Would you cancel if sick?

[txbasschik]

If I'm puking-sick, or have a fever over 101F, I ask the band to get a sub. If I make the singer sick, there's no one to sub for her, and I can't play effectively if I have to run off-stage every few minutes and vomit.

I've played with a freshly-broken foot, though. So long as the broken bone/sprain doesn't involve my hands, I can sit on a stool and play.

Your singer is totally unreasonable. What would *he* do if *he* were puking?

Cherie

[steveksux]

If I can make it to the gig, I play. I got a splint on my broken left wrist instead of a cast so I could play gigs. I've played with a cast on my right hand. Unless you can provide a sub, you've committed, do it. Its not like a day job where you're expendable for a few days.

As for flu, immodium AD is your friend.

Randy

[Skel]

Originally Posted by txbasschik

If I'm puking-sick, or have a fever over 101F, I ask the band to get a sub. If I make the singer sick, there's no one to sub for her, and I can't play effectively if I have to run off-stage every few minutes and vomit.

I've played with a freshly-broken foot, though. So long as the broken bone/sprain doesn't involve my hands, I can sit on a stool and play.

Your singer is totally unreasonable. What would *he* do if *he* were puking?

Cherie

Cherie, yea if your band's repertoire is sort of "generic" enough that a sub could pull it off, and there ARE subs available, then sure - why suffer when you don't need to? But not every band is like this, and I would like to know what YOU think the bar owner should do if he finds out at 5:30 PM on Friday that the band can't make it.

[KeithPas]

As I have stated in previous posts in this thread, I have never canceled a gig due to illness and I have played sick, lame and lazy many, many times. I guess I am a little cynical about being as devoted to a band, or even worse a bar/bar owner, that 99x out of 100 will screw us sideways without hesitation as some of you are. If I'm sick enough there is point to which I'm going to say, "to hell with all of you, I'm not playing". I am not crapping myself in public for anyone and for any cause, period, end of sentence, and I have been sick with the crud a few times where that would have been a real possibility. I'll puke behind my rig if need be but I'm not crapping myself. In a few decades I'll be doing that all the time and I'd like to put that off for as long as possible.

[puff father]

Originally Posted by KeithPas

I'll puke behind my rig if need be but I'm not crapping myself. In a few decades I'll be doing that all the time and I'd like to put that off for as long as possible.

+1

[mward69]

Originally Posted by McHack

Its not a macho at all... I've got 4 other people relying on me, & when playing for a working band, if you cancel just one gig at a venue, you loose that venue for good.... Period.

As for self-righteous, maybe. Only because I AM right. I'm not going to be the guy who gets my band fired.

Man, been away from the 'puter for the weekend. So...reading up, yes I was {in my opinion} was too sick. Yeah I was looking for a little support group here. Since my David lee roth wanna be singer has a good way of making you like a little piece of {TB EDIT} even if whats he's reaming you on isn't your fault.
Now, this bar is a venue we play all the time, it's a dive, a gig yes, but still a dive. Has nothing to do with work ethics, or loosing the gig, it was covered an hour after I called him. Now my ethics are VERY good when it comes to playing out, even if it's in a honky tonk dive of a bar....I DON'T drink on stage, I DON'T get drunk at a gig. Now, my guitar player will get trashed and butcher every song by the middle of the 2nd set.
Now...great example which I DID call him {singer} out on....Sat. night last minute gig we got...we also took $100 cut since we ran through the house PA. About the 3rd song into the 3rd {last} set he {singer} gets a case of the..umm.."bubble guts" AKA the S$%#'s and decides to cut the gig early because of HIS "situation"
My calling him out on it started a whole NEW fight...getting the whole "at lease I showed up" attitude. Yes, BUT he wasn't SICK before the gig......anyway, to end this...I told the guys I will finish out our booked gigs, I was walking away from his royal highness.
I really didn't think this would spark such responses..it's been really interesting to hear all sides....I don't play for a living so I look at it different from other TB'rs that do. I don't think it's an ethics issue.. ..
On a good point...I feel much better

[Bayou_Brawler]

calling in sick is VERY unrock"n"roll.

this is only acceptable if you find a suitable replacement.

[MarkMyWordsXx]

unless you were physyically unable to play, you should have played. or given them some notice; let them know a few days in advance how your feeling, so they can get them selvs ready to line someone else up if you do cancel.

unless you really couldnt play, its irresponsable of you to wait till the day of the gig and blow off the band, even if you were feeling not up to par. if you dont want responsablilty dont play in a giging band

[jwl]

Originally Posted by mward69

I got REAMED my my singer/band leader for calling a canceling my due to being sick last Friday.
SO here is the deal....Left work Thursday due to running a fever, Thurs. night/Friday morning I was puking...running fever, felt like a##. I call him Friday around noon, now keep in mind he can call their old bass player ANYTIME since he don't work and was kicked out for me.....
So would any of you guys feel bad for doing this.....I am starting to see the singers TRUE colors.....lets just say there is a reason that he's been through 4 bass players, 3 guitar players and 3 drummers. it's all about him....now granted he's a GREAT singer {I posted the website with sound clips on here} But that really rubbed me the wrong way...it's was more like "you have to suck it up and make me sound like a god" type attitude.
I have NEVER bailed out on a gig, in fact, HE stormed off stage a few months ago when the guitar player got TRASHED and butchered several songs. Just stormed off, and The drummer and myself did a bass/drum jam for about 20 min. till he calmed down....but to get my butt chewed worse that my wife ever has done because I was sick just pissed me off to the point I'm thinking about shopping myself out to other bands.....I mean...we're a bar band {pretty good one} but none the less....we're NOT a pro band.....grrr....getting pissed typing about it.....lol

the drummer from bloc party did a show with a collapsed lung. would i cancel if sick. no i would not. period.

jeff

[Plookie]

Originally Posted by jwl

the drummer from bloc party did a show with a collapsed lung. would i cancel if sick. no i would not. period.

jeff

I am the lead singer/bass guitarist in the band "Lament". About 8 months ago, I fell ill, very ill. Stomach acting up, throwing up, dizziness when I tried standing. I did give myself to the very last opportune time to finally give up and called in sick, at least 4 hours before the gig.
The members called in a sub for me, yes a bassist and a singer (2 for 1).

What I'm saying is, when I am sick, and can't get enough energy to perform, and my stage show is very high energy, I WON'T GO! And I have never canceled a gig with this band in 5 years.

And like the guy who started this thread said... "We're not a pro band, but they are a very band" I think a sub could have filled his shoes.

[jwl]

Originally Posted by Plookie

I am the lead singer/bass guitarist in the band "Lament". About 8 months ago, I fell ill, very ill. Stomach acting up, throwing up, dizziness when I tried standing. I did give myself to the very last opportune time to finally give up and called in sick, at least 4 hours before the gig.
The members called in a sub for me, yes a bassist and a singer (2 for 1).

What I'm saying is, when I am sick, and can't get enough energy to perform, and my stage show is very high energy, I WON'T GO! And I have never canceled a gig with this band in 5 years.

And like the guy who started this thread said... "We're not a pro band, but they are a very band" I think a sub could have filled his shoes.

sniff....

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by Skel

Cherie, yea if your band's repertoire is sort of "generic" enough that a sub could pull it off, and there ARE subs available, then sure - why suffer when you don't need to? But not every band is like this, and I would like to know what YOU think the bar owner should do if he finds out at 5:30 PM on Friday that the band can't make it.

We have two bassists who can sub and who know some of our originals, so it isn't a big problem if I give enough notice. I don't like to do that unless I just *have* to, though. I need the money, and I don't like people to see someone else in my spot, you know? It confuses the fans. But if I'm so sick that over-the-counter meds aren't working, and I'm going to be puking the whole time, or I'm so fevered I can't stand up and the fretboard swims before my eyes, I'll call the sub.

I've played sick, or with broken bones, with laryngitis, you name it. I played the night after an accident that left me with a knot on my head like a roll of quarters, a black eye, and a bruised collarbone. So...I don't ever back out unless I'm *really* "really* ill.

If the whole band has to cancel, there are a few bands we can call to take the gig. We've done that for them before, and they've done that for us.

Our singer has cancelled gigs because she had allergies, or a headache. They once cancelled a very *good* gig because they'd had a big fight and were pouting. (They're a couple. ) So I don't feel too bad bowing out because I'm violently ill. I used to, but after they cancelled that gig, I quit feeling guilty about anything at all.

Cherie

[Skel]

Originally Posted by txbasschik

Our singer has cancelled gigs because she had allergies, or a headache. They once cancelled a very *good* gig because they'd had a big fight and were pouting. (They're a couple. ) So I don't feel too bad bowing out because I'm violently ill. I used to, but after they cancelled that gig, I quit feeling guilty about anything at all.

Cherie

Ok, I can't argue with that logic.

[Buzzgroove]

This all depends on how sick you are, if you're down with the flu or a bad cold then gigging is horrible but can still be done, if it's something worse and you can't stand up for long, stop puking etc. then you sometimes need to cancel. I've had band members pull out of gigs for this reason and they've been good guys who love playing, these things happen.

I've been fortunate that on the few days I have been like that I haven't had to play, however if I really did need to cancel it would be genuine and anyone who tried to give me flack for it would find themselves looking for another bassist.
The OP says he's never had the need to cancel due to sickness, he seems pretty reliable and maybe the singer should show a little more respect in this instance?

As for only missing the gig 'if you're so ill you can't even call in yourself', that's just amateur BS masquerading as professionalism. Last year I was in the position where I lost the use of my right shoulder due to calcification in the joint, but by putting a sling on supporting my arm at the elbow I could get my arm over the bass and still play, however if it had been my left shoulder there would have been no way I would have been able to get the movement required to play. If this had been the case I could still have called and spoken to the guys, but be physically unable to play.

[gig-getter]

At some point a guy like your singer is going to dump on you from a great height. Now he's shown you his "true colours" when you were down I'd take this opportunity to leave him to it.

Why should front-men treat the rest of the band like crap? Don't let him get away with it.

[BellBottomBlues]

Never cancelled a gig in my life. This includes my getting my right index caught in an engine and being (literally) torn to shreds and reattached the day before.

You try concentrating while on heavy pain meds and also trying not to coat your bass in blood, while only using your middle finger.