So, for the big reveal. I formed a pickup band for the 6:00 - 7:00 pm portion of the Gig#1. My regular band would play Gig#2,and then get over to Gig#1 for 7 pm, relieving the pickup band after they finished the jazz portion of the night at Gig#1.
To this pickup band I gave a lot of easy, easy standards, since few of them had played together before, and I'd never met two of them. I did rehearse two of them once to test a questionable guy out, which led to some work on my part, but he was ready for the gig. I also gave this pickup group 1/2 hour of dance/vocal charts -- easy songs -- Stand by Me, Moondance, Mustang Sally (no chart on that one), Pride and Joy and more, just in case my regular band was delayed in getting over to Gig#1 to finish out the dance portion of the night.
At Gig#2, I put the singer on for the first half of the festival and then she left way early -- in time to join the pickup band for the vocal portion of Gig#1. In any case, the singer had over an hour to get to from Gig#1 to Gig#2, and arrived early -- she could start the 7 pm - 9 pm dance portion of the night even if the instrumentalists coming from Gig#2 were delayed, using the pickup band.
We used an electronic kit at Gig#2 since it breaks down fast. I played through a DI box at Gig#2 so I didn't have any backline to haul as I rushed to get over to Gig#1.
We set up for Gig #1 at 12:30 pm, and got to Gig#2 way early for setup -- which started 10 minutes early since we were so early for Gig#2 setup. The substitute drummer, bass player, guitarist all used our equipment to make it easy to switch over.
I also phoned all nine musicians the night before "in case they had any questions". Was dismayed that most hadn't downloaded the charts or read the email with load-in instructions, which were complicated at Gig#2. But I gave them verbally to them all and asked them to over-plan, given the number of moving parts.
I also thought about every single problem, and had a backup plan. Only one item was a problem -- the sound people didn't have a DI box even though it was on our input list and stage layout. I pulled out my Sans Amp and used that.
Essentially, it went off without a hitch. Although, it was a 15 hour day from leaving home to arriving home. But it worked. Both clients were happy, we still made money (Gig#2 subsidized Gig#1). It was a lot of work, but good planning made the day of the gigs very unstressful. We were so prepared I wasn't nervous about any of it, although I was on "heightened monitoring" so to speak.
It underscores the importance of having a lot of contacts. To pull this night off, which was unusually busy for all the jazz musicians in town, I worked with 10 different musicians. I had to fill the drum and keyboard slots 3 times for Gig #1 because Gig#2 was a high profile jazz festival, they made excuses for committing to Gig#1 when they shouldn't have. I think they got a better offer at the music festival and bailed on my gig #1.
So, it was a success overall. Both clients want us back, so that is good. Money made was acceptable overall -- Mission accomplished.
