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 19 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 19 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 17 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. 

[Franticsmurf]

10 hours ago, warwickhunt said:

EVERYONE, regardless of the band they are in, has to honour the gig that goes in first!

I have been in two bands simultaneously because I wanted to gig more than the first band did. I made it clear to both bands the situation and that when it came to gigs, the first gig in the diary got priority. Practicing was never an issue and rehearsals with either band were arranged so far in advance that they never clashed. In terms of motivation - for me it was gigs. Both bands had great people in them and playing with them was enjoyable and fulfilling but the main reason I play is to be on stage.

 

I don't think failing to prepare or practice is a direct result of being in several bands. If I was struggling to manage the workload the first thing I'd do is prioritise based on upcoming gigs but I would also be talking to all the bands involved to explain. I would have to think carefully about whether this was a one-off or likely to happen again and if the latter, I'd have to make a decision about leaving a band to reduce the workload. 

 

As with most things, communication is key and the earlier you talk it through the less heated it will be.  

[Mickeyboro]

4 minutes ago, Franticsmurf said:

As with most things, communication is key and the earlier you talk it through the less heated it will be.  

All makes sense. But pushing them to ‘choose’ means we will probably lose them and thus be unable to do gigs at all. 
 

As it stands we get a product, but it frustrates cos it takes more time and effort than necessary and could be better. 
 

We can’t really use the stick, so whats the carrot?🥕 

[oldslapper]

6 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

 

 

We can’t really use the stick, so whats the carrot?🥕 

The threat of shoving the carrot where it will block the sun might be an option? 
 

I think the “carrot” should come from pride of being the best you can be. Not sure how easy it is to provide carrots to lazy people, unless you pay them? 

Bands can be a pain in the @rse,… or maybe that’s the last carrot still stuck there 🤣

[Al Krow]

6 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

We can’t really use the stick, so what's the carrot?🥕 

 

Great question! Maybe turn that one around - what would make you want to join a band and really commit to it and to work hard at keeping your place in it?

 

It's going to vary for everyone, but I suspect it will include some or all of the following?

• Regular decently paid gigs (covers band)
• Love the music that the band is playing / get a say in song choices
• Talented musicians to work with 
• Fun crew who you enjoy hanging out with
• Good band atmosphere and minimal drama
• Feeling valued
• An opportunity to be creative (maybe more for original bands?)
• An opportunity to grow and develop as a musician

 

[snorkie635]

2 minutes ago, oldslapper said:

The threat of shoving the carrot where it will block the sun might be an option? 
 

I think the “carrot” should come from pride of being the best you can be. Not sure how easy it is to provide carrots to lazy people, unless you pay them? 

Bands can be a pain in the @rse,… or maybe that’s the last carrot still stuck there 🤣

Agree with this comment. It seems that if they are 'money-driven', more gigs might be the 'carrot', but if they are not really into the music your band plays, or/and if they just can't be bothered to put more effort in (for whatever reason(s)), nothing is likely to change, unless open, honest discussion leads to a solution to a perceived problem on their part, that until now, you are unaware of. Good luck Mike, it might be a case of flogging a dead horse otherwise.

[Mickeyboro]

I love these threads, guys. Apart from helping me think things through, there’s wisdom everyone can learn from. Keep it coming!
 

Theory: being a blues band, we can attract people who want to do something different from their regular music. But, and I blame blues jams for this, they may think ‘near enough is good enough’ and practice is not as important. Thoughts?

[Len_derby]

14 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

I love these threads, guys. Apart from helping me think things through, there’s wisdom everyone can learn from. Keep it coming!
 

Theory: being a blues band, we can attract people who want to do something different from their regular music. But, and I blame blues jams for this, they may think ‘near enough is good enough’ and practice is not as important. Thoughts?

I think you’ve hit on something there, Mick. A lot of players, especially guitarists, seem to have a preconceived idea that the structure of a blues song is always the straight 12 bars, using chords I, IV & V.  The memorable songs tend to have variations and subtleties that make them stand-out. Born Under A Bad Sign being a good example. Far too many people, in my experience, have the ‘it’s just the blues, innit?’ mentality.

[Len_derby]

Another thought, do these ‘less than fully committed’ members have any say in the set list? Maybe letting them choose a song they particularly like, within the genre, would make them keener? In my bands we call it ‘throwing them a bone to chew on’. 😀🐕🦴

[chris_b]

1 hour ago, Mickeyboro said:

. . . .  pushing them to ‘choose’ means we will probably lose them and thus be unable to do gigs at all.

 

 

Make sure you're playing songs everyone wants to play, then get gigs. As I say, if everyone is in multiple bands then they'll be unable to do some of the gigs. That's when you call on the deps. The secret is to get your gigs in the diary first.

 

 

6 hours ago, oldslapper said:

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

 

The bands I play in usually don't rehearse. We turn up knowing the parts and songs.

 

I did spend some time in a band which regularly rehearsed. Annoyingly the problems from one week could still be around the next week. . . . and the week after! They were good guys but too many rehearsals and not enough gigs killed it for me.

[Stub Mandrel]

16 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?

 

I'm in four bands.

1)

Singer in two (was three until a month ago).

Guitarists and drummer all in two bands.

 

2)

Drummer in 2 bands

Guitarist in 3 bands plus extras.

 

3)

Drummer in 2 bands and a duo (as guitarist).

Guitarist in at least four bands plus session work.

 

4)

I think I'm the only one in more than one band.

 

I'd say it's the rule rather than the exception, most of the bands I know have members in multiple bands.

[neepheid]

There has to be a degree of respect, and synchronisation of calendars.  Whichever band books the date first, that's it - none of this "my other band got a better offer" BS.  I'm in two bands, drummer's in two and a bit, singer's in two - communication is the key.  So far there has only been one oopsie, and I sorted it with a gig swap with another band - but made it plain that it was a huge pain in the rear end and don't do it again

 

[bertbass]

Sorry, but if you're in one band then that's it, you don't play in other bands.  Help out in an emergency as long as no one else minds.  Not enough gigs to keep you happy, get more gigs.  Wrong type of music, leave and join another band.  I think you get where I'm coming from.

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, bertbass said:

Sorry, but if you're in one band then that's it, you don't play in other bands.  Help out in an emergency as long as no one else minds.  Not enough gigs to keep you happy, get more gigs.  Wrong type of music, leave and join another band.  I think you get where I'm coming from.

 

Then how do you satisfy a desire to both play covers and be in an originals band?  You're entitled to your opinion, but this is not a "one size fits all" type situation.

[Stub Mandrel]

7 minutes ago, bertbass said:

Sorry, but if you're in one band then that's it, you don't play in other bands.  Help out in an emergency as long as no one else minds.  Not enough gigs to keep you happy, get more gigs.  Wrong type of music, leave and join another band.  I think you get where I'm coming from.

 

Monogamy is for relationships

PolyBandry is fine, just be open about it.