Cancelled a NYE gig

[viper4000]

I wouldn't do a NYE gig down the block for $500. Corporate Event Bands, Wedding Bands, and NYE gigs are the premium gigs. These gigs demand precision and the client typically knows that goes with a higher price.

My band did a corporate Christmas party for my company one year. Our rate was too high, so I paid the other guys out of my cut. I took home $0.00 and had to do a lot of the heavy lifting as far as coordinating with the convention center, going back the next day to get the gear, etc, etc. I did this because a lot of folks at my company wanted to see us but were not bar going folks. Okay cool. But me, as the guy trying to do a favor for a friend was the one that essentially lost money. I put in over 20 hours coordinating that gig. I was not the one that got treated like a rock star getting flown around here and there on the clients' dime. I did not expect my mates to do anything other than play a normal gig.

Good luck OP

 

[interp]

Wow! Haven't read all the responses, but based on the OP's description of the situation my read is:

The band leader is being an ass.
I would MAYBE agree to do that gig for $5000, but certainly not for $500.

 

[samson3382]

Reading threads like this reminds me how lucky I am to be in a band of 5 guys who are exactly on the same page in terms of commitment level and all understand how family comes first. The fact that we all really enjoy playing with each other and can actually make pretty good music is even better.

I'm in a cover band like this. Friends I've known my whole life. It can be nice because I can vent to them about this other hobby band.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

The right thing to do would be to hire a caretaker for your parents for the time you have to be out and do the gig.
I understand your commitment to your paren

Can't they get a sub?

I know Boise to Portland is a bit of a haul, but no worse than Houston to Dallas (I've done Portland To Boise, and Houston to Dallas numerous times...).
A sub bassist should be able to be found and gotten up to speed in time to make the gig...

Boise to Portland (I've driven that) is like Houston to Dallas (that too) and back to Conroe.

 

[Nev375]

You heard it right, deep fried turkey testicles. I guess people in Missouri are not so enlightened?

Well I had to google it to be sure. I really thought you were just making something up to troll the thread. Wikipedia claims that's also a thing here in Missouri, but I've lived on both sides of the state and never heard of it 'til now. Hmmm. I'm sorry, but from my point of view that's just nuts!

 

[lamarjones]

As everyone else has said, 500 can't be worth it pretty much on any circumstance.

That said, should probably pay better attention to details of any gig booked. Should have been obvious from the start that 500 would not even cover expenses. If the parent situation wasn't there, I'm guessing once you thought about the details, you wouldn't be doing it anyways.

Lesson learned, and life will be better when you find people on the same page as you. Good luck!

 

[Big Hoss]

The right thing to do would be to hire a caretaker for your parents for the time you have to be out and do the gig.
I understand your commitment to your paren

Boise to Portland (I've driven that) is like Houston to Dallas (that too) and back to Conroe.

I am in the Galveston Bay area down by Kemah, so my frame of reference is somewhat like Mid Town Houston to Conroe. But yeah, you are about right...

 

[samson3382]

- What benefit is there in staying in a band with someone that's this inconsiderate, selfish and/or inexperienced?

BL comes across as selfish

Appears he may have been using you this whole time and took it for granted that you would do it again this time. You have been his personal sound company without having to pay for it.

Sure seems that way.
As I said before I do typically get a larger share for sound and PA, but still nowhere near what it would cost to hire out.

Many of these gigs, pay is so low no real sound guy (which I'm not, I'm just a guy with a mediocre PA and a decent ear) would consider them, let alone for a share.

These guys were looking for an upright bassist for a year before they found me. It's not a stretch to say I'm likely one of a handful of individuals that play/own an upright, own a PA, and would put up with this BS in the Boise area.

 

[Nev375]

Can't they get a sub?

I know Boise to Portland is a bit of a haul, but no worse than Houston to Dallas

I was unaware that texas had a huge mountain range with dangerously steep grades that iced over in winter inbetween Dallas and Houston.

 

[bassbully]

Lets put it this way. About 5-6 years ago I played on NYE (only time) We played for two hours, got full bar, Prime rib dinner and any food all night. The gig was a little less than an hour away from home and I was in bed by 1:30 and was paid cash $375.00.

Now to me it was a great night. I'm sure others have done much better on NYE but something to compare to the mess the OP would of been facing.

 

[samson3382]

The right thing to do would be to hire a caretaker for your parents for the time you have to be out and do the gig.
I understand your commitment to your paren

Had I insisted we were getting a decent amount from the start, this might be feasible.
But given the situation, there is no money for that.

Make it 3 or 4K, and I'd consider, IF he hadn't reacted the way he did, I didn't know about him flying all over the country and playing rockstar, while I haul gear over snowy mountains on NYE.

We should all share the miserable dangerous drive as a BAND I think.

I was unaware that texas had a huge mountain range with dangerously steep grades that iced over in winter inbetween Dallas and Houston.

 

[Big Hoss]

I was unaware that texas had a huge mountain range with dangerously steep grades that iced over in winter inbetween Dallas and Houston.

I was referring to distances, not elevation changes. And Dallas ices up like crazy in the winter, that's one of the reasons I love living around Houston!

I've made the trip from Portland - Boise and back many times in the winter, albeit a very long time ago now, and as I recall it is nowhere near as bad as you make it sound. Yes you have to be careful, and you would be suicidal to try to make that drive at night, but daylight hours no big deal...

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Had I insisted we were getting a decent amount from the start, this might be feasible.
But given the situation, there is no money for that.

Make it 3 or 4K, and I'd consider, IF he hadn't reacted the way he did, I didn't know about him flying all over the country and playing rockstar, while I haul gear over snowy mountains on NYE.

We should all share the miserable dangerous drive as a BAND I think.

It isn't about the money. It is about a commitment you made.
I did something very similar and it was for an NYE gig. I had been playing in a band in Helena, MT, but had to move over Thanksgiving weekend to Portland because of work. I drove from Portland to Lincoln, MT, for the gig, and drove back after the gig. They had not been able to get a sub, and I had accepted the gig. I felt it was only right.
And you are right about mountains. You have the Rockies and the Cascades to deal with.

 

[boristhespider9]

Yeah, I am reading that right? A wedding...on new year's eve...out-of-town...for $500 for the band?

Am I reading that right...wood heat?

 

[Big Hoss]

Am I reading that right...wood heat?

You find wood heat odd?

 

[Nev375]

I was referring to distances, not elevation changes. And Dallas ices up like crazy in the winter, that's one of the reasons I love living around Houston!

I've made the trip from Portland - Boise and back many times in the winter, albeit a very long time ago now, and as I recall it is nowhere near as bad as you make it sound. Yes you have to be careful, and you would be suicidal to try to make that drive at night, but daylight hours no big deal...

It's not your own vehicle thats the danger you know. It's all the big trucks. One of those loses traction just pray you are not downhill when it happens. I've diven that a few times myself and got to drive past the aftermath of such a disaster. Needless to say, it ain't pretty.

Also snow storms have been known to close the pass leaving travellers stranded for many hours with no place to go.

My point was not so much that the pass is a deathtrap, but that one route clearly has more potential hazards than the other.

 

[Nev375]

Am I reading that right...wood heat?

What do they make fires out of where you're from?

 

[Big Hoss]

It's not your own vehicle thats the danger you know. It's all the big trucks. One of those loses traction just pray you are not downhill when it happens. I've diven that a few times myself and got to drive past the aftermath of such a disaster. Needless to say, it ain't pretty.

Also snow storms have been known to close the pass leaving travellers stranded for many hours with no place to go.

My point was not so much that the pass is a deathtrap, but that one route clearly has more potential hazards than the other.

Ice, downgrades, or overly abundant wildlife, flooding, and hydroplaning. I get your point, not to invalidate it, but I-45 between Houston, and Dallas isn't exactly a super safe route too. Big trucks have big consequences for the smallest error in judgement or change in road conditions. Flat land can be deceptive. I've see the aftermath of 18 wheelers failing stop on I-45 when traffic comes to the sudden halts that it tends to do...

Again, not to dismiss the potential dangers in the mountains, there are plenty.

 

[Jay Corwin]

Have people not heard of a wood burner for heat?

 

[samson3382]

Am I reading that right...wood heat?

All I ever had growing up.
More common than not here. We're in a smaller outlying area, no gas here, so it's either propane tanks in the backyard, firewood piles, or high power bills.(what I have)