I was hired once to replace a player (who was 'on vacation') in a friend's band for a shoot of a television production to be portrayed as broadcast "live." It was supposed to be coverage of a live festival, but actually was a dog-and-pony lip-sync production, prerecorded for 'The Telethon.' My friend planned to have his band play their recorded 'Nearly Famous' cover of "free bird" (I could be wrong?); anyway, whatever it was, it was way too long, way too draggy, and way too sticky, and way too sucky. I could not get into it.
I started out playing into it but when it started dragging in the mix [doesn't even a non-long "free bird" or similar (I could be wrong?) always end up in drag??] I lifted off and began to mime fingerings for mustang sally, don't be cruel, and others. I was animated and somewhat aggressive playing-wise, to boot. I had no vocal part in the production so I was completely divorced from what was heard.
Years later, the other bass player (the one who was at the time 'on vacation,' was finally released from jail) and he and I had become friends. We were having a 'beer' at a pub. He asked me, "What the holy ****(!) were you playing on that? You know," he said, "I have had a hell of a lot of people ask me: ***? "
I said, "Well, we both got paid, right?"
He said, "Good point!"
We both had (at least another or two or a few) other Guinnesses and that was the last I saw of him.
Caveat:
My friend never ever hired me to stand in for an absent bass player on a production shoot ever again. Indeed, he has never spoken to me after that...
But I had a good time...
~
