Hoo Boy! Here we go again!

DWBass · #1 06-27-2011, 05:51 AM

Gig Friday night at 7:30pm. There is also a Jazz (More like an R&B Festival) Festival this past weekend as well which added major traffic delays. I'll try to keep this short and sweet by using bullets.

7:30 comes and none of our 3 singers are there! We are to start promptly at 7:30pm!
7:45 and all 3 singers are present! Whew! Show starts.
Keyboardist gets on mic and demands somebody buy him a 'd@mn' drink! then
Roadie we hire (actually volunteered) decides the venue's beers are too expensive and goes outside and buys 2 cans of beer and somehow makes his way back in! Dude was also roaming around the stage trying to talk to the musicians 'while' we're playing/singing! Luckily he did not come over to me or I would have handed his @$$ to him!
Venue owner spots the 2 cans on the stage floor and goes ballistic! Goes off on the bandleaders and threatens to not have us back ever! We wanted to We had been planning to ask for a raise! That was just trumped for a while at least!

After spending almost an hour talking to the owner, she finally calmed down after promises to never let it happen again! Also, the drummer and keyboardist were lit before we even started.

Lesson in professionalism.

1. Be on time. Anticipate delays by leaving early. Arrive early if at all possible. Not right at gig time!
2. There is no drinking before or during gigs (some may disagree but in my opinion, it affects your performance.....and it definitely affected theirs!)
3. If you have non paid roadies, buy them a drink/snack to keep them happy and make sure they stay the hell off the stage! By the way, this dude will never come near us again! He's been banned from the band!
4. Leave the ghetto at the door. Especially in a place that is established with class!

By the way, the gig itself went great!

nick_aua · #2 06-27-2011, 06:41 AM

Cool story and a great lesson indeed!

rtslinger · #3 06-27-2011, 07:15 AM

Great story Glad the gig went well. We do not drink before the show and during only 3 beers tops and no hard stuff. We all arrive 1/2 hour before the gig. If people want to buy us drinks it is always water of soda if after the 3 beers. No one is ever drunk or high during our performance. I run it with an IRON FIST keeps us booking out year after year we already have 5 shows booked for next year and it is only June! We only perform Friday and Sat mostly and book 5 shows per month on Avg.

KOakley · #4 06-27-2011, 08:13 AM

Dave, have you ever had a gig that was drama free? Kerry

DWBass · #5 06-27-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KOakley

Dave, have you ever had a gig that was drama free? Kerry

Hampton? Do I know you? LOL!

A drama free gig? They have been few and far in between for me the last few years. For the most part I do have fun but this ship is a pretty loose one to be honest with you. If it was 'MY' band........oh, it'd be a whole different story!

southgabass · #6 06-29-2011, 01:30 PM

My iron fist has gone soft lately... I had our guitarist and drummer on a "regimented" drinking plan... but with a lot of at home stuff going on (mom and dad passed away within 3 months of each other) and a new job and making time to spend with my little girl I just couldn't keep it strong... now they've slipped back into old habits... I mean WASTED before the start of the show... but we're early to gigs at least lol... no drama at the shows though... lol

electracoyote · #7 06-29-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

Lesson in professionalism.

1. Be on time. Anticipate delays by leaving early. Arrive early if at all possible. Not right at gig time!
2. There is no drinking before or during gigs (some may disagree but in my opinion, it affects your performance.....and it definitely affected theirs!)
3. If you have non paid roadies, buy them a drink/snack to keep them happy and make sure they stay the hell off the stage! By the way, this dude will never come near us again! He's been banned from the band!
4. Leave the ghetto at the door. Especially in a place that is established with class!

You forgot one:

5. Learn to identify these character flaws in your bandmates and either nip them in the bud via candid discussions at rehearsal or distance yourself from them and find some musicians to play with who won't put you and your reputation in such a compromising situation.

I hate to say this, but if the basic professionalism and common sense is that absent, it's just a matter of time before another similarly tainted performance results. Your band needs a serious gut check.

DWBass · #8 07-01-2011, 05:46 AM

Downright embarrasing!!

rust_preacher · #9 07-01-2011, 05:54 AM

...learn some instrumental tunes to kick off the show, a'la old school soul/funk acts...

Ron Plichta · #10 07-01-2011, 07:59 AM

I never understood the concept of getting sloshed during a gig. I'm not a teetotaler, but I don't show up at my day job drunk and IMO, you are 'on the clock' if you are getting paid to perform at a venue. You owe it to the venue owner and crowd to be somewhat sober.

BassNeo · #11 07-01-2011, 08:13 AM

The bar owner has a right to go offside with your roadie. There are heavy fines and possible license suspensions if they are caught with alcohol not purchased from the premises. I know you're not complaining about her, but thought it was worth a mention.

Glad the gig overall went well. I've had the band leader show up 30 minutes late and not start performing until an hour and a half after advertised. Fortunately I've never had to deal with polluted bandmates on a paid gig, but it's happened at house parties and it really burns me, even though it was just family and friends.

While no gig goes perfectly, like electracoyote says there are indicators that things will rapidly deteriorate if not addressed immediately. This gig had more than one.

tZer · #12 07-01-2011, 08:46 AM

The title of the thread suggests you've known your band mates to be tools - and yet here you are still gigging with them. What's up with that?

electracoyote got it right.

"Unpaid roadie"? Really? Isn't that like a giant, neon sign that says, "NOT A PROFESSIONAL BAND"?

Has anyone ever had a "unpaid roadie" who was not a complete tool and who didn't do exactly what the OP describes?

DWBass · #13 07-01-2011, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

The title of the thread suggests you've known your band mates to be tools - and yet here you are still gigging with them. What's up with that?

electracoyote got it right.

"Unpaid roadie"? Really? Isn't that like a giant, neon sign that says, "NOT A PROFESSIONAL BAND"?

Has anyone ever had a "unpaid roadie" who was not a complete tool and who didn't do exactly what the OP describes?

'Unpaid roadie' meaning, 'friend' of the soundman who helped out. I'm already searching for another band. Not gonna walk away from money until I find another paying gig. And I definitely agree......this is NOT a professional band by any stretch of the imagination! Last weeks gig wasn't too bad when compared to last night's gig! I'm still shellshocked!

We have a gig tonight without the sax and guitarist. It's gonna be interesting! Pray for me!

**pacojas** · #14 07-01-2011, 09:01 AM

i wouldn't complain,.... just dock the dunza!

tZer · #15 07-01-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

'Unpaid roadie' meaning, 'friend' of the soundman who helped out. I'm already searching for another band. Not gonna walk away from money until I find another paying gig. And I definitely agree......this is NOT a professional band by any stretch of the imagination! Last weeks gig wasn't too bad when compared to last night's gig! I'm still shellshocked!

We have a gig tonight without the sax and guitarist. It's gonna be interesting! Pray for me!

Oh, man... How long have you been with this group? Is this all new or has it been going on for a long time?

As for the "roadie" - why the hell did your soundman allow him to get on the stage mid-song? What's up with him and his "professionalism"?

Good luck, man! I hope tonight's gig goes better. And yes, run... run like the wind, Forrest!

DWBass · #16 07-01-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

Oh, man... How long have you been with this group? Is this all new or has it been going on for a long time?

As for the "roadie" - why the hell did your soundman allow him to get on the stage mid-song? What's up with him and his "professionalism"?

Good luck, man! I hope tonight's gig goes better. And yes, run... run like the wind, Forrest!

I haven't been with them but a few months now. We wondered also why the soundguy allowed his 'buddy' to roam the stage and bring in the 2 beer cans! In any case, that dude has been banned from even coming near the band! This weeks gig (at the same venue) was supposed to be our redeeming performance but it was

tZer · #17 07-01-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

I haven't been with them but a few months now. We wondered also why the soundguy allowed his 'buddy' to roam the stage and bring in the 2 beer cans! In any case, that dude has been banned from even coming near the band! This weeks gig (at the same venue) was supposed to be our redeeming performance but it was

The roadie is one thing - glad that's fixed. What about punctuality and players arriving pre-lit? Have you guys talked this stuff out?

Either way - bail. This band sounds like it's full of fail and the longer you stay with them the more likely your going to get some of that ooze on you.

Russell L · #18 07-01-2011, 09:54 AM

Nothing short of pure professionalism will do in my book. Got to be early, cannot be drunk or high, must know the material, equipment must be ready to play, must be ready for the downbeat. Otherwise, I don't play with them. My music is serious business. Not that we don't have fun, and not that we can't have a drink during the gig, but don't even think of overdrinking, or doing anything else. Practice is the same way.

DWBass · #19 07-01-2011, 11:06 AM

Just got off the phone with the drummer!

He just don't get it! We're planning on having a meeting Monday. We'll see!

laCherry · #20 07-02-2011, 02:01 AM

You know, in my experience, if someone doesn't get your personal ideas of what amounts to "professionalism" fairly soon into the musical collaboration (it varies obviously but someone turning up to gig ratfaced would certainly annoy the hell out of me) then they never will. I am in a similar bind with one of the bands I'm in (I manage this one too) but with a member with an attitude problem rather than a time keeping or drinking issue. We are also having a meeting on Monday and I think she may be getting the elbow if she gives me any more lip. So good luck with your meeting too, dude !