Its hard to accept that we cant do all the gigs we would like to do because of our jobs, families, sports team or whatever other things that engages our time. How can we put a limit to a thing (or one of them) that we love the most?

Right now I have a few projects cooking. The comparsa, 2 original bands (1 drum / 1 percussion) and cover band (drums). Only the comparsa is giging. One of the originals is rehearsing for its debut (2/11/05) in a paintings exposition from one of the singers. The cover band is a joint venture of freelancers to play at a bar/rest at weekends, and it is a proposal still waiting for answer, but we all know the songs - we have done this before. The other original band is on hold.

I know I cant handle any more than this. A 40 hrs/week day job, family, wedding things to do; I think this enough.

What about you? How can you tell when it is enough?

My situation may be a little different because I play multiple instruments.  So I tend to like to have one band for guitar or bass and one for drums at least.  

That said 2 bands and my solo thing are really all I can handle.  Were I younger and trying to be a star or make a living it may be different.  But as it stands, I just want to make music I enjoy making.   So that means my solo stuff, guitar with The Luna Moth, and I'm starting up a new band to play drums in.  

Anymore would cut into my being lazy around the house time

Only you can make that decision.  I would bag the original stuff unless it was working or incredibly satisfying.  

Really you should just put off your marriage until you get your gig schedule worked out.  How are you going to have time for a girlfriend with all this stuff going?  Geez Louiz

Do you monutain bike in Chicago?   "Hey, I caught some sweet air off the tour bus!"  

You'll learn when to say no.     All of a sudden....Where did that 40 years go?     I had the same problem, so I cut out the non gig basement bands. Unless they showed real talent it was a waste of time. So I work my 40 hrs.... Play paying gigs, and check out possible prospects. I give them 2 weeks to show promise and then it's bye bye....Also during the summer months I work at MX tracks and do a little side roofing for extra cash. It's called schedule    ..... Before I got married I told my wife I would always be a musician and if it's a problem don't marry me. That was over 37 years ago and she's never complained about it. Through the years she's watched me go down several music avenues. Sometimes I spin my wheels, but most of the time I make money with a band or I don't bother with them.  

All the projects are promising, although some are/will be more profitable. The cover band seems to be a good thing, at least in the short term, because it will make good cash without too much effort. Not to forget that I made about $900 last month with the comparsa, and mardi-grass season is almost here!

But I see more future for the originals. They both cover an empty niche in our musical scene. The one Ill play percussion with is a Compas/Zouk band. There is nothing like it here in PR. We already had a first version of it that was quite successful with the audiences, but we had some internal problems. The current band line-ups are more serious musicians and see the band as business, not a hang. The other original project is a no-borders kind of band. We play Beetles-like rock n roll, funk, ska, drum n bass, hard rock, you name it; and almost every song has more than one version, so we can play them differently depending on the venue. We already have a promoter interested in us and will go this weekend to our practice to check us.

About the girl … we already live together; we are only formalizing things. She already knows what is to stay up late waiting for me to come home or helping me packing and loading, and not seen my face for longer than a few minutes because I have to leave for a gig; she can deal with it. Im a lucky guy. Something I wont mess with is a baby. We dont have time (neither money) for kids right now and she knows it.

Nice Excuse.. you just like them cause they're huge, bulky, and make us locals mad.   It always bugs us down in the berkshires when we see those Lexus's driving down the street with their drivers drinking coffee and talking on a cellphone. But we're drummers... we don't do that, and we can't afford a Lexus. Not that I'd know, being in Middle School and all.  

We almost purchased one of those, but ended up going with "The Matrix." Bum bum baaaa. Basically a tricked out Corolla. It's really great for hauling my drums around, it's a nice hatchback. It even has real roll down windows. (Yep, that means you roll the window down with your hand! Don't think I haven't been embarassed being driven up to a toll booth.) And better yet, it even has real push in locks, that means everyone has to lock their doors or else one is left unlocked. That my friends, is your economy car.  

Right now I have no desire to commit to more then the one working project.  We have already over 90 day's booked for this year.

Between a good day job, my involvement in local politics and the one band my plate is full.  If a quick fill in came up and I had the time,  I would take it if I felt I could do a decent job.  

For a while I did 2 bands plus a little side band thing and found I was just getting too stressed out with trying to make schedules that kept everyone happy.  Telling one band I could not make a gig because of another commitment was a lousy thing to have to do.  I just find life a bit less complicated by having only group of people to deal with and schedule around.  
 

I work 84 hrs every two weeks (24 one week, then 60 the next) and play with the band out of town a few times a month. We practice (intown) once every two weeks usually... working overnight (5PM - 5 AM) can make it stressful on my wife and I, but we make the most of our time together. She is supportive of me as a musician and as an IT guy (my day job)... once I switch to day shift most of my problems will be solved and i will see her every night I am in town. I am lucky to get gigs in a band that plays all originals, and am not ready to give it up yet... even if most of our fans are 5 - 10 years younger than us!