I think I have to walk.

[Outshined91]

Just a clarifying question... what instrument are you playing in the group? If the band manager is playing upright, it might be kinda hard to find another upright player into your music in time for either gig if you gave him the boot. If you're considering giving him the boot over leaving yourself, make sure you can find a new upright player. In other words, since he can't make it to the 10/11 gig, if you can't find a replacement then walk - you have no reason to stay if you can't play the gig that you said was important.

PS. Would be interested in hearing the "Bohemian Rhapsody" guitar solo on banjo

 

[lfmn16]

I confirmed these dates with the guys, and booked the shows.

Everything else is irrelevant and I wouldn't muddy the waters by bringing it up. It doesn't matter if the other job if your dream job, paid $5,000 and was across the street.

I'd call the other members, explain what happened and ask if they are OK with cancelling a job they all agreed to. Regardless of what they said, I'd part ways with the BL. Maybe it's time to replace the BL.

 

[esoxhntr]

Am I wrong to feel that 1) that's a hugely disrespectful move on his part and 2) that's highly unprofessional? It just makes no sense to me to cancel a good paying job nearby for a low paying job far away, not to mention the fact that we're an Americana band with nowhere near the instrumentation or vocal skill required to play Queen. I don't know man. I think I have to walk.

"Main booker" dude is now "main doucher" dude. This situation - that he has created - is disrespectful, unprofessional, and non-sensical. But what else is going on here? How do you go from a 5 piece band down to a duo? Also, what communications have been going on behind your back? I can't help but feel that you've been sabotaged by more than one guy. You need to find out who's been talking to who...

 

[DustyElmer]

Just a clarifying question... what instrument are you playing in the group? If the band manager is playing upright, it might be kinda hard to find another upright player into your music in time for either gig if you gave him the boot. If you're considering giving him the boot over leaving yourself, make sure you can find a new upright player. In other words, since he can't make it to the 10/11 gig, if you can't find a replacement then walk - you have no reason to stay if you can't play the gig that you said was important.

PS. Would be interested in hearing the "Bohemian Rhapsody" guitar solo on banjo

I’m playing 5 string banjo in this group. The group is really centered around 2 guys, the guitarist/singer and upright bassist, so ousting him is sort’ve out of the question.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Thank you all for your replies. You really gave me a lot of clarity on the situation. But there’s more!

They called a practice tonight, and as I’m leaving the main booker, who is also the upright bass player, tells me he can’t make the show this coming Friday. So I have to call the venue owner tomorrow and see if he even still wants us. It’d be an acoustic guitar/banjo duo. I’ve honestly never been more angry about a musical situation in my life.

It really solidified my resolution to be done with this once and for all.

Of pro sub bassists we have plenty. Do you want old young blonde brunette tall or short?

 

[ddnidd1]

The 'main booker's actions have basically told you to bend over and grab your ankles, so it would seem you two have already parted ways.

 

[LBS-bass]

Money isn't the be all and end all, especially as a local musician unlikely to ever be able to make a living at it. Friendship or playing with people there own age may be a bigger deciding factor. But you don't know if you don't ask.

Money isn't everything, but when someone arbitrarily takes $200 out of your pocket for no good reason, that amounts to theft in my book. These are things that should be discussed in an adult fashion and if that discussion doesn't occur, the guy is stealing.

 

[40Hz]

Of pro sub bassists we have plenty. Do you want old young blonde brunette tall or short?

Tall redhead please? Ideally with a personality like Miranda Otto’s?

 

[40Hz]

I’m of the school that says: Do whatever you want. But don’t make me look like a fool. And never - even once - make me break a promise.

Yeah. Time for you to take your leave.

Luck!

 

[fabubass]

Wow, that's pretty unpro to do that to the band. I'll bet you any amount of money that he's getting paid a good deal more with the Queen band and offered you guys crap money to do their gig so he could pocket the difference. I'd see about ousting the guy, and if that isn't possible, I'd definitely take a hike.

Agree 150% with Jimmy. The guy that booked the Queen Gig ( tribute gig pay a hell of a lot more than a 100.00 a man, Is getting the Lion's share of the gig and giving everyone else a little taste. $40.00???? Tell him to go screw himself and get a couple other players ( if the rest of the band supports the Queen Gig decision) to cover the gig!

 

[murph7489]

This Queen gig makes zero sense..have you played queen songs? I mean they are pretty complex and vocal heavy. I don't think a month to prepare is quite enough to pull off a good queen tribute even if you have a singer that can do Mercury and from the sounds of it, you don't really have the personnel or correct instrumentation to do it..upright bass??..Banjo?

The ale house is probably going to be a little miffed that you have booked two gigs as a band and the first one is now a duo and the second one is now out of the question...that's probably it for that venue for future gigs...

You obviously can't continue with this band they are committing to gigs then backing out, you can't do that. Not only is it unprofessional it is also a major detriment to the possibility of getting more gigs, word does get around and this band will be low on the list of bands to call for events or gigs..

I would try to put something together for this first and second ale house gigs..starting a new band. Sounds like you can book gigs. You will never be happy with this band now..one door closes and another one opens my friend..

 

[LBS-bass]

We should clarify something here. I play "tribute" shows which consist of multiple bands doing someone's music, at most 5 songs per band. That's way different from a tribute show where a band has to pull off a major amount of repertoire over three sets or so. I'm not clear about what kind of tribute show this is.

Nonetheless, it's still a crappy move from this guy to pull one show in favor of a lower paying show on that date, and it's not acceptable, regardless.

 

[two fingers]

I'll try to make this as concise as possible. Might be more of a vent than asking for advice, but I'm open to advice as well.

I play in a fairly successful local Americana band, and have been playing with them for 3 years. I'm 9 years older (35) than the youngest member, and have been around the block a couple times. Since the beginning I've noticed little things that made me scratch my head, things like a mysterious "band fund," delusions of grandeur, and almost always opting to play gigs that are farther away and for less money. That comes into play here.

A local ale house came to me in July to book us, and I checked with the guys and got the okay, gave the owner dates we're available, and we settled on 2 Fridays. The first one being this coming Friday 10/11 , the second one being a month away on 11/22. I confirmed these dates with the guys, and booked the shows. It's a nice little place, very nearby, we've not played there before, and it pays the going rate of $100+ per man.

A week or so ago I got a text from the main booker in the band, asking if I was available for this weird Queen cover show on 11/22, an hour and a half away, full band, with $200 to split between 5 guys. I told him we were booked at the ale house that night. He asked if I could reschedule, and I said no. The owner was good enough to give us 2 good paying dates, this is a good place to book through the winter when things dry up, and it's in my town where everyone knows me, so I don't want to flake out on this guy. Nothing else was said.

So I logged in to our shared band calendar and what do I see? He removed my booking for 11/22 and booked the Queen tribute show instead.

Am I wrong to feel that 1) that's a hugely disrespectful move on his part and 2) that's highly unprofessional? It just makes no sense to me to cancel a good paying job nearby for a low paying job far away, not to mention the fact that we're an Americana band with nowhere near the instrumentation or vocal skill required to play Queen. I don't know man. I think I have to walk.

Yeah that's nothing short of stupid. I would have to bounce too.

 

[CenTexThumper]

I'm calling Bravo Sierra on this whole situation. Check the details. This guy's been pulling your lariat from the get go.

 

[pcake]

i'm guessing that the main booker dude is either getting a booking fee for the queen show or is doing a favor for someone for playing that show, and that favor is a mystery. i can think of many possibilities, but it doesn't really matter.

i'd talk to the other band guys and make sure they know what's going on. young or not, they know that you checked availability, and that the two gigs you booked are much closer, pay more and could lead to further bookings at a good venue. the queen gig pays less, and how many americana music bookings would it lead to? i'm guessing an almost negative number...

the bottom line - i wouldn't work with someone who books shows after a show is booked. my main concern isn't whether that means they don't respect me, but i care deeply about keeping my word, and i care about the reliability of my word and the word of the band being our bond. i object deeply to anyone removing any listing i or any band member put on the calendar or spreadsheet. and i care about someone with decision power making decisions that make no sense at all.

OP, please keep us posted.

 

[interp]

Don’t walk. Run. Now.

 

[btmpancake]

It's a nice little place, very nearby, we've not played there before, and it pays the going rate of $100+ per man.

$100+??!! Man the good subs should be all over that if you hurry and get the word out there and they might come from further out than you'd think. Keep your local decent paying ale house bookings..do not cancel. BTW... it seems your other booking guy is a rat.

 

[catcauphonic]

Going off of the info that you've given here... 'main booker' is either not wanting to miss out on his booking kickback, or is a total moron Inconsiderate to boot!

Interested to know how the other mates feel about that kind of dubious behavior? How the majority votes in that band should answer your question regarding sticking around or leaving them in your rear view mirror.

What instrument do you play in this outfit?
Can you even pull off a Queen set??

Odd behavior regardless

 

[Downunderwonder]

Americana band playing Queen isn't really here nor there in my book. You just have to own it in your own style.

Not that OP should play that gig after getting shafted up down and sideways of course.

 

[Kmonk]

The "main booker" is wrong. Something doesn't add up. Why would he take a gig further away for less money? He is probably getting more than the $200 he told you. I would get speak with the rest of the band and see how they feel, then have a band meeting. If you cannot resolve the issue, either leave the band or fire the "main booker". It doesn't matter if he is the BL or not. He can still be replaced.