It certainly can be awkward to find out your band is using a sub to replace you for a gig, but, from the band's perspective, it's the most logical thing to do unless they want to give up the opportunity to play out and earn.
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Fill in bassist?!?
- Thread starter Fletz
- Start date
Man all I do is sub these days. I love it.
Offer to help the guy get up to speed if he needs it.
Yes, they should have at least run it by you. But you probably would have gotten pissed and told them not to do it based on your reaction here. And they probably knew that.
Be the bigger man. Offer to help. And let your buddies go make some money while you're off making money.
In fact, ENJOY the fact that you now have a sub. You can go and do whatever you like and sleep easy knowing the gig is covered. There were dozens of family events I missed over the years playing in a corporate band. I wish I would have had a sub to allow me to go to my cousin's wedding or my grandfather's last birthday.
Offer to help the guy get up to speed if he needs it.
Yes, they should have at least run it by you. But you probably would have gotten pissed and told them not to do it based on your reaction here. And they probably knew that.
Be the bigger man. Offer to help. And let your buddies go make some money while you're off making money.
In fact, ENJOY the fact that you now have a sub. You can go and do whatever you like and sleep easy knowing the gig is covered. There were dozens of family events I missed over the years playing in a corporate band. I wish I would have had a sub to allow me to go to my cousin's wedding or my grandfather's last birthday.
I left my band of 13 years, (3) years ago. They call me to sub whenever the new guy can't make a gig. Way less drama and commitment.
This. If you're a hired gun, that's one thing but if you're a full-time band member having the band replace you without at least giving you a heads-up is, IMO, extremely un-classy.
I just had this happen to me recently and I was not happy about it. I didn't make a scene or start a fight about it, but it did make me seriously reconsider the level of commitment I have for the project.
Why should you care? You should be happy your band mates get the gig and the pay.
Sounds like a bit of insecurity to me.
Sounds like a bit of insecurity to me.
Sometime it is time for open honest communications. I have been the sub and and have presented the need for subs.
Subs are a good thing, as long as you are not insecure about your playing. Subs allow you to be able to be somewhere else when needed, and protects your job... if subbing was not available, then any time one person couldn't play then no one could... they'd get tired of that in a hurry. Subs give me some freedom, and invariably when you come back they say "man we missed you last gig" because you know the songs way better than the sub. Subs are good. It wouldn't bother me if they didn't ask me first, it is understood that my unavailability doesn't handcuff the band, which is more important than any individual. It would be sensible for the band and nice for me if they'd say "we are booking this gig so if you are sure you can't be there, we are going to call Steve to cover it" just to make sure you are definitely out for that date (since they'd rather play the,date with the main guy.
In short subs are good and if I have announced I am not available on a certain date, then there is no need for them to discuss a sub with before engaging one. I love having guys that can sub for me-- it means Freedom for me and appreciation from the band when I am back.
In short subs are good and if I have announced I am not available on a certain date, then there is no need for them to discuss a sub with before engaging one. I love having guys that can sub for me-- it means Freedom for me and appreciation from the band when I am back.
Why be angry? As great a bass player as you are---the planets and gigs don't revolve around you. Maybe more gigs will come from the one you missed.
Using subs is important - I am usually charged with recruiting my own if I cannot make it to a gig. Kind of a bummer they didn't mention it to you...it sounds like you guys could do a little work to communicate more freely. My band is full of corporate guys and we email each other all the time. The corporate style has definitely rubbed off on us...we pass feedback around constantly and are in discussion to prepare for gigs and rehearsals. Everything is organized. I'm not saying your group should do the same, but it does help to have everyone in touch frequently and on the same page/sync'd up on whatever is going on.
The first time someone subbed for me in this gig I hung out at rehearsal just to observe (they were cool with it, it wasn't an ego trip or anything). The sub was an older player with a different style from what I normally do and was a great learning experience just to see how someone else does it and how it impacts the chemistry of the performance. The point is, as long as you know what is going on and everyone is cool you can pretty easily flip it around to something positive that you can learn from.
The first time someone subbed for me in this gig I hung out at rehearsal just to observe (they were cool with it, it wasn't an ego trip or anything). The sub was an older player with a different style from what I normally do and was a great learning experience just to see how someone else does it and how it impacts the chemistry of the performance. The point is, as long as you know what is going on and everyone is cool you can pretty easily flip it around to something positive that you can learn from.
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If you are going to take it out on someone, do not take it out on the sub. I have filled in for bands and, on more than one occasion, been "threatened" by the regular bassist for "stealing" his band. Of course, I ended up replacing one of them... So, water under the bridge, and so on...
Is it a cover band? If so, then its no big deal. I'm in the same situation where I travel for work. I have 2-3 subs on call to fill in for me if needed. It's kind of the name of the game if your a cover band player. Subs are a normal thing.
If its an original band, then I would be pissed
If its an original band, then I would be pissed
I once used a whole band of subs for a gig I couldn't pass. Well, that was just a drummer and a guitarist/singer. Why not? As someone else said, it's not a marriage.
Not a jerk, but you do need to recognize the reality of the situation. Like you, I can't make some gigs because I have a day job. I'm in a position, because of the day job, where I don't need the money. My bandmates do. Two of them (we can get into the subject of poor life choices at another time) well, it's their only source of income. So either I can give up my day job (that's not happening) or recognize that they can do just fine without me and have a sub do the gigs I can't. I don't even care if they call me about it first or not. They know when I can gig (nights, weekends) and when I can't.
It's the music business after all, right?
It's the music business after all, right?
No biggie you can't play the show must go on. you won't get paid either way so the sub allows the other members to get paid instead of cancelling. I have to say if you are a gigging band it is best not to have another job to avoid instances such as this but I understand this is not always possible in todays world just be glad they didn't fire you
You have got to be kidding.
