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For hire bass player: A question of ethics

#21
joelb79 said:
Brilliant. I did already send him a text reminding him that I'm homeless, and my butt hurts from previous experiences and that this was aggravating but please do not hesitate to call me in the future.
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Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but do realize the entire premise of the post was that you find another Sunday gig that pays at least as well, *then* cancel on him and explain it to him. Not that you just drop the gig. Money is money, without a different Sunday gig you do need to play this gig whenever you can.

I do like the idea of telling him if wants to lock you in, it is $30 up front, otherwise you can't promise anything.
 
#23
If you're a freelancer, this is just part of the business. The irony is that some BLs treat their players like a whores and then complain when their players act like one. Find a better gig with better people, plain and simple. If they are not loyal to you, there's no reason to be loyal to them.
 
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#25
joelb79 said:
I had enough work for free with promise of pay.
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Not unlike TOO MANY musicians... you previously set the tone of not REQUIRING to be paid for your work.

You should've been paid from day one. But since you were willing to work for free then, why not now?

Musicians have done this to themselves. They continue to, then cry about it.
 
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#27
I saw that all the time during my 20+ years in Nashville. Road guys making 80k or more a year getting local gigs that really mean a lot to the in-town players struggling to make 25-30k. You can keep hanging around hoping to get more gigs from that BL, but don't expect much, his loyalty isn't to you. See if there's other players/gigs near you that you can work with. There are some loyal people left in this crazy music biz, they can be hard to find, but are certainly worth it when you do.

Bassically, Michael
 
#28
Don't worry too much, we all live and learn. My own most recent '***?!' moment was with a bandleader who ran two essentially-identical bands, but under different names. Pretty clever idea, if I do say so myself. I was to be the first-call sub for Band A, and the 'regular' guy for Band B. First big red flag (that I ignored) was that I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Second big red flag was that the BL told me, "I really dislike it when players ask me what they're going to get paid for the gig. Let me tell you a story - guy plays for me, always asks me what he's making. He asks this question a month in advance of a gig, and I tell him X. In the time it took between him asking me and us playing the gig, the contract finalized into X + Y. Since the other players hadn't been bugging me, I split the increase, Y, evenly among them. Since I told the player he was only getting paid X, I only paid him X. Moral of the story? Just trust me that I'll take care of you". In hindsight, I should've cut and run right then and there. It took ~3 more rehearsals (and one cancelled wedding gig) before I told that cat 'sayanora'.
 
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#29
joelb79 said:
Obviously, after dedicating years of working with this guy; recording for free; doing gigs for free; promises broken.. I can't keep being taken advantage of and writing/performing music for the guy for free anymore. What would you do?
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here it is.
Don't work for free any more-free gigs lead to more free gigs and your reputation being based on working for free. Hard to get away from it may be.
Make a point and before every gig draw up a simple contract including cancellation fees.
I think that's what I would do.
 
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#30
Exactly to avoid this kind of situation, I never work as a freelance without a signed contract, and I always make sure to have a very clear policy about cancellation: if it is the same day, I get full payment.
Personally I think it's very important that as musician we demand to be taken seriously: if you cancel a plumber or an electrician or a dentist on the same day, you will have to pay in full for their time... and they don't have to use any time at home preparing for the gig :D
 
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#31
Not much you can do about it unless you have a properly signed contract. The guy has obviously used you so I would move on and find
another band and ensure that your paid work gets the reward that you deserve. Normally, you would get advice from your Musicians Union.
Or Federation in U.S. & Canada. These organisations are there to set pay levels and conditions for musicians.
 
#32
I think you know the answer and, in fact, provided it when you wrote "after dedicating years of working with this guy; recording for free; doing gigs for free; promises broken.. I can't keep being taken advantage of..."

You may have set a precedent by working for free and now he takes you for granted. Perhaps its time to stop working with/for him.
 
#33
2 issues here---- if you need to feed your kid, get a job that gives you dependable income.

The other issue
I look at it from the view--- you have to lay down to be a door mat-- if you don't feel that way, don't change a thing.

I've left bands because members have canceled rehearsals last minute-- too often. I'm a weekend warrior with a day gig.
 
#36
I would be definitely annoyed. After spending time preparing for the gig for it to be pulled out from under your feet? Yeah, I'd be annoyed. I'd be inclined to say 'enough'! I would have a chat with the BL first and let him know how you feel. If he gives a &^%$, maybe he'll think twice next time. If he doesn't......then I'd bid them adieu!

Once you let them know it's cool to do that, then they'll do it all the time. I had it happen recently but in my case, I was kinda relieved as I really didn't want to do the gig. Another time a couple years ago, I was subbing for a guy who left town for family issues. BL calls me and says dude is back but wanted to check with me first if I wanted to keep the gig or give it back. I thought that was pretty cool. I wasn't feeling the gig and told him his boy can have the gig back! LOL.
 
#37
joelb79 said:
Obviously, after dedicating years of working with this guy; recording for free; doing gigs for free; promises broken.. I can't keep being taken advantage of and writing/performing music for the guy for free anymore. What would you do?
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If you're doing stuff for free for the guy, you're telling him that's what you're worth. They other guy probably got paid more than you too. He's out-networking you and has established his worth. The business and networking side of music is probably more important than playing the right notes, but you need to play the right notes too. I'll tell you how to network better when I figure it out.
 
#39
What a lot of people are saying is that this is a volatile business. Eagles swooping down to gobble up crumbs for pigeons, people getting tossed aside like a broken lamp after being used and abused, and risk without return at every corner. We endure all this for a wage that a pan handler would scoff at all for a chance at something that thousands spend time and money on only to never reach. Basically, don't put your kid's lunch on the line on this business.
 
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#40
Since you sound like you need the money, dont cancel the gig with this guy. But it does sound like you have to clarify some of the terms of your agreement. Tell him he needs to pay up front and that there is a cutoff for cancellations...say 24 hours. Also, feel free to begin finding other opportunities for Sunday nights. This guy can become your safety net, with a better gig taking precedence.
 

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