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Gigs - Re:Punctuality

MatticusMania

MatticusMania

LANA! HE REMEMBERS ME!
Sep 10, 2008
9,565
152
42
Pomona, SoCal
www.facebook.com
#1
I was just offered a gig for our band next Thursday. We could have taken a 10pm or 11pm spot, but our singer/guitarist wont get off work until 10:30. Its enough time for him to get to the venue with 5 to 10 minutes to spare, especially if the show runs slightly behind, as they usually do. Then he says the latest he'd get out is 10:45 and I just said "nope, not taking this gig". I really cant stand being the first person at the venue (and the last to join the band, ha!) and sitting there waiting for everyone else to show up. Least of all when they all show up 10 minutes before we take the stage.


Has your band ever taken a gig where it was known at the time of confirmation that one of your members would not be able to arrive until last minute?
 
#3
Any Friday gig our lead singer can't make it until about 15 minutes after we start because he works at his restaurant. We try to book Saturdays when we can, but if not, we do 4-5 songs without him. As a courtesy I usually get his mic and cord ahead of time and set it up so there is no lag time. He walks on and we go. Works for us since 4 of us sing.
 
#4
We're pretty lucky that way.

Two of our members do music full time for a living so they can be there "whenever". Two others are self-employed so no issues there either. And I work for a corporation but I have a truckload of vacation time built up and an understanding boss so taking a couple of hours off on a Friday (or even the whole afternoon) is almost never a big hassle.
 
#5
I think that you are correct. If you are not able to cover his part for a while (like JZ75 can) in case of something unforeseen such as traffic, work problem, etc., you run the risk of damaging your reputation with the venue. Not worth it.
 
#8
I'll usually try to work something out with the venue, but if they tell me we have to start at x time or else we'll be ducked then I'll decline the gig. I have a problem with people not being punctual, and I hate it even more when it's either myself or one of my bands.
 
#9
jaywa said:
Jz75 - I hope your singer's not getting a full share of the pay for those gigs. I don't mind covering for another guy on setup every now and then but if it was SOP that would get old real fast.
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I do cut equal. When he belts out 30+ tunes when he arrives and has a great draw at places, it's all worth it. Playing the fraction pay game would only cause problems. We do try to book our gigs Saturdays if we can so it happens maybe 5x a year.
 
#10
Sure. There are times when players can't make it until the last minute and that's fine if it's expected and planned for. Unless this is a living most guys have other things going on in life besides that band. It's don't quit your day job before the first platinum selling album time for guys with jobs or businesses to run.

If I guy continually shows up late, in time being start time minus whatever, then maybe you need to talk it out to find out why. I was quit a band because I couldn't show up two hours before every gig like they all wanted to just so they could relax and schmooze. I had a business to run, it took me 15 minutes to set my rig up, and the PA was easily handled by one person.

In another band the drummer and I stored and toted the PA and did the stage setup and tear down of the same. We cut an extra cut off the top for that. You just work it out the best you can.
 
#11
HugeInJapan said:
Every gig my last band took was like that. No matter what the singer was doing, or what time he planned on leaving. He could never get there more than 15 minutes before we started.
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Hint: He doesn't want to help load in and obviously isn't interested in seeing the bands that go on before you. Not a team player.

I am a stickler for punctuality, remnants of the Corps. Be on time or be in another band. :spit:
 
#12
levis76 said:
Hint: He doesn't want to help load in and obviously isn't interested in seeing the bands that go on before you. Not a team player.
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Exactly. I lost patience working with those diva types quite a few years ago already and simply choose not to play that game anymore.

In my current band it's pretty much an unspoken rule that each member gets a free pass out of set-up once or maybe twice a year. Things happen in our personal lives or day jobs so we try to allow for that. OTOH, nobody takes advantage. In our band the assumption is that if you're in for the gig, you're in for the setup as well. Around here, no venues provide production so it's DIY for the bands. We have a 24,000-watt P.A., a pretty extensive light show, and no road crew... so it's really important that every member of the band carries their weight (literally) on that part of the deal.
 
#13
Nope. Neither of my bands takes a gig if there is any uncertainty. We're extremely punctual and always get to venues at the stated load-in time. I'm usually a little early so I can try and get a decent parking spot.
 
#16
HugeInJapan said:
Every gig my last band took was like that. No matter what the singer was doing, or what time he planned on leaving. He could never get there more than 15 minutes before we started.
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I used to play with a guitarist like that. He'd call and say he was "on his way" (15 minute drive), show up 45 minutes later and when we'd ask it would always be, "well, I had to stop for gas and then I picked up something to eat and I needed some strings"... etc. etc. Then he'd start re-stringing his guitar and by the time that was all done we had put up most of the P.A. already. Uber lame.

I realize a lot of musicians are not known for personal responsibility or good time management but this guy took it to a whole nother level.
 
#17
HolmeBass said:
How many people, besides me, really want to see the other bands? I know my BL has *zero* interest in seeing other bands, and that includes most touring acts as well. It just messes with the vignette he plays in his mind about his performances.
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I generally tend to like to see the other bands for two reasons: One, if they're good I'll enjoy it and, two, it's a courtesy thing for me.

That said, for recent gigs I've loaded in at the proper time and then had to leave the venue for various reasons.
 
#18
jmattbassplaya said:
I'll usually try to work something out with the venue, but if they tell me we have to start at x time or else we'll be ducked then I'll decline the gig. I have a problem with people not being punctual, and I hate it even more when it's either myself or one of my bands.
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Right. We're an original band, usually on a bill with a couple other bands. So if we dont start "on time", by the promoters standards, we're holding up other bands and the whole show in general. Not what I want to be doing. The last show we played our singer/guitarist (who booked the show) is calling me trying to find the venue as we're supposed to start setting up.

soulman969 said:
I quit a band because I couldn't show up two hours before every gig like they all wanted to just so they could relax and schmooze. I had a business to run, it took me 15 minutes to set my rig up, and the PA was easily handled by one person.
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Two hours is a lot of time, I wouldnt expect that. But, I dont think that arriving 30 minutes before start time is too much to ask. Its enough time to find whomever is running the show, coordinate, load in and grab a drink.

HolmeBass said:
How many people, besides me, really want to see the other bands?
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I do like to see other bands, sometimes. We've had a run recently of playing with some, IMO, subpar bands. It would be nice if promoters took some time to really put some good bands together. (or maybe my band sucks and I just dont know it?)

Marial said:
That said, for recent gigs I've loaded in at the proper time and then had to leave the venue for various reasons.
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I generally like to get to a venue an hour before I play. Partly to see the band before us, and partly to take my time loading in. If its not too late, or its a weekend gig I'll stick around after my set and watch the next band. If theyre good I'll have a beer and stick around, if theyre not, I'll cut out after a few songs.
 
#19
Yep. A husband/wife team (rhythm guitar/backup singer) would continually miss setup and show up halfway through soundcheck. They were friends of the bandleader, so he didn't say anything till the drummer and I blew up about it. It was hot and we had to carry everything through a complex to an outdoor stage. Needless to say, we were exhausted and then they show up all fresh and chirpy. If I hadn't been so tired there would have been mayhem, but instead just chewed them out. We were lying on the stage at the time, sucking down water, and never even got up. Just laid there and yelled, lol. Then on top of everything, rhythm guitarist knocks over my Explorer on stage during the show and chips it. God what a flood of bad memories. I could go on for days. Shamed them into helping load out and they whined and complained the whole time, then disappeared before we were done.

Anyway, I left the band specifically because the BL refused to do anything about them.
 

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