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Sub gig coming and no setlists yet!

#7
For me, it would depend on how "classic" the country is. And your comfort level with classic country. And on which side of "less than a month" you are.

I'm looking at exactly a similar situation in about three weeks. The only list I'm getting is a play list of a lot of the things that have been played, but the leader calls out songs as they go. They've been in this same gig for 20 years now, so I suppose it's still working for them. Now, I've been around the stuff all my life, so while not necessarily easy, I think it'll be an ok start with them and get better as time goes by.

So think of how comfortable you are with the genre if they're not giving a list any time soon and decide from there.
 
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#8
Stinsok said:
I have less than a monthl.
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And how long ago were you offered the gig?

If the answer is "a week ago" you have every right to be concerned. If the answer is "three months ago" well, ya prolly waited too long, noamsayin?

Every time I've done a sub gig the material or set list was in my hand within 24 hours of being hired. That's kinda the whole point of sub gigs: They're (the band) the ones caught up the creek without a paddle, so they're the ones who should have a sense of urgency about this show. If they're unprepared to provide a sub with the necessary info or materials in a timely fashion, they deserve to crash & burn.

Screw 'em sez I. Bow out.
 
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#10
I've had sub gigs where I had to learn 40 songs on 24-hours notice. Definitely not a challenge you want to take on without a lot of experience, though!

When I get hired to sub and they don't send me a list, the first thing I do is send back a list of songs I already know and say "Pick 20 songs you guys know off this list, send me yours, and I'll find another 20 I already know or can chart out quickly."

If they don't respect your time then you have to force the issue. I wouldn't bail, just make clear what time you have available and that you don't have unlimited hours to write charts, especially if they don't give you enough notice to do it properly.

If anything, I'd see this as a message to you that they aren't expecting a lot out of you. A band that doesn't send the song list immediately is NOT expecting you to spend 100 hours mastering every song, fill, and know them perfectly before the gig. That's a band that just expects you to follow along and not screw up in any clearly noticeable way. I'd see it as a good sign that you don't have to work your ass off for this gig. If they don't care you shouldn't either.
 
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#12
It's country. I've been thrown into the fire at a moment's notice when the bassist didn't show up and I had just met the band through the guitarist in the band I was in. Keep your eye on the rhythm guitarist's fretting hand and get the keys to the songs before the gig. Anything with a signature lick will be handled by the guitars (hopefully). Worst case scenario, turn your volume down to zee row. YeeeHah!!!!
 
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#13
I enjoy sub gigs. When approached I simply state my acceptance is contingent upon receiving a reasonably accurate set list by a specific date. I typically give 48 hours. If I don't get it, I let them know I'm out; no chance for redemption. I've been there, done that too many times to deal with flakes. There are way too many professional musicians out there to deal with...
 
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#14
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#17
Stinsok said:
I have less than a monthl.
Click to expand...

If you have examples of the genre available to you, start listening to songs by those artists and see if you can get a feel for the patterns involved. There's a fairly decent chance that most of the songs will not be terribly complex - if you can figure out the general patterns of the genre, you'll be able to learn the songs easily by simply recognizing the patterns inherent to each song and simplifying to a generalization. This means that in the worst case, you'll be able to hang. If the band can't provide a full setlist at the moment, ask which artists they're covering. (You may also consider looking up the band online and see if you can track any of their past performances. You have their name and you know who they are, so you can probably find an example of what they play.)

If you are worried about complex transitions, different arrangements, key changes, rhythm changes, and the like, make sure that you bring that up with the band. If they don't provide what you need to be prepared and you can't find it yourself, just keep your head low and make sure your name isn't mentioned on the bandstand to the audience. (Wear a mask, too.) Secure payment before the show and do your best.

Note that this isn't hard advice - this is just what I would do in your situation if I felt pressured for time. For what it's worth, you probably have more time than you feel you do - three to four weeks to learn forty songs is quite a lot - but this does vary for each individual. If you don't have a good ear, a good musical understanding of the genre, a good understanding of song structure and musical patterns, or if you just play by rote by memorizing finger positions, then it could be more difficult for you.
 
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#18
jamro217 said:
It's country. I've been thrown into the fire at a moment's notice when the bassist didn't show up and I had just met the band through the guitarist in the band I was in. Keep your eye on the rhythm guitarist's fretting hand and get the keys to the songs before the gig. Anything with a signature lick will be handled by the guitars (hopefully). Worst case scenario, turn your volume down to zee row. YeeeHah!!!!
Click to expand...
IME, long standing country bands will either be pros with a stack of charts or some kind of homemade fake book, usually nashville numbers or lyric sheets with chord changes noted above the words where they occur, or they are serious wingers who don’t have anything written down to give you. If they have a piano player that’s going to be the one you should be talking to beforehand. At the very least they should be able help with song keys and changes. I’ve played with bands where the keyboard player gave me song keys then fed me basic nashville numbers on the fly for chord changes. Immerse yourself in George Jones, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, etc between now and the day you play. Pandora on classic country and Bakersfield classic country stations at every opportunity, is a good place to be in the coming weeks. If you have to walk in cold make sure you can see the rhythm guitar’s left hand and the high hat, and if they have a steel player they’ll be your best bet for song keys in the moment. Just keep it simple and you should be able to pull it off just fine.
Hopefully you won’t have to keep your volume at zee row all night. :D
 
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#19
joelns said:
How much time to you have before the gig? Might be worth a "If I don't have the setlist by Wed, find a new bass player" message. You need time to prep, and they owe you that.
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Apparently, you're taking the the project more seriously than the host band. Ch****, write the tunes down on a legal pad and send a pic. Don't assume they're all I-IV-V...we do "Drinking Problem" and "Beautiful Crazy".

Riis
 

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