arrogant patrons.

[mike.b]

just wondering whether any one else has experienced what the band did today.due to band problems we have had to reform with different members and a new rehearsal room.now i managed to book an upstairs function room at a royal british legion club to rehearse in;we've got a gig on the following friday and we're a bit rusty.in the first 5 numbers we were told to turn down 3 times,which we did.no problem.2hrs later we just finished our last number of the second set when in walks this patron from down stairs.i'll call him id.short for idjit.now i could see he had a bee in his bonnet and he was looking for trouble.he strolled straight on to the stage yelling abuse and preceded to turn off all our plugs.we told him not to touch our gear which he ignored.when he got to the pa our singer/keyboardist intervened and told him we'll unplug the gear not him.he thrust in his face and screamed "this is not music you're too loud,i'm a member of this club and i've served my country for years.its too thumpy and i'm a key board player and this is not music(again)"the sax player proceeds to yell at him back about this is music.and it starts to look like a punch up is brewing.we managed to calm the sax player down and drag him away.the idjit walks away screaming some mumbo jumbo abouts us f...ing off.we were completely stunned by this out burst from outta nowhere.gladly he didn't touch my axe,because i would,ve lost it then.this is exactly the reason i don't join working mens clubs;too many big headed little hitlers.has any body else experienced anything like this?

[SB100]

When I was new to the game I'd have taken the blows and abuse from the idjit.

In the late 70s and early 80s I'd have probably given him a mouthful and threatened him with GBH if he didn't scram pronto.

These days I'd play a lot nicer, I'd in a not too patronising way remind him that his views are his views and not the views of a legion of adoring fans and that him fighting for the country was to preserve the rights of people like "us" to play what we play, so stop being a facist little Nazi and heres a couple of quid for a pint. Meanwhile I'd just have security eject him from the room. Patron or not you hired the room and as long as you abide by the club rules and restrictions that are in place then patrons can go take a hike.

[agreatheight]

I don't think I'd play a gig like that, a private club. Too much of a posibility for someone to think you are invading there space. My band plays at bars that like loud music so there is never a problem.

[Beast]

I would've just plugged our equipment back in, and then continued playing, if the guy continued to harass, I would've had some of the fans deal with him.

[Pilgrim]

You need to plug in, go ahead and do what you need to, get the manager of the club and have him/her deal with the idjit. Inconvenient, but very simple. Not your fight - it's the responsibility of the club to control their members and patrons.

[mark roberts]

Originally Posted by mike.b

just wondering whether any one else has experienced what the band did today.due to band problems we have had to reform with different members and a new rehearsal room.now i managed to book an upstairs function room at a royal british legion club to rehearse in;we've got a gig on the following friday and we're a bit rusty.in the first 5 numbers we were told to turn down 3 times,which we did.no problem.2hrs later we just finished our last number of the second set when in walks this patron from down stairs.i'll call him id.short for idjit.now i could see he had a bee in his bonnet and he was looking for trouble.he strolled straight on to the stage yelling abuse and preceded to turn off all our plugs.we told him not to touch our gear which he ignored.when he got to the pa our singer/keyboardist intervened and told him we'll unplug the gear not him.he thrust in his face and screamed "this is not music you're too loud,i'm a member of this club and i've served my country for years.its too thumpy and i'm a key board player and this is not music(again)"the sax player proceeds to yell at him back about this is music.and it starts to look like a punch up is brewing.we managed to calm the sax player down and drag him away.the idjit walks away screaming some mumbo jumbo abouts us f...ing off.we were completely stunned by this out burst from outta nowhere.gladly he didn't touch my axe,because i would,ve lost it then.this is exactly the reason i don't join working mens clubs;too many big headed little hitlers.has any body else experienced anything like this?

I experienced something like this many years ago here in the USA. We played a New Years Eve job (upstairs, no less) and we were told to turn down. We did. We were told to turn down more, we did. When we were told to turn down again...the guitarist, keyboardist, and I (bassist) turned off ; that's all that was left and Smoke on the Water was played with drums (with brushes), vocals, and FLUTE.

Now about the VOLUME-NAZI you write about....I would have summoned venue security and demanded they stop the person. If they could not provide the security, I would have put myself between that person and the equipment and politely made him aware that if he so much as touched the gear, I would personally usher him outside. Now, rather than beat this poor sot into the hospital, I would have told him to go about his business as I would return to the venue and we would pack up our gear and leave. Then, if possible, register a complaint with whatever union that supports live music and for sure, inform other players what to expect at the venue.

[fenderhutz]

People watch too much Springer. No social couth.

[manicbassman]

Originally Posted by mike.b

big snip...

next time lock the doors... you've paid for the room, not him...

I'd have waved my medals in his face and told him to go back to reading his Daily Mail...

[waseok]

I would beat him. Simple

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by waseok

I would beat him. Simple

Ya agree it would of been go time!

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by mike.b

just wondering whether any one else has experienced what the band did today.due to band problems we have had to reform with different members and a new rehearsal room.now i managed to book an upstairs function room at a royal british legion club to rehearse in;we've got a gig on the following friday and we're a bit rusty.in the first 5 numbers we were told to turn down 3 times,which we did.no problem.2hrs later we just finished our last number of the second set when in walks this patron from down stairs.i'll call him id.short for idjit.now i could see he had a bee in his bonnet and he was looking for trouble.he strolled straight on to the stage yelling abuse and preceded to turn off all our plugs.we told him not to touch our gear which he ignored.when he got to the pa our singer/keyboardist intervened and told him we'll unplug the gear not him.he thrust in his face and screamed "this is not music you're too loud,i'm a member of this club and i've served my country for years.its too thumpy and i'm a key board player and this is not music(again)"the sax player proceeds to yell at him back about this is music.and it starts to look like a punch up is brewing.we managed to calm the sax player down and drag him away.the idjit walks away screaming some mumbo jumbo abouts us f...ing off.we were completely stunned by this out burst from outta nowhere.gladly he didn't touch my axe,because i would,ve lost it then.this is exactly the reason i don't join working mens clubs;too many big headed little hitlers.has any body else experienced anything like this?

our band would have laughed at him, then carried on twice as loud... i'd be happy to have him stand near my stack as i'd have taken great pleasure in abusing his eardrums even more

[Phalex]

He said he's a keyboard player, and you're surprised by his abrasive personality??

Sounds like a very uncomfortable situation all around though. I have a feeling we would have had to pull our lead singer off of a guy like that.

[smogg]

At a "private club" gig (old school country) last year (summer '06) some guy came up in the middle of the second set with a filled dance floor and asked us to turn down because he and his friends could not hear the TV while we were playing. Mind you I was only using my bassman 150 set on 2, the guitars were just using little practice amps & the drummer was using a very small jazz kit with a very light touch. We turned everything off and packed up. A week later the club begged us to come back and low and behold same guy starts talking trash before we could even finish setting up. Band leader go's and gets our money and we left never to return...lol

[Jonyak]

I was in a position where a band I was in rented the basement of a business for 400$ a month, alot for a single crappy romm in an unfinished basement. We signed on under the condition that we only use it on the weekend or wed night. All good.

until we began to practice in it. The owner of the business would come down and tell us to turn down and eventually to turn off. Keep in mind we were paying to rent this space for the specific and known reason to practice as a band. This almost came to blows a couple of times. Turns out this guy was working weekends and nights till midnight and didn;t want us playing. So why did he rent us the space. Totaly stupid. Eventualy we just found a new place to play. but the whole situation was rediculous.

[mattofash]

Ive done a gig before in the polish embassy, good fast heavy metal stuff complete with burlesque dancers. But no-one from the embassy complained then, but I did see quite a few people poking their head around the corner with a look on their faces which clearly said "What the hell..."

[dreadheadbass]

i've never had a problem with being too loud i've been in bands where we've been stuffed into a supply closet because the owner overbooked i've also played venues where the sound tech keeps turning everyone down
if i'd of been in your situation i would of strangled the guy with a guitar lead and mounted his head on the neck of my bass as a trophy before jacking all the amps up to 11 you payed for the space you use it unless the manager walks in and tells you to turn down you can ignore numptys like that coming in and telling you what to do

[bkbirge]

Originally Posted by mattofash

Ive done a gig before in the polish embassy, good fast heavy metal stuff complete with burlesque dancers. But no-one from the embassy complained then, but I did see quite a few people poking their head around the corner with a look on their faces which clearly said "What the hell..."

That's 'cause poles love their metal.

[jomahu]

i think my biggest peeve is when people argue with the band onstage. whether it's our band, or bands i go to see, it's really rude for soundpeople/managers/program staff/band members whoever to be arguing with a band onstage.

[bassbully]

I did my first country gig this past weekend with my new band. It was at a privite club and we were all told we could bring a few guests each band member. I brought the most and a crabby doorman with standback rotten breath gave each and everyone a hard time...not cool. We play old and new country alot of new since linedancers demand it and like it.

In the first set an old gent gets up and yells to our lead guitarist we youngin's should play more old county our guitarist says sit down we will. Well i guess we didnt fast enough so after a few more songs he gets up puts his hat on and starts across the dancs floor as we break into Tulsa Time. Our guitarist say's.... Hey where playin it ..where ya goin? He waved and walked out.
Latter during our set some dumbhead puts money in the jutebox and we had to wait till they unplugged it before staring another song.......old Breath of death was 5 feet away at the door...hummm i bet it was him . latter i heard thats an old stunt done to dis other country bands that are on others turf so to speak

[mike.b]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

You need to plug in, go ahead and do what you need to, get the manager of the club and have him/her deal with the idjit. Inconvenient, but very simple. Not your fight - it's the responsibility of the club to control their members and patrons.

you,re absolutely right pilgrim.in the cold light of day we should've had the manageress put him in his place.but.... i've dealt with commitees in clubs before and as a non-member they'd view me as a low life and they tend to look after their own.ironically enough a chap at work belongs to the same club(small world)and i mentioned this incident to him he told me he's positive he knows idjits name;and hes one of a group of pensioners who go there every dinner time to get drunk.and abusing the bands is normal from them.if you're an arrogant arse at 15,you're no different at 65.