General Music Chat

As you guys know I have been playing in a band. I got a call from the leader advising me that he can't book any gigs right now because He needs to slow time down and the drummer an I.T. guy can't give him his on call schedule. I am frustrated with this situation for several reasons. First I was the last guy the leader called! I feel I should have been the first. Secondly the drummer has indicated that HE is in control of the on call schedule.
This will be our fourth year together and I have never played with a band that long. The leader told me he needs to slow down because his job is having him do a lot of traveling and we most likely won't play for the first 3 months of 2014.
I am torn between my loyalty and love for this band and my desire to play out and make well......money! Another band recently contacted me and is showing some interest. I have been driving on average 100 miles roundtrip to play with the band (I think is about to end) for rehearsals and gigs providing p.a. and dealt with other issues I haven't told ya'll about. This other band has some good players and rehearses 15 miles from our house but is a start up band. The choice to me is clear but I don't want to make enemies.
Basically the leader of the band I am playing in told me today we aren't going to play for the first 2 or 3 months of 2014, but wants to retool the setlist. When we do start playing out he only wants to play once a month. IMO that is unreasonable. I love those guys but I think it is over?

Mr. Haley

Take the gig. That band sounds very much like it's over. When those sort of cracks start appearing there are not enough Dutchmen in the world to keep the dike from flooding.

You like to play out, you like money. Seems sort of clear cut from there!

Good luck.

Talbot

Been there Haley and it's just part of the game. I agree that burning bridges is lame so I would talk to the guys in band 1 and simply say:

"Love you guys but I honestly need to play out more than 1/mo. Are you cool with me picking up another band to fill out the calendar? I realize this introduces possible schedule conflicts but we all have schedule conflicts from time to time. What do you think? Can we work this out?"

A simple respectful response and puts the ball in their court. If the answer is no then you have a choice to make, but either way you gave them options and clarified your commitments and desires.

Good luck with your negotiations bro.

Why break up with them at all? What's the point of telling someone who isn't working anyway that you won't be working with them?

Scenarios can change between now and a few months....

Just start working elsewhere and when they finally call you back you can say that you don't know your "on call schedule" yet and will respond when they can tell you the dates they'd like you to play.

i agree w the views expressed above. no reason to outright quit. i'd sit down w everyone and simply explain YOUR need to play more than once a month. and i'd nicely let them know that you'll need to fill in your calendar w this other band (if possibly sometimes being unavail for new band is even an option) if they only plan on one gig/month and likewise plan on taking several months off.

i've been playing in several bands for almost as long as i can remember.
P-JAZZ for 22 yrs, MERE MORTALS 10 yrs, and my duo VAL & MAL is coming up on 20 yrs. i've always had the policy that first booked is THE gig i play. i've never tried to weasel out of a gig if a better gig comes along w one of my other bands. this has always been the understanding and you can see from the length of time i've been doing this...it can work.

the leader told you his needs...now tell him your's. either he'll work to accomodate you or he won't. good luck.

Agree with everyone - no need to 'quit', just tell Band 1 you are looking to play out more, not less.

Play with both groups.

ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO STOP EATING WHILE THE SLOW DOWN OCCURS?
Jeff I hear you, people are a pain in the a$$.

You can't be expected to just sit around with your thumb in your ass because someone else wants to TCB elsewhere.

You have to be looking to play at all times.

Play with the other group that will be around while the others are out to lunch and worse comes to worse, make a decision afterwards when you have to choose between one or the other.

I play with all kinds of mutants and deviants now, you just can't afford to wait for the regular people to think clearly and/or remove their heads from their butts.

You have to get out there and play. It's what you do, a labor of love.

It's laughable that band #1 would want you to stand by and do nothing while time just rolls by...that's just stupid.

Thanks for the advice guys. Earlier this year and most of last year I did play in 2 bands. With Mission Imposter being the main one. I got burned out from playing that much and working a full time job. I decided to just play with one band. Ultimately I like to play 3 or 4 gigs a month. Having to learn 50 songs every time I change bands is getting tiresome. Usually I learn them in a week or 2 and that is with intense woodshedding. I know it is just the nature of the beast. I have decided to go audition with band 2 and see how, if we gel. Otherwise I'll just keep playing when M.I. wants to play out and keep looking for another band. The wife and I have one more kid that gradutes next spring. After that I am planning on fixing the house up to put on the market so we can buy a home on an acre or 2. I don't want to grow old in the house we are in all the bedrooms are upstairs. I also want to grow a small garden and have some chickens when I retire. Heck thats only 8 years away. That will keep me from playing in 2 bands for sure while fixing the house.

Thanks for the advice guys. Earlier this year and most of last year I did play in 2 bands. With Mission Imposter being the main one. I got burned out from playing that much and working a full time job. I decided to just play with one band. Ultimately I like to play 3 or 4 gigs a month. Having to learn 50 songs every time I change bands is getting tiresome. Usually I learn them in a week or 2 and that is with intense woodshedding. I know it is just the nature of the beast. I have decided to go audition with band 2 and see how, if we gel. Otherwise I'll just keep playing when M.I. wants to play out and keep looking for another band. The wife and I have one more kid that gradutes next spring. After that I am planning on fixing the house up to put on the market so we can buy a home on an acre or 2. I don't want to grow old in the house we are in all the bedrooms are upstairs. I also want to grow a small garden and have some chickens when I retire. Heck thats only 8 years away. That will keep me from playing in 2 bands for sure while fixing the house.

if nothing else haley, copyright your band's name MISSION IMPOSTER is such a good name..

it's not a dumb comment haley, think of the marketing power MISSION IMPOSTER has.. the last thing you want is to have a bunch of musicians there in your area, take your band;s name and get gigs by just telling the club owners I'm in MISSION IMPOSTER.. don't let anybody steal your band's name..

I also want to grow a small garden and have some chickens when I retire. Heck thats only 8 years away. That will keep me from playing in 2 bands for sure while fixing the house.

damn, jeff....glad to see yer not talking about getting any sheep. wouldn't want the new neighbors talking!

Jeff I wouldnt quit, just tell them call when they are ready to play, I think you guys had some sort of following, MI could become like my band we only play every couple of monthes or so.

Meanwhile get into something that is busy enough for you, you have the chops, I wouldnt do a start up, just check out the bands similiar to MI in your area and let them know you are available, Something will break loose, cause there are always people dropping out of bands, especially guitarist!LOL!

it's not a dumb comment haley, think of the marketing power MISSION IMPOSTER has.. the last thing you want is to have a bunch of musicians there in your area, take your band;s name and get gigs by just telling the club owners I'm in MISSION IMPOSTER.. don't let anybody steal your band's name..

Dane, the name belongs to the leader he is the one that came up with it.

I also want to grow a small garden and have some chickens when I retire. Heck thats only 8 years away. That will keep me from playing in 2 bands for sure while fixing the house.

damn, jeff....glad to see yer not talking about getting any sheep. wouldn't want the new neighbors talking!

Thanks Mark that is funny as hell! At work today and my birthday. I am 55 today and that brought a smile to my face! Down here in Texas we don't take kindly to goat ropers after all this is Beef country!