Off Topic Who's in multiple bands?

[adouglas]

The front man of my band just called me with a proposition (no, not that kind).

Cool Shoes is a great, fun act, but we're not as busy as he'd like and he's getting itchy. So he's been looking to join a second band and asked me to come along. I said yes, provisionally.

Am I nuts? I don't have kids, so I think I can swing it.

Anyone have experience with this kind of situation?

 

[MadMatt]

No kids=No excuse... I think you've got to do it!

So what do you have to loose?

-M@

 

[Norm66]

It all depends on the kind of band, how often they rehearse etc. I'm basically too lazy to have two projects but if the right situation came along I might do it.

 

[Basswave]

I do have Kids and sit in with many...Its all a matter of what it is worth to You.

 

[Oldtoe]

Andy, some people in bands think you're supposed to be effing married to each other. Others don't care. Well, at least until one gets booked and the other doesn't. I find that the more disparate the genres of the two bands, the less friction there is.

 

[five7]

If you have the time, then yes. I'm playing in three bands at the moment and love it.

 

[strummer]

I find that the more disparate the genres of the two bands, the less friction there is.

Exactly my thought, ben rules supreme as always

 

[Berger912]

i play in 3 bands 2 original and one cover band

 

[Bart B]

The front man of my band just called me with a proposition (no, not that kind).

Cool Shoes is a great, fun act, but we're not as busy as he'd like and he's getting itchy. So he's been looking to join a second band and asked me to come along. I said yes, provisionally.

Am I nuts? I don't have kids, so I think I can swing it.

Anyone have experience with this kind of situation?

I think this could cause a considerable amount of friction between you (singer and you) and the rest of 'cool shoes'. This could get your band divided into two camps...with the result that one of the two bands break up..

maybe I see it too pessimistic, but you should talk about it to the other guys of your band, so nobody gets a bad feeling

PS: I once joined another band because my current wasn't having that many gigs. I wanted and was able to split time between those bands. But the other members of my original band took serious offence because I did not tell them. And they didn't like me doing it anyway

 

[adouglas]

Thanks all.

Your observations pretty much mirror my thoughts.

Cool Shoes is very open and understanding about other commitments, though we'd probably keep it on the down low at first.

The genre is indeed different. Cool Shoes is old-school dance... R&B, Motown, etc.

This other deal (Big Papa and the Knockers... haha) is fronted by a harmonica player and would be doing standard-issue blues-rock, maybe some rockabilly, stuff like that.

 

[Lynottfan]

I played in 3 at one time, you don't have the any extra pressures on you as you state, it is do-able, it is great fun, do tell the others guys, different genres are a bonus, however I did find that in time One project seems to always stand out and the others you just start to mail in, but as long are enjoying your playing thats all that matters. Good luck

 

[cyoungnashville]

im in a different band everyday. its great if you dont mind coming up with a routine, 'cause every single day i get to start all over again about the bongo and the big al. i just make sh1t up at this point. "well you see, there was this big flying teacup that landed in roswell in 1952, and......"

 

[Holdsg]

Agree with everyone on this. But as Bart said, if its known you're working on multiple projects, with everyone knowing that upfront, its better. I also agree on the different genres approach, which makes you a more well-rounded player as an added bonus.

Me, I have my more serious dance/R&B band and a less serious buddy band. The buddy band morphs from acoustic, to rock, to bluegrass, to jazz, depending on which buddies are available at what point in time, and I am so lucky to be able to play all these different styles (none of them great, but that's another story).

 

[nurnay]

I have kids and I'm in two bands. I can keep it up since we only practice once a week and don't play out too much. The main reason I like multiple bands is the change of songs, I don't get too burned out playing the same songs over and over.

 

[LawDaddy]

Bands? What is the *bands* that you speak of? Most (if not all) of the bass players I hire in NorCal for blues/soul gigs are professional sidemen and would shudder at the thought of being in a band.

 

[ptg]

As long as everything is out in the open and everyone is cool with it, there's no reason not to as long as you're willing to put the time and energy into it.

The other plus is that you'll be taking on completely different material which, in my experience, improves your playing. It will give you a chance to do things you haven't done in a while and, when you play in Cool Shoes, modify and apply some of your "Hey, I haven't played that in a long time" stuff in a new venue.

My $.02

 

[danny-79]

I try to play with as many people in as many different styles/situations as i can, I'm always up for a jam ! so i say if you got the time then go for it, at the end of the day its the playing that its all about !

 

[keko]

Well, I'm in about similar situation right now, but however one band must be prime!

I'll stick with my primary wedding/giggin' band, but I will work also parallel with one fresh young progressive rock band just like "helper" until they find their own bass man!

One more reason is that every live performance with this secondary band shall be paid, so as studio recording bass lines for tracks...etc.

Why not, ...just be honest with all guys and tell them the truth, ask for no hard feelings...etc.

 

[lowliferumble]

I have always strived to be as busy musically as sanity would allow. Many times having done done the multiple band situation as well as doing fill-ins and whatever came my way. At one time a drummer, who was in one of the bands I was in , had the triple juggle thing going on. Well as fates would have it , we all got booked for the same night of a festival. Kicker is the bass player from drummer's band number three was unable to make the gig do to "personal" ( read that as "the girlfriend said no!") reasons , so I was called on to do fill in duties. We managed to get the promoter to schedule us all in a row plus added a additional project I was involved with. So the drummer did three sets in a row , followed by me doing three in a row. With the overlap for us of two sets. I never realized how much 3 solid hours of rocking out will make you sweat...... I looked like a bucket of p*ss had been dumped over my head , despite three shirt changes and one changing of pants . In all of this there was not one moment with out an EBMM bass in my hands. Next time that occurs , I am just going to wear Depends for more efficent costume changes....and added absorbency.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am currently in two bands, with another occasional non-gigging thing on the side. Of the two bands, one is a cover band and the other is originals. Both bands go through phases of being moderately busy and not so busy.

As long as the others know about it, you have set up a policy for scheduling conflicts and you have the time and are having fun, I say go for it!