Nice problem - too many band members!

stickyfiddle

Another "band decision" thread, though I'll admit I'm in a lucky position to a large degree. Sanity check please! 

Situation:

I formed a band with some (now former) colleagues in summer 2022 which went well, won a decent-level BOTB and has met regularly since, and played a couple more gigs. I was splitting bass & guitar duties roughly equally with this lot. 

We reshuffled that band to form a second version for the same corporate BOTB this year and won again (same singers plus me, with different folks on drums, bass & keys). The second lineup was overall a little easier to get things sounding good, mostly down to the new bassist I think, because it freed me up to focus 100% on guitar which also means I can sing way more harmonies, which I'm good at and enjoy. 

I've also been talking about getting a casual duo off the ground with one of the singers for bars & cafe type stuff - a bit of looping, etc. 

All of these people live an hour from me which I don't mind at all but there's only so many hours in the day... 

Now I'm in a position where all 3 of these want to get going and do more stuff but I ideally want to mix & match the band members to form one supergroup that becomes the primary focus while also doing the duo because that shouldn't actually be too tricky to get rolling. But I also don't want to upset anyone left out, aside from maybe the guitarist #1, who I'm less worried about working with in future. 

What do we do? Do I just get bolshy and hope for the best? 

ScreamingDave

All you can do is be honest with everyone about what your plans are. Talk to the ones you want to work with primarily first and see what their reaction is

ICBM

If there are three guitarists, form a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band.

If there are more and/or there's a keyboard player as well, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.

mrkb

I like the idea of a covers band supergroup

stickyfiddle

ICBM said:

If there are three guitarists, form a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band.

If there are more and/or there's a keyboard player as well, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.

Christ the last thing we need is more guitars!! 

If if we did I'd want to go E Street Band...

stickyfiddle

ScreamingDave said:

All you can do is be honest with everyone about what your plans are. Talk to the ones you want to work with primarily first and see what their reaction is

Cheers. I know this is it really, and I need to pull that bandaid off pretty soon so we can crack on and do something useful. I'm pretty certain on bass & drummers. I'm split on keys players - #1 is brilliant but plays almost entirely from charts, which can be a little inflexible, obviously, but is also a useful person to have in the band from an organisation point of view; keys #2 is much more flexible but also is one of those guys who loves 6ths & 7ths & 9ths etc even when we're playing simple pop songs that srsly just need power chords on a gnarly synth.

What will be interesting is we're actually having a jam with lineup #1 with the bassist #2 sitting in next weekend. I'm hoping that goes well as it'll give a good bit of clarity either way! 

TTony

From what I read on here, few bands seem to split on the basis of "musical differences" - personality clashes seem to be the usual cause.

Under that catch-all, there's the usual X (not formerly known as Twitter) doesn't like Y but Y owns the PA, or A loves B which is a problem because C is married to B, or 1 never turns up on time or returns calls from 2, and 3 keeps ducking out of commitments because he/she/they have a better paying gig with their other band ...

So, which sets of people do you think you could work with most easily and enjoyably and most sustainably (around your, and their, other commitments)?

Then, through the other end of that telescope, are you also the first choice of your first choices?

munckee

What if they've already had the discussion and you're the one who's out?

CaseOfAce

munckee said:

What if they've already had the discussion and you're the one who's out?

That's inconceivable.
We're guitarists remember? The world revolves around us! 

mrkb

CaseOfAce said:

munckee said:

What if they've already had the discussion and you're the one who's out?

That's inconceivable.
We're guitarists remember? The world revolves around us! 

You cant have a supergroup without a star guitarist !

ElectricXII

He can play the Beat It solo on an SG, so he'd get my vote.

stickyfiddle

munckee said:

What if they've already had the discussion and you're the one who's out?

Haha it’s possible! But I’m the “musical director” (hate that term but I’m def the one who does that job!) so hopefully unlikely! 

fretmeister

Shag them all and whoever is best, you keep.

Sporky

Make them fight in a pit. 

horse

Sporky said:

Make them fight in a pit. 

 Then

fretmeister said:

Shag them all and whoever is best, you keep.

mrkb

fretmeister said:

Shag them all and whoever is best, you keep.

He’s based in the Middle East, and they don’t approve of man on man love.

Sporky

mrkb said:

fretmeister said:

Shag them all and whoever is best, you keep.

He’s based in the Middle East, and they don’t approve of man on man love.

I don't think shag means what you think it means. 

Fretmeister is a serious carpet man. 

mrkb

Sporky said:

mrkb said:

fretmeister said:

Shag them all and whoever is best, you keep.

He’s based in the Middle East, and they don’t approve of man on man love.

I don't think shag means what you think it means. 

Fretmeister is a serious carpet man. 

Ah, you meant wrestle on the shagpile? That’s much better, though vaguely homoerotic.

Sporky

I still think you're making this creepier than it is. 

fretmeister

Sporky said:

Make them fight in a pit. 

http:

Stupid thing. Can’t make a Thunderdome gif work.

mudslide73

What about the time honoured "split both bands up then reform without the ejected ones". If you bump into them again just say you changed your mind but lost their contact details.