Playing in multiple projects

BassFinger · Post by **BassFinger** » Fri May 22, 2009 11:02 am

I did a search and didn't find much.

Some times I feel like not playing much anymore but money is tight and gig money sure helps out.

I just wanted to hear from musicians that play in multiple projects. I think it's universally understood that your first, primary band is the priority but what other arrangements/understandings do you guys have with the other bands? Has there been any complications?

Cheers!

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Fri May 22, 2009 11:13 am

I used to play in two bands for awhile,my opinion is that it can be a pain trying to juggle schedules. I also came to realize that it wasn't fair to any of the other band members having to turn down a gig because of the other band having something already booked. I'd rather put all my energy into one.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:19 pm

onegunguitar wrote:I I also came to realize that it wasn't fair to any of the other band members having to turn down a gig because of the other band having something already booked. I'd rather put all my energy into one.

I agree with Scott 100%. My first real band had a guitar player who also gigged in another project. The result: He'd be out gigging on Saturday night while I was sitting at home, twiddling my thumbs.

I'm not saying that you can't do two projects, but if you have two bands wishing to gig on a steady basis, it's just not going to work well. Even if you have a sub ready, in my experience, you're never going to be as tight with that person as you are with the permanent member.

However, there are times I think that it can work out. One is if you have something that gigs throughout the week, such as an acoustic act. Rob does that, and it works out great. Another is if you have a project that has totally different goals and a schedule. For example, you do the cover band thing on the weekend, but you have an all-original recording project. Another scenario would be having a wedding band that never plays past 7:00. One final scenario is that I know there are some bands that book all of their shows at the beginning of the year, and that's the schedule written in stone. You can always book around that project then, provided the cats in the second project don't mind that the gigs may be sporadic.

Basically, IMO, having two bands wishing to gig steady is a recipe for disaster. If you want to be a free-lancer, that's fine, but then you have to let everyone know that you are a free-lancer. Otherwise, I'd say don't claim permanent residency in a project if you're not going to commit to it 100%. That's just my opinion; others may disagree.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:37 pm

I'd say it all depends on how much time each project takes. My bass player has a side project going, but they don't play out very often. Just make sure you have a primary gig and the guys know that's your main gig.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:39 pm

I'm in two bands, but Fedup is my main thing. I won't let anything interfere with that. The Side Effects got their name just for that reason, everyone but our bass player is in another band. We don't leave the basement much, except for the summertime, but when we do it's always fun.

Of course if you're talking about two regularly working bands, then agreee with Paul.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:10 pm

work's out if the Side Project knows they are a side project. Most of the time people don't like being your second choice though.

Skate Toad · Post by **Skate Toad** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:29 pm

I currently play in two projects.....Silver Sunday and The Rik Golden Band.
With Silver Sunday i try to keep a full schedule but it doesn't always work that way. The Golden Band only wants to play once or twice a month. So this really works out for me and the guys/gal in silver sunday tend to like a day off from time to time. I'm a playing whore anywhere anytime i just can't seem to play enough. I've even at one point managed to jungle 4 projects. It's all about knowing the guys/gals you are playing with and just laying it out on the table. Anyone that plays with me knows that i take any gig i can get first come first serve kinda vibe. I start to twitch when i don't play. From time to time schedules conflict but you just do your best and so far everyone seems to be cool.

Hi my name is Todd and i'm a whore. um....anyone need a drummer? j/k

4_the_pocket · Post by **4_the_pocket** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:46 pm

This is a good topic and I think its been covered here in the past.

I currently play in 2 gigging bands, have recording obligations with 2 others and possibly a 3rd and I am potentially on call with yet another 3rd gigging band. I also freelance/sub. I should also note I work a full-time 40/week day job.

The key is to be honest and practical with yourself and your colleagues. It can be a tricky balance. Do not promise what you can not deliver.

How it works for me is I have my "primary" gigging band. Their gigs come first, though I do have the ability to and do "sub out" on occasion. That is scheduled well in advance and is agreeable to the parties involved. I do not "sub out" to take another gig with another band on short notice. When I sub out, its scheduled a month in advance. The secondary gigging band only plays 1-2 times a month and they generally play the dinner crowd sets (7-9ish type gigs) or festivals, parties and such.

The recording projects are scheduled during the week or around holes in my schedule. In fact, one of the recording projects requires a 2 day stay at a studio out of town....Ill burn vacation days for that. I will potentially do higher priority gigs with these bands as well, but those are few and again, scheduled well in advance.

Im happy with this because I generate income and have fun with the 2 gigging bands (cover bands predominantly) and get my "creative itch" scratched with the recording projects (original bands only). Im on track to play 10-15 gigs a month this year (not including sessions). Everyone is happy - so far - ha ha! Im versed in multiple genres and offer something of value to the bands I work with, which in turn allows for compromise. It also makes me very employable as a musician.

4_the_pocket · Post by **4_the_pocket** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:52 pm

Skate Toad wrote:Anyone that plays with me knows that i take any gig i can get first come first serve kinda vibe.

Thats cool if that works for you

To the original poster: I would never do business this way. Its the business relationships you build over years, your reputation and your work ethic that will keep you in good graces and employed for a long time over your music career. Sometimes you have to say "no". Ive turned down many a good gig or higher paying gig to meet my committed obligations. In the long run its the better business decision, in my opinion.

Skate Toad · Post by **Skate Toad** » Fri May 22, 2009 2:16 pm

Yeah once i book a date then it's locked in. I don't back out because a better gig came along. I've played many shows to empty rooms when i know i could of had a better one at the last minute with another band. The only exception is with shuffling dates around for stuff like six months away. But alot of the times thats tough because clubs book so far in advance. But it has worked out a time or two. And both bands get to play the dates/clubs they want. As long as your honest and don't screw anyone multi projects are possible and they really help with musical ADD types like me. One day i want to rock the next play funk the next ska etc etc. So i don't get burned out on one thing without making one band be all over the charts and confussing crowds.

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Fri May 22, 2009 2:40 pm

As Future Bobby mentioned, I gig with several different acoustic acts throughout the week days but before I started doing that, I established rules for myself. First, it had to be cool with my band mates in bad daZe. I basically asked them for permission to do other work. After that, I pledged that bad daZe took priority over everything else. In other words, days that I could gig with bad daZe - Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - were strictly off limits for booking acoustic shows, regardless of whether we had a show booked. You never know when a last-minute gig will pop up and I can't be off playing acoustic somewhere and leave my boys without the chance to play a Friday or something. Next rule, if bad daZe collectively decided to start booking say, Thursdays, then Thursdays would be off limits for acoustic. Again, my primary band takes priority. Right now, I can play acoustic any Mondays thru Thursdays. The benefits for me are many. First, the much-needed cash. But me doing acoustic benefits bad daZe, as well. It puts my face out there and helps promote bad daZe, the extra work has improved my stamina and the variety of styles I do acoustic has vastly improved my range, especially my low register, which allows me to do more with bad daZe. Side work can be a great thing as long as you put things in perspective and make good rules. You're answerable to your band mates. It's a marriage. r:>)

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Fri May 22, 2009 2:46 pm

If your band mates really love you, they won't care. As long as they know you aren't ditching them. Be happy when a band mate does other stuff, I mean playing more styles and tunes only makes you better after all.

And Dirty, I love the name "Side Effects" wish I would have thought of that!

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Fri May 22, 2009 4:47 pm

RobTheDrummer wrote:If your band mates really love you, they won't care. As long as they know you aren't ditching them. Be happy when a band mate does other stuff, I mean playing more styles and tunes only makes you better after all.

This.

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Fri May 22, 2009 5:20 pm

At one time for a couple years, I was working with 5 different bands on a short notice as needed basis when I was not in a permanent band. That worked out well at that time because it kept my chops up and I got to play with different bands and took the gigs that best suited my schedule. I could not do that with a primary working band.

Currently, I have considered putting together a side project that would not interfere with my main band since money is tight and it sure would help to do an extra gig or two a month. However, my band comes first and is available to play any day of the week right now and we do when the work is there. Since I do all of the bookings, I know when we play or what dates are open.

On the hand, I am always available to help out bands on a short notice as a fill in bass player and do that when needed with no problem. That way, it never conflicts with my band when I know we are not booked and won't get a gig on a particular date.