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Should I talk to the band about this?

#21
I'd learn a way to get the audience to sing.. since you don't care about the gig.. learn how to get an audience singing from thier spot.

I saw a magical example of this last night (no not my act) ... the one man band had the drunk heckler play table drums from the parking lot.. he had fun.. the bar was laughing.. entertainer was tipped.

Quite sincerely.. if your band is playing a place like this... sounds like you may be taking yourself a bit too serioulsly for the clientelle.

Timmy
 
#23
Munjibunga said:
I'd talk to the bouncer and ask him to keep an eye out for that stuff. Then I'd talk to the bar owner and tell him to get some chicken wire up.
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No bouncer! I think that is part of the problem. It is a smaller bar with a female owner/bartender. There is no one there to enforce any rules and maintain order. I don't think chicken wire is necessary. If it were I wouldn't play there, or any other place that required it. Maybe my standards are too high but this is supposed to be for fun!
 
#27
What we do is talk to the owner and let them know you don't want anyone one stage. Make sure she agres and then you tell everyone your contract with the club says only bandmates on stage otherwise no future gigs due to liability. Then it deflects to her and you are off. Then aftet they bitch at her and she most likely knowd them and can talk them down or she will understand and maybe hire a bouncer.
 
#29
Russell L said:
I'd just say "NO" to playing there anymore. Simple as that. If it ain't fun, it ain't worth it.
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Well the other band members have the option of saying they like playing there and want the money...so bye bye.

They may however hate it too, so it will work out just fine.

If a single member vs. the other 4 refuses a gig...we will have them replaced in less than 1 hour.
 
#30
Muzoid said:
Well the other band members have the option of saying they like playing there and want the money...so bye bye.

They may however hate it too, so it will work out just fine.

If a single member vs. the other 4 refuses a gig...we will have them replaced in less than 1 hour.
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i'd say it's an occupational hazard......i've been in places full of suits and they can be obnoxious as all get out.....you have to learn to handle drunks,or find another line of work......they're everywhere
 
#31
Jim Campbell said:
i'd say it's an occupational hazard......i've been in places full of suits and they can be obnoxious as all get out.....you have to learn to handle drunks,or find another line of work......they're everywhere
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+1

It's not the 80's anymore when there was 4 or 5 venues paying decent money in every one horse town, and oodles of them in the big cities.

If you start picking and choosing your gigs every time crap hits the fan at a gig....you will be reduced to playing retirement homes...and when good ol' Ethel's medication makes her go a bit haywire one night....well, that ain't pretty either.

As well if you are the member that poopoo's all the gigs he/she doesn't like, you become 'band poison'

Sure talk to the band about your concerns...but certainly DO NOT walk in with demands and refusals.
 
#33
What I would do; play the two gigs already booked but tell the band you won't play there any more. They can if they want, you just won't be their bass player for those gigs. There is no reason to have to put up with that kind of nonsense. Up hold your obligation you've already made to play their bar. Then tell them no more. If the band agrees with you and stands with you in your decision, then you can kindly tell the bar why you're done with them if they try to book more shows with you.
 
#35
You've got to look at the gig and ask yourselves what you're gaining from the gig, and is it worth the hassle.

As far as I'm concerned there's only 3 reasons to do a gig: money, fun, or long term promotional benefit. A gig must have at least one of these, preferably 2, to actually be worth doing. And in the right quantities.

Let's face it; a large percentage of gigs realistically have zero promotional benefit so I'll discount that. A gig may pay very little but be so much fun to do that it's worth doing. Or a gig may be a grind (like the one you're describing) but pay a lot.

Sounds like this gig isn't fun, so does it pay a bunch? Or get your band known?

A thing a lot of bands don't realise, and I've been there myself, is you don't HAVE to take gig just because it's available. Your guys have to do some arithmetic and work out what benefit there is from playing this dive.
 
#37
I used to take a cheap bass to gigs I thought there might be trouble at, and twice I used my bass as a weapon. Of course, that was when it was OK to belt someone who was being a drunken a$$ and you would not get arrested or sued.

It's really hard to play and run security. Maybe talk to the bar owner, and see if she's willing to have someone deal with any issues?
 
#38
Never play a gig that you feel uncomfortable. You will lose focus on your epic bass playing, and none us axe wielders would like to hear about. I personally suggest to let the band know how you feel. Your band mates are considered your family (or at least that's how I see it)
 
#40
The bar should be handling that. Talk to her and she should be willing to call the police to get the guy out if necessary. We get that kind of stuff mow and then, we all say no and mind our own business. You have to learn how to ignore and walk away. There are plenty of times I would like to take somebody out but you can't. As a band everyone needs to be on the same page. Good luck.
 

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