Was I wrong to yell at my Singer/Guitarist and drummer

knarleybass · #1 02-26-2007, 01:41 PM

OK,
I play in this little cover band on the weekends, nothing serious, just the ususal, Brown Eye'd Girl, Sweeh Home Alabama, etc.
We played a gig Sunday afternoon, and there was a singer/guitar player friend there hanging out, we asked him to come up and play a few songs. At that moment our drummer got up and said that he didn't know any of his songs, so our singer/guitarist said that he would play the drums... (my eyes rolloing, saying "please god no!") he is worse than horrible on the drums. We play "Red House" I feel really bad for our friend that is sitting in, it's terrible. Then after that song some stranger from the cround gets on the drums and we play two more songs, he is even worse! I am pissed off because whenever people come to sit in the entire band dissapears and I am stuck up there feeling like a jerk, the guys in the band know I don't like it but they keep doing it. So after this time I yelled at them, that this is not fun for me, when a guitar player comes up that I would like to play with, the drummer dissapears and we are left with some drunk idiot from the croud.
One time we were playing in Florida and they had the college football mascot come up and play instrumental versions "Rock You Like A Hurricane" over and over and over... It was hell!
Any other bass players that have had this happen to them?

Tony G · #2 02-26-2007, 01:50 PM

I've had it happen a few times. You just have to grin and bear it while it is happening, but you do need to talk to your band mates about not having random strangers come sit in. It never works out good.

trasser · #3 02-26-2007, 01:51 PM

You certainly wasn't wrong to yell...I mean, a jam can be fun, but I feel the same way, I don't want some (maybe even drunk) fools playing with me, making me look like an idiot, or even worse, play my instrument and have an accident with it. Just be the annoying arrogant guy and tell people that no jamming is allowed. Just prepare yourself for a few angry crowd members. And prepare yourself for feeling better playing gigs

Bryan316 · #4 02-26-2007, 02:28 PM

First of all, what do you mean "we" asked him to come play a few songs? "We" as in the band's friend, or "we" as in YOUR friend?

If you were the one who invited him to jam with you, and the suggestion came for a song your bandmates didn't know, then it's YOUR fault. Your band was in the right to get pissed. I would hate it as well if a singer came up to us and asked if we know any MetallicA and we say yeah, and then he asks for some obscure crap from St. Anger, we'd look pretty bad not knowing that stuff! That's pretty uncomfortable for your bandmates. I don't ask bassists to jump on stage and play Holy Wars or something else equally challenging, just cuz they can play bass.

Next time, plan it in advance, or ask them if they know one of the songs your band knows. Don't put them on the spot and expect them to just wing it like pro improvizational session players from a blues bar in Chicago.

knarleybass · #5 02-26-2007, 02:34 PM

Yea, the guitar player was a friend who is a good player, the thing was that once he came up the drummer left and we were stuck with some drunk from the crowd who I didn't know or want up there playing.

jonly · #6 02-26-2007, 02:52 PM

It has to be decided before hand how this is handled. Your band needs a 'standing rule' on sit ins. We allow it, I hate it (unless it's a bassist, free break) but we usually have a guest something or other for one song in each night.

My guitarist is a walking jukebox, though and for auditions he doesn't hand out songs to learn, you show up, he plays some obscure old song, and you can either follow or you don't get called back.

If you're not working with one of these guys then you can just show your aspiring, drunken rock star the set list and ask him which song he knows how to play.

hilly bill · #7 02-26-2007, 02:59 PM

I would never have anyone join my members on stage if i did not know them personally or at least have heard of them. We do not have a band member that has less than $10,000 of gear on that stage. If the bouncers or sound guy does not see him trying to get on stage then i will personally kick them in the face. And they better prey that i see them before the drummer does because his has crap to throw!

Bryan316 · #8 02-26-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knarleybass

Yea, the guitar player was a friend who is a good player, the thing was that once he came up the drummer left and we were stuck with some drunk from the crowd who I didn't know or want up there playing.

Then yeah, I can't blame him.

Plan ahead, bro. Plan ahead.

ryco · #9 02-26-2007, 03:48 PM

IMO it's never good to yell. If someone starts yelling at me I stop listening. If there's a problem I would rather someone discuss it calmly.

I agree the other band members need to stick around close to the stage. It's their gig and IMO it's just good band etiquitte to stay close by so you can get on with the show when the "guests" are done.

Have a discussion with the others, after the show or at rehearsal, to set some ground rules everyone can be happy with.

I personally don't mind ppl sitting in, but sometimes it can be a disaster! If they're FU -- no way!

Johnny Crab · #10 02-26-2007, 04:41 PM

Ain't had that one.
ANYTIME you get a sub-drummer, it's gonna be "interesting" for the time-keeping section. Having a poor drummer up would've made my day as it forces YOU to be the main time keeper and try to speed up or slow down a timeless train wreck waiting to happen.

We allow sit-ins but they are usually well-known and talented. We had a harp(harmonica) player sit-in Saturday who is excellent and pretty much used my mic for a few songs. He got to solo(nicely) a few rounds, played the lines I'd sing in some vocal chorus parts(hey, I get a break), and it was great actually.

It is something that needs to be known before hand and ironed-out privately if possible.

If complete strangers start populating the band, I'd get ticked.
If complete stranger(s) wants(want) to use my gear...."I don't think so Tim!".
Bass player I know use my gear? Maybe....