover band until this one. First real gig in a week and a half.

3) Electric guitar or drums and quite a bit of vocals. Church. Usually it's just 3 hours of practice a week and 2 services, but we always do big and flashy Christmas and Easter shows, so right now we're adding 3 hours of rehearsal a week for that plus 2 performances beyond the Sunday morning commitment.

4) Bass or drums. Among my teaching responsibilities, I have a choir with a full band backing them up. I play bass in this group, and we play about 10-12 shows in a semester. It keeps the axe in my hands and I only have to worry about a dozen songs or so a year. Also, I am the permanent fill-in drummer for basketball pep band should the student drummer not be able to make it. Even more rarely, they'll ask me to play bass or guitar for pep band.

5) I also occasionally take jazz gigs on bass or drums, wedding gigs, theater gigs, and even play percussion in the city band...

Hmmm... looking at all that, it's a good thing my wife is a bassoonist with a university ensemble and is out rehearsing and performing almost as often as I am.
 
#43
Zooberwerx said:
One band, 2-3 gigs per month. We won't hire anyone who has band commitments outside of our own. Creates too much of a scheduling headache and, frankly, I'll be d***ed if I turn down a gig because drummer X has accepted a gig elsewhere. I've spent too much effort, energy, and $$ to waste my time scrambling for fill-ins.

Riis
Click to expand...

If I could get in a band that gigged 2-3 times per month, I would probably be good with one band. I say probably since it has never happened, so I don't know for sure ;)
 
#44
seanm said:
If I could get in a band that gigged 2-3 times per month, I would probably be good with one band. I say probably since it has never happened, so I don't know for sure ;)
Click to expand...


+1

I'm in 4 bands, and am averaging 2-3 gigs/month total, which is just about where I want to be. I'd gladly do it with just one band if that was possible.

My four bands -

1. Rolling Stones tribute band
2. Dance/party cover band playing 60s to today
3. Grease & Saturday Night Fever tribute show
4. Blues band (originals and covers)
 
#46
I'm in three.

I can't get enough gigs to suit me out of any one band, so I need all three. They are all ready for gigs now. I got them each to promise me two gigs a month. Which makes six for me, which pays bills at our house.

This results in me being The Schedule Nazi. I make everyone give me every little bit of their schedule. If they don't, and I schedule a gig, they have no one but themselves to blame if they miss out on whatever they had scheduled. Notify me, or miss your cousin's wedding for a gig.

I keep a stable of drummers to draw from...if one is scheduled elsewhere, I can use another. The rest are harder to get subs for, since everyone sings except the drummers. As long as I have a drummer and a guitarist who can sing, I can book a gig, but I have to be sure there are enough lead vox between myself and that guitarist to make three sets.

Its hard, but doable. Necessity, when it doesn't breed invention, breeds perseverance, at least.

Cherie
 
#47
think everything that needs to be said has been said.

I was in two bands, (both when i was back in school) a out of school band with some mates and One that one of our teachers, and then a kind of school band (but less geeky) but together by a teacher with the best guitarists, Singers, Drummer and bassist

Both had ups and downs....

1st band was the one i was in to most, We hung out togeather all the time so we Practised when ever we had nothing to do (quite a few nights of the week) But was a bit to relaxed at times. We hardly gigged aswell :(

Second band was well put togeather But was practising only once a week due to every one else having other bands.we learnt very few songs and youd practice the same song over and over. did a few gigs and had good decent sounding equipment due to being in school!

2nd band had things the 1st band didnt and the 1st band had everything else the 2nd band didnt! Had a few sarcy comments from our guitarist every now and then but you get other it.

some people end up lucky and have everything they want in 1 band, But they can be hard to find!

I think so long as your honest with every one involved, (family, band members, and yourself) and plan ahead, there shouldn't be any problems.

You can only be in one place at any one time
 
#49
Update: I jammed with the second band and they are pretty good, singer has a very pretty voice and can sing pretty well.

Being able to nail Nightwish is not given to everyone.

I sent an email to my mates from band #1. Basically made it sound like a positive thing, as we have a gig set up with band #2.

I don't think they have a choice and if they dump me, I'll put an ad on CL.

Scheduling family, work and workout around this will require some juggling skills, that's for sure.
 
#50
I've tried it. i think if you want to do it you need two amps, or at least two cabs. I'm kind of lazy and it wore me out dragging my gear between the two practice spaces and home each week while everyone else just left their gear at the end of each rehearsal. I have an aguilar cab that weighs a ton so that didnt help. i ended up getting sick of it and quitting the band I enjoyed least.

I'm half thinking of getting another cab, maybe a lightweight markbass or epifani, that i can take around with if i want some extracurricular jamming or even maybe join a second band.
 
#51
Linden1 said:
I've tried it. i think if you want to do it you need two amps, or at least two cabs. I'm kind of lazy and it wore me out dragging my gear between the two practice spaces and home each week while everyone else just left their gear at the end of each rehearsal. I have an aguilar cab that weighs a ton so that didnt help. i ended up getting sick of it and quitting the band I enjoyed least.

I'm half thinking of getting another cab, maybe a lightweight markbass or epifani, that i can take around with if i want some extracurricular jamming or even maybe join a second band.
Click to expand...

I am an amp guy but this band practices through a PA, the guitarist uses a Tech 21 SansAmp, the drummer an electronic drum set (only for practice, he uses the real thing at gigs) and the keys as well.

I was the only one with a stack, and now am considering a BDDI for these practices. Showing up with just the bass and the DI is actually an interesting idea.
 
#53
Linden1 said:
I've tried it. i think if you want to do it you need two amps, or at least two cabs. I'm kind of lazy and it wore me out dragging my gear between the two practice spaces and home each week while everyone else just left their gear at the end of each rehearsal. I have an aguilar cab that weighs a ton so that didnt help. i ended up getting sick of it and quitting the band I enjoyed least.

I'm half thinking of getting another cab, maybe a lightweight markbass or epifani, that i can take around with if i want some extracurricular jamming or even maybe join a second band.
Click to expand...

+1 If the rehearsal space does not have some sort of bass amp, I like to keep some sort amp setup there. I hate carrying around amps and cabs.
 
#58
i play in 2 bands and another one which gets active now and then. but two out of three bands have three of the members in common but anyway i am able to manage easily. it gets a little exausting at times but i dont even have a car so i think its very doable but its a different gig if you have family and a day job too!
 
#59
I'm in 2. My main gig has a schedule that is very heavy between May and September. The other does 2 to 3 gigs per month, consistently, and works more during those periods where my main band is slow. My second band knows that my main gig takes precedence, and they are cool with it. I have 2 very good subs (one for each band), so in the event of conflicts I have the gigs covered. It has worked out very well for me for a long time this way.

Just be honest up front, that's all!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back