Band members in other bands

[Mickeyboro]

We have been navigating with difficulty after sacking our singer and losing our drummer. 
 

Our current five piece line up includes three people in at least one other band. It’s apparent that, in the two weeks since the last rehearsal, no-one has done any homework or practice, leading to a less fruitful three hot, sweaty hours today than hoped.

 

My guitarist, with me the only permanent one-band member, is at his wits’ end. I am just concentrating on fulfilling gigs. The availability question will limit those, I accept, but that is of less concern than risking losing my most reliable band mate. 

 

My question - can a band thrive if most of its members have other, clearly more interesting/lucrative interests? If so, how do you manage/motivate them?
 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by Mickeyboro

[Lozz196]

In my gigging band:

 

The singer is in 1 other band

The drummer is in 2 other bands

Guitar One is in 2 other bands

Guitar Two is in 2 other bands

I’m in 1 other permanent band, and standing in for my old band for a while

 

We don’t gig too often, and only rehearse when we have a gig, but when we do it’s tight and sounds good. I think it’s all about dedication and application, not bigging us up mind as what we do isn’t particularly difficult, but everyone knows to show up with their best game. 

[steantval]

There will always be conflicts of interest and if your intention is to gig regularly, even as much as a gig every other week, chances are it won’t happen.

Its bad enough keeping a diary for one band and it’s members, attempting to work around another couple of diaries is a nightmare.

[Mickeyboro]

4 minutes ago, steantval said:

There will always be conflicts of interest and if your intention is to gig regularly, even as much as a gig every other week, chances are it won’t happen.

Its bad enough keeping a diary for one band and it’s members, attempting to work around another couple of diaries is a nightmare.

Point taken, but I am more concerned with how one motivates people whose main interest is another band. 
 

The fact they gig more than us, for instance - would more dates promote us up their practice list? Or are there other tricks ?

Edited 12 hours ago by Mickeyboro

[Norris]

1 hour ago, Mickeyboro said:

how do you manage/motivate them?

Gigs in the diary!

 

This comes down to the usual question of how much everyone wants to/can commit to the band. Which band takes priority when a member is double booked? If you take a booking will they all honour it? Will they tell you when dates become unavailable? Adult conversation time 😀

[Doctor J]

It doesn't matter if they're in other bands, however it does matter if they use this as an excuse not to be prepared when it's time to be in your band.

 

People who think it's ok to waste other's time need to be cut loose, in my experience, even if this means short term pain.

Edited 11 hours ago by Doctor J

[chris_b]

Are they good players? Then forget rehearsals and put gigs in the book. That'll focus their attention.

 

You also need the numbers of a few deps.

[warwickhunt]

I am in 3 full bands (bass) and 2 duos (guitar in one, bass in other).  I learn my stuff and expect others will do likewise; if someone was patently putting in less than me 'with no genuine justifiable reason' I'd be letting them know.  Lots of those band members are in other bands but when it comes to gigs, it's dead easy; EVERYONE, regardless of the band they are in, has to honour the gig that goes in first!  Regardless of how good the gig is that someone subsequently gets, the first gig in the diary takes precedence.  

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

5 hours ago, Mickeyboro said:

My question - can a band thrive if most of its members have other, clearly more interesting/lucrative interests? If so, how do you manage/motivate them?

Are these other projects more interesting/lucrative though? If so, I struggle to see why they turn up at the one that apparently isn't?

Some people are just bone idle and there's no motivating them. I manage that by not being in the same room with them.

If you can see my sig, you'll see that I'm in four bands and dep in two others.

Most of the people I work with are the same. The one thing they all have in common is they love playing the music.

Without that, you're on the back foot from the start.

 

As @Lozz196 said, dedication + application and turn up with your game face on every time.

[oldslapper]

I’ve been in bands where it’s been other members only band and they still haven’t practiced between rehearsals. 
 

It’s not always about the number of bands that distracts people from preparing and rehearsing, it’s just laziness and poor attitude. It’s your time and money they're wasting Mickey. 
Maybe you and your guitarist should seek other opportunities with like minded musicians? 
 

Good luck. 

[Supernaut]

13 hours ago, Mickeyboro said:

We have been navigating with difficulty after sacking our singer and losing our drummer. 
 

Our current five piece line up includes three people in at least one other band. It’s apparent that, in the two weeks since the last rehearsal, no-one has done any homework or practice, leading to a less fruitful three hot, sweaty hours today than hoped.

 

My guitarist, with me the only permanent one-band member, is at his wits’ end. I am just concentrating on fulfilling gigs. The availability question will limit those, I accept, but that is of less concern than risking losing my most reliable band mate. 

 

My question - can a band thrive if most of its members have other, clearly more interesting/lucrative interests? If so, how do you manage/motivate them?
 

 

No.