Cancel Gig or Play with One Missing?

[sqlb3rn]

As long as you have a guitarist drummer and singer, play the show.

 

[Ellery]

I've cancelled for that reason before.

 

[SongySan]

The gig will be even better without the trumpet/harmonica/background singer person. I bet no one will even notice her absence.

 

[LBS-bass]

It seems like player 4 is providing incidental accompaniment, not meat and potatoes. Canceling a gig can be serious business; venues don't like it. I don't think you need what player 4 is bringing to the table enough to take a risk on canceling.

 

[Old Blastard]

Our drummer had a tooth issue, like extraction and impacting and medication and we managed to pull it off without him. It wasn't our best sound, but it was still pretty good.

Play it. If nothing else, you'll appreciate the missing member even more

 

[Spacecase]

What about the customer? Are there expectations?

 

[Liam Wald]

Harmonica player, trumpet, background singer, hand percussion... unless they are the band leader or frontman, who cares?
In your case, player number four sounds to me like a nice added touch but N.E.P. (non essential personell).

 

[Manticore]

It's a no brainer. As always: take the gig; worry about how you'll fill it later.
It's in June! Plenty of time to find a sub if you absolutely must have a trumpet. As for the harp...NEVER bring a harp to a gig!

 

[delta7fred]

NEVER bring a harp to a gig!

I wouldn't say NEVER but having endured a third rate harp player for a few months they would have to be at least "very good" before I would consider sharing the stage with them.

 

[petrus61]

Play the gig, but try to get in some rehearsal time in minus the missing player.

 

[JoeWPgh]

Play the gig. You have 3 months to figure out how to plug the gaps, and/or work up a few more tunes.

 

[jerry]

What is this gig cancelling you speak of?

 

[Plectrum72]

Thanks all for the input. The gig is still on.

All the above, with an extra emphasis on hiring someone.

And if you DON'T want to hire someone, 3 months time is was more than enough time to get an entirely new set together that doesn't need member 4 (unless you're doing originals, though could still work in a bunch of new ones). If it isn't, then I think your band really needs to rehearse enough to get it to the point where it wouldn't be a big deal to add a dozen new songs. Regardless, I think this is an opportunity for your band to grow, and to cancel the gig is IMO a cop-out. The extra player isn't essential, and if you can't make your band work without her, then your band needs work.

Take on the challenge and become a better band.




And with that said, what is TLDR? And thanks for the inspiration Acronyms.

TLDR = too long didn't read

What about the customer? Are there expectations?

We originally had the booking for 3 Jun, but the customer screwed up and double booked us with another band due to them not having their digital and hard copy calendar synced up. They called our singer the same day this all happened and asked if we would do the 24th instead. She agreed without consulting our band calendar. From there ensued the OP. Customer's expectation is to have a band playing 4 sets and if we don't it, there are plenty of others who can. Florida gulf coast during tourist season brings out plenty of bands ranging from hacks to pros. I'd like to think we're closer to the latter category than the former.

 

[One_Dude]

We usually play the gig even if we have to do it with one member missing. You should have enough songs ready without relying on the missing person to play the gig successfully. As someone else mentioned; few people in the audience will know someone is missing. We also hire subs when we need them. You should learn who the good players are in your community, and who is available to sub. Using a sub can add some new and interesting dynamics to your band. You can even mention to the audience that you have a guest player with you for the day.

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

[two fingers]

Bar gig- blow the doors off the place
Showcase- cancel

Yeah this.

My first thought as well was "What kind of gig are we talking about here?"

If it's a bar, go do it and don't look back.

If it's a notch up from that bow out. If this is a show where bringing your A game could affect things down the road back out.

Three months is almost 100 days. You aren't leaving anybody in a bind by backing out. So your reputation won't be hurt either way.

But, yeah, if this is a bar gig go do it and don't sweat it. Have fun. And bonk the person who booked the show on the head and tell them you have a blackout calendar for this very reason.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Could be worse. Our lead singer/flutist/sax player just dropped out on us due to health, and our next gig is May 4. She sang lead on about 2/3 of our tunes. Gotta get a new lead singer and a keyboard player up to speed by then.

 

[bpmben]

A situation came up like that last week with our originals band and our drummer dislocating his shoulder the day before the gig.

Because we’d rehearsed so much and it was only a short set we decided not to let the venue down at the last minute and used a drum machine.

Nothing like a live drummer, of course, but the venue really appreciated us not cancelling and have rebooked us.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

Play the gig.
You've probably got a bench of other players you can call on as subs...if not, you might want to start developing it.
One of the bands I'm in is normally 5 piece, but we'll play as a duo or trio for smaller gigs.
And play the gig....you might be surprised how everyone else steps up. Good luck!

 

[Diamond_Dave]

 

[Skybone]

Play the gig, but try to tailor your set list to songs which don't rely on "the icing" too much.