Band members in other bands

[12stringbassist]

It only works when the people who run two bands can pull the others in when required and those other people are doing nothing else.

 

As a person who prefers to have one band and nothing else, I have always found that if someone is in two bands, their availability is compromised and so is their attention span and ability to absorb and devote time to learning new material. It very rarely works and there is always going to be conflicts over which band gets first dibs on dates. It's just a nightmare.

The people who elect to be in two bands (but don't run diaries) always think they can make it work. They of course, are not the ones tearing their hair out over broken gig schedules and aren't the ones going back to venues saying 'oh I'm sorry, x is suddenly not available'.

[acidbass]

Probably been said already, but it sounds like a professionalism issue on the part of the musicians who don't bother to commit to the idea.

[Lozz196]

I find it amazing in this day & age, where everyone carries a calendar with them (in their phone) all the time, that it takes some so long to reply with availability. Look at calendar, reply, not the hardest task of the day.

[chris_b]

1 hour ago, 12stringbassist said:

As a person who prefers to have one band and nothing else, I have always found that if someone is in two bands, their availability is compromised and so is their attention span and ability to absorb and devote time to learning new material. It very rarely works and there is always going to be conflicts over which band gets first dibs on dates. It's just a nightmare.
 

 

Deps are not a negative scenario. Deps make gigging more flexible. Pick the right deps and you can have a lot of fun.

 

You don't give your band members much credit for their ability to learn sets for 2 bands.

 

You don't want band members to be in multiple bands, I get it, but your whole outlook on the subject is very negative.

[TimR]

I have been in 3 bands several times. 

 

However, it is down to the individual to recognise if they have time to commit equally to all the bands. 

 

In my case the bands didn't each rehearse each week and gigs were few and far between in each of them.

 

Which was what led me to find another band/accept an offer. Plus I would do dep gigs.

 

So if these members are too busy to play in your band due to the workload from the other bands, then they really need to have a conversation as to whether they really do have time to be in multiple bands.

 

Were they in your band first? ie is it lack of gigs that's made them look elsewhere. 

Did they join your band because you offered them gigs?

 

OR do they just want to turn up and practice the tunes at rehearsals and are not that keen of gigging.

 

If you're getting frustrated then speak to each one separately away from rehearsal and ask them what are they expecting from the band. Find out if you are aligned. 

 

If not, start auditioning new members and make it very clear what you're trying to achieve with the band, and what levels of commitment you want, how often you want to gig, rehearse and that you expect people to have *bare-boned the songs before coming to rehearsals.

 

*Don't expect people to learn tunes at home and for the tunes to work straight away. Rehearsals are to iron out the arrangements. 

[Lozz196]

46 minutes ago, chris_b said:

 

Deps are not a negative scenario. Deps make gigging more flexible. Pick the right deps and you can have a lot of fun.

 

 

My old band, who I’m currently standing in for have just done a mini tour of Belgium & Germany with a dep. I said when I agreed to stand in no touring - plus I was meant to be working this weekend anyway. The dep was based in Germany so had no rehearsals with them yet the gigs apparently went well. Dep success story backing up your point methinks Chris.