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Band got a gig (but we are not ready!)

B

basicbass

Guest
Feb 3, 2012
27
12
#1
So one of my bandmembers throws a party at a local music bar for about 80(!) people.

2,5 months back she asked us if we could play a few songs with the band at her party.
We were just started the band (some of us were still learning our instrument, and none of us had band experience)
But we thought we could get quite a few songs done in 2 months, so we agreed to play a few songs at the party.

But now we are 2 weeks from the party/gig and only played together about 4 times in total, and we got about 4 or 5 songs done.

With "done" I mean we can play them from start to finish with few mistakes of ****ups, but we don't sound "tight" at all

The singer seems to want to skip repetition (singing a chorus 2 or 3 times at the end of the song if thats what the original has) or instrumental parts (she thinks that it's boring and rather continue a verse or chorus) which makes our songs 1,5 minutes long :S

Bottomline:

I don't think we are gig ready by far, and i'm afraid the gig will be a total trainwreck :help:

But on the other hand I don't want to let my band down by stepping out of the plan.
 
#3
If you quit shortly before the gig, rumors will spread you're an unreliable bass player. (Unless you paid a pro sub.) Make the best out of the gig, talk about the experience afterwards, and if the others think everything went fine, quit.
 
#4
regardless of if you do a the gig or not, i wouldnt stick with a singer too long that refuses to stop singing when there is supposed to be an instrumental part in a song, sounds like the beginning of ego issues there.
 
#5
If you want to make this work, send the other members the same thing you posted originally. Hopefully they're all feeling the same way. I'm assuming you're doing covers, so also include a list of songs you want to do, nail down a handful of rehearsals, and make sure that the rehearsals are productive. There are tons of very simple cover songs out there that a dedicated newbie can learn in about five minutes, never mind two weeks.

If they aren't willing to put in the work, make a mix tape and cancel.
 
#6
Is your singer blond? Is her name Axl Rose? She's an idiot. Time for a band meeting to discuss what your next steps are. If you're all buddies and can have a laugh, then here's your chance.

As for the gig, you can set expectations via the intro.... "In their first live performance, please welcome Train Wreck!!!" If you're not headlining, I think you're ok. If you're headlining, you'd better get practicing every free moment you've got until that party.

I agree quitting now would look bad on you if done before the gig. If your singer continues going on about "her style" then quit. That band will not get anywhere like that.
 
#7
As a band you have two choices.. STEP UP or SHUT UP

PS.. sometimes the best way to get to a goal is to book the gig and see what happens.. best case, you will all be better musicians at the end of the gig than you were at the beginning and someone else will have heard you.. worst case, you will all be better musicians at the end of the gig than you were at the beginning..
 
#9
basicbass said:
The singer seems to want to skip repetition (singing a chorus 2 or 3 times at the end of the song if thats what the original has) or instrumental parts (she thinks that it's boring and rather continue a verse or chorus) which makes our songs 1,5 minutes long :S
Click to expand...

If people are having a good time or dancing, extending a song is not really "boring". Sometimes we would extend a song to be almost twice as long or even essentially play it all the way through twice.

No downside to help people have a good time or fill in a set list.

I suggest you practice all the songs yourself so you can play them perfectly and lead the group. This can help establish yourself as a good player and will lead to many good musical things as time goes by.

Good luck at the gig.
 
#12
I agree. Play it. There is no better way to learn your strengths and weaknesses than to get out there and have your successes and failures...as long as you learn from them.


And for what it's worth, I've had far more "this is gonna be a trainwreck" gigs that turned out incredible than I ever have had those gigs actually end up sucking...
 
#13
You may be pleasantly suprised at how forgiving and enthusiastic audiences can be if you are putting forth effort and having fun (or at least looking like you are). Have fun! If you run out of songs, tell everyone goodnight. If they want you to play more, repeat some songs! I'ts really that simple, unless there's a cover charge involved. Try to put your foot down with the singer about the arrangement of the songs, though. Just tell her that if you don't play them like the recording, you'll mess them up, because that's how you're learning the material. Be firm, be fair, be as diplomatic as possible (breathe!). Good luck and welcome!
 
#14
It's a party hosted by one of the people in your band? Play the damn thing and stop worrying. Have fun!

I've been in exactly the same circumstance when I would jam with some co-workers. Somebody suggested we play at the office XMAS party...so we did! Yeah, it wasn't perfect (what gig is?), but everyone had fun.

I find when everyone's having fun the gig is a success. Nothing else matters.
 
#15
I've been where you're at, OP. Stressful as hell, isn't it? The only way we were able to be ready was by being responsible for ourselves and to have pride in what we were doing. We too, like you, had a two week deadline after months of dicking around. We all agreed to seek each other out after school and practice our ass off every day. It paid off huge. We played like we knew what we were doing and we had a great time. Booked 3 more gigs that night for other parties.

If we have no pride and honor in the things we do, why do them? Either get it together or, well......not.
 
#16
(some of us were still learning our instrument, and none of us had band experience)
Click to expand...
Just make sure YOU are gig ready and play the gig.
Practice the parts on your own , don't let yourself be the weak link.

Remind yourself that you never know what's gonna happen:
Don't call it a train wreck until after things crash and burn.

It's a party, not gig to live or die on.
Don't waste energy fussing about the rest of the band, time will prove who is up to the task of being in a band in the long run.
 
#20
Yeah, do your best to prepare, don't stress and do the gig. It's just a few songs. Audiences are a lot more forgiving than you imagine, especially if they know it's your first gig.

This is funny, though:
basicbass said:
The singer seems to want to skip repetition (singing a chorus 2 or 3 times at the end of the song if thats what the original has) or instrumental parts (she thinks that it's boring and rather continue a verse or chorus) which makes our songs 1,5 minutes long :S
Click to expand...
I thought the whole point of instrumental sections was to give the singer's voice a break and let'em catch their breath. Once you're doing more than 4 or 5 songs, the singer will be the one who wants those breaks!
 

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