Ever had 'that guy' at your gig/gigs??

jordy_on_bass · #1 05-01-2011, 08:32 PM

I don't know if this is exactly bass humour, but it seems to have gotten a laugh from a few people I have told it too...they typically aren't musicians when they laugh.

I was doing the local metal circuit a few years back and there was this group of blokes who used to come to most our gigs as they were friends of the promoter. There was this one guy from that group who used to get on the nerves of a few bands that played. He would usually be running around the club screaming and yelling like an idiot, jumping on stage whilst bands are playing, if he knew the words to your song he would sing them into a microphone. Whilst some bands knew him well and welcomed that sort of behaviour, my band hated it.

Anyways, on with the story. We were headlining a gig one night in the middle of summer. It had been raining all week and the humidity had been through the roof. To make things worse, the club we were playing in had their air conditioner break down from a week of full power and they didn't even have fans. Once we had played our first song, we all broke into a huge sweat. Now, here is where 'that guy' comes into the situation...

All night he had been offering bands drinks brought to them whilst they were playing their sets. But there was one condition - it had to be beer. I had brought a big glass of ice water on stage with me but after the third song of eight on our setlist, I had already guzzled it down. 'That guy' kept coming up to me and asking me if I wanted a drink. Knowing what my only option was, I kept declining as I don't like to drink before or whilst I play as alcohol + bass + Jordy = a very sloppy set. After getting slightly annoyed at being asked repetitively if I wanted a beer, during the break of our last song I gave in and said yes and to leave it on the front of the stage so I could have it after our set. This is where 'that guy' almost became 'that guy who got punched unconscious by the bassist from the headliners.'

We had played most of the song and came up to a heavy breakdown near the end, and 'that guy' jumps on stage. I yell at him to leave the beer on the stage, but he comes up to me and starts pouring the beer into my mouth. Struggling to keep up with the stream, I had no other choice but turn my head away before I had beer coming out of my nostrils. After spitting most of what I had left in my mouth onto the stage behind me, 'that guy' then chooses to pour what's left in the bottle over my head.

Furious at the time, I just kept playing and then packed up my stuff. It wasn't till I got home that I realised the extent of the damage of my beer bath. My wah pedal had turned into a fuzz-wah pedal, my fuzz pedal turned into a paper-weight and the guitarist's board needed a repair made to the foot switches.

Worst part was trying to get him to pay up...he claimed that all the sweat we were dripping had stuffed our pedals. The fact that they smelt like beer was a coincidence.

So come on, tell me about your experience's with 'that guy' at your gigs!!

Cheers,
Jord

DylanB · #2 05-01-2011, 08:35 PM

My band busk regularly, so 'that guy' is any number of homeless and/or drunk guys who attach themselves to us. Truly annoying.

Floyd Eye · #3 05-01-2011, 08:45 PM

My band brings our own security detail, so we NEVER have "That Guy".

meatwad · #4 05-01-2011, 09:01 PM

I've seen "that guy" a lot over the years, in different forms, with different faces. I've even played gigs with "that guy", and they resulted in mandatory beer funneling during the second set.

jetbike · #5 05-02-2011, 12:22 AM

In my band 'that guy' was my brother. Unfortunately he was also the drummer.

Phalex · #6 05-02-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetbike

In my band 'that guy' was my brother. Unfortunately he was also the drummer.

He was our singer for a number of years.

RNV · #7 05-02-2011, 07:11 AM

We had "that guy" at one of our shows many years/bands ago and we took the sticks away from our singer during a tribal drumming section. He was quickly thrown from the stage by said singer and the crowd parted like the red sea. I do believe he damaged himself as he hit the ground.

MarTONEbass · #8 05-02-2011, 07:11 AM

I'm 6 foot 2, 325lbs. If that guy comes near me, he gets a size 12 to the teeth if he doesn't heed the evil eye.

HeadyVan Halen · #9 05-02-2011, 07:12 AM

Beer poured on human = humans fighting

dangnewt · #10 05-02-2011, 07:13 AM

Wow - I haven't run into yet but I haven't had that many gigs. He seems to get around - Australia, the UK and the US - so it may just be a matter of time before he shows up around here. And he sings and plays drums too

.

Thanks for the heads up gentlemen - I'll keep a close watch for him.

Dethrats · #11 05-02-2011, 07:14 AM

My band is "that guy" look out, we'll be the drunkest people there

DWBass · #12 05-02-2011, 07:20 AM

Sorry, the minute he decided to pour beer over my head would the minute I decided to beat the crap outta him! I applaud you that you handled it so calmly! There will be NO liquids being poured on me or my gear!

miltslackford · #13 05-02-2011, 07:21 AM

by 'that guy' you mean 'that drunk prick'. Yes there are many of them around. I did a show in italy and a spanish promoter kept trying to hug/bum the whole band and kept getting his nob out. It was really tiresome. There's nothing like a drunk idiot who won't go away to make you feel like a really irritable old git.

BassMonstrum · #14 05-02-2011, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

He was our singer for a number of years.

Wow, we must've had the same guy in our bands

crazygiant · #15 05-02-2011, 07:34 AM

that is when i would have done what Maynard did and put that guy in a rear naked choke hold!!!

Bassmanbob · #16 05-02-2011, 07:55 AM

I'm so grateful I don't play in "those places" with 'that guy' anymore.

The closest we get now is some drunken fool trying to hit on one of the band members' wife or friend who is a woman. I'm only 5' 5.5", but my evil eye must be pretty effective. I've never had to go farther or get some back up.

prd004 · #17 05-02-2011, 08:00 AM

You set the precidence by letting idiots come up on stage.

baskruit · #18 05-02-2011, 08:09 AM

Wow, I'm generally a calm and quiet guy (a typical bass player) but if that would have happened to me, I would have put down my bass and hooked the mofo. Mid-song or not.

gjbassist · #19 05-02-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

Sorry, the minute he decided to pour beer over my head would the minute I decided to beat the crap outta him! I applaud you that you handled it so calmly! There will be NO liquids being poured on me or my gear!

+1
He would have got the end of my bass or my right foot upside his head!

John Wentzien · #20 05-02-2011, 08:19 AM

That Guy--always seems to play the harmonica...in the wrong key of course.