Weird gig situation - what do I do?

[Stereo Joe]

I was hired about a month ago to play a 5 night casino run over Christmas. It's r&b, soul, and funk tunes mostly. The instrumentation is kind of weird: live vocals, drums, and bass (me). The singer is the bandleader and she said we'd be running tracks, so I just assumed she would buy professional backing tracks with vocals, bass and drums removed.

Well, fast forward to today when I FINALLY receive the tracks (the bad organization and continuous delays are subjects for another story). The tracks are karaoke versions of the songs that she's downloaded from youtube. They are minus vocals only, so my bass parts and the drum parts are covered in the track.

So now I don't really have a role to fulfill in this gig. There's no way I'm charting 50 songs in 1 week with note for note accuracy just to play along with karaoke tracks, but I would feel like a total and complete asshat if I just played 'air bass' for a week.

I thought about trying to contribute to the sound with some bass embellishments and background vocals and possibly even some guitar or keys (which I play at a less professional level than bass).

Basically, I'm turning to you wise gurus of gigs to offer me some advice or sympathy for this odd situation.

[M0ses]

I'm assuming it's too late to just cancel on this ridiculous shenanigan? It sounds like something you never would have agreed to if you knew what it was actually about.

[faulknersj]

Adding your own stuff will only increase your margin for error. First, I would have a really good laugh, and then I would just fake my way through the whole thing laughing at myself all the while. I hate tracks, so I know how you feel, but maybe if you watch enough Backstreet Boys videos amd cop enough dance moves before the gig, you could make yourself a pretty funny you tube 'air bass' video. Another winner would be to stop playing and get a crowd clap going while bass parts are clearly supposed to be being played! Just focus on the humorous side of the endeavor! Best Wishes...and my fingers are crossed for a you tube video of this experience!

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I'm nowhere near pro enough to give You anything but symphaty, what a fine situation you're gotten into.

I would probably ask her ***? Are You joking? But that kind of attitude is not very professional.
Perhaps I'd do what Iron Maiden did when they had to use a backing track against their will in their first Top Of The Pops appearance (that wasn't very professional either ).

Good luck, what ever You may decide to do.

Regards
Sam

[anonymous02282011]

If the gig pays decent

Here's what I'd do:

Learn the songs, but for my own sake, and not "note-for-note". Play the gig quietly, so you can hear yourself. If she's running the BS utube trax through the PA, you really don't want to be heard much anyway. Also, since you're not really playing, have a great time. Dance around, do whatever you want. Have fun in a way that this opportunity allows you to have.

If the gig does NOT pay well and you don't mind burning bridges:

Cancel. Try to find a sub, maybe.

[ninepoundjammer]

Have you asked the bandleader what is actually expected?

If the money's good, I guess I'd just suffer through and do whatever was asked of me.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by Stereo Joe

I thought about trying to contribute to the sound with some bass embellishments and background vocals and possibly even some guitar or keys (which I play at a less professional level than bass).

This.

And do not feel like an asshat if you have to do a little Robert Palmer girl band thing every once in awhile. You're still getting paid.

[agreatheight]

Originally Posted by Stereo Joe

...I would feel like a total and complete asshat if I just played 'air bass' for a week.

Smile big, put your @sshat on, and get paid.

Next time, ask more questions, lol.

[AltGrendel]

Originally Posted by agreatheight

Smile big, put your @sshat on, and get paid.

Next time, ask more questions, lol.

+1

[Blueszilla]

What exactly were you hired to do, if not actually to play the tunes?

[Burlington]

Sounds like an easy gig!

[Stereo Joe]

Yeah, the gig pays fairly well, so I can't really back out. I guess I'll get to be an asshat for a week!

I'm just going to play some simple stuff and try not to get in the way of the track.

To matters worse, most of the tracks are cheesy midi sounds... yay!

[essentre]

Almost sounds like the singer really didn't know what she was doing in the first place. At this point it's just grin and bear it I guess.

It could be worse, she could just use the tracks and let you go.

[DWBass]

My question is........did she really get hired by a casino?

What kind of demo did she present? This doesn't sound like a pro gig by any means. How did she get this gig? Have you all rehearsed any? Youtube midi files? Seriously?

This would be a tough call for me.

[Modulator]

Definitely call and see what's expected. I did a MIDI gig once, the guy sent me tracks that included the bass. When it came time for the show the bass tracks were turned off.

The only downside was that there was one tune he had forgotten to give me that I had no idea how to play, he turned up the MIDI bass track and I went out into the crowd to check out the sound. When I returned to the stage he forgot to turn the bass track off and I had to "air bass" it for three songs until I could get his attention.

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by Modulator

Definitely call and see what's expected. I did a MIDI gig once, the guy sent me tracks that included the bass. When it came time for the show the bass tracks were turned off.

The only downside was that there was one tune he had forgotten to give me that I had no idea how to play, he turned up the MIDI bass track and I went out into the crowd to check out the sound. When I returned to the stage he forgot to turn the bass track off and I had to "air bass" it for three songs until I could get his attention.

I was in a 'midi' band as well. Horrible experience. Dude had everything running including bass and drums! The drummer could not keep in sync! You know how that turned out every gig! I bailed!

[BritPicker]

If it's at a casino no one will notice or even care. They'll probably just be looking at the girl. To most people it's just "music". You are up there "playing" - so therefore the music is coming from you, in some way. Which bit is you they have no idea. Most punters don't know where the saxophone starts and the drums begin.

I'd just have fun, be professional, prepare properly - who knows - you might end up with bass-less backing tracks on the night! In any case, get through the gig, be good musical and moral support for the singer.

THEN, if it goes off well (as far as the casino is concerned) you may get another booking and you then have a bit of respect with the singer and you can then say you need better tracks next time.

All the best with it.

[LilRay]

Man I'd air bass my Azz off and collect the dough.

But that's just me.



God Bless, Ray

[Tampabass]

5 nights, good cash? I'd grin + bear it, and then let the singer know you'd happily play with her again but only if the tracks were ditched. Unless, of course, the money is just way too good to refuse no matter the circumstances.

From her POV, sounds like an enormous waste of $$. Why would she want to pay musicians if she were just going to play tracks?

[VinKreepo]

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D:---------|---------|-2-2-2-2|---2--2-|--------|---4555----4-567---6435
A:---------|---------|---------|-2--2--2|--------|1---466745546-----345-5
E:00000000|00000000|0-0-0-0-|0--0--0-|--------|1-998--55---34-543--3-4.....

*unplug*