Hi there,
this webpage helped me a lot, so I decided that I will share with you some of mine experience...
First of all, I already tried to have about 6 bands, and never been successful in gigs. (I even extended the life time to make sure that I don't have to worry about time... ) But here is what I learned
1. When you form a band, it doesn't matter how many stars as celeb you have, or how much skills do you have in instrument (well at least one is needed to form a band). It DOESN'T matter how many band members are there, you will still get a gig. You should have at least little bit of a relationship with the people to form a band.
Oh, and don't forget to go to the City Hall to register as a band (you don't have to, or you can do it just for a one member.. its doesn't make a difference, just that it means you have a job, so you can get a promotion etc..)
2. You can, but don't have to live with another band members. The good things about living with them is that you can prepare them for the gig (they will have full stomach and empty bladders:) as this is sometimes a problem - when a Sim plays a gig and pee himself, the gig is just canceled and you can wait again forever for the next gig...) the negative about living with the band is that every one of them can have a call proposing a gig- meaning if you have 4 members, you have to keep an eye ALL the time on everyone, pretty annoying...
3. Getting a gig: The first gig WILL appear in one Sim day - at most two... If it doesn't appear, just quit the band, and you can create it again with the same people one second after quitting, no big deal.. (If the gig doesn't appear in one day, you probably missed it, didn't answer the call, or bad luck- so far I didn't have the first gig for my 3 bands from total 6 bands, and I have waited for a couple of Sim weeks)
4. If the first opportunity for the gig appears, be happy and try to come on time with a happy Sim:) After successfully completing the first gig, and get paid, you can wait for another gig. that's really annoying again, because it takes some time- if you are lucky, you get one gig per week, but I've been never so lucky.. sometimes it gets a lifetime lol:(
So the point of being in the band is really not in waiting for the gigs. You can go to the parties every night with your band, jamming together (this is good for improving you relationship with other band members.) Or have one of your band members playing for tips at some interesting locations (the best are cinema, or in front of the restaurant. )
Or go to subway- it seems like a bug, but you make incredible lot of money there!!! I can make 10 000 Simoleons in 4 Sim hours!!!! (Well you need to have skill 10 of your instrument, learn all the songs, perform them all, have virtuoso trait, maybe artistic and celebrity traits also.. And also purchase Opportunistic from the rewards..)
Take all the opportunities you can get- well be careful to finish them quickly! Because if your opportunity list is full, you couldn't receive a phone call offering a gig! Gig will appear in the middle opportunity column, I think it's the skill opportunity.. BUT there is a bug in the game- with the multiple rabbitholes, so delete buildings which have more than one occupation, and import the buddings from Sunset Valley. Sometimes the opportunity which you get still don't work, but sometimes they do... So if you import those buildings, you have a better chance to complete the opportunity..
I hope I helped a little:) and sorry for my English, I'm not native speaker... If you have any questions, or more tips for me I will be happy to read them:)
Good luck and happy simming:)
