So it looks like we have ruled out any possibility that the OP could have made a mistake anywhere along the line, so the basis for thread is effectively resolved. Good work, everyone.
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How would you react to this?
- Thread starter PauFerro
- Start date
"We're looking for an upright player" is code for something else.
You could have showed up with your brand new upright, and you still wouldn't have been the right guy for the gig (in their minds).
Gaa, my apologies Pau, that's what I get for trying to read and comprehend a long thread when I should be sleeping!
Really? Club owner/restaurant owner/venue owner wants a 40's vibe. Visually, ebg is not going to provide that vibe. Half the time, they don't even care what it sounds like. They want ambiance.
The gig called for upright. You don't play upright. You lose the gig.
As far as them deciding to continue on, name the trio and take bookings... I assume it's a free country? (Can't tell where you're from) You don't OWN the dude. And.... You have a list of basically every talented musician in your area on "your list". You can't get upset every time any of them decide to do something without you, first calls or not.
You're missing important details d-dave, perhaps due to the length of the thread. I've pretty much lost interest in this thread now, probably because I have to keep compensating for lack of understanding of the full details.
Then the "important" details should have been included in the initial post that asked how I'd react. Lol
That sounds like speculation. I suppose it is possible, but from experience there are plenty of scenes in my city (mainly the jazz scene) where upright is the norm and only a very, very small number of players can show up to a gig with an electric and be accepted. It isn't unusual to specify what instruments you need when booking the gig. I don't think that in itself means the drummer lied about why OP was not selected for this job.
Would I be justified in getting annoyed at one of my first-call guys if they needed a fretless player and couldn't use me because I don't play or so much as own that instrument?
In one of my first jobs out of school, my duties included scanning the major daily newspapers for mentions of our company. (This was well before Google Alerts.) One day, I ran across an ad that struck me with its truth and simplicity, and it's stuck with me ever since. I don't even remember the company or service being advertised, but I remember the headline: "You don't get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate."
Try to distance yourself from drama (even if it is your own) - it is insanely counterproductive. (I know... easier said than done when it is something we are passionate about).
Ask yourself the following two questions...
1) What do you want as the outcome?
2) What positive/constructive steps do you need to take in order to achieve that goal?
You can't undo what has already happened. You might as well move forward the best way possible.
Ask yourself the following two questions...
1) What do you want as the outcome?
2) What positive/constructive steps do you need to take in order to achieve that goal?
You can't undo what has already happened. You might as well move forward the best way possible.
Honestly, he'd be done with me. He's booking gigs that otherwise you may or may not have been getting. You're being cut out. Seems he has no plans to use you. Kinda low handed IMHO. But I've found the music community is a cut throat one everywhere. I can't buy a gig here. You got guys playing in 3-4 different bands and not throwing bones to anyone!
Agree with Spiff. Really, the only levers you have over the behavior of others are 1) goodwill, 2) threats, and 3) contracts. Let's stipulate that #2 is just bad business. If goodwill alone allows for unacceptable variances in the behavior of others, then you have to resort to a more defined contractual situation. But be sure to account for the fact that introducing contracts to the pool at this point will change the goodwill dynamic and might net you a less desirable situation than the status quo.
so basically you do gigs, with a rotating cast of musicians. he choose to form a band with a stable line up. so really are 2 very different things to me. you guys were not in a committed band with the same people every time. being first on a list you call still doesnt mean hes going to do every gig with you, or vice versa. honestly you sound like a boyfriend that wanted to be free to run around town with any girl he wanted and then was surprised when his girlfriend ditched him for something stable. lol
I don't ever hire anyone with the expectation that they will hire me for gigs. I hire people because I know they will show up prepared and will not make me look bad. If they hire me later on for something else because we really hit it off personally or musically, that's a bonus.
To me it doesn't make sense to hire a musician based on how many gigs they will get me....
I could be interpreting this wrong.
To me it doesn't make sense to hire a musician based on how many gigs they will get me....
I could be interpreting this wrong.
OK
I'm not sure if everyone here is aware of Pau Ferro/Bedwards posting history, so I will support/denigrate as I see fit, as only another person in the world.
Brent has been trying to grow a jazz scene in his town, with him at the top of the tree.
His vision is to have many like-minded musicians under his "umbrella"
He will farm out bands to clients as he chooses.
Some, if not all, will include him
He pays well, and takes a scrape off the top.
I'm not sure if everyone here is aware of Pau Ferro/Bedwards posting history, so I will support/denigrate as I see fit, as only another person in the world.
Brent has been trying to grow a jazz scene in his town, with him at the top of the tree.
His vision is to have many like-minded musicians under his "umbrella"
He will farm out bands to clients as he chooses.
Some, if not all, will include him
He pays well, and takes a scrape off the top.
Fat Steve
The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
If this is all correct, then I suppose the obvious question would be the following: How can a bassist expect to be at the top of the tree in a local jazz scene without playing upright? That just seems unrealistic and naive.
This is the band that was formed with Bill Gates as the main creative influence, no?
OP - From a personal level, I see your point and sympathize with your frustration. As you get more into the business side of music, things get, well, more businesslike. Your profile says you teach business. Business is business, and often it's not about the warm fuzzies or gratitude or loyalty. Unless you have exclusive contracts with specific players, everyone's free to pursue what they want.
MDBass
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- Nov 7, 2012
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Curious what the "host of reasons" for committing to this are when there are other drummers you prefer, but now seems like perfect opportunity to make one of those other drummers your first call guy instead
I would stop giving him gigs and somewhere along the line he will call you and realize you gave him more work and he misses the relationship.
