Hustling gigs for my other band - Ethical question

mtto · #1 12-04-2010, 09:29 AM

I have a long standing duo with a guitarist. We have a drummer we work with as well. We don't work much, mostly because the none of us has the business acumen to go out and hustle gigs.

Last week, two recurring gigs fell into my lap: one piano trio at a restaurant and the other sax/piano/bass at a yacht club. I already played the first date with the piano trio and it was a perfect gig: musically satisfying, OK money, they fed us (great food!), nice guys in the band, nice restauranteur. I am grateful to have any work, but especially a gig like that.

My question is an ethical one. I don't want to step on anyone's toes, but is there a way to point my guitarist in the right direction at these two venues without souring my existing relationships with the other band leaders? Can he mention that I'm already playing there with another group, or is that in bad taste?

Things they don't teach you in music school...

Violen · #2 12-04-2010, 11:56 AM

Why would you direct him to these venues? Are there other nights open?

mtto · #3 12-04-2010, 04:48 PM

The reason to direct him to those venues is that I know they hire jazz groups.

There are other nights open at the restaurant. The piano trio works with another bassist besides me on some of the dates at the restaurant.

I don't know about the yacht club yet, as those dates are in January and February. I imagine a yacht club has lots of openings for jazz music.

Eric Hochberg · #4 12-04-2010, 09:30 PM

If he knows you have worked there (you told him) and therefore, the place hires musicians, you don't have to direct him to do anything. He is free to pursue a gig there if he wants. I don't see an ethical problem here.

bass1000 · #5 12-06-2010, 08:15 AM

I think as long as you let those guys know you were going to try and get gigs there it would be cool. Especially if they are already booked elsewhere. And let them know that they would receive first call if you booked there and they weren't busy.

I don't think it's a good idea to bite the hand that feeds you though. Meaning they hired you for a gig there and then you go behind their back and book there yourself, that's not very cool. I had a guitar player that used to do that to me all the time. He would play a gig with my drummer and I and then the next thing i knew he was booking his band there and not hiring us.. I quit hiring him.

Talk to the guys who hired you there and ask if they have a problem with you getting a gig there, if they do then you should probably respect that. If your ethical hopefully it will come back around to you..

Eric Hochberg · #6 12-06-2010, 08:19 AM

He's not talking about going after a gig there himself.

bass1000 · #7 12-06-2010, 08:23 AM

I believe he is a roundabout way.

Eric Hochberg · #8 12-06-2010, 08:34 AM

The way I see it, whoever hustles the gig gets to be the leader, choose the musicians and music. The OP doesn't want the responsibility of being the leader and also possibly offending the guys that hired him there. The OP is hoping his buddy will hire him, but who knows? Maybe the venue wants some variety. Mixing it up with different musicians is a given in the music business, at least IME.

bass1000 · #9 12-06-2010, 08:53 AM

I agree with you there, but what he is saying is he is sending his guy in there to get gigs for their band, that he found out about while being hired by another person. It's kind of underhanded unless you tell the guy (band leader) that originally hired you there... You think if the guys that originally hired him see his band playing there they wont put 2 and 2 together ? They may not care,.. all i'm saying is he should tell them. heck they may help him get a gig there..

Eric Hochberg · #10 12-06-2010, 09:26 AM

I understand what you are saying, and since the OP feels uncomfortable with this, he should talk to the other bandleader about it.

koricancowboy · #11 12-07-2010, 08:22 PM

I agree with Eric. The OP did say there are other nights available there. He didn't want to to take the gig away, just play a different night at the same venue. Does the piano trio have a monopoly on the venue? If not then I would say it's fair game and if the OP doesn't send someone over that will potentially hire him in the band for the gig, then guess what? Someone else will get the gig and both the OP and his friend will be SOL. The music business is about hustling gigs. Taking a gig at the same club on a different night is wildly different than taking the gig on the same night at the same club away from the band that's there. If they are overtly offended by this, then perhaps they have security issues.

damonsmith · #12 12-07-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koricancowboy

I agree with Eric. The OP did say there are other nights available there. He didn't want to to take the gig away, just play a different night at the same venue. Does the piano trio have a monopoly on the venue? If not then I would say it's fair game and if the OP doesn't send someone over that will potentially hire him in the band for the gig, then guess what? Someone else will get the gig and both the OP and his friend will be SOL. The music business is about hustling gigs. Taking a gig at the same club on a different night is wildly different than taking the gig on the same night at the same club away from the band that's there. If they are overtly offended by this, then perhaps they have security issues.

Big +1!