Larry
"Uncle Larry"
I don't actually have this dilemma presently, but I am considering adding it to my life.
My dance card as far as gigs go has been pretty sparse this last year, my own doing, leaving a band I was in for 8 years. No regrets.
Now, my old bandleader wants me back, plus, last night I auditioned for a new group of guys I never met before who have a classic rock band, plus I still have a blues band I play with. So all of a sudden, my music cup is getting full again. But I don't want to commit to just one band. I want to be hired on a first come/first serve basis.
After the audition last night, which went swimmingly, they asked me about my situation. I could feel the downer in the room when I said I'm freelance and have to work on a first come first serve basis. They want a "committed to one band drummer". Who wouldn't? They all are. He did allude to saying at the end that maybe they will need 2 guys. They are auditioning another guy next week, so I'll know more then. They may go with him if he can commit, and they like him.
So the dilemma part...in the future if this happens again...being asked to describe my situation....what if I left out the freelance part and just said I'd love to drum for your band?
I mean if I am busy with family stuff for instance on a night they want to book....that's par for the course in band scheduling logistics. They only want to work twice a month. My blues band works not more than that. My old band averages twice a month. There are bound to be overlap dates. My blues band is cool with using subs. If my old band leader isn't cool with it, I won't play in that band, except for the 5 dates I committed to this year. I would love to tell the rock band that yea lets do it. But I was completely honest with them. Did I shoot myself in the foot?
Of course I know full well that I wouldn't be completely forthcoming about describing my situation, if I conveniently decided to not mention my other bands in the future, but is this within the realm of an OK thing to do morally?
I'd like to hear your thoughts on the subject.
My dance card as far as gigs go has been pretty sparse this last year, my own doing, leaving a band I was in for 8 years. No regrets.
Now, my old bandleader wants me back, plus, last night I auditioned for a new group of guys I never met before who have a classic rock band, plus I still have a blues band I play with. So all of a sudden, my music cup is getting full again. But I don't want to commit to just one band. I want to be hired on a first come/first serve basis.
After the audition last night, which went swimmingly, they asked me about my situation. I could feel the downer in the room when I said I'm freelance and have to work on a first come first serve basis. They want a "committed to one band drummer". Who wouldn't? They all are. He did allude to saying at the end that maybe they will need 2 guys. They are auditioning another guy next week, so I'll know more then. They may go with him if he can commit, and they like him.
So the dilemma part...in the future if this happens again...being asked to describe my situation....what if I left out the freelance part and just said I'd love to drum for your band?
I mean if I am busy with family stuff for instance on a night they want to book....that's par for the course in band scheduling logistics. They only want to work twice a month. My blues band works not more than that. My old band averages twice a month. There are bound to be overlap dates. My blues band is cool with using subs. If my old band leader isn't cool with it, I won't play in that band, except for the 5 dates I committed to this year. I would love to tell the rock band that yea lets do it. But I was completely honest with them. Did I shoot myself in the foot?
Of course I know full well that I wouldn't be completely forthcoming about describing my situation, if I conveniently decided to not mention my other bands in the future, but is this within the realm of an OK thing to do morally?
I'd like to hear your thoughts on the subject.