Did I do the Wrong Thing?

[51PRI]

I wanted to go to a concert but we were booked. I contacted one of our former bass players, who lives in town, to see if he could play but he was out of town. I didn't contact another of our former bass players, who lives out of town, but instead decided to play the gig, since I wasn't sure, didn't really feel quite right, about taking off anyway. The gig went okay but the crowd cleared out early and the management had us take off early. Not a good sign in my opinion. I kept thinking I wished I had searched more to find a sub so I could have gone to the concert. The money was good, though.

Did I do the wrong thing?

 

[kjp360]

People should do what makes them happy.
That said, I would never sub out of a gig to see a concert, even if they resurrected the two dead Beatles or the original 10CC reunited.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Unless it is an emergency, you don't back out of a gig without getting a qualified sub. If you wanted to see the show, you could have tried harder to get one.

 

[p12bassnut]

Certainly not in my opinion. You kept your commitment even when it was not expedient for you.

 

[friskinator]

By "the wrong thing," you mean play a gig that you agreed to play? Sorry that it wasn't a good one, but as you should know by now, that's how it goes sometimes.

 

[Gluvhand]

And...they're off!

 

[CryingBass]

Seeing another concert is easy. Redemption after blowing off your bandmates? Not so easy.

 

[john_g]

Are you kidding? This is TB...you need to make sure someone props up your bones after you croak.

 

[Geri O]

You did their right thing.

There's hundreds of great shows and concerts I've passed on because of gig commitments. Hell, I even passed on working one-on-one with Chick Corea (one of the finest jazz pianists E-VER) on one of his last shows because of a gig booking.

Maybe it was how I was raised, for better or worse, but I'd never consider finding a sub for a playing commitment that was already on the books.

In my world, artists and band leaders have enough grief and crap to deal with without my adding to it without it being an emergency (which has happened a couple of time).

 

[Relsom]

You did the right thing unless you're happy being in the "Them" group of bandmates instead of the "Us" group of bandmates.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Trust is gained by the drop and lost by the bucketful. Be as good as your word. Getting a rep as being undependable might as well be a scarlet letter. IMO.

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[db59]

follow your commitments.......

 

[gln1955]

As long as you texted your band to see if the gig was still on, all is good.

A concert is not an emergency or life event that warrants bugging out of a committed gig, IMO.

 

[JimmyM]

Of course you did the right thing. If you take a gig, do it unless you have a real emergency. Taylor Swift is young and she’ll be around for a while

 

[mambo4]

The money was good, though.

Did I do the wrong thing?

no, the money was good.

 

[Dave Leighton]

Commitments are Commitments. Unless there is a true "can't play" situation, whatever that may be, you made a commitment.

My first thought though is, I absolutely love playing with the band I'm in. I would never not want to play with them. Even practice. Great people and too much fun.

Do you enjoy this band?

 

[Marko 1]

I kept thinking I wished I had searched more to find a sub so I could have gone to the concert. The money was good, though.

Me thinks you don't care much for gigging with this band.

 

[SteveC]

It sucks as gigs are often booked well in advance and a concert or other "special event" can come up with minimal notice. I can recall one time where I had to back out. I can recall a time where I missed the opportunity to hear a concert or two. That's the way it goes.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I've never seen someone complain as much about getting gigs.

Ain't no perfect gig our there.

 

[Killing Floor]

What was the concert?