New Year's Eve Gig

[kesslari]

Where's the gig? I used to play a lot of Greek and Turkish folk music.
@jastraw is right in that it's not simple nor is it a homogeneous genre.

 

[mrcbass]

Personally, there's not enough compensation to work with a known bad drummer. I'd have been "booked".

That aside, I avoid doing a sub gig without prep - I get it if it can't work out to rehearse together, but at least give me a chance to know the songs. In a genre that I'm comfortable in, it's less of an issue as I can fake it well. But in a strange genre, I'd decline without sufficient time to get comfortable.

So, your dilemma is with accepting a gig in the first place, IMO.

But since you've committed you gotta do what you can. If you don't get stuff in time to prep, it's their gig and their train wreck. Wear a disguise so you don't wreck your rep.

 

[Manticore]

I've done a large number of sub gigs over the last 45 years. If I'm unfamiliar with the band or their set list I let folks know up front I have limited time, so I need information by a specific date. If I haven't received the information by the day before I let them know they have 24 hours to get the requested information to me or I will have to cancel. I usually do just fine wingin' it, but at this stage I no longer seek such gigs. There are too many organized people to work with to mess around with flakes, particularly on NYE.

 

[gln1955]

Unfamiliar music with odd time signatures and a bad drummer....what could go right?

I have little tolerance for anyone hiring a sub and unwilling to do even the simplest things to make the gig successful.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Who needs charts when you have: "Ζητώ συγγνώμη για τον τρομερό ντράμερ και μπασίστα μας"

Heh, I feel your pain on this one. Good luck!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

What if you get a quick pic of a handwritten setlist. Then you have to figure out how to type Greek. Ugh.

 

[Joebone]

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

Brubecks' Blue Rondo a la Turk! Thanks for making the connection!

 

[mini-milli]

Brubecks' Blue Rondo a la Turk! Thanks for making the connection!

Exactly! He got that rhythm from Turkish music when he was touring Europe as part of the "Jazz Ambassadors" program run by the US government as a way to spread American culture.

 

[portpc]

If you survive long enough to visit the buffet table a Greek/Turkish party will be well worth it for the spread alone...

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Checking out greek folk music vids on YouTube, yeah, I'd be down. Not necessarily for the music.

 

[Altitude]

The common thing I read in all these threads is that a guy accepts a gig and second guesses it later for some reason.

OP - your time to ask questions, get charts, etc. was before you accepted the gig. You did not, and now you're in unless your employer asks you to do something unsafe, illegal, or unethical. Otherwise it is too late for them to find a replacement and you will crater the gig if you bail. Uncool.

If they never send you a setlist, show up the night of and do your best. Hopefully they told you where the gig is.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You should have been talking to the bandleader, not the drummer. It's unclear who you were talking to from the OP.

 

[MegaSwing]

Danger, Will Robinson!!!

Danger, Will Robinson!!!

 

[RGerhart]

Checking out greek folk music vids on YouTube, yeah, I'd be down. Not necessarily for the music.

Hahahah, indeed!

 

[pbass2]

As someone who just got out from under a hired gun responsibility that involved a bad drummer, I would pass. I was actually embarrassed at some of the gigs when other musicians I wouldn't mind connecting with showed up in the audience. Any hopes that the shows I did with this band would lead to more work were very likely squandered because of the drummer's inability to not generally suck. I couldn't play my best, I just tried to keep the whole thing from going off the rails--was exhausting. Thank god the pay was decent, but never again.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

Wow. I’d be a nervous wreck at this point. Best wishes.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

Who needs that crap? Drop it and do something else that will actually be enjoyable.

 

[LBS-bass]

I have questions about this. Having played in a Greek/Turkish/World music group, my recollection is that bass in such a group is pretty superfluous. What I mean by this is that most of the music I had to learn in that genre did not have recorded bass of any sort, and whatever I played I had to make up on my own.

Unless this is some sort of contemporary take on middle eastern music, I'm a bit surprised that they are actively seeking out a bassist to fill in this slot.

What I'm trying to suggest is that your absence, should you choose to go that way, will probably not be a big deal and the genre itself, if it is what I imagine it to be, would not offer much for a bassist anyway.

 

[LBS-bass]

Where's the gig? I used to play a lot of Greek and Turkish folk music.
@jastraw is right in that it's not simple nor is it a homogeneous genre.

Yes, odd time signatures are the rule rather than the exception.

 

[KenD]

Given what you have posted, including your hope to establish an inroad for future gigs in this vein, I would call the BL and lay everything out straight up. Everything, especially including your lack of experience with this genre of music. Put the decision on them: proceed with you, knowing everything you have told them, or "thanks" we'll find someone else.

If they decide to continue with you, show up with a big smile, a cooperative "get it done" attitude and do the best you can. You lose nothing but you get paid for the night and potentially create the inroad you're looking for. Your attitude will accomplish a lot of that for you

Oh, and practice your ass off in that genre between now and Dec 31.