New Year's Eve Gig

[duruk]

About 2 weeks ago a (particularly bad) drummer I have gigged with once called me and asked whether I was available to do a gig on New Year's eve. Having never played in the required genre before (basically some Greek/Turkish folk music), and not being too keen on studying a whole new setlist within a limited amount of time I clearly told the guy that I was inexperienced with the genre, I did not know any of the songs, I did not know whether I can spare time to work on it but I could possibly read chords (if they would be made available to me) and thus try to serve the song as best as I could. In addition, I have asked for the highest payment I could fathom, basically asking them not to hire me and go look for someone else. To my surprise, the drummer replied that they have agreed with the conditions.

They were supposed to share the setlist a week ago, having only 10 days left I started to freak out gradually. I have called the BL yesterday to ask for the setlist (he's still to share it) and I learned that they have never worked with the drummer also. I don't even know how well the drummer has communicated my inexperience with the genre, or if he told them I am only semi-pro, while the other people in the band are trying to make their living from this. This thing suddenly started to feel like a very bad idea. On the other hand, I know that I will never gain the experience with the particularly genre (which usually pays good in such organizations) if I don't take the job. How would you navigate something like this? Any thought would be appreciated.

 

[hrodbert696]

If there's good work in this genre and you'd want more of it in the future, it might be worthwhile to start teaching yourself. See if there is a list of "standards" or greatest hits in it and start learning those - chances are some of them will turn up on this gig's set list, and it will help you pick up the style of it anyway. Meanwhile, I guess, nothing for it but to keep after this drummer to give you some information.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Listen to tunes from the genre as much as you can. Like any other sub gig, position yourself so you can watch the drummer's hands, ad well as the fretting hand of the lead instrument (or right hand of the keyboard).

 

[ShadowGroover]

Run

 

[hrodbert696]

Run

LOL that had occurred to me too. I would have every expectation this will be a total train wreck. But I also think that a reputation for reliability is more valuable to a musician than impressive performances every time. If he said he would play it, he should play it... but comment - loudly, as often as possible - "Yeah, we threw this together with no rehearsal, I only got the set list this morning..."

 

[ShadowGroover]

1. Bad drummer
2. Misrepresented chart availability
3. No knowledge of any songs or style of an ethnic genre
4. Any one of those is reason to bail
5. Need a fake fail-safe reason? Covid

 

[five7]

I have Greek friends, don't piss them off.

 

[tb-player]

I’d keep communicating with the guy who’s actually in charge & build the relationship. Show no weakness and get the job done.

Oh, and never trust a drummer.

 

[MrLenny1]

Good Luck.

 

[AGCurry]

Oh boy. I feel your pain. Greek/Turkish/Balkan music is full of unexpected turns, at least to the Western ear.

Personally, I would not choose to play a gig with a bad drummer, regardless of genre ... but in your case, it's too late. Do all you can to prepare, show up for the gig, and smile.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Personally, I would not choose to play a gig with a bad drummer, regardless of genre

^^^THIS, +10,000,000,000
Life's too short to play with crappy drummers.

 

[lermgalieu]

A bad drummer can ruin even easy music that you actually know.

 

[Chop11777]

Roots ..... Roots ..... Roots .....
E A E A F#
Smile
Or run !!!
Lol

 

[arbiterusa]

How would you navigate something like this?

Show up, get my money in advance, and do my best.

More or less how I handle everything.

CALL THE BANDLEADER and make sure you're getting paid what drummer guy says you're getting paid. Bad gigs require good money.

 

[SAlcott]

Yep-call the bandleader and let him know the details of your situation.

 

[jastraw]

You got the correct advice to run. In the case of you following through. I have experience in this genre. A lot of traditional Turkish and Greek folk music is in 9/8 time. Not the normal Western timing of 3 sets of 3. Rather it's in 3 sets of 2 then 1 set of 3.

A bad drummer doing this is not my idea of fun. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[BobDeRosa]

I would have shut the door immediately without a single regret. Aside from the money (maybe), there's no upside to this gig.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

If you are familiar w/ the genre you might do fine, however as stated above Turkish/Greek/Balkan music is known for their compound time signatures. I've played hundreds of such gigs with little to no practice but I'm Turkish and very familiar with the genre. Clapping along to a 9/8, 7/8, 5/8 rhythm is a very natural thing to do if you're Turkish or Greek, however I know musicians who are trained in western music that can't play along compound rhythms easily. So the question is: how familiar are you with the genre?

Edit: and I second not pissing off a Greek or a Turk

 

[RGerhart]

LOL that had occurred to me too. I would have every expectation this will be a total train wreck. But I also think that a reputation for reliability is more valuable to a musician than impressive performances every time. If he said he would play it, he should play it... but comment - loudly, as often as possible - "Yeah, we threw this together with no rehearsal, I only got the set list this morning..."

I agree with the first part of this, but it's one of my pet peeves in the performing world of bands casually apologizing to the audience in any way about their relative inexperience playing a song. Don't ever apologize for a song not being 100%, don't ever say "hey, we just learned this song this week," etc. It looks unprofessional, and for all we know, the audience may not even notice anything amiss in the first place. It just screams amateur-hour to me, when bands apologize or say they weren't prepared to play a song. Own it! Just do it, and make a note to yourself later to learn the song 100%.

 

[hrodbert696]

I agree with the first part of this, but it's one of my pet peeves in the performing world of bands casually apologizing to the audience in any way about their relative inexperience playing a song. Don't ever apologize for a song not being 100%, don't ever say "hey, we just learned this song this week," etc. It looks unprofessional, and for all we know, the audience may not even notice anything amiss in the first place. It just screams amateur-hour to me, when bands apologize or say they weren't prepared to play a song. Own it! Just do it, and make a note to yourself later to learn the song 100%.

I was being a little tongue in cheek with that. But what I was serious about was that, if the "BL" in the situation is the cause of the train wreck, there's no need for the sideman to take the fall for it.