Hey folks,
I'm very lucky in that my career is at a point where I can even have such a problem, but one of the exciting and challenging things about being at a new point in your musical career is that you have no precedents to guide your decisions.
I have been asked to do a 3 week tour around about 10-13 countries in Europe, with all expenses paid (but no luxuries), and a fee for performing. Usually this is a no-brainer. Go Go Go! but I am already going to be touring immediately afterwards and this opportunity has some unexpected cons.
cons
miss 2-3 gigs in my home town with my actual band. (replacement drummer available for me)
miss rehearsals leading up to my bands tour of Europe
extra 3 weeks away from my girlfriend (I'll be away for 9 weeks total if I go)
extra 3 weeks away from earning (but loss of income is about the same as performance fee offered)
more songs to learn (I'm already doing my band, and two others on this other tour; and now another?! I like to be professional and know the songs, but I ain't Kenny Aronoff)
would it piss off some of the other bands who skimped and saved to get my tickets to Europe and back for me to play with them, only to say,"it wasn't needed in the end any way"?
I'd miss my girlfriends birthday
pros
playing music around the world like a boss
travelling to place I'll probably never get to see (but who knows!)
the promoter is a very established promoter who promotes/tours some bigger bands, and this could mean he now knows of a drummer in Australia if ever he should need one... exposure!
so to summarize... I'm already confirmed and going to Europe for 6 weeks, first I'm session drumming at a festival for two bands, then after about ten days, my band starts its three week tour. What I've been asked is if I'll go immediately prior to all this and do an extra three week tour, playing every night.
There's obviously pros and cons, and I am leaning towards saying it's not doable, but I though the folks around this forum would have interesting perspective/experience where I yet do not.
I gotta get back to the guy tonight
I'm very lucky in that my career is at a point where I can even have such a problem, but one of the exciting and challenging things about being at a new point in your musical career is that you have no precedents to guide your decisions.
I have been asked to do a 3 week tour around about 10-13 countries in Europe, with all expenses paid (but no luxuries), and a fee for performing. Usually this is a no-brainer. Go Go Go! but I am already going to be touring immediately afterwards and this opportunity has some unexpected cons.
cons
miss 2-3 gigs in my home town with my actual band. (replacement drummer available for me)
miss rehearsals leading up to my bands tour of Europe
extra 3 weeks away from my girlfriend (I'll be away for 9 weeks total if I go)
extra 3 weeks away from earning (but loss of income is about the same as performance fee offered)
more songs to learn (I'm already doing my band, and two others on this other tour; and now another?! I like to be professional and know the songs, but I ain't Kenny Aronoff)
would it piss off some of the other bands who skimped and saved to get my tickets to Europe and back for me to play with them, only to say,"it wasn't needed in the end any way"?
I'd miss my girlfriends birthday
pros
playing music around the world like a boss
travelling to place I'll probably never get to see (but who knows!)
the promoter is a very established promoter who promotes/tours some bigger bands, and this could mean he now knows of a drummer in Australia if ever he should need one... exposure!
so to summarize... I'm already confirmed and going to Europe for 6 weeks, first I'm session drumming at a festival for two bands, then after about ten days, my band starts its three week tour. What I've been asked is if I'll go immediately prior to all this and do an extra three week tour, playing every night.
There's obviously pros and cons, and I am leaning towards saying it's not doable, but I though the folks around this forum would have interesting perspective/experience where I yet do not.
I gotta get back to the guy tonight