Gig gone horribly wrong - last Friday night

[mboogiemanusa]

Thought I would share this with the forum.
Rock and roll is apparently a contact sport. One of my friends in another classic rock cover band got messed up last Friday night when a bouncer knocked him off his stage perch. He has a wireless set up and likes run around and put on a show doing serious shredding while playing behind his back and standing on tables and speakers etc. Besides the serious injury attained by by my friend....his priceless custom shop Stratocaster was damaged in this debacle. By the way ...we are not 19 year old punk / thrasher kids but 50 something weekend warriors with wives, kids and mortgages to pay for. Since there will be lawsuits filed and possible assault charges - I've x'd out the name of the band and venue. This was not a dive bar but a large upscale restaurant / nightclub. I was not there because I had seen the band perform the week before at another club so heard about it second hand. The bass player sent me an e-mail update below with a few more details. We will have to see how this plays out but local musicians are already talking about boycotting the place and other actions depending on how the owners respond.


As you are already aware by now things went terribly wrong at The XXXXX Band's show this past Friday, June 24 at XXXX XXX. During the middle of our 3rd set, our guitarist Jerry carefully hopped onto the wooden fence wall in front of the stage as he had done 2 other times that night. One of the XXXX XXX bouncers came up to him and pushed his legs out from under him and he landed on his back on top of his pedal board after an awkward fall. Jerry never saw this coming, and it was a cheap shot bully move by an $8 an hour security idiot.

Police and Fire/Rescue were immediately called and they spent an hour there interviewing people, staff and owners and witnesses. Jerry went to the emergency room as soon as we loaded out.

Jerry now has a broken foot and a damaged one-of-a-kind custom guitar as a result of this senseless assault, and is persuing legal action against XXXX XXX and he is currently in much pain needing additional medical treatment.
This is a major setback, as The XXXX Band has many scheduled upcoming shows and festivals including Saturday, August 13 evening at the County Fair. Jerry and the band plan to move forward regardless.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Poorly trained bouncer. He will cost club XXXX some money if your buddy can afford a lawyer.

I predict an out of court settlement ( or at least an offer) and the bouncer will lose his job. Your friend needs to sue the club AND the bouncer.

 

[f.c.geil]

I hope Jerry's okay.

Floyd is absolutely right. Be sure your friend sues "jointly and severally". This allows full collection from both sources. Of course, at $8/hr, the bouncer isn't going to be able to pay, but it will blacklist him from this type of work, perhaps even preventing a similar accident. I've been through this process, and it isn't fun, and he'll probably have to actually file the lawsuit, but it will be settled out of court. If he's really lucky, the bar manager is a stand-up guy, and will offer to cover expenses before Jerry has to do anything with a lawyer.

 

[BROKEN OHMS]

Sounds like the meat head bouncer was jealous of the rockin' and rollin' and reacted the only way his monkey brain would let him.

 

[rtslinger]

Yeah sue them both. I had a situation with a bouncer about 3 years ago
I was coming into a club nice place and the bouncer didn't know I was with the band
(do not look like the rockstar type) He thought I was trying to sneak in and proceeded to straight hand out grab me by my throat I being train in Martial arts automatically reacted by swinging my arm across and down over his and stepping in with an elbow strike inches from his nose at the same time saying *** man I'm with the band he backed away and said he thought I was trying to beat the door. I ask him is that how he handles it when our fans come through because that sucks! I spoke to the club owner who I have known for years and the bouncer wasn't there the next time we played the following month and I have not seen him since. Yeah the power trip goes to their heads neither one of us were hurt in the encounter but he came close.

 

[Marko 1]

He has a wireless set up and likes run around and put on a show doing serious shredding while playing behind his back and standing on tables and speakers etc…

By the way ...we are not 19 year old punk / thrasher kids but 50 something weekend warriors…

This was not a dive bar but a large upscale restaurant / nightclub.

Wut?



In spite of whatever the other side of the story is, the bouncer acted wrongly.

 

[bassbrizzle]

I'm no lawyer, but when you say "cheap shot bully move by an $8 an hour security idiot" it makes you sound like you're on the same level as that thug, or at least someone who doesn't have the capacity to actually pursue legal action. If you have a lawyer friend that can just write a letter for you that can work wonders sometimes. At the very least, I'd try to subdue your emotions and write a powerful business sounding letter. Almost robotic in nature. It will sound more professional, which to the upscale restaurant owner sounds more like someone who can really get justice (via a court case or negative publicity) vs someone who is a big talker. Just my 2 cents.

 

[staindbass]

yup- go for it with the lawyers and sue for court costs/missed work/and the guitar too ! unbelievable... sorry that happened. nail them to the wall. how can you mistake someone wearing a guitar for someone in the audience jumping on a table? johnny a. staind

 

[Never_grew_up]

I hate that for him and hope he's ok. This stuck out in my mind as well: "...He has a wireless set up and likes run around and put on a show doing serious shredding while playing behind his back and standing on tables and speakers etc…

By the way ...we are not 19 year old punk / thrasher kids but 50 something weekend warriors…

This was not a dive bar but a large upscale restaurant / nightclub."

I'm 50, the guitar player I play with almost 60. He still likes to do that stuff - walking out into the audience, playing behind his back. I think it makes him look foolish, trying to recapture his lost youth like the cougars that still dress like teenagers. And while I'd like to smack him when he does that stuff, it doesn't justify assault.

 

[fhm555]

Whatever happened to the proudly borne battle scars of the R-n-R lifestyle?

I'd be curious to know if the "victim" had been warned to stay off the fence on his two prior excursions there.

Not saying the bouncer didn't handle it badly, but if the guy was thumbing his nose at club management...or is it OK these days to cop attitude as long as no one gets poked in the eye with a sharp stick?

This is rawk guys!! It's all about telling the man to step the eff off and being the first to swing if he even acts like he's not going to.

Rawk is not about some 50 year old weekend warrior who got his ego bruised and is now seeking a legal remedy in civil court. That's what your grandma does when someone bends her old chevy in the grocery store parking lot. How much more anti-rawk can you get?

Just sayin.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Whatever happened to the proudly borne battle scars of the R-n-R lifestyle?

I'd be curious to know if the "victim" had been warned to stay off the fence on his two prior excursions there.

Not saying the bouncer didn't handle it badly, but if the guy was thumbing his nose at club management...or is it OK these days to cop attitude as long as no one gets poked in the eye with a sharp stick?

This is rawk guys!! It's all about telling the man to step the eff off and being the first to swing if he even acts like he's not going to.

Rawk is not about some 50 year old weekend warrior who got his ego bruised and is now seeking a legal remedy in civil court. That's what your grandma does when someone bends her old chevy in the grocery store parking lot. How much more anti-rawk can you get?

Just sayin.

Really dude?

I don't care how old I am, if you take my legs out from under me while I'm playing, injuring me and damaging my gear, you WILL pay for it one way or the other.

I give kudos to the guy for not handling it the way I probably would have, which would most likely make any sort of legal recourse impossible. He was smart not to react violently to the bouncer and he would be smart to get a lawyer and sue the hell out of the bouncer and the venue.

 

[byronkowalski]

Rawk is not about some 50 year old weekend warrior who got his ego bruised and is now seeking a legal remedy in civil court. That's what your grandma does when someone bends her old chevy in the grocery store parking lot. How much more anti-rawk can you get?

Just sayin.

Broken foot aint no bruised ego, its hospital bills and not bein able to work for about 6 weeks.

Broken one of a kind instrument is not to be sniffled at either.

I dont think youd be sayin that if you were in his position.

 

[fleabee]

Don't consider getting any lawyer unless its on a contingency basis. It would make no sense paying up front for a non-guaranteed large sum win{obviously there are no guarantees about anything, but you catch my drift..}. Document everything in extreme detail{names,timeline,pictures etc}.

 

[prd004]

Whatever happened to the proudly borne battle scars of the R-n-R lifestyle?

I'd be curious to know if the "victim" had been warned to stay off the fence on his two prior excursions there.

Not saying the bouncer didn't handle it badly, but if the guy was thumbing his nose at club management...or is it OK these days to cop attitude as long as no one gets poked in the eye with a sharp stick?

This is rawk guys!! It's all about telling the man to step the eff off and being the first to swing if he even acts like he's not going to.

Rawk is not about some 50 year old weekend warrior who got his ego bruised and is now seeking a legal remedy in civil court. That's what your grandma does when someone bends her old chevy in the grocery store parking lot. How much more anti-rawk can you get?

Just sayin.

LAME.

"Rawk" - Lamer still

"being the first to swing" - Beyond Lame!

Bashing a guitarist because he happens to be 50, and comparing his broken ankle and broken guitar to your grandma's dented fender....................... Idiot-Ville

 

[fhm555]

Really dude?

I don't care how old I am, if you take my legs out from under me while I'm playing, injuring me and damaging my gear, you WILL pay for it one way or the other. ...

That's what I like about you Mr. Eye. You are truly a rocker with the proper attitude, and that's no BS.

When I was young and dumb, broken foot or no, some SOB would have paid on the spot, and in blood, for my broken guitar and foot.

Now that I'm old and wiser, and broken to the point I can no longer do the crazy dance, I'd lick my wounds and plot revenge, but those plans would never include civil court for such a trivial matter.

Civil court is where you seek relief for serious wrongs not covered by the criminal code. Call me silly, but a broken foot and easily replaceable guitar are not what I'd call serious wrongs. A broken foot will heal, and a custom shop strat can be duplicated by the same custom shop that built the first one. It's a hassle, but it's by no means a serious life changing event. A serious wrong would be something which could not be made whole like being paralyzed by a broken back, or having your legs crushed to the point they are essentially pegs on which you balance ( carefully) because the alternative, at least according to the medical professionals, is to lop them off just above the knee.

In truth and seriousness, I'd take my 20 plus years of experience writing letters to various government contractors warning them of the dire consequences of failing to meet a contracted delivery date, failing to conform to drawing specifications, etc, and make it sound like the full weight of the legal system would be brought to bear on all parties responsible for injuring me and breaking my equipment. I would end said letter with a request for a one on one meeting with the club owner(s) to discuss options. I would then send that letter in hopes it would lead to a reasoned discussion on what to do about what happened. If they refused to respond or did so with an effoff attitude, I'd decide at that point what to do next, but IME, given a chance to be reasonable the vast majority of us will do exactly that.

Call me easy, but dumping the bouncer would be enough to satisfy me. Why punish the owner for the ignorance of someone else? I pay for good insurance to cover medical and I've broken more than one bass doing stupid things so why punish someone who is just trying to make a living?

Oh and BTW...try to keep in mind this was posted under bass humor and gig stories, so some replies attempting to make light of what happened should be expected.

 

[Evil Undead]

LAME.

"Rawk" - Lamer still

"being the first to swing" - Beyond Lame!

Bashing a guitarist because he happens to be 50, and comparing his broken ankle and broken guitar to your grandma's dented fender....................... Idiot-Ville

+1

 

[fishtx]

Whatever happened to the proudly borne battle scars of the R-n-R lifestyle?

I'd be curious to know if the "victim" had been warned to stay off the fence on his two prior excursions there.

Not saying the bouncer didn't handle it badly, but if the guy was thumbing his nose at club management...or is it OK these days to cop attitude as long as no one gets poked in the eye with a sharp stick?

This is rawk guys!! It's all about telling the man to step the eff off and being the first to swing if he even acts like he's not going to.

Rawk is not about some 50 year old weekend warrior who got his ego bruised and is now seeking a legal remedy in civil court. That's what your grandma does when someone bends her old chevy in the grocery store parking lot. How much more anti-rawk can you get?

Just sayin.

Seriously..."rock is all about telling the man to eff off and swinging first if he even acts like he's not going to"???...that's just assinine...

With an attitude like that, someone is going to "bruise" your ego in a really bad way someday...

 

[Evil Undead]

That's what I like about you Mr. Eye. You are truly a rocker with the proper attitude, and that's no BS.

When I was young and dumb, broken foot or no, some SOB would have paid on the spot, and in blood, for my broken guitar and foot.

Now that I'm old and wiser, and broken to the point I can no longer do the crazy dance, I'd lick my wounds and plot revenge, but those plans would never include civil court for such a trivial matter.

Civil court is where you seek relief for serious wrongs not covered by the criminal code. Call me silly, but a broken foot and easily replaceable guitar are not what I'd call serious wrongs. A broken foot will heal, and a custom shop strat can be duplicated by the same custom shop that built the first one. It's a hassle, but it's by no means a serious life changing event. A serious wrong would be something which could not be made whole like being paralyzed by a broken back, or having your legs crushed to the point they are essentially pegs on which you balance ( carefully) because the alternative, at least according to the medical professionals, is to lop them off just above the knee.

In truth and seriousness, I'd take my 20 plus years of experience writing letters to various government contractors warning them of the dire consequences of failing to meet a contracted delivery date, failing to conform to drawing specifications, etc, and make it sound like the full weight of the legal system would be brought to bear on all parties responsible for injuring me and breaking my equipment. I would end said letter with a request for a one on one meeting with the club owner(s) to discuss options. I would then send that letter in hopes it would lead to a reasoned discussion on what to do about what happened. If they refused to respond or did so with an effoff attitude, I'd decide at that point what to do next, but IME, given a chance to be reasonable the vast majority of us will do exactly that.

Call me easy, but dumping the bouncer would be enough to satisfy me. Why punish the owner for the ignorance of someone else? I pay for good insurance to cover medical and I've broken more than one bass doing stupid things so why punish someone who is just trying to make a living?

Oh and BTW...try to keep in mind this was posted under bass humor and gig stories, so some replies attempting to make light of what happened should be expected.

Broken foot will heal, yes, but how much for the medical bills? How much does the dude lose in income from not being able to work? How many weeks missed rent?

And as for the Strat - how do you know it wasn't a sentimental instrument given to the guy from a relative or friend that has passed on?

You don't know the full details, so it seems unfair to pass any judgement.

Plus, dumping the bouncer is something I would expect an ape to do.

Lastly - "Bass Humour And Gig Stories" doesn't mean every story has to be funny.

 

[tZer]

Oh and BTW...try to keep in mind this was posted under bass humor and gig stories, so some replies attempting to make light of what happened should be expected.

Is that what you are doing? Being humorous and making light of the story?

Oh... I get it now...

 

[bassmeknik]

That's what I like about you Mr. Eye. You are truly a rocker with the proper attitude, and that's no BS.

When I was young and dumb, broken foot or no, some SOB would have paid on the spot, and in blood, for my broken guitar and foot.

Now that I'm old and wiser, and broken to the point I can no longer do the crazy dance, I'd lick my wounds and plot revenge, but those plans would never include civil court for such a trivial matter.

Civil court is where you seek relief for serious wrongs not covered by the criminal code. Call me silly, but a broken foot and easily replaceable guitar are not what I'd call serious wrongs. A broken foot will heal, and a custom shop strat can be duplicated by the same custom shop that built the first one. It's a hassle, but it's by no means a serious life changing event. A serious wrong would be something which could not be made whole like being paralyzed by a broken back, or having your legs crushed to the point they are essentially pegs on which you balance ( carefully) because the alternative, at least according to the medical professionals, is to lop them off just above the knee.

In truth and seriousness, I'd take my 20 plus years of experience writing letters to various government contractors warning them of the dire consequences of failing to meet a contracted delivery date, failing to conform to drawing specifications, etc, and make it sound like the full weight of the legal system would be brought to bear on all parties responsible for injuring me and breaking my equipment. I would end said letter with a request for a one on one meeting with the club owner(s) to discuss options. I would then send that letter in hopes it would lead to a reasoned discussion on what to do about what happened. If they refused to respond or did so with an effoff attitude, I'd decide at that point what to do next, but IME, given a chance to be reasonable the vast majority of us will do exactly that.

Call me easy, but dumping the bouncer would be enough to satisfy me. Why punish the owner for the ignorance of someone else? I pay for good insurance to cover medical and I've broken more than one bass doing stupid things so why punish someone who is just trying to make a living?

Oh and BTW...try to keep in mind this was posted under bass humor and gig stories, so some replies attempting to make light of what happened should be expected.

Let me break YOUR foot and guitar and see how YOU react...

You aren't even a little funny. You sir need an attitude adjustment