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Screwed for New Years Gig

Discussion in 'Band Management [BG]' started by ZonGuy, Dec 7, 2007.

  1. Dec 7, 2007 #1
    ZonGuy

    ZonGuy

    Sep 2, 2007
    I am a free lance player, heavy duty for electric all styles and functional on double bass (improving rapidly with arco instructor). Was requested for a NYE gig by someone who had heard of me but never seen me play.

    The artist sent her setlist CD's (offbeat jazz). Follow up call, she said, btw all tunes to be played on double bass. Would not accept fretless, (even though many of the recording had fretless). No sheet music. Picked off all the songs (about 40 of them) - several hours of work - and learned them on double bass. No problem. Then I called and left a voice mail with artist asking for a rehearsal when convenient. No return phone call but several days later I did get this email:

    "Glad you got the CDs. One quick question -- you've mentioned a few times the possibility of your hands tiring, which, I confess, worries me. The owners of _____ may ask for a longer set (with an appropriate raise in the fee), and I feel kind of bad requiring you to play upright the whole time if you're not in tip-top shape for it. However, upright it must be.

    There's a young hotshot upright player from New York who's interested -- if you feel a four-or-five hour upright gig will be a bit much for you, I could ask him to do it. Do let me know, honestly -- I'm easy to work with, but I do tend to be a stickler, and I want this set to be top-energy and top form.
    ........
    I hate taking the gig back and offering it to someone else, but if you don't need the work or the bread (this kid does) and you feel you're not as proficient on upright as you could be and it will tax you, please do let me know. If in all honesty you think you can cover it and do a great job, then I'll look no further. It's just that I'm worrying a bit about it now. Forgive me, but it's the nature of the profession!"

    My reply:

    "J.
    Whenever someone asks to use an alternate player I always accomodate them, irregardless.

    Have fun New Years Eve."

    So its December and I am gigless for NYE. Did I do the right thing?
     
  2. Dec 7, 2007 #2
    Jonyak

    Jonyak

    Oct 2, 2007
    Ottawa, Ont
    Do you think you could have done it?

    If you did you should never have mentioned your shortcoming. gone and done the gig and let her decide.

    IMO you shot yourself in the foot.

    but if you really don't think you were up to it, then yes you did the right thing in letting her know.
     
  3. Dec 7, 2007 #3
    justabass

    justabass

    Nov 7, 2006
    Nashville TN/Old Hickory TN
    Endorsing-Trace Elliot,Peavey Basses,PedalTrain,Starkey inears
    Personally...IMHO you kinda gave the gig up...She didn't seem to be pulling the gig from you .She had a concern and wanted to be sure you were up for it. If not then she had a backup plan. I would've reassured her I would be fine for the show. Unless I really felt like I couldn't pull it off...In that case you did the professional and right thing! Good luck on getting another gig!
     
  4. Dec 7, 2007 #4
    need4mospd

    need4mospd

    Dec 22, 2005
    Houston
    Sounds to me like the gig was all yours and you turned it down. If I worked hard enough for it, I'm gonna take it.

    Don't worry though, you're not the only guy not playing NYE... :(

    BTW, "irregardless" isn't a word. :p

    We should hold a "gigless musicians" NYE party. Just have a jam session for the new year.
     
  5. Dec 7, 2007 #5
    Jonyak

    Jonyak

    Oct 2, 2007
    Ottawa, Ont
    I have no gig for new years.. I am ok with that. after playing every nye for 10 years I am really looking forward to being the one that gets to listen and have a good time instead of play all night.

    which is fun, but in a different way.
     
  6. Dec 7, 2007 #6
    BuffaloMO

    BuffaloMO

    May 26, 2005
    Land of OZ
    According to Merriam Webster it is:

     
  7. Dec 7, 2007 #7
    anderbass

    anderbass

    Dec 20, 2005
    Phoenix. Az.
    According to Merriam Webster, "gigless" isn't a word... :smug:
     
  8. Dec 7, 2007 #8
    xlows

    xlows

    Oct 21, 2006
    Minnesota
    :eyebrow:


    Irregardless is NOT a usable word. Though it may literally exist as a word, it's not something to be used.
     
  9. Dec 7, 2007 #9
    j-bass-kreep

    j-bass-kreep

    Oct 17, 2003
    Ensenada , B.C Mexico
    I'd kept the gig, especially after all the hard work in getting the set-list ready. BTW this Sunday they let me know if our band is getting a New Years gig !:hyper:
     
  10. Dec 8, 2007 #10
    justabass

    justabass

    Nov 7, 2006
    Nashville TN/Old Hickory TN
    Endorsing-Trace Elliot,Peavey Basses,PedalTrain,Starkey inears
    What about "fo shizzle"? Word?
     
  11. Dec 8, 2007 #11
    derrico1

    derrico1 Supporting Member

    Apr 12, 2005
    Charlottesville, VA
    Phrase
     
  12. Dec 8, 2007 #12
    OtterOnBass

    OtterOnBass

    Oct 5, 2007
    Michigan
    You did the right thing. :)

    It was generous and nice to let the young player come in to do a better job (hopefully) for the band and audience. Maybe you could contact the band and ask for a couple tickets to see the show, seeing that you've put in time practicing and don't have plans. ;)
     
  13. Dec 10, 2007 #13
    Fret Boiler

    Fret Boiler Pity World

    Apr 12, 2004
    Purdue University
    Irregardless is not a word and is really just a confusion between two real words: irrespective and regardless.

    Anyway, I would have accepted the gig.
     
  14. Dec 10, 2007 #14
    realdeal

    realdeal Inactive

    Dec 10, 2004
    Word choices aside-

    Personally I would have done the job. I'm getting that you were put off by her hesitance, that you were a little perturbed because after putting in the effort to learn the sets, she "bugged" you about your ability to hold down the job.

    I don't blame you, but she DID give you an option, and let you make the decision. If she wanted to, she could have simply withdrew her offer. She didn't do that.
    One thing for sure, there are all sorts of - "Personalities" that a player needs to deal with, especially freelancing. Like Forrest Gump said: "You never know what you're gonna get!"
    Unless it's extremely off-the-wall, or someone is funny with $$, I've learned the hard way to go with the flow.
    IMO, if you wanted the gig, you should have simply told her that there would be no problem-I'm assuming you felt there would not be.

    Having said all that, let me add one other thing FWIW-
    After many years of doing all sorts of gigs falling on every Holiday in the book; spending Thanksgiving and Xmas, etc. on-the-road, having meals in a restaurant instead of with Family-
    I AVOID New Years gigs like the plague! I've personally done many more than enough, and happily choose to spend my time with my Girls!
    I know a lot of players want to work, have some fun, make some $$, but been there, done that! Just another day to me, and a good one to kick it and enjoy homelife.

    Happy Up-Coming New Year!