So a couple of Sat nights ago I had rather interesting gig experience. I was asked to do a gig with some guys I have been jamming with. I know their regular bass player so I was like Ok, No Sweat. FIgured he must have conflicts, checked with him and all was good. Then they told me the gig was on a casino cruise - run out past the 3 mile limit, sail around and gamble for a couple of hours type. I know the guy who owns the operation, shady SOB from my home town. Thought that was odd since usually those are single person with an acoustic kind of gigs. Just background/mood music. But the money was decent, so I figured what the heck.
Load in was a breeze. I had my bass (I took my Squire since my skull decorated guitar didn't seem appropriate), a cable, and a regular 200w Fender Combo Amp. That’s all. None of my regular stage gear, no in-ear, no pedals, nothing. Guitar player had the same, singer had a portable PA, no drummer. They ran a drum machine through my amp cause it was bigger that the others. We setup and did a quick sound check before the ship boarded, ate a quick bite and once the ship was off the docks and out of port we started playing.
Played Carolina Beach Music and some 60s-70s rock tunes. I had the setlist before hand so nothing unexpected. I don’t think the dance floor was ever empty. Lots of kids on the dance floor. Ended up being a really good night just long. Kind of night you are thankful for a great strap. We shut down as the ship came back into port and sat while the passengers unloaded. Got a chance to talk to the crew some. Seems the owner decided to start doing a “Family Night” and wanted more than the background music and people gambling all night scheme they normally do. Also found out the singer does a lot of the single guy with an acoustic gigs on this ship which is how he got this gig and knew what was what. The purser paid the lead singer and off we went.
They had the handicap golf cart waiting to haul our gear out to where we had parked. No sweat since it was so little gear. Got home about 2:00am Sunday morning.
Lead singer is already asking if we would think about it being a regular once-a-month gig. Oddest part of it all was the money. Seems the Lead Singer has an DBA/LLC because the ship/company owner requires it to pay out. So he is telling us that the gig will come with a 1099 to move the tax burden from his LLC to each of us. Not a real issue since what is a couple of thousand or so a year gonna do, just odd since most band gigs I have ever done were cash on the barrel. Least Tip jar still is. Tips were pretty good. Saw lots of kids putting a dollar in the tip jar over the night.
Seems the reason the regular bass player couldn’t do it is that he gets seasick! Talked with him on Monday, he and I are good with the band doing regular club/bar gigs with him and the casino gigs with me. His band so I wasn’t going to complain, just wanted to make sure he and I were good after the singer asked if I was interested in this gig as a regular monthly thing.
Load in was a breeze. I had my bass (I took my Squire since my skull decorated guitar didn't seem appropriate), a cable, and a regular 200w Fender Combo Amp. That’s all. None of my regular stage gear, no in-ear, no pedals, nothing. Guitar player had the same, singer had a portable PA, no drummer. They ran a drum machine through my amp cause it was bigger that the others. We setup and did a quick sound check before the ship boarded, ate a quick bite and once the ship was off the docks and out of port we started playing.
Played Carolina Beach Music and some 60s-70s rock tunes. I had the setlist before hand so nothing unexpected. I don’t think the dance floor was ever empty. Lots of kids on the dance floor. Ended up being a really good night just long. Kind of night you are thankful for a great strap. We shut down as the ship came back into port and sat while the passengers unloaded. Got a chance to talk to the crew some. Seems the owner decided to start doing a “Family Night” and wanted more than the background music and people gambling all night scheme they normally do. Also found out the singer does a lot of the single guy with an acoustic gigs on this ship which is how he got this gig and knew what was what. The purser paid the lead singer and off we went.
They had the handicap golf cart waiting to haul our gear out to where we had parked. No sweat since it was so little gear. Got home about 2:00am Sunday morning.
Lead singer is already asking if we would think about it being a regular once-a-month gig. Oddest part of it all was the money. Seems the Lead Singer has an DBA/LLC because the ship/company owner requires it to pay out. So he is telling us that the gig will come with a 1099 to move the tax burden from his LLC to each of us. Not a real issue since what is a couple of thousand or so a year gonna do, just odd since most band gigs I have ever done were cash on the barrel. Least Tip jar still is. Tips were pretty good. Saw lots of kids putting a dollar in the tip jar over the night.
Seems the reason the regular bass player couldn’t do it is that he gets seasick! Talked with him on Monday, he and I are good with the band doing regular club/bar gigs with him and the casino gigs with me. His band so I wasn’t going to complain, just wanted to make sure he and I were good after the singer asked if I was interested in this gig as a regular monthly thing.
--- congrats on your new gig playing bass! 
