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Bad gig
- Thread starter woody357
- Start date
Am I the only one who finds it interesting that the OP has a job where he can work 24 hour shifts? That's so awesome! I would love to find something this! What do you do, work 2 days a week (on average?) What industry is this? (My guess would be law enforcement, or security . . .?)
I'm a firefighter / EMT
Hats off to you sir! Thank you for your service! Amazing that you still find time to hold down the bottom end. Kudos my good man. (and better luck on your next gig!)
stay safe
No matter how you look at it, that sounds like a very unprofessional band. The least they should have done was send you the arrangements and key as they play them (specially if they differ from the original).
Don't beat yourself up as 23 songs in 2 days is rough unless you have charts. You might have considered that situation before taking on the gig. Lesson learned...
For learning new songs and ones that I may only play occasionally, I do my own charts and toss them into my iPad that I can use as a teleprompter. I have it set at floor level (for gigs) and set the font large enough for me to see from my mic. I also have a Bluetooth footswitch which can start and stop the scrolling very easily. I only use it for songs I don't have memorized as sometimes one of the bands I play in adds new material days before a gig. I find it rather easy to also use as a set list (specially for doing three or four set gigs). I hate paper set lists on the floor but always have a paper backup if the day should come when my iPad takes a dump.
My solution works for me but may not for everyone.
Don't beat yourself up as 23 songs in 2 days is rough unless you have charts. You might have considered that situation before taking on the gig. Lesson learned...
For learning new songs and ones that I may only play occasionally, I do my own charts and toss them into my iPad that I can use as a teleprompter. I have it set at floor level (for gigs) and set the font large enough for me to see from my mic. I also have a Bluetooth footswitch which can start and stop the scrolling very easily. I only use it for songs I don't have memorized as sometimes one of the bands I play in adds new material days before a gig. I find it rather easy to also use as a set list (specially for doing three or four set gigs). I hate paper set lists on the floor but always have a paper backup if the day should come when my iPad takes a dump.
My solution works for me but may not for everyone.
madbass6
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- Jan 13, 2009
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Defenetly a Crapy experience but more common then you think! I would of defenetly called them back after that first practice ASAP to get myself out of it! I would of seen that nightmare gig comming a mile away !! (No thank you) not worth the BS!!
What I want to know is , you working 24/36 HR shifts(wish by the way Damm dude thats nutts!)
how and where did you find time to even look at the songs (or take any gig for that matter)
is that even possible?
What I want to know is , you working 24/36 HR shifts(wish by the way Damm dude thats nutts!)
how and where did you find time to even look at the songs (or take any gig for that matter)
is that even possible?
Were you using any notation, notes, written cues of any kind? (if you mentioned it, I missed it, sorry).
I would have been making plenty of notes with my patented last-minute-deadline-pressure melange of standard notation, TAB, hieroglyphics, stars, exclamation points, the number system, arrows, letters, and Latin.
I would have been making plenty of notes with my patented last-minute-deadline-pressure melange of standard notation, TAB, hieroglyphics, stars, exclamation points, the number system, arrows, letters, and Latin.
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Well, it sounds like it could have been a lot worse, you got paid and didn't get bottles thrown at you so chalk it up for experience and lessons learned. It seems like you don't need to take these types of gigs from a financial perspective,so why torture yourself? Having a good job allows you to be picky and if you are looking to get a rep on the local scene, only do gigs where you are going to shine and put your best stuff out there.
With that said,I did a gig once(it was on guitar if that matters) and I got emailed a list of 40 tunes(with some key changes,no problem) 2 weeks before the show, got to the gig and leader starts calling tunes not on the list,calling tunes on the list but in different keys,different to the key changes that were specified on list...needless to say this wasn't a very fun gig. I had to bluff my way through about half of it. Sometimes even if you prepare and do everything you can to be ready, the situation can go sideways and you just have to roll with it
With that said,I did a gig once(it was on guitar if that matters) and I got emailed a list of 40 tunes(with some key changes,no problem) 2 weeks before the show, got to the gig and leader starts calling tunes not on the list,calling tunes on the list but in different keys,different to the key changes that were specified on list...needless to say this wasn't a very fun gig. I had to bluff my way through about half of it. Sometimes even if you prepare and do everything you can to be ready, the situation can go sideways and you just have to roll with it
Wow, you use that method, too? I thought I was the only one.
Every now and then I come across some old 3x5 cards with weird notes on them from some gig, and they make me smile.
did you get paid for it? If so cool, don't worry about it. If you want to keep playing with these guys and gals maybe you should get them together and take the reigns a bit and tell them 'this is how its going to be' and get a plan together. If you want to be pro then you've got to be straight up and transparent with everyone involved. Things like this just turn out to be a stressful experience and no fun.
Thank you very much sir!!!!! It's not that hard, I have plenty of time off, the problems happen when I get last minute gigs and I'm in my rotation. Playing with my normal band is easy because I know months ahead of time about gigs most of the time, so if I'm not off I can find a way to get off, time swaps vacation time.
I do that on a jazz sets, but I use fake books to get qthrough that kind of set
+1
I'd be interested in knowing if the OP wrote out his own charts for the tunes.
I see the gig as a "perfect storm" thing: a combination of factors, none of which is _the_ cause, but all of which combined led to the unpleasant gig. If any one factor had been in the OK zone--like if you'd had enough time to learn the tunes, or the keyboard player had been solid in throwing you the changes, or the band had put in enough rehearsal time, or the BL had put the sets together by asking what tunes everybody knew--it woulda gone smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy. (My fave Bruno Mars lyric, evah!)
So I don't see it as _your_ fault, OP.
Hey, the music biz is weird, IME. Sometimes a gig feels bad, but the audience/client is still happy enough. I wouldn't be surprised if you get a call back.
So I don't see it as _your_ fault, OP.
Hey, the music biz is weird, IME. Sometimes a gig feels bad, but the audience/client is still happy enough. I wouldn't be surprised if you get a call back.
The band as a whole is biting off more than they can chew. It's not just your fault.
Seems that this BL is living in a fantasy, putting that above any reality that learning that much material with such poor organization is beyond any members capabilities. Especially when there are tunes being rehearsed not everyone knows, let alone changing around or adding songs.
Now starts the problems of bad gig after bad gig, the bands name will be labeled a poor act and possibly any member associated with said act.
A leader with good intentions knows his or her limitations, and should know when to step down for the best interest of the band.
Get everyone together as a collective to have a serious and honest meeting. An attempt to get things in the right direction and on the same page for everyone needs to be made. If half the band seems to care less, can only yell or play the absolutist every time; it may be time to look for a new project or replace members of the band. At least you can see who's serious and cares about the band and everyone's best interest, and who's living on planet rock star.
Otherwise no matter how good a talent someone is, that won't mean squat with a train wreck of a set and a tarnished reputation. I would take a good singer with a solid ethic and reasoning over a great singer living in a dream world any day.
Anyone with experience has been through this, and we see it in bands all the time. Always will. The human condition. Either embrace it or stay in the quicksand.
Best of luck. Hope things can work out for everyone.
Seems that this BL is living in a fantasy, putting that above any reality that learning that much material with such poor organization is beyond any members capabilities. Especially when there are tunes being rehearsed not everyone knows, let alone changing around or adding songs.
Now starts the problems of bad gig after bad gig, the bands name will be labeled a poor act and possibly any member associated with said act.
A leader with good intentions knows his or her limitations, and should know when to step down for the best interest of the band.
Get everyone together as a collective to have a serious and honest meeting. An attempt to get things in the right direction and on the same page for everyone needs to be made. If half the band seems to care less, can only yell or play the absolutist every time; it may be time to look for a new project or replace members of the band. At least you can see who's serious and cares about the band and everyone's best interest, and who's living on planet rock star.
Otherwise no matter how good a talent someone is, that won't mean squat with a train wreck of a set and a tarnished reputation. I would take a good singer with a solid ethic and reasoning over a great singer living in a dream world any day.
Anyone with experience has been through this, and we see it in bands all the time. Always will. The human condition. Either embrace it or stay in the quicksand.
Best of luck. Hope things can work out for everyone.
