Band schedules and keeping track

[Buddster]

Hi

We're finding it difficult to track the dates when band members are free for future gigs, which makes bookings difficult to arrange. 

Does anyone know of a good system (outside of Google calendar or a spreadsheet), like an app or website addon? 

[tauzero]

http://bandwerkz.com

[NancyJohnson]

From past experience, it doesn't matter what you use, it's getting band members to actually use them.

[Woodinblack]

Any form of calendar works if people remember to update it, if they don't, then nothing works.

[Buddster]

17 hours ago, tauzero said:

http://bandwerkz.com

Thanks, looks interesting, but for some reason the page won't load

[Bluewine]

19 hours ago, Buddster said:

Hi

We're finding it difficult to track the dates when band members are free for future gigs, which makes bookings difficult to arrange. 

Does anyone know of a good system (outside of Google calendar or a spreadsheet), like an app or website addon? 

 

Only use guys that have nothing but your band going on in life and can make every gig like my situation.  Lol

 

Daryl

[JapanAxe]

I use TeamUp.

[Lozz196]

Maybe someone should invent a new one, maybe call it Cat Herding?

[tauzero]

On 20/05/2025 at 17:16, Buddster said:

Thanks, looks interesting, but for some reason the page won't load

 

You have to make sure that it's trying to load http:// and not https:// - Chrome has an unfortunate tendency to change everything to https://, Firefox is more subservient in that respect.

[PaulWarning]

we use a band google calendar, gigs and unavailability goes on it, it works fairly well, mostly.  

[Buddster]

1 hour ago, PaulWarning said:

we use a band google calendar, gigs and unavailability goes on it, it works fairly well, mostly.  

Yes, that's we're currently doing. 

It works, but you'd think there would be a better way 

[PaulWarning]

3 minutes ago, Buddster said:

Yes, that's we're currently doing. 

It works, but you'd think there would be a better way 

unless there is a way to read the minds of disorganised (or just don't care) bands members I don't think there is

[NJE]

There are 7/8 of us, we have a WhatsApp group and if an enquiry comes in it goes straight on the chat to see who is free. It works pretty effectively.

[YellowLedBetterBass]

We use a Google calendar for our bands email address. We email meeting invites for rehearsals, gigs, when people are away, etc. to that email address, and it comes up on the calendar for everyone to see.

[tinyd]

On 21/05/2025 at 18:40, tauzero said:

 

You have to make sure that it's trying to load http:// and not https:// - Chrome has an unfortunate tendency to change everything to https://, Firefox is more subservient in that respect.

It's probably fine because you're not going to be sending anything confidential, but in general I'd avoid any site that doesn't use https, especially if it has a login (like this one). If you sign up and use a password that's the same (or similar) to one that you use somewhere else then you're leaving yourself open to being hacked on those other, more important, sites.

[pete.young]

We use Muzodo for the brass band, which works brilliantly.

 

The blues band uses 'Band', which sucks water melons through elephants.

[synthaside]

We use an Ios / Android App called  Timetree ,  it allows shared calenders , appoints etc and allows people to use their existing logins with social platforms to register so its got a very low barrier for adoption.
https://timetreeapp.com/intl/en

It is reliant on the band member booking out their time and not forgetting .... The free level works great for us , this combined with a whatsapp group and a bit of google docs for document sharing works well for us.

Edited May 23 by synthaside

[mcnach]

On 20/05/2025 at 10:29, NancyJohnson said:

From past experience, it doesn't matter what you use, it's getting band members to actually use them.

 

Indeed. 

 

Tried all sorts over the years and I reached the conclusion that the best system is useless if bandmates are not using it consistently, and the simplest methods work if bandmates care just a tiny bit. 

 

Currently using Band Mule for availability, gigs confirmed, details etc. I used Google calendar for years quite nicely (we made a band account as well as having our own personal ones) but current bunch just couldn't make that work :shrug:

[mcnach]

On 20/05/2025 at 20:27, Lozz196 said:

Maybe someone should invent a new one, maybe call it Cat Herding?

 

That's the one where a Terminator I personator chases individual members? I'd like that one!

[naxos10]

We still use a paper diary held and controlled by one person, me. As with any other system electronic or paper it is not foolproof as my fellow band members have to relay the dates they are unavailble, but at least it is a hard copy for reference (or dispute).

I am the contact for any bookings as well so have a certain amount of control on preceedings.

[cybertect]

On 21/05/2025 at 18:40, tauzero said:

 

You have to make sure that it's trying to load http:// and not https:// - Chrome has an unfortunate tendency to change everything to https://, Firefox is more subservient in that respect.

I wouldn’t want to use any web site that’s asking for my login details (!) over plain http.

 

Sorry, that’s a very big red flag, it’s not 1995 any more.

 

Chrome is not doing awfully wrong thing here IMHO (Safari gives me a warning that it’s insecure which is fine if you understand what you’re doing)