| Author | Message | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 746 Registered: 9-2002 |
This is kind of a rant I guess, but as I sit here gig-less watching the summer go by I cant really help it. Spend November-February working with a keyboard player on a project, starting gigging in the spring, and than booked a bunch of cool indoor and festival gigs in the summer, only to have the KB player take a cruise ship gig at the start of the summer giving us a weeks notice. This pretty much caused the drummer to leave since he didnt want to stick around while we looked for someone else. As a result I had to cancel all the scheduled gigs since we couldn't find a replacement for either person that left. Pretty frustrating, and this isn't the first time this particular KB guy has left a project for something else just as it was picking up steam. I dont know if the guy gets bored or what.... Having been through it before, I know this stuff goes on alot, but I guess I just really dont understand why someone would want to put so much time and effort into something, only to leave once things start to get rolling. Id like to think part of it is the money, but the cruise gig isnt paying that much more that what he was already making here doing his regular gig... | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1294 Registered: 11-2004 |
glocke..yep has happened to me in the past..it is kind of selfish, he could have given you more warning and maybe you could have got another KB player in whilst he was sorting his employment details. One band I was in last year sacked me 'cos their original bass player wanted back in, I always tell a band that if I am leaving I will give them 2- 3 weeks notice so they can get someone worked in..this lot told me after a gig..no notice. Some people have no respect for others at all in this area | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4514 Registered: 7-2004 |
By the title,I thought this thread was about something else entirely! lol Yea, is does suck when one person seems to have no idea that it's a "team" effort and you have responsibilities to the team just as the team has responsibilities to each member. Some people just have no consideration. Recently a KB player I jammed with many years ago got in touch with me. It seemed he and some others had put together a "Band" tribute band. (Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Danko, Hudson, Manuel, you know "The Band"). Just before the first gig which was to be at a very nice venue, the guitar player flaked out. They postponed the gig and started looking for a new guitarist. That's when I was called. I met with the guy and went over the tunes. I then spent a couple of weeks really getting them down on my own (guitar and vocal parts). Just when I'm ready to play, they decide not to do it. Gee, thanks. Bill, tgo | ||
| bassilisk
Member Username: bassilisk Post Number: 72 Registered: 4-2009 |
What most people (non-musicians) don't realize is that, when you go somewhere to see a band, what you're seeing is the cream. The playing and the performance are the easy part - it's the logistics that are all the work and the hardest part of that is getting the (3,4,5,6 etc) personalities to gel and pull in the same direction long enough to actually make something happen. The more democratic and team-like it is -the difficulty goes up exponentially. Unfortunately, though it's the ideal situation to work in, that's a fact. It easily becomes like herding cats. When there's a recognized leader there's a centralized command/direction. It's the situation I'm in now. The trade-off is this: I have no input into the direction of the band and the presentation (repertoire). On the other hand, I'm here going on 17 years, we average 100 gigs a year doing covers, nobody tells me how/what to play and it doesn't require any energy from me to deal with bookings etc. Sometimes I hate it because of my limited input, but I can't argue with results, and when I think of what I might have to go through to get something else off the ground it makes me cringe. I'm too old for that sh*t. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1297 Registered: 11-2004 |
I only once ran a band and it drove me insane, it is like being married to 4 or 5 other people. I have been in bands just like bassilisk where my input has been refused but the gigs were numerous and well paid..I stayed for a few months then left(one band's gigs paid my bike & car insurance, new tyres for my FireBlade, a holiday and numerous nights out) but the trade off is no input. Then there are the bands where they want you play just like the record..if you want to play like the original then listen to the CD! and so it goes on and on. Right now my current band that I am in is very open but as you know it can change! | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1471 Registered: 6-2002 |
The mental image of herding cats is causing me to smile in ways that would make law enforcement officials nervous. Perhaps I've found my next career choice at 58....  Mike | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 747 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ive had the identical thing happen to me in a previous band Bill. At the last minute the guitar player and drummer in that particular band decided that a gig located 2.5 hours away was too far to play. This was decided literally the weekend before we were scheduled to play. Needless to say that caused that particular band to break up. Its really pretty crazy. When I think about all the time, effort, money and energy spent in trying to get something off the ground, only to have it fall apart once things start to get rolling it makes me cringe. Its also made me realize that I probably need to take a break from the whole band thing for awhile, which sucks because I enjoy playing and think I have alot to offer, and also makes me realize that in the future I probably need to put more thought into who I decide to play with or recruit. Id say first and foremost is no pros, or people who make a living playing music. These folks, while they bring alot to the table in terms of experience and connections, are usually the first to abandon a project because a tour or something better comes along... | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Advanced Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 226 Registered: 7-2009 |
I recently played for a group that made me sign a contract. In the contract was a clause that if for ANY reason I left the band before the tour was done the penalty was expensive. I said fine, but before I signed the contract I came back the next day with a contract of my own with essentially the same conditions. If they did not want me on their tour anymore they had to pay me the rest of the contract on the spot and a flight home, with a little extra for incidental expenses. I know this is tough for average gigging and local groups, but it can be done. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1176 Registered: 5-2009 |
Nick, I think what you did is the way to go , right on ! | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 754 Registered: 10-2006 |
Many years back, a bassplayer I'd worked with before asked me to do sound for his new band. They'd rehearsed something like 35 hours a week for a year before playing out; they were talented, way tight, and really good at what they did - all they needed was the originals they were starting on. 4 months later the guitar player/band leader got an offer to work in his other field (accoustical engineer) in CA. Band over. At least I didn't put in the year's work. Then there was the time (2 weeks before my wedding) I called the bass player (different band, different bass player) to ask what time the gig was that night; "Sorry, we've decided we can't afford a soundman anymore". Peter | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9510 Registered: 5-2002 |
35 hours a week for a year before playing out Wow, what kind of stuff were they playing? | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 755 Registered: 10-2006 |
Just standard late '80s New-Wavy pop stuff. Weird, huh? But they played it really well! Everyone had a nom de gig, too (they dubbed me Hertz Rolov - but please, don't tell anyone). Peter | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1177 Registered: 5-2009 |
Hey Peter , that's a great "nom de gig" ! That is something to be proud of ! perfect ! |
