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sticky situation - 2 guys, 1 keyboard

Burt35

Burt35

Dec 9, 2013
18
20
#1
I've gotten myself into a bit of a predicament. As I am in the process of starting my own band, I recently reached out to a monster keyboard player (I'll call him "Herbie") whom I've played with before in the past, and got along with quite well on a personal level. Based on his current music projects and day job, I didn't expect him to accept the gig, but felt I had to put it out there, as he is such a truly special player.

Later that same day, I did a "cold call" on another great keyboardist ("Joe") whom I've never worked with, and don't know personally, but whom I've admired as a player for years, and I knew he was looking for a gig. A guy with mega industry experience, and formerly in a hugely popular band. Well, he got back to me almost right away and said he found my vision for the band very interesting. And while he expressed extreme interest and said I could pencil him in, he fell short of a full commitment, and said he'd touch base with me later over the weekend.

Well, lo and behold, several days later, I finally heard back from Herbie, and to my astonishment, he was totally gung ho to join my band. Unsolicitedly, he offered to write charts and organize things. Massive enthusiasm, everything you could want.

Meanwhile, the weekend came and went, and Joe still hasn't gotten back to me. Fortunately, Herbie is pretty chill and is not the kind of guy who requires immediate email responses, so, while I sort this out, I have held off on telling him how excited I am that he accepted my offer.

Right now, I am leaning strongly toward Herbie, and wish I hadn't contacted Joe. :hmm:

Obviously, this situation was my own doing, but what should I tell Joe? I don't want to burn any bridges.

(Just to clarify, he's a great player, but he may not work out anyway, as we don't know each other, and may not have the right chemistry.)

Thanks guys!
 
#2
Burt35 said:
I've gotten myself into a bit of a predicament. As I am in the process of starting my own band, I recently reached out to a monster keyboard player (I'll call him "Herbie") whom I've played with before in the past, and got along with quite well on a personal level. Based on his current music projects and day job, I didn't expect him to accept the gig, but felt I had to put it out there, as he is such a truly special player.

Later that same day, I did a "cold call" on another great keyboardist ("Joe") whom I've never worked with, and don't know personally, but whom I've admired as a player for years, and I knew he was looking for a gig. A guy with mega industry experience, and formerly in a hugely popular band. Well, he got back to me almost right away and said he found my vision for the band very interesting. And while he expressed extreme interest and said I could pencil him in, he fell short of a full commitment, and said he'd touch base with me later over the weekend.

Well, lo and behold, several days later, I finally heard back from Herbie, and to my astonishment, he was totally gung ho to join my band. Unsolicitedly, he offered to write charts and organize things. Massive enthusiasm, everything you could want.

Meanwhile, the weekend came and went, and Joe still hasn't gotten back to me. Fortunately, Herbie is pretty chill and is not the kind of guy who requires immediate email responses, so, while I sort this out, I have held off on telling him how excited I am that he accepted my offer.

Right now, I am leaning strongly toward Herbie, and wish I hadn't contacted Joe. :hmm:

Obviously, this situation was my own doing, but what should I tell Joe? I don't want to burn any bridges.

(Just to clarify, he's a great player, but he may not work out anyway, as we don't know each other, and may not have the right chemistry.)

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...


Go with Herbie, and just contact Joe today, thank him and tell him the position has been filled.
 
#3
I'm not sure what the dilemma is. Tell Joe one of your long time friends expressed interest in the project and you decided to go with him. You appreciate his consideration and you hope to work with him in the future. Better to tell him BEFORE he accepts.
 
#14
Burt35 said:
Update:

Joe just got back to me......and has accepted. Now what??? :help:
Click to expand...

Hmm, yeah you should have contacted Joe right away and told him that the job has been filled. Oh well, "should of" and "could of" isn't going to help now. If payroll allows, and the two keyboardist can work together - maybe take both of them. Otherwise, you need to tell Joe 'TODAY" that the position has been filled, just be honest with Joe and tell him exactly what happened and be very polite - but keep it short too.
 
#16
bassgod0dmw said:
Why did you let him accept when you already had Herbie committed?
Click to expand...

Well, if he had Herbie committed, then technically, the job is still open for Joe. Let's hope Joe is slightly more sane than Herbie, and that Herbie is getting the treatment he needs, so that one day, he can become a functioning member of society again.

In the meantime, I want to kow what they spilled all over the keyboard that made it so sticky. A good solution of mild dish soap and water, used sparingly, can often clean off honey, sugar, maple syrup, and the like but if there is something petroleum-based, like tar, the OP will need a chemical cleaner, and they will have to be very careful not to damage the keyboard.

If Herbie's keyboard is the one that got all sticky, I would think the problem sort of solved itself. If Joe's keyboard is the one that got all sticky, why couldn't he just borrow Herbie's, until Herbie gets out of the institution?
 
#17
This reminds me, wasn't there a Brady Bunch episode entitled "2 Guys, One Prom Date with Marsha?" We all know how that one turned out. Marsha tried to set the less good-looking guy up with Jan, but he didn't appreciate all that hostility, so he ended up settling for Mrs. Brady. Man, was THAT embarrassing for us kids watching at home!
 

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