Illnes and cancelling a gig

[Kügel]

My band's got a pretty big gig up this weekend. We're opening for Asphyx and singed a contract and the whole deal. Unfortunatly I've fallen ill since last week and can't play. Out vocalist (which is kind of the band leader) is stressing out.

I told them they could get a replacement bassist for the gig but we know nobody who can learn the songs this fast on such short notice.

Any ideas?

[Awesomenaut]

Play without a bassist. That's pretty metal.

[OtterOnBass]

Lean against the bass amp and play the gig on medication. You can post online, so maybe with a stool and lots of bottled water you could play. How sick are you?

[Kügel]

I have bronchitis and pneumonia. Alot of muscleache and headache and I have to take quite alot of meds. I have to rest alot and take it easy and I'm not allowed out of the house for approx. 2 weeks.

[MNAirHead]

I'm with otter.. it sucks to be sick.. you're good enough to type...

News like this travels bar owner to bar owner.

Another option is to call the promotoer/manager and offer a discount rate for you not being there

[Stumbo]

Our contracts used to state that other than "acts of God"(war, e-quakes, flood,etc) or other situations not in our control(auto breakdowns/accidents, injury or serious illness) the show would go on.

[Kenner]

play the gig............... your teammates are counting on you..............

and MNAirhead is right. News travels and your bandmates will be on the losing end of this for a long time (whether your with em long term or not)

[blubolt]

I would line up the nyquil and rest as MUCH as possible. Ask the guys to setup your rig. borrow the lightest bass you can - dress as badass as you can and stand still with your legs apart (thats badass) and play. then go get back in the van and go back to sleep. apologize profusely to the band for them having to lug all the gear - they will appreciate the fact that you made the effort and they will think you are BADASS cuz you went out and played hurt.

[MatticusMania]

If youre really too sick to put in an effort just stand there playing root notes all night.

I played in two bands, one right after the other, while suffering from tonsilitis. Not only was I bassist, but vocalist in one, and co-vocalist in the other. I was taking horse pills and spitting up blood all night.

[groooooove]

Originally Posted by Kügel

I have bronchitis and pneumonia. Alot of muscleache and headache and I have to take quite alot of meds. I have to rest alot and take it easy and I'm not allowed out of the house for approx. 2 weeks.

i had a gig booked to open for george clinton and p funk, and the day before the show george decided he "needed" more money. being that he already signed the contract, the club said they couldent negotiate. he got on a plane and went to LA, where he preceeded to smoke crack for a few days. the show was cancelled, tickets refunded, people annoyed, but, so what?

your not the headlining act. finding a substitute shouldent be hard. cancelling wont be the end of the world- is the promoter your dealing with a heartless snob that wont care if your sick? i doubt it. even playing bass-less, is possible.

[toddborenstein]

There are no sick days in rock & roll!

[fenderfunker]

You gotsta do it. I've played with a broken hand, a broken arm, broken fingers, temperature of 104, no sleep etc. I've never pulled out of a gig in 37 years.

[bikeplate]

HI

Id play the gig.

Rob

[Jazz Ad]

Bronchitis can be dealt with, given proper medication.
Now if it really is pneumonia, playing isn't even an option. Your spot is the bed for rest. You can die of this crap you know.
Asking your doctor is the best thing to do.

[Spinal Tapper]

Have a few beers and get on with it!

JK on the beer, alcohol is the WORST thing, but I like the idea of having your band set up your rig, do the hard stuff, all u have to do is get up there and play, and then immediately back to the car/van for more rest.

probably won't be the end of the world if you miss it though

[scottbass]

If it's really pneumonia, shouldn't you be in the hospital? If it's "just" bronchitis, go and play. You said you're opening - that means, what, one 45 minute set? One 60 minute set? If it was me, I would make every effort to be there. As was suggested earlier, tell your band mates that they have to load in and load out without you - including your gear. Maybe they will have to do sound check without you. You will show up 10 minutes before you start and you will leave immediately following the last song.

Now - if it's a 3-hour or 4-hour gig that's a different matter. You probably don't have the stamina for that. But a one-set opening gig? I believe you've got to play with pain.

Now, if you're really so sick you belong in the hospital, that's also another matter. But if you are already on medication and the show isn't until this weekend - like 3 or 4 more days from now - I would think you will be on the road to recovery by then.

[azureblue]

Few things are as (legally) surrealistic as playing a gig bombed on Nyquill. Been there, & I barely remembered what I played that night, how I got there, and how I got on stage.. But the ironic part is when another bass player (who didn't know I was sick with the flu+) came up afterwards, while I was trying to convince the floor to stop moving so I could walk, and told me how great I played...

and I played a gig with a cast on my left arm from a broken wrist, too. You can do it. Just stay in bed and take lots of zinc tabs & C until the gig and load up on B12 liquid before you go on stage.....

[ForestThump]

Vegetable soup, plenty of rest, Tiger balm, lots of water.
Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and shock the house!

[kcole4001]

There are varying stages of pneumonia, I had early stage pneumonia in one lung once and kept working, just had to take antibiotics. The first batch didn't work, so I needed a stronger prescription.
All in all, it took a month to get rid of. I eneded up pulling a muscle in my chest from coughing so much. No fun.

Only you know how lousy you feel and if you could get through the gig.
If you think that you can, you should do it since there is a contract in place and it's an important show.

[bikeplate]

HI

If you were in sales and a $4000 commission was on the line, would u miss that appt? I think not.

Rob