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My Band or My Conscience

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#81
bad_andy said:
Thanks for the input, everyone. It was thoughtful, diverse and gave me much to think about.

After consideration, I guess that I do have to weigh my professional obligation to the band against whether or not that I feel this is genuinely a moral issue. It's an important distinction. On reflection, I suppose that the answer is that while the event seems in very poor taste and the group is one with whom I disagree on both their message and their tactics, they aren't fundamentally criminal or immoral.

This means that I'm obligated to honor my commitment to the band. I'm going to hold my nose, play the gig with professionalism, and move on with things. I believe that the sentiment that "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" is applicable here.
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This is what I would have done also.

There are many shades of grey on this stuff. On the one hand you have the various political parties. Quite polarizing if you're deep into one camp or the other. Even these, some may balk at appearing at fundraisers. But certainly they're mainstream, disagreeable messages depending on your leanings, but leaning towards the merely philosophically objectionable rather than morally objectionable. Have to be more of a zealot to refuse these gigs. But if that's your passion, its a big deal to you... maybe you won't go there.

In the middle, various causes such as right to life vs pro-choice for instance. Now you can be getting into more of a morally objectionable stance. Easier to see someone boycotting gigs here if you feel strongly.

Then you have Nazi's and NAMBLA as Jimmy put it, which I would think would be on everyone's do not play list.

But there's a wide spectrum of stuff to cover, not all will have the same impact on others that they do on you.

Randy
 
#83
steveksux said:
I usually like to set up on the high hat side... but in this case, I'd make an exception....

Wasn't there a thread about the guy in this picture? Something about him being pissed off about the singer? He sure looks pissed...

Another good reason to go wireless, you can't be forced into a certain... um.. less than desireable spot!

Randy
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That's Nick in Mesa, and that picture didn't last long last time it was up. I'm surprised it's still here.
 
#84
bad_andy said:
I do think that there are reasons to turn down work, but I don't think this is quite that situation. Someone asked if we were being asked to play a Nazi rally. I'd turn that down without thinking about it and would stop working with a band that expected that from me. But while I don't like what they stand for and would not lend my services to them even for pay as a solo performer, this group is nothing near that extreme or inherently immoral (or well organized, for that matter).

So before we start bashing the idealists in the thread, any of us would have to admit that someone who stands up for what they believe is admirable so long as the good outweighs the negative consequences of that decision. Sometimes doing the right thing means struggling to pay the rent. But in this case, I realized that I do still owe it to myself as a professional and to the other band members to honor my obligation to the band. I almost overlooked that and in hindsight I'm glad I didn't.

Thanks for helping me see that, guys.
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There's some mighty rational thought right there.
 
#87
steveksux said:
Wasn't there a thread about the guy in this picture? Something about him being pissed off about the singer? He sure looks pissed...



Randy
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Munjibunga said:
That's Nick in Mesa, and that picture didn't last long last time it was up. I'm surprised it's still here.
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I just deleted my post. Stevesux, you should probably delete the photo in your post.
 
#89
Don't forget, you're just the bass player. Nobody's going to ask you, or the drummer for that matter, anything other than maybe, "Where's the men's room?" or "You gonna eat that sandwich?". On the other hand, it seems to me that the frontman or guitarist might have to answer more pertinent questions that you do. Point is, as the bass player IMO you've got a bit less to worry about.

Then again, maybe Mike Huckabee will be there. Then you guys can talk gear all day long! ;)
 
#92
Your management isn't doing you any favors on this one. Who are they working for? It's certainly not you. And they lied to you about the gig? B.S. A separate issue from whether you should play the gig.
 
#94
MysticMichael said:
You tell Dr. Teeth that if the OP goes ahead with this gig, he's ALREADY involved in politics... :eyebrow:

MM
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Playing the gig doesn't make you involved. That's like saying the stage magician is doing a political gig because the comedians around him are so politically slanted.

When you try and the adolescent approach of anarchy, **** the system! type dumbness do you actually get involved in politics.

You arn't involved unless you openly show your political stance and I would never let anyone tell me what MY opinion was based on what my Boss said.
 
#98
This is certainly a dilemma (even though you already made up your mind, it's a great question we should all be thinking about). Management definitely did you wrong here, and you have every right to turn down the gig. Personally, I would be much happier in the long run not playing a show like that, even if it hurt financially in the short term. The fact is, your band will be a public face of the rally, it will likely be featured in promotional material, and may even end up featured in media coverage of the event.

Part of staying true to your values and principles is making sacrifices in order to honor them.

However, life is never that simple, and your obligation to your family and your band are important. In that regard, I fully understand and respect your decision to play the show. It may be a bitter pill to swallow but you've decided it to be the best decision, and I wish you the best in making it.

EDIT: changed some awkward phrasings.
 
#99
What gets me is the idea that playing a gig is somehow neutral, idealistically. You (who say this) are saying making money and putting your ideas about other facets of life on the shelf is number one. THAT IS AN IDEAL. Putting money on a lower level from personal policitics is another ideal. There isn't a "no ideals" option, just another ideal.
 
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