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Strange Evening

thebassgrognard

thebassgrognard

Supporting Member
Sep 7, 2005
330
402
Kansas City, MO
www.facebook.com
#1
I responded to a Facebook group post looking for a bass player for your run of the mill classic country/red dirt cover band. Talked to the bl on the phone, things seemed cool. Had a lot of gigs lined up at local watering holes, additional 1 offs and paid open mic house band gigs.

I basically had a couple weeks before tryout gig at a bar. Bl sent a set list which was 1/4 classic rock songs as well as the aforementioned styles. Ok, I’ll at least give it a go. Set list didn’t have the keys with it, fair enough I’ll just learn the recorded keys.

The next week he has hired a new drummer who sings and had some songs he wanted to do as well. Again, fine with me.

Get to gig tonight and it just had a strange vibe. First time I’d ever met any of band in person, everyone seemed nice enough and laid back. Then the gig started.

Worst live experience of my 35 years playing in front of small to large crowds. Bl started calling out songs that weren’t on the set list he had sent. At first he’d at least give me a key if I asked, but as the night progressed it was evident he was becoming frustrated. Believe me, I have a healthy amount of humility when it comes to my playing, but things were going okish considering I hadn’t even heard of some of the songs let alone know chord changes.

As the night went on the bl started drinking more and his playing was getting sloppy. He would pick random songs thinking they would be easy , but even started a couple without bothering to tell me and drummer the song. And they were almost all classic rock and oldies…not country and red dirt.

All in we only played about 25% songs he had sent me to prepare for, the other 75% was music I hadn’t prepared for. On songs he picked out randomly they were easy enough but things were just off. He ended the night early without saying a word, he just put down his guitar and started packing up. Drummer and I look at each other and ask “are we done?”

I’m all about trying things, and I don’t regret giving it a go. I’m in another band that takes the music seriously so I’m happy with that. I think the guy tonight is just so used to an open mic house band thing where all just have a catalog of classic rock and r&b songs-which isn’t me. Live and learn
 
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#6
thebassgrognard said:
Set list didn’t have the keys with it, fair enough I’ll just learn the recorded keys.
Click to expand...
Subbing with unknowns is always a gamble. I've done it once and it worked out, but it was a bit scary walking in to the gig with no knowing nobody in the room or on the stage. I always try to get a t least a rough run through with the band before the gig if at all possible.

I quoted the passage above to display where you could have got a glimpse of what was in store. I would have communicated with the guy regarding keys: "Everything in original keys and form?". His answer might have clued you into his lack of care for your preparation.

As a sub (as well as a band member), I do everything I can to be ready for my "boss", but I I'll just shrug and give my best if I'm put in the spot you were with 75% call outs. I can't be held responsible for something I didn't know I needed to know.

Way to soldier through the drama.
 
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#7
thebassgrognard said:
I responded to a Facebook group post looking for a bass player for your run of the mill classic country/red dirt cover band. Talked to the bl on the phone, things seemed cool. Had a lot of gigs lined up at local watering holes, additional 1 offs and paid open mic house band gigs.

I basically had a couple weeks before tryout gig at a bar. Bl sent a set list which was 1/4 classic rock songs as well as the aforementioned styles. Ok, I’ll at least give it a go. Set list didn’t have the keys with it, fair enough I’ll just learn the recorded keys.

The next week he has hired a new drummer who sings and had some songs he wanted to do as well. Again, fine with me.

Get to gig tonight and it just had a strange vibe. First time I’d ever met any of band in person, everyone seemed nice enough and laid back. Then the gig started.

Worst live experience of my 35 years playing in front of small to large crowds. Bl started calling out songs that weren’t on the set list he had sent. At first he’d at least give me a key if I asked, but as the night progressed it was evident he was becoming frustrated. Believe me, I have a healthy amount of humility when it comes to my playing, but things were going okish considering I hadn’t even heard of some of the songs let alone know chord changes.

As the night went on the bl started drinking more and his playing was getting sloppy. He would pick random songs thinking they would be easy , but even started a couple without bothering to tell me and drummer the song. And they were almost all classic rock and oldies…not country and red dirt.

All in we only played about 25% songs he had sent me to prepare for, the other 75% was music I hadn’t prepared for. On songs he picked out randomly they were easy enough but things were just off. He ended the night early without saying a word, he just put down his guitar and started packing up. Drummer and I look at each other and ask “are we done?”

I’m all about trying things, and I don’t regret giving it a go. I’m in another band that takes the music seriously so I’m happy with that. I think the guy tonight is just so used to an open mic house band thing where all just have a catalog of classic rock and r&b songs-which isn’t me. Live and learn
Click to expand...
I’ve been in similar situations and I always wonder, what the heck were they thinking? Like, what’s their thought process behind sending people a set of songs to learn, and then calling songs that aren’t on the list all night?

There are so many steps they got it all wrong. Why are they telling people to learn songs they’re not gonna play? Why do you expect them to know songs you didn’t tell them to learn? How are they supposed to know what song you’re playing if you don’t bother to call it to the rest of the band? What do they thing is gonna happen? Imagine being in school and being told you’re gonna have a quiz on 20 Spanish words the next day, so you study your Spanish only to find it’s a test on 20 Japanese words and you’re not even in a Japanese language class.

I wish I knew what’s going on in the heads of BLs who do this.
 
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#10
Sounds like erratic alcoholic behavior; how did the rest of the band react to all this? Did it seem like it was standard operating procedure to them, just looking the other way?
I personally wouldn’t get involved with something like this unless I had at least one sit down/go over session with someone in the band, it didn’t have to be the BL(one of the other guitarists?), as this goes way beyond just a jam/open mic situation.
Were you offered the chance for any input on material, since the drummer got his?
 
#14
As far as not getting abused as a sub, I expect gigs to have some kind of structure and professionalism. And I'll only take covers (including tributes) gigs. When I'm asked, I give my covers catalog to them. It's pretty big, they have lots to pick from. If they want me to play something off the list (including anything not in original keys), my rate will depend on how many new songs they want me to learn and how long I have to learn them.
 
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#16
LBS-bass said:
I think his approach to this gig was unreasonable. One of the important things in music is the hang, and he pretty much showed you that this isn't your kind of hang. It's ok, though for me I prefer these things happen in a less public setting. Sorry this happened for you but hopefully you'll find a band that's a better fit.
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Same. I would have been pretty p'od if this happened in public. Nothing I hate worse than getting up and making myself look like a fool. Ive filled in with various bands where these types of things have happened (calling out songs not on the setlist they gave me, didnt indicate key changes, didnt indicate any changed parts, etc) but it was usually only a handful of songs in the entire gig. Sounds like it was alot of songs for the OP and I probably would have either taken over or left.
 
#18
REV said:
This was a gig not an audition. Did you get paid?
Click to expand...

Yeah the agreed upon price for the evening was $500 for the group, so $125/per person. He ended up talking to the manager there and cutting the evening short and it was $75/per. I didn't have enough piss left in me to get up in arms about it, so I just cut my losses and left.

Everyone pretty much has nailed the red-flags, the caveats, and the BL's issues. I saw the red flags as time progressed, but it was a low impact gig (meaning it is the same bar he runs the open mic another night, so was a warm crowd and laid back environment). I did realize I was dealing with a guy who was short on details, but I thought at the very worst it would be an experience and a little $.

I took the gig seriously and spent time learning the music provided. I don't regret any time I spend practicing, so no loss there. One thing I didn't expect was the bruise to my ego. I felt fine during the gig, and even after I was like "oh well, f$#% it". But today I've been second guessing myself and my playing...I guess a natural thing for musicians. But I don't like other people's issues being the cause of it. Oh well, lessons learned and experiences had.
 
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