I guess I’m living my ideal but I never really thought of it that way until this thread. I have the full band with lead/harmony vocals, two guitars, bouzouki, Irish/Scotts fiddle, Irish flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, B/C box (about to change to an EC, hence I joined Concertina.net), bass and keyboard. We play traditional and contemporary Celtic. It’s a big sound complete with sound rig, engineer, and a lot of work on our part to keep it flying. It comes with a big price tag so there’s revenue to be dealt with. Then there is the half band with me (banjo, mando, box), one guitar player and the fiddle player doing strictly traditional instrumental. Small sound and it comes easy as we travel light and half the time we don’t use sound gear. Cash in our pocket. Plus we host a local session.
Truth be told if I had to choose between the two, after 10 years of the big sound, I would go for the small combo. It’s just too easy and that makes it fun all the time. Not much in the pocket but the two band mates are like family, the music just flows, and the step dancers keep “breaking the boards”. That’s what it’s really all about for me.
Al