Band Advice Requested

OK, here's the story. For the past year I've been the main organizer/leader for a band that's been very casual and part time. We started out under that "part time" premise. We do about one gig every quarter. We've been offered 3-times as many gigs but have had to turn most of them down because a couple of the guys (this is a 4-piece) are busy with other projects. I recenty invited two new guys to fill in for the busy guys for one rehearsal and they kicked butt. The two busy guys are also fantastic musicians FWIW.

The drummer (also an original member) and I want to gig a little more - more like once every few weeks or so. That's what prompted us to look into these two subs. I was impressed at how these new guys took the initiative to learn several songs that the two busy guys didn't have time to learn. And, they are eager to play with this band. I am reluctant to tell the two busy guys to hit the road. We have become good friends. (see another issue there?). One of the busy guys has come right out and told me that he wants to stay in the band.

Anyway, I imagine some of you others have been in a similar situation. I'm curious how you handled it and what advice you may give. Also, this stuff we play is pretty unique so it's not like we can just have a sub sit in without a couple rehearsals under his belt. That's been another problem I've faced, just getting the guys to rehearse, due to nothing other than scheduling conflicts, has been rough.

And, as you might gather from this, $ isn't a big motivator in this project FWIW.

Thanks...

Any way to have two bands with two names? In the long run, you'll get even more frustrated if the busy guys are holding you back from the gigging you want to do. If they're truly friends, they should understand that you want to play more. Invite them to be part of that, but explain that if they can't do it or won't do it, you intend to put together this new project. If

DavidE is right on here. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

If the other guys are involved in other musical projects, that's cool. But you and your drummer have the same right. Start a "side project" with the new guys, and see where things go. There's no law against some of the material overlapping...

The only other option is to see if the original guys want to give your band "first option"...that's what we do as my bass player and drummer both have other side gigs, but our band gets booking priority. You can work out the ground rules if you want, or just start your own side gig...

Why not continue on as (insert band name here), using whichever pair of guys is available? This is quite common in wedding/casual/golf club band arrangements, where the leader draws from a pool of available musicians to fill the gig. Even give the long-timers first crack if they're not otherwise engaged if you want.

A guy in my town has been leading a cover band using the same band name for nearly 30 years. He's as busy as he wants to be and, over the years, darn near everybody in town has been in the rotation at one time or another.

Tom has a good idea there. I know guys who do that. If you're only subbing two guys and you're playing lots of gigs with both lineups, both should be tight.

But I didn't take into account that the reason these guys aren't available is because they're involved in other projects. If that's the case, how on earth could they reasonably object to you being involved in another project that allows you to gig more?

But if you want to use the same band name, I think that's something you'd want them to agree to unless it's your name and your band.

Man!!! I'm in the same boat....I'm looking to hook up with some different people. I'll keep going with the guys I'm playing with but I'm going to a little more of what I want. My current situations been full of hiatus' and direction changes....looks like my drummer might be moving....time to do something new and different.

Doesn't really seem fair to the new guys if you follow Toms route. If I was one of the new guys I wouldn't wanna be thought of as just a fill in guy if I'm busting my ass to get the material down for gigs and the "main guys" aren't. The other guys have their side projects, why not you?

Thanks for the advice guys. Yeah, for the busy guys this is more of a side project.

We have a pretty good group of folks here. Hamer fanatics are a finer breed, huh?