Freelancing...

ElectrAcoustic · #1 09-27-2007, 07:47 AM

What's you philosophy? I work primarily with two groups in the Boston area but when either of them aren't working and I get a call, I'll freelance with a few other groups. My policy though is to 1st check that there isn't a gig in the works with either of my 2 main groups and then once I confirm that everything is cool and I can take the gig, I absolutely don't cancel for better money on another gig. I have though run into some musicians that if they get a call for more money, they'll take the higher money and leave a brother stranded.. I understand the need to make money but IMO that also will result in not getting as many calls in the future.. How do you all feel about it?

Tony G · #2 09-27-2007, 08:05 AM

I work first come first serve, and voted for the first option. But now that I think about it, if a really huge opportunity were to come along, I might cancel a gig to take it.

bradjonesbass · #3 09-27-2007, 07:03 PM

I voted for the 3rd option, but that would have to be a huge opportunity, i.e. double the money or more and/or an opportunity to join the band of a fairly big name. I mean if Nathan East breaks his arm and Clapton calls, I'm certainly not going to tell him I've got a gig with local band x that night, right? In between, if I had the opportunity to sub on a gig with any national touring act I would most likely take it, and I think it'd be foolish not to.

ding_man · #4 09-27-2007, 10:00 PM

Yeah people would definately understand dropping a gig for great opportunities.

Dave Muscato · #5 09-27-2007, 10:08 PM

Usually, once you're in my calendar and you've paid the deposit, that time is yours. The *only* time I would cancel a paying gig is if it were 1) a huge opportunity and 2) the person who booked me was okay with me canceling and 3) I found a replacement, with the difference at my expense (if the person I found charged more than I do). But it would have to be a huge opportunity for me to even consider it.

IanStephenson · #6 09-29-2007, 06:21 AM

I've got my regular band, that gigs every weekend. Three or four times this year I've been asked to dep, and turned it down as I was already comited that night. The money depping would be slightly better (about 25% better), and I love dep gigs, but I turned them down, as I didn't want to mess my band around (through they did say it was ok, as I their old bass player still likes to play the odd gig with them if i can't make it).

On the other hand if it really was a HUGE gig offer, they'd tell me to go for it, and I would do it without a second thought.

Ian

Dave Muscato · #7 09-29-2007, 06:32 AM

What's a "dep" gig?

bradjonesbass · #8 09-29-2007, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

What's a "dep" gig?

me too. Is that like a corporate gig or something?

shwashwa · #9 09-29-2007, 07:27 AM

once i commit to a gig it's mine. i'll only sub out if it's a huge opportunity, or, if one group absolutely needs me and the other group can easily use a sub. (ie. an origional band with no charts can't really hire a sub...) but i'll only do it if the leader says it's ok, and i'll offer to find a sub of equal or better ability, unless the leader wants to handle it himself. if i can't find a sub then i'm comitted to the origional gig. for a while i was using harvie s (swartz) as a sub on a particular gig. its a little nervewracking sending in such a monster sub, for fear of losing the gig to your sub, but that's the risk you take when you sub.

Dave Martin · #10 09-29-2007, 08:49 AM

I'll typically bail on a gig if (A) an offer comes in for substantially more money (For instance, if I have a $100 gig booked an a $400 gig comes in - or on a one nighter gig if a few weeks of work comes in), or (B) is a master session comes in. But the leaders I work for understand that - they'll do the same thing.

bradjonesbass · #11 10-01-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

I'll typically bail on a gig if (A) an offer comes in for substantially more money (For instance, if I have a $100 gig booked an a $400 gig comes in - or on a one nighter gig if a few weeks of work comes in), or (B) is a master session comes in. But the leaders I work for understand that - they'll do the same thing.

You're also in Nashville where finding a sub who can play isn't all that difficult. Here, there are only 4 or 5 guys I'd trust to sub for me. By trust I mean both ways... Can actually play the gig and won't undercut me to try and get the gig permanently, which I've had happen. The bandleader shot him down and told me right away what happened. I never called him again, he did it a couple of other times to other people and eventually he didn't have very many calls anymore even though he was a really good player. He left town a while ago.

Dave Martin · #12 10-01-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradjonesbass

You're also in Nashville where finding a sub who can play isn't all that difficult. Here, there are only 4 or 5 guys I'd trust to sub for me. By trust I mean both ways... Can actually play the gig and won't undercut me to try and get the gig permanently, which I've had happen.

There is that - I'm in a town where there are a lot of great players - who are also nice guys. For example, on one of the corporate gigs I do, I originally got the call from the regular bassist. In the last couple of years, I've become the second call for that leader - which means that if two bands go out on a given night, I'm usually with one of them. Since I never tried to GET the gig, only to sub it when the regular guy can't make it. And that guy saw my wife at a studio in town today (they were working on different sessions in a multi-room facility); he said that he'd be calling me to sub something else for him - a call he certainly wouldn't make if I'd tried to snag the original gig out from under him....

On the other hand, I had a hell of a time finding an acoustic bassist to do a week's worth of work for me last month - a lot of guys were up for it, but scheduling conflicts (and money, since this was kinda marginal for the distance involved) had me talking to a dozen bassists before i found one that was up for it. The good side was that there WERE more than a dozen guys that were competent to do the gig...

ElectrAcoustic · #13 10-01-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

I'll typically bail on a gig if (A) an offer comes in for substantially more money (For instance, if I have a $100 gig booked an a $400 gig comes in - or on a one nighter gig if a few weeks of work comes in), or (B) is a master session comes in. But the leaders I work for understand that - they'll do the same thing.

why no vote in the poll?

Dave Martin · #14 10-01-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectrAcoustic

why no vote in the poll?

Because none of the choices are exactly right; two are kinda close, but neither reflects my reality. I wouldn't bail on a $100 date for a $200 date - that's not enough of a difference to chance pissing off a leader. (Besides, I've gotten a sub for $750 worth of work to do $100 gigs with projects that I produced...). And I simply don't worry about a gig being a 'huge opportunity'; in my world, a gig is a gig. And in the words of one of my favorite drummers, "If they're payin', I'm playin'..." So I don't mind explaining the way I work, but the poll doesn't fit.