Guests joining in

[juancaminos]

Where I grew up in California if I went to a friends gig I was always asked to get up an play a song. If a friend came to see us they would be asked to play a song. It seemed like the way things were done. In AZ this is not the case although I have experienced it it is not a given like in Cali in the 70's.

So the first question: is this practise or courtesy alive in your area?
Secone question: When asked to come up and play or sing a song do you know when to leave (the stage)? I think one song unless you are asked to stay for another.

 

[FilTurd]

We always bring or have an open invitation at our shows. 80% of our live set is sing a longs... Probably 60% of the full length album is sing a longs. We love it, people up with us...

So Wa it is common. I think in most cases 1 song. In our case it doesn't matter because we don't care as long as everyone is having fun...

 

[catcauphonic]

Hmm, I don't see this done much at all in the few diff areas of the country that I've lived in. I'm assuming you're talking about cover bands/songs??

If so, I've seen my share of them (mostly in my 20's & residing on the east coast), but only on occasion would an established band bring up an old friend/mate, and it lasted only as long as the hosts wanted it to (usually just 1number... then "thanks" *applause* & goodbye.)

 

[buldog5151bass]

Unless it is an "and guests" show, I decline when asked. Unless the player has something to add, and has some crowd recognition, I don't ask other to join. You are getting paid to entertain the crowd, not have a party.

 

[acid bass]

I was in a band where the drummer was notorious for doing this and it drove me f-ing nuts. Because he not only invited drummers up, but bass players and guitarists too. No, he did not ask us beforehand if it was ok for someone else to use our equipment.

My current band has a no guests policy mostly because people in the audience don't know if you're inviting up a personal friend or it's a free-for-all. So if you bring up one person then you start getting requests the rest of the night to let someone else up there and it's chaos.

 

[redwingxix]

def not. You're paid by the venue to provide entertainment not indulge crowd members that want to put the three chords they know to good use. Plus, unless it's someone that brings something special (like a mando or violin player) that your ensemble doesn't have for a song or two then anybody that doesn't get a chance to do it and wants to is going to be resentful and you're the band of snobs that thinks their too good for everybody. If pals want to jam out with the band for a song or two have them show up at practice.

 

[buldog5151bass]

The only time I did it was with a band that had an alto sax player. At one gig, someone asked if we did Mustang Sally. Yes.

Turns out there were two horn players there, who seldom got a chance to play rock or blues, and were returning from a rehearsal from something else. When played well with trumpet, alto sax and tenor sax, MS sounds great.

 

[waveman]

Personally I think it's great when guests play with a band or with ours. But, singers... everybody thinks they can sing and they can't, and singer, understandably, does not want people singing into her mic. I keep an extra mic and chord for when we have a guest backup singer who occasionally shows up. It shows that you aren't stuck-up, some musician comrade, and is fun to see how the dynamics change... My drummer and guitarist aren't big fans... lol

 

[dreamadream99]

Nah. That’s what jams are for. We want all our musical friends to come up when we’re hosting a jam, performance? No way. Not a time for bringing up “special guests”—definitely not a time to be trying out unknown players.

 

[Spent]

When I go see my old band the inevitably ask me to play a song or two. I always politely decline, they have a new guy and I don’t want to encroach on his territory. I have done a full show with them, but that’s because when I left I told them I’d help them out if they needed me, but that’s different. Other than that, it doesn’t seem to happen where I live.

 

[armyadarkness]

I love it when someone in the audience comes up and asks to play a song on our set list... So, just because you never left your bedroom, and aren't disciplined enough to be in a band, I'm supposed to grant you 3 minutes in the spot light so that you can showcase your "Man in the Box" skilz?

I have some really strict rules in my band... first of all, don't post the set list, second, no guitar players "noodling" between songs, playing songs that aren't on the set list, third, don't ever cover songs like Man in the Box, because every bass player over 11 knows it.

I'm actually asked quite a bit if some stranger can use my $7K rig and play the bass part... I got tired or arguing, so I just started saying "sure you can use my stuff, I'll can you up when we play Disco Inferno". Then I don't see them for the rest of the night.

Now if a buddies band was in the house that night, I'd absolutely ask him or them to do a song.

 

[BassAndReeds]

I personally think it’s unprofessional to have people come and play/sing with the hired band, when it’s not an Open Mic. However, every band I’ve played with allows friend audience members to come play during the show. $75-$175 bar gigs. Is what it is.

 

[2112]

I was in a band where the drummer was notorious for doing this and it drove me f-ing nuts. Because he not only invited drummers up, but bass players and guitarists too. No, he did not ask us beforehand if it was ok for someone else to use our equipment.

If there is a better reason to "fire the drummer", I don't know what it is.

Might also be a good time to show him an alternate definition for "laying down a beat". LOL.

 

[foolforthecity]

Pretty standard practice in my area but only between known good players from various bands. It's all a part of how we advertise for each other. Typically a song or two.

 

[BAG]

I have a friend's band that does this all the time. They are an originals band that tours all year every year throughout all of Australia, Germany, the UK and recently some of the US. They are some of the best musicians in the country and know people all over here and the world who are also brilliantly talented. The BL has this knack of incorporating others into their songs and themselves into others originals. Every person I've seen play with them knows how to improvise extremely well. You won't get called up on stage unless you really know what you are doing.

We do the same if there is a musical friend in the audience.

You're paid by the venue to provide entertainment not indulge crowd members that want to put the three chords they know to good use

Random audience members..... never!

 

[Joedog]

The blues scene here is like a big family. Being asked to sit in happens all the time. It's all good. Lots of good players.

 

[REV]

A band I was in for awhile had a few regular followers who we would let sit in (mostly singers). This went on for a couple of years and then the band broke up. One woman who used to sit in with us decided to start a band and asked me if I would like to join. I didn't have much going on at that time so I said yes. She was very inexperienced and had trouble knowing what key to sing in but after about 3 months we did our first gig. At the end of the night we had torn down everything and we were loading all of our equipment back into our rehearsal space, it was about 3:30 AM. She looked at me and said " this is hard work". Later that week she quit the band.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

We know a lot of people in other bands. They show up sometimes to see what we're doing. It is rare for any of them to want to sit in, although our BL will bring up a singer every now and then to "help her out." And we have one guy who shows up at almost every gig who is asked to come up and sing "I Saw Her Standing There." He's always flat, and he always makes the speech about "I hope we passed the audition." I used to think he was a waste of time, but now I'm upset if he's not there, because he's part of the show.

 

[rtslinger]

We have a harmonica player who has join us on stage every time he is available and we've booked the place ourselves, he really adds to our band. But I too hate when someone wants to come up and sing a song and I don't know them, usually just tell them the club doesn't allow it, but if it is a agency gig no one but us plays no matter who shows up. I remember the one time someone kind forced our singers hand, the guy brought 8 people with him and they were hoping they could hear him sing with the band, his friends claimed he sang in a band in Pa. He wanted to sing a Stones song. So anyway, one of the few times I caved he got up there prancing around like Jagger chicken wings movements and all and of course the first audio sound that came out of him was soooooooooo bad he straight up was the worst singer I'd ever had the displeasure of suffering through a song with. No timing, tone deaf, I remember it like it was yesterday. I think of him every time someone suggests bringing someone up. I wish I would have video taped it

 

[2cooltoolz]

Yeah....uh, no.