Need advice after I rant - Subbing for band members on paying shows

[Gravy4001]

Always good to have subs lined up just in case. Even if you end up passing on this gig you will no doubt find yourselves in this situation again...and you should be ready. This is what pro bands do who have a busy schedule and like to make $. It's also nice to know that you have a backup in case you want to take a vacation or something and you won't hold the rest of the band back.

 

[flojob]

Somebody should ax the drummer what she thinks. She may be cool, and folks get worked up over not much.

 

[FretNoMore]

If you can get a sub I think you should play, for any number of reasons. Money, exposure, fun. And not the least - in my opinion it's not a little selfish of the drummer to block the rest of you from playing. If it was me (actually I'm in this very situation myself because of physical problems) I would be happy for the rest of the guys and of course want them to play with a sub. It can be difficult for a band to get everyone's schedules in sync for gigs, so a bit of flexibility doesn't hurt.

Could even be that the drummer rethinks her priorities if you accept the gig too. Can she maybe get a sub for her other job? Maybe this sounds harsh but for me being in a band is a commitment and it must be quite high in priority so you don't mess things up for your band mates.

EDIT: I see now it was the BL who didn't want a sub, maybe the drummer wouldn't mind? Anyway, I think you should play.

 

[Famuus]

Get the sub, if he can't handle it it's his problem.

Just like some other guys said, if it was me, i would feel responsible and i would get a sub myself and make sure he got paid.

 

[andreiscv]

If a band member who can't make a gig can't understand why you want to hire a sub when there's a couple hundy each at stake, then I suggest you clue her in on how the real world works. And the BL needs a swift kick in the ass, too. What kind of BL would stand in the way of making a good night's pay for himself, let alone the whole band? And what kind of BL would be loyal to a band member who's stiffing everyone? One who probably shouldn't be BL, that's who.

Good point. The drummer gets to make extra money bartending, but no one else does?

 

[JimmyM]

Good point. The drummer gets to make extra money bartending, but no one else does?

She should get them bartending gigs

 

[vin*tone]

Sounds like the drummer isn't even aware of the problem. She'd probably be totally cool with being subbed. If the band stops playing then no-one has a band to even discuss.

 

[MattyBass]

I personally don't care. If we had a paying show, and I couldn't make it, BY ALL MEANS sub me. I don't even need a cut of the sub's portion. But that's me. So yeah, am I being irrational? Is this normal amongst your bands?

Thanks for reading.

Why would would you get a portion of the subs money, a sub should get all of what you would be paid??? Who would get a sub, and then take part of what the sub should fairly be paid?

 

[Downunderwonder]

Why would would you get a portion of the subs money, a sub should get all of what you would be paid??? Who would get a sub, and then take part of what the sub should fairly be paid?

Say Lars breaks his thumb, you think the sub is going to put his hand out for 50k? Right down to better than average paying warrior gigs far from you.

 

[Thumper19605]

I am being subbed this coming weekend, I had a trip planned and a job came available a week ago.
Last year our singer had tickets, his boo boo, I called a friend and got Keys for a bonus.
If the business "The Band" does not suffer, sub's are fine.
If the member needs to make a living and passes up a no pay job, I get that too.
On the other hand I head some excuses that member replaced.

 

[JimmyM]

Why would would you get a portion of the subs money, a sub should get all of what you would be paid??? Who would get a sub, and then take part of what the sub should fairly be paid?

Say Lars breaks his thumb, you think the sub is going to put his hand out for 50k? Right down to better than average paying warrior gigs far from you.

True, but at least the ratio would be in a better proportion at the local level vs what Metallica would pay a sub

Anyway, when you're a sub, the band makes an offer and you can take it or leave it. You can try to negotiate for more money, but what the band makes as a whole is really none of your business.

 

[cnltb]

It goes without saying that I'd et a sub if any of my band mates couldn't do a gig.
Hurt their feelings?...get over it...grow up is what I'd tell them.

 

[MattyBass]

There could be exceptions,big money shows etc.. but being a sub is usually more work, then what the regular player has to do. I am very clear about my expectations of pay and only sub if I'm getting what the normal player would get. I got a sub in my old cover band and he was making about 500$ a gig, for about a month and a half, played 8 gigs I believe. He was so stoked, when I returned he called me to hang as we often do, he brought a few hundred in thanks for the gig, I just let him take me out to lunch. To each his own I suppose.

I'll call you next time a need a sub Jimmy, will you take 125$ for the gig?? lol JK Buddy

Back to the subject, honestly if bar tending is more important to this girl, than creating future gig opportunities for the Cats, she doesn't sound like someone I'd want in my band, especially if we were trying to grow our fan base and places to gig. In my book she wouldn't even have the right to be offended if you get a sub or even a new drummer.
Sounds like the person obsessed with being a team (which is good on the whole) needs to realize that this drummer is making to many things a priority over the team, i.e.... not being a good team mate..

 

[bssplr]

I shall rant right along with you...

The main problem here as I see it seems to be your Band Leader. I'm not sure that he clearly understands what the term "Leader" means. I seem to see this more and more lately, it seems that most people think that Leader means founder or one who makes all the decisions and while both of these may be aspects of that position they are certainly not the positions raison d'être. A band leader first and foremost must look after the wellbeing of the band and its members and by putting one member’s feelings above the others he is failing as a leader.

PS – not sure if this kind of rant comes from 25 years in the Military or just being a grumpy old ***K.

 

[CGremlin]

Who would get a sub, and then take part of what the sub should fairly be paid?

A drummer I worked with for one show, that's who. He took 40% of the pay for the week he was out, and paid the remainder to the sub. As it happens, we were discussing the pay in general in the orchestra pit one night and inadvertently threw the regular drummer under the bus. The sub was not pleased. It worked out though - the sub was a far better drummer than our regular guy and could sight-read well, and showed up on time and ready to go, so for all of the subsequent productions at that theater he became our first-call drummer and didn't miss a single one of the hundreds of shows we played afterwards.

 

[two fingers]

Teams have players on the bench. Sometimes a player coming off the bench can even win the game for you.
Just because you're on the bench, doesn't mean you are not on the team. I work with lots of different musicians, and we are all part of a big incestuous family.

Very. Well. Said.

 

[obimark]

Let's say the average drink price is $12.
That means this swanky club is going to sell 666 drinks? That is only doable if the place has 250 people who each buy 2-3 drinks.

 

[The_Janitor]

Let's say the average drink price is $12.
That means this swanky club is going to sell 666 drinks? That is only doable if the place has 250 people who each buy 2-3 drinks.

That doesn't seem like an unlikely scenario to me, but I am from Wisconsin so...

 

[obimark]

Not to mention that 3 drinks has put you in DUI territory in many states. (Including Georgia where I live)

 

[static0verdrive]

Wait if you get a sub, the person they replace can get a cut?! Ok I'm now bass or drums in ALL your bands (your pick) and I get a cut every time any of you play without me, which will be always.