So...Would you take the Gig?

[tekhedd]

Without reading the post at all...
Well of course! Musicians have a very difficult time saying no to any gig, and club booking agents rely on that.

After reading the post...
Sure. if the pay is commensurate with your ability and the venue's expected take etc, why not? Tell the band it's a different club if you have ta.

Hey, it's a legitimate question. Trio can be awesome, or it can be forever stuck just that one step short of awesome.

And you just gotta show them this poll. That's the most one-sided poll I've seen on a forum.

 

[JimmyM]

True story: Very famous (now) youngster drummer in my band in the early 80s. Club manager says you can't bring that "N" into my club. This happened by two different owners in Atlanta btw. I never told the drummer and declined the gigs.

It could have crushed his spirit. Hell--if you got youngin's or cupcakes in a band---don't tell 'em squat.

A very different situation that I absolutely would turn down the gig if it happened to me and I'd badmouth the manager to anyone I knew and do my best to destroy the club's reputation and business.

 

[Plutonium244]

This has probably been said somewhere in the pages I didn't read yet-- but-- it would be idiotic not to take a gig offered at a price that's acceptable to you and the band, because of such an innocuous off-hand remark that he did not push, based on his experience with other bands.

This is where the band mates are supposed to say "he's afraid we might seem 'small'? Well, look out buster, we're gonna show you how we roll! We are gonna rock that joint!" And then proceed to do just that and allay any fears he may have had, thus garnering mucho mas gigs in the process.

End of story.

 

[Steadfast]

True story: Very famous (now) youngster drummer in my band in the early 80s. Club manager says you can't bring that "N" into my club. This happened by two different owners in Atlanta btw. I never told the drummer and declined the gigs.

It could have crushed his spirit. Hell--if you got youngin's or cupcakes in a band---don't tell 'em squat.

A very different situation that I absolutely would turn down the gig if it happened to me and I'd badmouth the manager to anyone I knew and do my best to destroy the club's reputation and business.

Absolutely. I have a mean streak. One of them some how got liquid in the door locks to his car when it was freezing outside. Couldn't have happened to s better racist. Just saying. I wouldn't do such a thing. Psych... I would and did and the statute of limitations ran out in 1983. Lololoololololol

 

[Lex P.]

I've had the opposite happen in an American Legion in a Minneapolis suburb. They only wanted three piece bands so it wouldn't be as loud.

Me thinks...that some responders suggestion to just sub out the members don't understand where you geographically reside.

 

[robert_stuart]

For some reason, this sets them both off and they go all in on what a d-bag this guy is and who is he to say that yadda yadda yadda. Up and to the point where they say they don't want to do the gig.

Wow, they sound like a couple of prima donas. These guys ain't hurting for cash? Maybe they don't need the gig so much. Or, maybe it doesn't pay as much as they'd like after all.

 

[robert_stuart]

i could see where the guy's concern could be semi-legit.

Totally. Not any kind of personal attack.

 

[hbarcat]

I played in a 3 piece classic rock cover band for 7 years and we were constantly questioned about getting another member to fill in the sound. Until we played. After our shows, by far the most common comment was how big and full we sounded. We had about a dozen Pink Floyd numbers in our setlist and fans would comment that it seemed as if we had keys somewhere on stage in addition to the bass and guitar. It seems strange that there is such a persistent widespread belief that 3 piece bands are necessarily inadequate when there is abundant proof to the contrary. This isn't just true of us part timers playing local covers. There is a band called RUSH that sounds positively massive for a 3 piece and they're among the truly elite of all bands in history and still people insist that it can't be done successfully.

We did often have venues try to talk us down in price because we were a 3 piece but our fees were non-negotiable. We knew how much money comparable cover bands in our area were getting paid as a group and how much that worked out to, per person, with a 4 piece. We set our standard fee a bit less than what a 4 piece would get, but also giving ourselves a bit more per member.

The bottom line is the venue is paying for the entertainment value of the band. The result of the performance speaks for itself and if we can deliver with 3 guys what other bands do with 4 or more guys, then the venue will accept our fee or else we move on to another gig. We were never wanting for more gigs so if the venue manager insists on haggling then we walk away.

I guess I don't understand where your bandmates are coming from complaining about some silly comment they heard about 2nd hand that has no affect at all on the gig. To me, it's not worth wasting even a minute of thought on.

 

[BAG]

So I called them soft if that comment was enough to offend them.

Yep!!!

If they are any good at all their comment should have been along the lines of "Awesome....... lets show this guy how good a three piece can rock".

Either that, or they know they have no stage presence and are intimidated by the gig.

 

[Wisebass]

Dusty says: Dress sharp and rock that house

Tell your bandmates, that when you refuse the gig every time someone provokes you in a negotiation,
you will stay in your rep- room forever! (or better: don' t tell them anything)

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

P.s. Who is that buzzkill who voted no?

 

[lfmn16]

What would you do?

You're seriously considering turning down a gig because the guy offering it is a jerk? Grow some thicker skin!

 

[Jamvan]

You're seriously considering turning down a gig because the guy offering it is a jerk? Grow some thicker skin!

My bandmates can't hear you but I'll pass it along.

 

[ZAR14]

Tell your Band mates to put away their Egos! Play the gig, Rock it and show the Bar Manager thay your trio can Rock out with the best of them...

 

[mellowinman]

I think this band should focus their efforts on gaining lots of weight.

 

[Reedt2000]

If I were in Minnesota I'd fill as your 4th. I can play guitar rhythm or lead, sing harmonies, shake a tambourine, I'll make charts and work as hard as I can. Now I'm in Jersey but there have to be people out there who can do the same. I wouldn't want into your band, just some extra $

 

[jerry]

Just sticka girlfriend to the corner of the stage with a tambourine and a dead mic in front of her.

I was on a corporate gig once were a band member got sick, the contract called for six pieces, we stuck the guitar players wife on stage with a unplugged guitar, nobody noticed.

 

[Chris76]

Grab a couple of ladies for eye candy. Make sure they have good rhythm, add tambourine and a cold Mic. Filler problem solved.

 

[Jimmy4string]

Any update?

 

[Jamvan]

Any update?

Can't argue with 146-1 in favor so we took the gig. I talked to them on Saturday during load in and explained the rationale and the misunderstanding. They got over it fairly quickly and are good with playing the room.

 

[Jimmy4string]

SUCCESS! Wow TB had some political backing! WE HAVE POWERS OF GOOD!!
(sometimes)