No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

[Core Creek]

I auditioned for a band a month or two ago - total non-pros. I show up only to discover they decided to audition a male vocalist at the same time and the tunes I picked from their list weren’t the same tunes that the vocalist picked.

Not to go too far into it, but that vocalist was horrible, but when asked to play his songs I was able to do them - old school rock stuff.

When asked if I was interested in the gig I said not really. If asked if I’d sub I said I’d consider it. They were generally nice, but the whole thing is managed by one of the player’s wives, so I never even communicated with the band before or after the audition.

So the next day I’m asked to fill in for a gig in mid October. The pay is bad, but I like a challenge. I ask for a setlist and am told “oh, we play different sets every show and it’s too early to know yet”…. Um… ok.

Two weeks go by. We’re now a dab more than two weeks away from the show and I ask again for a setlist and am told again it’s too early. Expect it by the week of the gig. I kindly say you’re not really leaving enough time for me to learn anything on your list I might not know and please get me a list asap. I’m then told to just pick what I know… “from the list you sent me?”…. “Oh, we have a complete master list i’ll send you asap”….

Still no list.

I’m confident I can wing it on gig day. But this is why some bands can’t get good subs. Or even permanent players. It’s like pulling teeth just to get the material they want me to know and of course if I don’t know it on gig day who is going to be blamed.

I should have walked away when I had the chance.

 

[feterpatch]

"When" you had the chance?
This is amateur hour. Walk away now.

If they think a sub will know their sets within a few days, they can get another sub during that time.

 

[Hot Rats]

I get the impression that being "a man of your word", like you seem to be, doesn't resonate with these guys. It's what, 18-20 days until the gig? I think walking away might still be an option. Of course, if you do play the gig, it'll make one hell of a story to tell, I am sure. Hell, it might even be a great one.

 

[Lava]

Personally, I would run, haha!
Buuuuuuuuut, it seems like you were able to do the audition without a problem. Treat it as a jam, if it turns out bad, no harm no foul. I think an actual gig might give you a better expectation of what to expect in the long run. I can't imagine with their work ethic so far that you can be anything but an improvement of what they're used to.

 

[DrBnz]

Oh no ..... I'd woulda told them to seek another bass player when the set list wasn't in my hands 2 weeks ahead of the gig. You're offering me the opportunity to share an evening of discomfort and embarrassment for minimal pay. I can easily pass on that.

 

[pepj]

I'd need to know the gig was going to be worthwhile. If they had the misfortune to attract a vocalist like that..plus completely screw the arrangements with you, that doesn't inspire any sort of confidence the gig would be anything bar a major ballache.
If I was young and desperate...i could just about get my head around doing it, but I'm neither.

Also, players and bands operate in relative pools, ime and its a lot of hard work (maybe a bit of luck) or a fall from grace to change the pools you swim in. And once you are there, you need to justify staying there.
You can try and trade up...but you'll need to beat out the other guys but you really dont want to be playing down.
You don't want to be one of those ' why is he playing with them' guys.
That counts against you too...

So yep, what is in it for you..?
They don't call you again...?? so what?

 

[JonathanPDX]

Walk away now. They are never going to pay you.

 

[Goatrope]

If this is how they treat people theyre trying to recruit, imagine what it will be like when they settle-in to their sub-mediocrity. Flakes and clowns behave this way. Join them and become like them.

 

[toastw]

This is your opportunity to unleash the Spinal Tap Jazz Odyssey. Hopefully the puppet show gets the second billing. Best of luck!

 

[DWBass]

No setlist, no play!

 

[Core Creek]

I agree it’s a bad situation and most should walk away. Unfortunately I am a man of my word for better or worse. The last thing I want to do is get any kind of reputation for not following through.

Yeah, it’ll be a jam on my end. If I don’t get a list in time there’s going to be a lot of me looking at them on stage saying you didn’t get that to me in time - what key?

 

[toastw]

Back to say ... this has "sketchy" written all over it to me. You're playing a gig based off of one "audition" with little to no personal feedback? And you don't know what songs you're playing? And you've never played these songs with these people before? What could possibly go wrong?

 

[coyote1]

I had a band for which I was to sub send me their list. It was 90 songs, and two days later they sent me another 20 songs. I kept telling them to trim it down to the songs we were actually going to play in a single two-hour set… they didn’t come through with that until ten days before the show.

Ain’t easy sometimes. But that forced me to learn a bunch of stuff, much of which I was unfamiliar with, very quickly. A great exercise.

 

[mdogs]

This is exactly the kind of reason why I don't sub much at all anymore, only for people I know. Most people have no idea what employing a sub really entails. The biggest one for me is, "I don't care what the band is being paid, this is my rate." I don't need the money, that was never why I did it, which makes it far easier to say no to people. The last couple of bands that weren't getting paid and expected me to do the same pretty much put me over the edge. Competent subbing is definitely a skill, if you can do it, you should be compensated for it.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, in the world of Gig Trifecta, (Money, Hang, Music) it looks like none of the boxes get checked.

 

[Wasnex]

IMHO PASS!

 

[TheReceder]

My first "semi pro" band. In the 9th grade,I auditioned on a Saturday afternoon, did ok. They asked me if I wanted to play that night at the "Blue moon saloon". Easy stufff, 4 piece and they'd tell me the keys before they started the song. Being young and stupid, I said sure.

At the gig, they lied to me about the keys. To quote them after the gig , "we wanted to see if we could make you cry". They didn't realize I played some guitar and was going off their hands(until they started turning away from me).

In my 50 years playing, I vowed to never feel like that again.

I would have told that band if they can't provide a setlist 2 weeks out, I can't do it. They may choose to look unprofessional, I won't.
I think you dodged a bullet.

 

[pepj]

If someone is sending you a list where you need to shed 10 songs, for example.
You should factor that homework time into the gig rate. Plenty of bands wont or cant pay that rate.
File under too much work for the money.
Unless, of course, its your blinding dream gig..in which case, all in suck it up.

 

[klyph]

When asked if I was interested in the gig I said not really

So this, to me, is where it’s interesting.

Why would they then ask you to sub? Why would you consider it?
The thing to do would set a high price as a last minute sub, and if they never call you, then it’s also worth your while
I’ve been asked to “wing it” at quite a few gigs, and usually got some apologies, great pay, and occasionally some valuable additions to the repertoire or network.
We all love to play, but the more it’s like a chore, the more you need to MAKE THEM PAY.
I also think that most people talk too much. If I tell someone I’m not interested, let me pack up my stuff and go. Getting involved with people who lack the dignity to simply accept rejection is it’s own punishment. You should let your no be no.
Just my 2c.

 

[SteveBlair]

Stick to your word and cut ties on the back end. You'll make it through. Hopefully there isn't too much travel involved. This makes my blood boil reading your experience so far. Your word and professionalism will carry you farther than this band will go.