Should I feel guilty auditioning for a second band?

[gjbassist]

I am currently in one band and like it. Everyone in the band is nice and easy to get along with. We have been together since March. I do have a few frustrations though.
My main issue the singer has missed several practices. She is the guitar players wife and is an excellent vocalist. However, she doesn't have a background in rock music and is not familiar with a lot of the songs we do. So it is important for her to be there to get the vocals down. We have practiced without her on several occasions to work out music issues but it's not the same without having the vocals. I can understand things like family commitments and such getting in the way but she knows that we always try to practice around the same time and day of the week.
Because of this we still do not have enough material ready to play a full show. We have only done one gig, which was a only two sets so we had no trouble pulling that off. I am to the point were I'm ready to get out of the basement and start playing! I should also mention that the goal of this band is to only play once or twice a month.

So I found another band who is looking for a bass player. I talked to the drummer and it sounds like a great opportunity. They have a female singer/keyboard player, drummer, guitarist and a dedicated sound guy! They are doing a nice variety of material, and sound like they would be a good fit. I am supposed to meet with them next Saturday afternoon. I guess I'm feeling a bit guilty though, like I'm cheating on my first band. Like I said I really like the people and the music we are doing, I just want to play more often and get out and get going sooner! We have rehearsal tomorrow and I don't know if I should tell them I have an audition with the other band or wait and see what happens after next Saturday. I don't have a problem being in two bands if they are alright with it.

 

[tycobb73]

I wouldn't tell them until I joined the 2nd band. In in 2, a covers and an original. I love them both for different reasons and they know about each other

 

[Biggbass]

if you don't have a problem with it and you have the time for it there isn't much of a downside to it
I would let the first band know, though, that your availability will be different moving forward.

 

[fretter]

You could probably miss a few rehearsals with band 1, if need be, to really test-drive band 2. It's not like band 1 will move on without you for a while, if the singer's not ready to go anyway.

 

[RoadRanger]

It's pretty common for a band to stall out at two sets. Been there, done that . I'm more-or-less in 10 projects now, 2 is no prob .

 

[modulusman]

It's pretty common for a band to stall out at two sets. Been there, done that . I'm more-or-less in 10 projects now, 2 is no prob .

How often do any of these bands you are in gig? I would never hire someone who was in more than one other band let alone 10.

 

[swamp_bass]

You could probably miss a few rehearsals with band 1, if need be, to really test-drive band 2. It's not like band 1 will move on without you for a while, if the singer's not ready to go anyway.

Yeah, unlike romantic relationships, it's acceptable to overlap bands - especially if the first band isn't gigging, and it doesn't cause a serious schedule conflict for you. Potentially, the new band may not be all it's cracked up to be, and you might decide to stay with your current project.

 

[Brian_DowntownChameleons]

Until your first band is gigging every weekend and practicing on a full-time schedule which doesn't allow any space for a second band, I say fill up your schedule with as much music as your heart and hands allow! AND STACK THAT CASH!

 

[rufus.K]

It's cool, do it. It's a motivator to the slackers

 

[LowNloud1]

I auditioned for a 2nd band a week ago. The 2nd band knows I am in another band. I have not told my other band because I have not committed 100% to band 2 as yet.

Band 1 is slow. We gig once a month at the most because the other guys are busy with life. That's cool but I have time on my hands so I am looking to do more.

I do not feel obligated to tell them I am auditioning. I do feel obligated to tell them should I commit to a 2nd band. They should let me know if they feel I am dropping the ball on my end and I should either step up or step out of one of the bands if that is the case.

So far, it has not really affected anything. I'm picking up the new band tunes and my other band has the holidays off and I am having a 2nd session withte other band to decide if I want to commit.

As long as I can keep both bands happy, it will work. I expect to be able to.

 

[gjbassist]

I auditioned for a 2nd band a week ago. The 2nd band knows I am in another band. I have not told my other band because I have not committed 100% to band 2 as yet.

Band 1 is slow. We gig once a month at the most because the other guys are busy with life. That's cool but I have time on my hands so I am looking to do more.

I do not feel obligated to tell them I am auditioning. I do feel obligated to tell them should I commit to a 2nd band. They should let me know if they feel I am dropping the ball on my end and I should either step up or step out of one of the bands if that is the case.

So far, it has not really affected anything. I'm picking up the new band tunes and my other band has the holidays off and I am having a 2nd session withte other band to decide if I want to commit.

As long as I can keep both bands happy, it will work. I expect to be able to.

This pretty well sums up my situation. I will go to the audition and see how it goes. If I get in that band then I will let the members of the first band know. It hopefully won't be an issue, especially since I'm the one who organized the first band!

 

[sleeplessknight]

This is music, not marriage - you're allowed more than one ;-) The folks who gripe and grump about musicians being in multiple bands hopefully pay their own guys enough to live on - if that's the case, they are totally within their rights to ask for exclusivity. If not, they can go pound sand. In general, doing the BL thing in my own projects, I greatly *prefer* my musicians to be in more than one band. If another bandleader is willing to put up with the complicated, messy, unpredictable monkey standing in front of you who, against all odds, thinks working with your sorry ass is a good idea, chances are they are a damn good player and will make you sound/look like more of a rockstar than you really have any right to be. Yes, this means juggling a complicated schedule - this is why the Google Shared Calendar is a blessing. Beware the cat who has no competing gigs - there is almost always a *phenomenal* reason for that in my experience.

 

[denhou1974]

I would try to do both. Since band #1 isn't gigging it shouldn't be an issue. And what if they never gig? Then you've missed out on an opportunity.

 

[Not yet]

Gotta play... No guilt involved

And if you're playing w serious players you won't be needing all that practicing together before you start gigging either and will be a scheduling thing.

Enjoy

 

[Groove Doctor]

Do tell the first band after you decide to join the second. But be clear that you're not leaving them. Most pro players are in several bands, & get other great players to do fill-ins when there's a clash. That's the industry.

You need to be more organised when playing in multiple projects. I've notified my unavailable dates thru to October next year for the three groups I'm in.
Get songs down as fast as possible at home as there's less time to cram before a gig.

You get better quicker by stacks of gigging with great players. Don't be afraid of getting better, esp if you've got the time and drive to back it up.

 

[Son of Wobble]

 

[RoadRanger]

How often do any of these bands you are in gig? I would never hire someone who was in more than one other band let alone 10.

Only one gigs much, next on the 23rd, 31st, and 2/5 - but that's unusual, usually about 6-9 times a year and I've "spoken" with them about overdoing it . Another (mostly originals) has a studio session scheduled for the 12th and just did a live radio broadcast 12/26. Another a gig on the 8th and 2/9. Another a gig on the 16th - just a one-off fill-in at the moment. One I joined a couple weeks ago has casino connections so might become my primary. Another hosts a monthly open mic - and we have a night's worth of stuff we could gig if they can get it tightened up a bit. A couple are just casual occasional jams and a couple more fairly regular basement things - one of which does a couple backyard parties a year.

Fun keeping all that straight LOL. Honestly just five (possibly 6) are "keepers" .

 

[Ewo]

IME it's best to be upfront about everything, if you do get the offer from the second band. Ambiguity often leads to misunderstanding.

Lately I haven't worked much outside my steady gig, a rock band called Deeper Ground. But when I first talked with the BL about joining, we agreed Deeper Ground gigs would have priority but I could take other calls as long as DG bookings came first. Putting it on the table, straight up, like that is a smart thing to do, IMHO, and I'm totally happy about joining them.

 

[RoadRanger]

[...] when I first talked with the BL about joining, we agreed Deeper Ground gigs would have priority but I could take other calls as long as DG bookings came first.

How exactly is that different from "first-come first-served"? Do you bail on gigs if your "priority band" gets one after you've already agreed to do one for another of your bands? If not, how does this "priority band" thing work?

 

[Ewo]

How exactly is that different from "first-come first-served"? Do you bail on gigs if your "priority band" gets one after you've already agreed to do one for another of your bands? If not, how does this "priority band" thing work?

Fair question. It's not been a problem, since the Deeper Ground gigs are booked well in advance, and I don't really beat the bushes to look for other work. And if I get a call to do a sub gig, I check with the BL to make sure DG is open on that date before I confirm.

The point I meant to make (perhaps I didn't state it clearly--I'm not a _member_ of another band), is that before I signed on as a permanent member we talked about outside gigs, and got clarity about that question. I do think that's good practice, unless you want to just work as a hired gun.