So here's the story: There is a guy I know who lives in my area who is from my home town and whom I've known for many years but kind of somewhere in between friend and acquaintance. I never knew the guy played music at all (the 90s are sometimes hazy for me) until he called me recently to see if I would be interested in subbing for his bassist in his reggae band in which he plays guitar and sings. He sends me a recording of some of his originals and a list of covers, everything from classic reggae to classic rock tunes played in reggae and ska styles to some newish pop stuff like Sublime. The instruments in the recording are passable, but the vocals… dear god the vocals… 
I figure what the heck, it's work and it's just a sub.
So I learn most of the tunes a couple of weeks before the gig and we have a rehearsal. First of all the rate for the gig was supposed to be $100. He shows up at the rehearsal with a DJ who is supposed to spin samples and scratch while we play. Of course this also lowers the rate from $100 to $75 because the band is now a four-piece. Anyway, we start rehearsing and the drummer, who the friend has used before, can't keep time. Guy is dragging on every tune. Now mind you, with my standards the drummer not keeping time was only one thing wrong, the vocals were just as bad of an offense in my humble (though sufficiently qualified) musical opinion. So the friend essentially fires the drummer right there but does it by telling everyone that the gig is cancelled, but then confides to me that it's not cancelled and he's going to find another drummer.
I play in a sort of jazz/funk band as my own personal project and I figure my drummer could use the gig so I mention him and we set up another rehearsal with my drummer. Rehearsal goes well (instrumentally) and we're on the for the gig.
We play the gig and it goes ok for what it is. For the friend it seems the gig is the end-all be-all of musical experiences and he is "pumped." The drummer and I get our money and take off, figuring that was an interesting experience but glad it's over. Ever since the gig I have been getting phones calls and texts from the friend talking about recording a new "demo", asking if I know how to write songs and asking for us to play another gig. Basically it looks like he's thinking of us as being part of the band. Mind you, I have no idea what he's planning to tell the bassist that I thought I was only subbing for.
So here's the deal: the drummer and I don't mind playing gigs with this friend (the drummer is from the same home town) as long as they pay, but neither of us is interested in it being a "band" situation. In other words we would rather remain hired guns with no commitments beyond each gig we commit to.
Now there are several reasons for this. My drummer is a guitarist first and has two other art (read: non-paying) projects outside of our funk band. He's committed and is only interested in doing paid gigs outside of those projects. I am only interested in paid gigs period. The other, and probably biggest, factor is the friend himself. If you'll excuse my graduate music degree snobbery I frankly do not consider him to be a musician, but rather a guy who can play some guitar and (barely) sing a few pop songs. He does, however, seem to be able to book paid gigs, at least for now.
I've been in this type of situation before and I wonder if others have too. You know, a person whose enthusiasm for music and the idea of playing in a band outweighs their actual musical talent? In the past people like this just disappear, but I knew this guy before so I'm wondering how best to handle it. Do I grin and bear it, try to keep a straight face, and go ahead with the gigs as long as they pay? Also, how best to lay down the rules and let the guy know that I'm (we're; at this point the drummer and I are on the same page) not interested in it being a band situation? I don't want to hurt the guy's feelings so just telling him he sucks but I will gladly play with him for money doesn't seem right. Even though that's exactly what I would be doing!
I freelance several musical gigs: bass, choral, low brass, arranging, and music notation typesetting. I look at my work as me using a set of skills I have developed through hard work and schooling in order to provide a service. Liking any specific music I'm working on isn't a prerequisite but it certainly is a bonus. But where to draw the line when you're working in an environment where the musicianship of other performers is not up to your standard?
Ok that was way longer than I thought it would be. Any experiences or stories of similar situations most welcome!
tl;dr
If something sucks should one go ahead and be a part of it just to make money?
I figure what the heck, it's work and it's just a sub.So I learn most of the tunes a couple of weeks before the gig and we have a rehearsal. First of all the rate for the gig was supposed to be $100. He shows up at the rehearsal with a DJ who is supposed to spin samples and scratch while we play. Of course this also lowers the rate from $100 to $75 because the band is now a four-piece. Anyway, we start rehearsing and the drummer, who the friend has used before, can't keep time. Guy is dragging on every tune. Now mind you, with my standards the drummer not keeping time was only one thing wrong, the vocals were just as bad of an offense in my humble (though sufficiently qualified) musical opinion. So the friend essentially fires the drummer right there but does it by telling everyone that the gig is cancelled, but then confides to me that it's not cancelled and he's going to find another drummer.
I play in a sort of jazz/funk band as my own personal project and I figure my drummer could use the gig so I mention him and we set up another rehearsal with my drummer. Rehearsal goes well (instrumentally) and we're on the for the gig.
We play the gig and it goes ok for what it is. For the friend it seems the gig is the end-all be-all of musical experiences and he is "pumped." The drummer and I get our money and take off, figuring that was an interesting experience but glad it's over. Ever since the gig I have been getting phones calls and texts from the friend talking about recording a new "demo", asking if I know how to write songs and asking for us to play another gig. Basically it looks like he's thinking of us as being part of the band. Mind you, I have no idea what he's planning to tell the bassist that I thought I was only subbing for.
So here's the deal: the drummer and I don't mind playing gigs with this friend (the drummer is from the same home town) as long as they pay, but neither of us is interested in it being a "band" situation. In other words we would rather remain hired guns with no commitments beyond each gig we commit to.
Now there are several reasons for this. My drummer is a guitarist first and has two other art (read: non-paying) projects outside of our funk band. He's committed and is only interested in doing paid gigs outside of those projects. I am only interested in paid gigs period. The other, and probably biggest, factor is the friend himself. If you'll excuse my graduate music degree snobbery I frankly do not consider him to be a musician, but rather a guy who can play some guitar and (barely) sing a few pop songs. He does, however, seem to be able to book paid gigs, at least for now.
I've been in this type of situation before and I wonder if others have too. You know, a person whose enthusiasm for music and the idea of playing in a band outweighs their actual musical talent? In the past people like this just disappear, but I knew this guy before so I'm wondering how best to handle it. Do I grin and bear it, try to keep a straight face, and go ahead with the gigs as long as they pay? Also, how best to lay down the rules and let the guy know that I'm (we're; at this point the drummer and I are on the same page) not interested in it being a band situation? I don't want to hurt the guy's feelings so just telling him he sucks but I will gladly play with him for money doesn't seem right. Even though that's exactly what I would be doing!
I freelance several musical gigs: bass, choral, low brass, arranging, and music notation typesetting. I look at my work as me using a set of skills I have developed through hard work and schooling in order to provide a service. Liking any specific music I'm working on isn't a prerequisite but it certainly is a bonus. But where to draw the line when you're working in an environment where the musicianship of other performers is not up to your standard?
Ok that was way longer than I thought it would be. Any experiences or stories of similar situations most welcome!
tl;dr
If something sucks should one go ahead and be a part of it just to make money?
