Two Night Gig - sub one show, or both?

jaywa · #1 05-15-2009, 09:31 AM

I have a deal coming up where my cover band may need to use a sub for me. It's two nights (Friday & Saturday) at the same venue and I definitely can’t do the Saturday night but might be able to do Friday. We’ve been playing out about 3½ years and this would be their first time with someone other than me on bass. Wondering which would be the better approach:

- Play Friday night and just sub out Saturday – PROs: band would be at “full strength” for one night at least, and I would get one night’s pay.

- Give both nights to the sub – PROs: band would have the same guy both nights, no hassles splitting out pay, easier tech (would not have to switch out gear since the sub would be using his amp, not mine).

Thoughts? Have any of you been in this situation and handled it one way or the other, and how did it turn out? Or should I just ask my band which they’d rather do?

Thanks in advance.

seanm · #2 05-15-2009, 12:11 PM

I would ask the sub what he would prefer. He is doing you a favour, I would let him decide.

coop · #3 05-15-2009, 12:30 PM

Our drummer has to miss a Saturday night about once a month for his "regular" job. When we have a Fri-Sat gig we use him for Friday and the Sub for Saturday. Works for us, YMMV.

derrico1 · #4 05-15-2009, 03:22 PM

I'll use subs only for dates I can't make, so my 2¢ is to play the Friday sets and sub out Saturday.

TrevorOfDoom · #5 05-15-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrico1

I'll use subs only for dates I can't make, so my 2¢ is to play the Friday sets and sub out Saturday.

+1!
money is money. to turn down money = not so smart IMO

jaywa · #6 05-15-2009, 04:07 PM

A little more context... the Saturday night is the night my daughter is getting married. The Friday night would be her rehearsal dinner but if I can get out of there in time there's a chance I could still play that night. At this point I'm leaning toward just giving the whole weekend to the sub and that would let me enjoy the rehearsal dinner with a free mind (and get to bed a few hours earlier before the big day). OTOH I hate giving up that money especially with a wedding to pay for. We'll see.

Thanks for the opinions and keep them coming.

agreatheight · #7 05-15-2009, 04:17 PM

I'd have him cover both so you can do the rehearsal dinner with no worries.

Blueszilla · #8 05-15-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agreatheight

I'd have him cover both so you can do the rehearsal dinner with no worries.

+1.

How much do you get for the gig? If it's more than 2 bills, I would consider doing it. If less, let the sub have it and enjoy the weekend with your family.

IMO, it would have to be a very well paying gig to keep me from a special occasion like my daughters wedding (or rehearsal dinner).

YMMV.

crijan · #9 05-15-2009, 04:24 PM

Definitely sub both nights and spend time with your family. Your daughter will (hopefully) only get married once!

synaesthesia · #10 05-15-2009, 04:26 PM

I've subbed a sequential night for a sub who couldn't do both nights.

VroomVroom · #11 05-15-2009, 04:37 PM

It's the weekend of your daughter's wedding. I assume she's more important than any band. End of subject. Sub gets both nights.

lawsonman · #12 05-15-2009, 04:39 PM

Tell your daughter to change her wedding date to a weekend your not playing.

xgator4u · #13 05-15-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawsonman

Tell your daughter to change her wedding date to a weekend your not playing.

^ LMAO,,, no seriously, sub out both and enjoy your daughters big event, remember this is about HER, not you, or the band.

Jeb · #14 05-15-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

I have a deal coming up where my cover band may need to use a sub for me. It's two nights (Friday & Saturday) at the same venue and I definitely can’t do the Saturday night but might be able to do Friday. We’ve been playing out about 3½ years and this would be their first time with someone other than me on bass. Wondering which would be the better approach:

- Play Friday night and just sub out Saturday – PROs: band would be at “full strength” for one night at least, and I would get one night’s pay.

- Give both nights to the sub – PROs: band would have the same guy both nights, no hassles splitting out pay, easier tech (would not have to switch out gear since the sub would be using his amp, not mine).

Thoughts? Have any of you been in this situation and handled it one way or the other, and how did it turn out? Or should I just ask my band which they’d rather do?

Thanks in advance.

I would take Friday and the Friday night cut. Beats sitting at home thinking,..." I could be playing tonight."

jaywa · #15 05-18-2009, 07:43 AM

I'm going to let the sub have both nights.

Thanks for all the input!

jtkennedy9 · #16 05-18-2009, 07:49 AM

Good decision! The memories that you'll have will be more than worth any pay.

Knifedge · #17 05-20-2009, 10:38 PM

Wedding is definitely more important.. but ..... how far ahead did you find out that the wedding was on the same day as the gig? Maybe your band could talk to the bar, and if the gig is far enough ahead, perhaps switch dates .. who knows....

I was in a band if one of us couldn't show, band just cancelled the gig.. normally, bands that do that usually don't get welcome back to the bar, but this band was wierd, we always had gigs..

jaywa · #18 05-21-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knifedge

Wedding is definitely more important.. but ..... how far ahead did you find out that the wedding was on the same day as the gig? Maybe your band could talk to the bar, and if the gig is far enough ahead, perhaps switch dates .. who knows....

The show is for the end of September and has been on the books since the beginning of the year. It's a regular gig we have at one of the biggest clubs in town and definitely the best "live" room ... very hard to crack the rotation but once you do you're practically guaranteed a weekend a month as long as you draw. My daughter had originally scheduled her wedding the 2nd weekend of the month to accommodate my band, but then the church wasn't available so to make it work she had to reschedule to the same weekend my band was playing. I told my band I would talk to the other bands on the bill that month and see if any of them wanted to switch but they said not to bother. I'm trying not to take it too personally that they'd rather play a gig with a sub than try and switch the date, but whatever. I just hope my sub doesn't lay an egg cause we've built up a really good rep with this venue and several of their waitstaff has told us we're their favorite band in the rotation.