New Opportunity

[lbbc]

Well I've had, and am having, a good run as a trio. We are booked solid thru the end of May and 2 weekends a month thru the rest of 2019.

I have played with my current guitarist for about 20 years. He's solid and can sing both lead and backing vocals. He's cancelled 6 gigs in the past 2 years (with little notice) for family outings. I have not been able to get booked in these places since cancelling. He also just called and cancelled on a long standing monthly gig.

A very good friend of mine from high school (and college) had contacted me about playing. He retired from playing 30 years ago.
I practiced with him 3 times and we played a private party...and I must say, I had a blast performing with him .

My opportunity also presents a problem...stay with current guitarist or move on with friend from HS?

 

[Scottgun]

Just to clarify: are talking about booting the current guitarist from the trio and replacing him with your friend? Or are you thinking of scrapping the trio and starting from scratch with your friend? If the first, have you talked to the unnamed part of this trio (the drummer?). What does he think?

Anyway, sounds like it's time to man up, have a heart-to-heart discussion with your current guitarist and tell him point-blank that his lack of reliability has become a liability and that you have another guitarist lined up that could fill the spot nicely and give him a shape-up-or-ship-out ultimatum.

 

[dreamadream99]

Train up friend. Next time your guy bails, use friend as sub.

 

[tycobb73]

I book for a club. You cancel on me for anything short of flu/ hospital i won't book you again either. And like bands clubs talk to each other. Id hamer this home with your current band. Or use both depending on who can make it.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Someone cancelling gigs they have committed to can be pretty annoying. The local band leaders/bookers i know generally keep a sub list so they are not beholden to any one individual. When you have a good sub list, you have all the leverage. When you don't, the flaky players have all the leverage.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Have a talk with your guitarist. Either he commits, or you move on.

 

[lbbc]

For clarification...my trio is myself on bass, a guitarist and female singer (my wife). We won't start over, the "new" guitarist knows our material and although he doesn't sing, his guitar playing is stellar.
I have talked to current guitarist and told him of my concerns and that my wife and I played a gig with "new guy" to see if he'd work out. I also offered to have both play....it'd mean less money but the gigs would always be covered. He said he didn't want to play with a 2nd guitarist.
I have a very positive relationship/background with both guys and would love to perform with both...just venting, I guess.

 

[lbbc]

Someone cancelling gigs they have committed to can be pretty annoying. The local band leaders/bookers i know generally keep a sub list so they are not beholden to any one individual. When you have a good sub list, you have all the leverage. When you don't, the flaky players have all the leverage.

Unfortunately, Not too many guitarists in our area that want to play vocal oriented classic rock...

 

[LBS-bass]

For clarification...my trio is myself on bass, a guitarist and female singer (my wife). We won't start over, the "new" guitarist knows our material and although he doesn't sing, his guitar playing is stellar.
I have talked to current guitarist and told him of my concerns and that my wife and I played a gig with "new guy" to see if he'd work out. I also offered to have both play....it'd mean less money but the gigs would always be covered. He said he didn't want to play with a 2nd guitarist.
I have a very positive relationship/background with both guys and would love to perform with both...just venting, I guess.

If he doesn't want to play with a second guitar, and he's flaking on gigs, and you have another person ready to play your material, what is this guy bringing to the table that works for you? Sounds like you'd be better off bringing in the new guy as your main, but if you for some reason feel like you can't do that, just keep the new guy around as a sub. Don't cancel gigs because of the first guy's flakiness.

 

[DirtDog]

I’m in the camp if having your new guy sub in when the current guy can’t make it.

Keeps your gigs intact, maintains the pecking order (for now) and you’ll have a solid plan B if the current guitarist continues to flake.

In a way, you’re letting the current guitarist decide his own fate rather have him decide your fate for you.

 

[lbbc]

If he doesn't want to play with a second guitar, and he's flaking on gigs, and you have another person ready to play your material, what is this guy bringing to the table that works for you? Sounds like you'd be better off bringing in the new guy as your main, but if you for some reason feel like you can't do that, just keep the new guy around as a sub. Don't cancel gigs because of the first guy's flakiness.

DecinDefin no more cancellations