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Did We Just Play for the Mob?

#22
lermgalieu said:
To me the phone thing is a non-starter unless communicated in advance, with an ability provided to contact me in an emergency. I've got kids. I have no interest in documenting the gig or letting out their precious secrets, it ain't about that. Professionalism is a two-way street.
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Yeah but they can't credibly know that you don't have ill intentions. This world nowadays lol
 
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#23
No, you played for a rich person who doesn't want rando band members filming their well-known guests getting sauced and the footage ending up on some gossip site. It's fairly standard OP to be asked to hand your recording-capable devices over at locations and events where the guests value their host's discretion.

Organised crime gangs aren't hiring corporate bands off the Internet for their business meetings, and when they hire them for parties they aren't playing secret squirrel with them because get this: they aren't actually doing crimes in the open!
 
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#25
The first rule of playing for the mob is don't talk about playing for the mob.

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#27
lermgalieu said:
Should be communicated well in advance, and if they knew what the heck they were doing, they would have had them sign an NDA as well (in advance).
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Easier to just ask you to put your phone aside - check out how many venues are using phone lockers and similar tech as requirement for entry to shows now. The agent should have communicated that beforehand, but that's a different issue.
 
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#28
darkwasthenight said:
Easier to just ask you to put your phone aside - check out how many venues are using phone lockers and similar tech as requirement for entry to shows now. The agent should have communicated that beforehand, but that's a different issue.
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It’s the same issue, since I didn’t say they shouldn’t do it, I said they should have communicated it in advance and provided a means to contact the band members in an emergency.
 
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#29
Up until fairly recently I played in a resort area known as a place where celebrities, very wealthy people, and very powerful people go to relax and/or play without the usual public attentions that come with fame. We'd do shows either at someone's vacation home (well, estate really) or at a venue closed down to host the event. It was not uncommon for us to go through a security screening including vehicle and gear search, to have to give up our phones, and for direct interaction to be forbidden. Also no social media about the event allowed before or after.

The difference is that in our case these conditions were presented up front and were written into the contract. It was our choice to agree or not. I think if I showed up at a gig and they were sprung at the entry point I'd back out. That would make me wonder about safety. Yeah, I'm old enough to remember back when every gig was at a place that had just the one phone behind the bar and a pay phone out front, but cell phones have made me soft.

Funny aside: at some of these events during setup we were specifically told that if Mr. X (loud male who used to be a big star) wanted to sing a song we absolutely had to allow it. If Mr. X wanted to sing a second song we were supposed to take a tuning break and wait for staff to lure him off the stage.
 
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#31
gln1955 said:
I assume they made an offer you couldn't refuse.
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a gig is a gig: i expect the best paying gigs to come with some 'rules' --- for some of those: it's why they pay so well!

i agree that we should know these things in advance = i.e., a contract!
 
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#32
lermgalieu said:
It’s the same issue, since I didn’t say they shouldn’t do it, I said they should have communicated it in advance and provided a means to contact the band members in an emergency.
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It's usually in the contract terms, yes. As for emergency contact, the phone is in a locker and not a cube of concrete; if you want to leave the venue to check your messages then you're probably not going to get your kneecaps broken. How many bands are taking their phone onstage at bar gigs to check between songs?
 
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#34
darkwasthenight said:
It's usually in the contract terms, yes. As for emergency contact, the phone is in a locker and not a cube of concrete; if you want to leave the venue to check your messages then you're probably not going to get your kneecaps broken. How many bands are taking their phone onstage at bar gigs to check between songs?
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I said a means to contact me, not a means to access my phone. A general number in case of emergency. I usually do have my phone on stage (pocket), and if I feel it ringing (vibrate), I ignore it. If I feel it ring repeatedly, I take note and check it as soon as I can. Do you have kids?
 
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#35
darkwasthenight said:
It's usually in the contract terms, yes. As for emergency contact, the phone is in a locker and not a cube of concrete; if you want to leave the venue to check your messages then you're probably not going to get your kneecaps broken. How many bands are taking their phone onstage at bar gigs to check between songs?
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FYI, as an attorney, I’ve seen all of the above both in contracts and in practice (including high profile folks you’ve heard of - you should see some of the ridiculous NDAs). There’s an above board way to do these things and a shady way to do them. This was without a doubt shady, and I don’t go anywhere that my family can’t contact me unless I’ve done some planning. It isn’t worth any price.
 
#37
lermgalieu said:
Doesn’t matter - my point stands. Give me advance notice and a way for ppl to contact me in an emergency or I’m out. Someone’s confidentiality is not more important than my children (to me).
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Yeah that's one thing, but I was responding to the 2nd part where you were saying your intentions, they just can't know your intentions. Of course a heads up is nice. We can all agree on that.
 
#38
Lenny JG said:
Yeah that's one thing, but I was responding to the 2nd part where you were saying your intentions, they just can't know your intentions. Of course a heads up is nice. We can all agree on that.
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Right but that wasn’t presented as a reason not to take my phone, I was saying the only reason I would want my phone is for an emergency, not to document anything, therefore if they provide an alternate way for someone to reach me, it’s all good.
 

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