band mates backing out of gigs

[DERECOLA]

I have a guy that said he could do a beef and beer and 3 days later after I told the people we would do it he said he forgot that he was going to see a led Zep. tribute band he hand planed for awhile. I ask the guys all the time about days they can not do it just makes me so angry....How do you guys deal with this?

[rodsnhawgs]

Legal written contract with details and penalties. Any performing musician that operates without a contract is asking for trouble (sooner or later). Same goes for the purchaser of entertainment.

Mark this one up to experience and don't repeat the same mistake again.

[JohnMCA72]

Move on & work with people whose level of commitment is consistent with your own.

[Emm9T]

Get a 'session' musician and think about moving on to better things in the near future.

[jive1]

Have subs lined up for the positions, and have charts and recordings handy for them.

As you get busier, it will be harder to get the members of your band to do all the gigs you book. Rather than get frustrated, communicate and have a plan for when someone can't make a gig.

[elgecko]

Get better paying gigs?

[Kael]

While it is a pretty D-bag move on his part to back out after agreeing to the gig, mistakes happen. Nobody is perfect. Get a sub player for the gig and tell the guy who backed out that this needs to not happen again. Tell him get his calendar in order. If it happens again, replace him permanently. No biggie.

[Munjibunga]

Bastriches.

[DERECOLA]

I would ,but it is the singer...

[jive1]

Originally Posted by DERECOLA

I would ,but it is the singer...

Unless the band is named after the singer, they can be subbed out or replaced.

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by jive1

Unless the band is named after the singer, they can be subbed out or replaced.

+1.

I'm taking singing lessons and working the bands core set around what I can comfortably sing and play at the same time. That way, I can cover a gig if a singer pulls out at the last minute...which is quite common around here if the rumours I'm hearing are true

[Kael]

The singer in the act I was booked with lost his voice day before NYE. We used a sub. Singers are just as interchangeable member as any other member.

[Stumbo]

Whenever you check out other groups or hear about a good band, make an effort to ask them if any of them sub themselves out. You never know.

[DERECOLA]

All good advise thank you for all the input.

[MatticusMania]

Our drummer just pulled this on us. I have a contact at a club that would hit me up on occasion to have my previous band play. That act is on hiatus right now, so i told him Im playing bass in a new band and Id se if they could do it. I get the go ahead from the bandleader to give the contact the AOK.

A few weeks later I get a text from our drummer saying he can't do the gig. I told our bandleader its time to get a sub ready, he is always cancelling rehearsals and Im tired of it.

[tdub0199]

Fire his @$$....

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by DERECOLA

I have a guy that said he could do a beef and beer and 3 days later after I told the people we would do it he said he forgot that he was going to see a led Zep. tribute band he hand planed for awhile. I ask the guys all the time about days they can not do it just makes me so angry....How do you guys deal with this?

I make a mental note and never work with these kind of people again.

I highly recommend a free calendar such as Yahoo! Everyone you work with should have a password and be expected to visit the calendar frequently and update it for availability, and to remain available for dates to which they have committed.

[onosson]

Many many many acts around here sub out members... I "play in" dozens of bands in any given year myself. Just this month I have gigs with six different acts, only one of which I haven't played with before at least several times. I know a band with a regular Sunday night gig ... on occasion, every member of the band has subbed out on the same night and the entire band is made up of people filling in! (they and the subs are all top-notch players so it doesn't even matter)

Off-topic, what is a "beef and beer"?

[TheVoiceless]

If your band is a "Hobby" band and not getting guarantees, I would cut the guy some slack. Yeah it still sucks, but if your not a "contract" band, then try not let one show ruin the band. I used to be super strict and GUNG HO in original bands, making little to no money, trying to "make it". All it did was add unneeded pressures and ruined a really good band.

If you don't have one, either use a calendar at the practice spot, or google has a good online calender that you can but your unavailable dates on.

[zachoff]

Fire them.