My Attitude is Slippin

awakefie · #1 08-23-2008, 01:00 PM

I am in a small town band that gigs 1-2 a month. We practice once a week.

I joined about 3 months ago.

We are 5 piece (2 guitars, singer, me and drummer). When I joined the lead guitar player was new as well. Well, to make a long story short, the drummer and singer didn't care for the lead player and fired him.

They then hired a player who had played with them before. He's gigged with us 3 times.

Here's the lament (and I know it's an old one). He doesn't show up for practice. The last gig was a disaster that ended up with him walking up to me and asking me in a snide voice "When are we going to play a song I know."

I replied, "You'd know them if you showed up for practice." Anyway, since then he's promised to show up for practice 3 times, no-show and no call.

Our next gig is not until the 20th. I think it's time to break with this guitar player but the other band members seem don't seem to want to pull the trigger. We have no one to replace him.

My point is this. We play classic rock, mostly for private parties, small-town bars, street dances. I would rather talk to the customer and ask them if they mind if we play without a lead player (possibly at a reduced cost).

I know jack-squat about band managment but I'm afraid he'll show up on the 20th and ruin the gig.

Any advice?

Timbo · #2 08-23-2008, 01:04 PM

I'd talk to the other people in the band, I doubt they are happy being made an ass out of. If they really want him in leave the band. It doesn't sound like you're all the happy.

Mike Shevlin · #3 08-23-2008, 01:10 PM

eat some crow and get the other guitar player back

cassanova · #4 08-23-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awakefie

Our next gig is not until the 20th. I think it's time to break with this guitar player but the other band members seem don't seem to want to pull the trigger. We have no one to replace him.

Have you talked with the others in the band about this? If so, then I'd walk & leave them to find a new bassist. They have more than ample time to find a new guitarist and/or bassist.

Stingray_EB · #5 08-23-2008, 01:12 PM

We have the same situation with our drummer, but we simply cant as like you have said there is no one to replace him. Unless its getting completely out of hand I mean doesnt show up for say 4 practises straight thats a month in your bands case ? which is more than enough time for him to get his act together, I wouldnt pull the trigger just yet.

tycobb73 · #6 08-23-2008, 01:14 PM

Finding a guitar player when you have gigs on the books is easy. Dump him.

bassforce · #7 08-23-2008, 01:19 PM

Dump him!!

awakefie · #8 08-23-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassanova

Have you talked with the others in the band about this? If so, then I'd walk & leave them to find a new bassist. They have more than ample time to find a new guitarist and/or bassist.

Yes, they know my opinion well. The drummer's reply was "you just don't like him". My reply was "I have no problem with him as a person, I just don't care for the results we're getting."

We just got paid for a gig. $100 each (yeah, we're a small town band). For my $100 I showed up at 3 practices and played the show with a smile on my face. For his $100 he skipped practices and showed up at the gig with an attitude.

I asked the drummer (who owns a business) if he had an employee that consistently didn't show up when expected how long he'd keep them on.

I think the fear of trying to get a new player is stopping everyone from pulling the trigger. Most guitar players around here want to gig more than 1 or 2 times a month.

I do make it a point to try talk things out as I think that's very important in all aspects of life. I've tried several times to call the guitar player. His cell phone is always out of mintues and he can't get calls at work. It doesn't seem to me like he's putting out much effort to talk.

awakefie · #9 08-23-2008, 05:24 PM

Thanks for your advice. We had another band meeting and decided the guitar player's gone.

troy2003 · #10 08-23-2008, 05:28 PM

It's hard--if you were just jamming and whatever-that's differant.but when you got gigs,paid gigs-the owner/audience deserve better.Not only that,but his lack of practice makes you and the whold band look bad--I have been there,and I hate that.

capnsandwich · #11 08-23-2008, 05:31 PM

Wow, from your first post until now (4 1/2 hours) and your problem is solved. That's pretty quick.

DavePlaysBass · #12 08-23-2008, 05:34 PM

Communicate openly. If that pisses people off. Move on.

awakefie · #13 08-23-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

Wow, from your first post until now (4 1/2 hours) and your problem is solved. That's pretty quick.

I'm not normally assertive when it comes to the band, I guess it must've struck a chord with the rest of the guys.

Anyway, in 4 1/2 hours a decision was made. Whether or not a problem is solved, we'll soon see.

invader3k · #14 08-24-2008, 09:41 AM

That would have ticked me off if he said the "When do we play a song I know?" remark to me at a gig. It sounds like he expected the band to cater to his laziness and songs he wanted to do, and figured he didn't have to bother learning the material you guys already did. You'll be better off without him in the long run.

jsingles · #15 08-24-2008, 09:45 AM

take him out to a cafe and tell him you need to take a break from seeing him for just awhile, and you can't be friends with benefits.

DUMPPPPP

SO easy to replace a guitard