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Angry over a gig

rjny36

rjny36

Jan 29, 2006
500
6
Syracuse, NY
#1
I hope you folks don't mind, but I'm extremely agitated over the events that occured last night at one of our gigs, and wanted to share it with some folks who might understand. I've been so angry that I couldn't sleep, and have paced about and smoked like a chimney since. So here's what happened...

We were lucky enough to score some shows at the New York State Fair this week (which is great, because we're a new and completely unknown band!), and one of them was last night. We played the show and it went well.

A few days ago, we were offered a chance to headline at a good bar in the downtown area, but were unable to accept it, because they needed us to start at 10, and our Fair gig went until 9:45... we wouldn't have been able to start until at least 11.

The promoter offered us a different show for last night, sitting in for a 45 minute set while another band took a break. He went out of his way to see that it would be a plug & play operation, where we could use all of the other band's equipment.

We got there, and they were still playing their set, to a packed bar. Their music is more in the light pop genre, which is quite a bit different from what we play. Either way, they sounded great and their audience was really enjoying the show.

After about half an hour, it was time for us to get up and play, so we got up there, plugged in, tuned up and were ready to rock. Our singer during this time was completely inebriated, and decided to announce our presence with a long string of expletives... something that did not at all suit the venue or the "pop" crowd we were playing for! He continued to badmouth the other band and their equipment (into the mic, so everyone could hear!) throwing in as many curse words as his vocabulary contains through the rest of the show.

The entire crowd at the bar left, and the other band went outside to leave us to an empty bar. I can't say I blame the band or the crowd! I was so angry, as well as embarassed and ashamed, that I unplugged and packed up... I went and apologized personally to all the members of the other band, who were extremely gracious and kind in accepting my apologies, and were the true pinnacle of professionalism at a time when nobody would have blamed them for paying us back with some of what our singer had dished out!

When I got home, I sent an email of apology to the entire band (which, again, responded very kindly and graciously in light of what had happened), and to the promoter.

This morning I've issued an ultimatum with our singer, saying that if he plans on drinking and acting the way he did, then I'm done, and will cancel our shows. The drummer and lead guitarist have said the same...

I'm more angry and embarassed than I can possibly say!

Sorry for the extremely long post! Just had to get this off my chest!
 
#2
Well that just sucks...
Our ryhthm guitarist is much like that, but he doesn't get ahold of the mic too often.:smug:
Time to teach him how to change his style a little depending on who he's playing for. Having your own style can be ok, but certainly not when it's with a crowd that isn't asking for it.
 
#5
You are completely justified in what you did. It sounds like the rest of your band would be better off without your lead singer. Still, it was good of you to apologize, not only to save face and possibly mend good relationships, but simply to respect other working musicians. You have every right to be frustrated, but it sounds like you handled things very well. I'm glad the rest of the band stands on your side.
 
#6
rjny36 said:
This morning I've issued an ultimatum with our singer, saying that if he plans on drinking and acting the way he did, then I'm done, and will cancel our shows. The drummer and lead guitarist have said the same...
Click to expand...

Honestly, I wouldn't even give the ***** a second chance. You run every single person in a venue out the door, insult the band whose gear you are using, and piss off the promoter who booked the gig, and you don't get any second chances in my book.

Hell, he wouldn't be able to take any more gigs anyway after I knocked all of his teeth out.
 
#8
Wow. I honestly don't see how you managed to remain calm enough to form a sentence to apologize to the band and the promoter after that kind of display. I think the only thing coming out of my mouth after that would be frustrated yelling.
 
#9
He's gotten incredibly drunk and messed up another show or two... which isn't good, considering we have only had about 16 or so. But I'm sure he completely destroyed our chances of working with the promoter again, which we can't afford to do... and shouldn't do even if we could!

He's a good singer, and a decent songwriter, but he made us look absolutely horrible, and I had to make a stand. His unjustified "rockstar" attitude would probably only get worse if we let him get away with this one...
 
#10
I think you need a new singer. It has been my experience that people like that never learn and on the rare occasion that they do it's not until they have have been fired a couple of times. It usually doesn't sink in the first time.

You acted like a professional with the other band and the promoter and did the right things representing yourself.

Dump that singer.
 
#11
Vlasco said:
I've seen plenty of hard rock/metal bands with vocalists that do that, they're trying to fit the image that the community created of that type of band. But that often isn't teh way to go.
Click to expand...

The funny part is, we're not even a hardcore or metal band or anything like that at all! We play classic rock/blues kind of stuff, often with a bit of a harder edge than might be typical, but nothing like that! :mad:

We're still waiting for his response, but I'm ready to get rid of him.
 
#12
Yeah, people who drink too much and break bad are pretty likely to do it again. A warning is certainly warranted, unless it's happened before. It's not doing him a favor to accept behavior that's :scowl: unacceptable.

Really cool how everyone else is handling it! Not my place to tell you how to feel, but I don't think you need to be ashamed of someone else's crap.

:cool:
 
#13
i was almost on a gig like that a year or so back, i auditioned with the rest of the band and we all got along real well, and they all played pretty good, but i never got a chance to meet their rhythm guitarist/ back up singer,

anyway i learnt the rest of the songs and turned up to the first rehearsal, the band turn up but this rhythm guitarist wasnt to be seen, the band said that he was always late so we started without him, anyway he stumbled in about half an hour later drunk and falling over, (at a rehearsal!!!) things just got worse after that, so i decided to not take the gig, and put them onto a friend of mine ( who i didnt like very much at the time)

i went to see their show (mainly to see if i had passed up a good thing or not)

and at one point between the out of time rhythm guitar and out of tune backing vocals he fell off the stage!


im so i didnt take that gig :D


Dave
 
#18
bassmonkeee said:
Honestly, I wouldn't even give the ***** a second chance. You run every single person in a venue out the door, insult the band whose gear you are using, and piss off the promoter who booked the gig, and you don't get any second chances in my book.

Hell, he wouldn't be able to take any more gigs anyway after I knocked all of his teeth out.
Click to expand...

I agree! Fire the bastard outright and tell him to NEVER EVER contact any of you ever again, and don't even contemplate the idea of ever working in your band again.:spit:

And your apologizing to the other band and promoter took real class and character, my hat goes off to you many times over. Well done!
 

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