Hired gun?....... not so bad at all!

Nice! I've got a similar thing, just every other week. Easy, usually a fun (and early) evening, no sweat, and we pocket a few bucks. Works for me!

 

I'm very jealous! I've been looking to get into that but I'm discovering that my new hometown absolutely hates hired guns and practically forces everyone to do the "band" thing. Enjoy your new hired gun status!!!

 

I love the hired gun gigs. I wish I could play more of them. I only get a few per month, but they're almost exactly like the ones you described.

I'm working on getting more, though.

 

I would do it in a heart beat to cut down on the typical ******** band drama. My cover band had a fill-in gig offer last night, that would have paid $133 to each of us- we didn't get it because my drummer didn't even answer his phone to confirm if he was available.
Hell, I'd even play some of this newer crap like "Happy" by Pharell, so long as I got $150 min per gig. Just show up, play bass (no singing), setup and teardown my bass amp only, and leave.

 

Why would he be expected to answer his phone for a last minute gig? When I'm with family or friends, or just want some peace and quiet I don't answer (or even carry) my phone. In my band(s) we have a two week rule ... if the gig being offered is less than two weeks away one or more of us might be otherwise occupied. That might be with another band, or just private time ... no explanation is necessary. So we usually would decline the gig, or if taken, it would be understood that one or more subs might be required ... making easier still to just decline the gig. It works very well. I suppose it might not be so great if we were really hungry for the gig ... but fortunately, we're not.

 

Dude being a hired gun is the best, congrats on the dope new gig!

 

I do it from time to time, but one band in particular makes it pretty stressful because of the BL.

 

I agree, I never understood people being concerned with what the BL makes on a gig where they themselves are being paid a predetermined flat rate. Having been on the BL side there were times that the subs did better than I did.

 

Im not gonna lie I have also enjoyed lots of the gigs that I was just a hired gun at! they were fun and were very low stress plus everybody I had to work with was fun!! haha eventually that gig turned into me becoming their bass player tho!! oops lol glad you are enjoying your hired gun gigs as well!!

 

That's for sure! If they do the extra work, they should get paid for it. Once had a hired gun drummer take issue that he made less than the singing guitar player I worked with regularly (bigmouth!). I told him you don't sing or book the band or have to bring any PA/lights to the gig. He said, "I don't care. I'm still working just as hard on the gig." Um, no you're not, dude. He got what I told him he would get and I never called him again.

OTOH, one time I negotiated a higher rate of pay for me as a hired gun than anyone else in the band who was a regular just because I wouldn't leave the house for less than $X. All depends how desperate they are. But generally, you're offered a fee, you either take it or leave it, and you don't worry what anyone else makes. My regular band's drummer makes more than us, but he does the work and we get paid fair.

 

This- my band is DEEP 70s hard rock covers- so our opportunities to gig are somewhat limited. I am talking music that mostly other musicians love and get like Black Sabbath and Grand Funk Railroad, but not too many songs that get the drunk ladies dancing...

 

I like all of this talk here. As a BL, and someone who kind of hates being a sideman (I get frustrated when the band leader wastes my time, and isn't organized, and comes up with strange arrangements I'll never play again), I want to work with musicians just like you guys. They don't fight me on repertoire. They seem to like the fact I don't expect much of them other than to play well. The ones who are willing to do sales appreciate getting a commission -- I encourage it.

Part of the reason they like it is that I pick songs that fit most peoples' skills, for subbing reasons. And for the first call guys, I find out what the like to play, and then pick songs that are easily sub-abble, but are in the domain of music they love.

One new guy I just brought on love Grover Washington Junior, so I put three of his tunes in our set list, and we will learn them all at his firat rehearsal so he knows that yes, I'm trying to be benevolent. Of course, they fit our repertoire, so it's a two-way backscratch -- but his appreciation for Grover is what encourage me to put them into the repertoire.

They show up dressed the way I want them to --which is normally what the client wants. All these things are items that other peer-based musicians fought me on in the past. Congrats guys, on being good contractors!

 

Oh, I'll fight you on repertoire

 

I'll listen, and if your reasons focus on a) the suggested repertoire is hard to sub b) not in the genre c) doesn't fit the band or c) isn't well charted, then I may well change my mind. But if not, I'd expect you to play the song, because that's what I'm paying you for -- and by the way there are three guys waiting to take your place in the band. (As Frank Zappa said -- would you like an aisle seat or a window seat?).

Don't mean to be hard-nosed, but I no longer let musicians walk all over me anymore. I did that for about a decade and it stinks. Stinks bad.

There's room for listening and changing my mind, but ultimately, as the guy who pays all the bills, books the gigs, and spends a lot of time networking and establishing relations (and NEW venues for jazz that haven't yet existed), often at the expense of my own musical development, I'm gonna have to do what's efficient.

 

Well just bear in mind that I'm also playing songs with our band that I fought against and lost Occasionally I win one, though.

 

Oh, I'd love something like that.

 

I am in a similar situation - we are a band, but we operate in many ways the same as you do. BL does bookings, deals with venue. He lets me know what I will make (he knows my range of acceptance) and we all have our job to do. Gear is always simple, so load/unload is under 30 minutes, including PA. We have only had one rehearsal in the last year, so my time invested in the band is this: know the material, show up to gigs, set up/tear down efficiently, play well and wear what the BL asks us to wear. BL chooses the material - I like it so there is no issue for me. We are all seasoned performing artists, so rehearsals aren't required. If new material needs some work, we sometimes work through it on a break. I can opt out of the work given enough advance notice, as the band goes on whether I am available or not. I try not to miss much as the sub can easily become the new permanent member. Overall it works, I make 100+ per show, and it is a lot less hassle than the big production shows we used to do.

 

This is a mindset I don't understand. I see a lot of people, particularly guitar players, who absolutely refuse to play a song. I've seen one or two get almost violent about it.
There are a lot of songs I don't like, but if the band wants to play the song, okay.
Not faulting you, Jimmy. You are one of the more rational people here, but the only reason I have ever objected, but not refused, is because I didn't think the band sounded good playing it. Maybe that's what you're saying?
But, if I know a band plays a genre I don't care to play, I just don't accept the gig. I probably don't know the material, anyway.