Sub gig coming and no setlists yet!

[Drucifer]

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

Love "Drinking Problem"!

 

[Drucifer]

All country songs are I-IV-V just like all rock songs are I-IV-V

 

[Bassman822]

Make sure they play in standard tuning. I did a sub gig a couple of years ago where the guitars tuned in D# (I didn't realize it until we started). Imagine playing Sweet Home Alabama in C#. There response to the tuning ""everybody does it"

 

[richntiff]

I love how every time this type of thread pops up it turns into a ‘well, I’m so awesome that I could walk in and play it cold’ bragging competition. Telling the guy to rethink accepting sub gigs? What a DB comment. One sure way to grow as a player is to push yourself and put yourself under some pressure - and that’s exactly what the OP is trying to do! Maybe a number of guys on here who have been playing out live for 30+ years could walk in and hit a good number of the right notes, possibly even something resembling a signature riff or two. But then again, maybe you’ll actually just suck, but not realize the difference. I’ve found that generally in my area anyways, the guys that think they can just roll in and play anything are pretty delusional about their actual ability level - even for classic country (say, pre-1990). It obviously would be different if I lived in Nashville, Austin, or the like. Audiences at a country gig aren’t going to realize either way.

 

[MasterG]

I like both. Hip and hop.

 

[foolforthecity]

Walk right in cold, watch the nearby guitarist’s hands, and hammer root and fifths until the cows come home or you collect your $100, whichever comes first

 

[Rib 13]

Just to say, anyone who says all country tunes are I IV V variations has never played "Truck Stop Girl" (Little Feat). Song rarely repeats itself.

True but a smart country band shouldn't try to throw complicated songs at a sub.....if I was the bl I'd try to make the night as resistance free as possible

 

[aprod]

If they can't be bothered to get you the setlist just do your best and get paid.

 

[jdh3000]

Join the club! I'm doing the same thing now.
It's an open ended sub gig with a classic country band(They are trying to get me to commit).
I know they know a thousand songs, and I know most of the stuff they are throwing at me, since it's what I've played most of my life, however, I would like something to give me a better idea of what could come up. Every week there are more we haven't played.

I can wing it on most any of this old stuff, but a list would be nice.

 

[friskinator]

I did a sub gig a couple years ago where the BL was incredibly uncommunicative. I asked for the set list well before the gig as well as any key changes, transitions, etc I might need. No response. I learned the sample list the best I could at home, and kept my fingers crossed on gig day.

The gig happens, and the first few tunes go fine. We start another tune, and the BL looks back at me and says “what key is this in?” Like I’m the one that’s supposed to know. A few songs later, we launched into “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5, and nobody informed me of the key change. It was awful, and very difficult to recover from, but not my fault.

For the rest of the night, I just tried to avoid any trainwrecks on my part. That’s all you can do in those situations. I subbed with them one more time, then bowed out. It wasn’t worth the headache.

 

[mdogs]

I love how every time this type of thread pops up it turns into a ‘well, I’m so awesome that I could walk in and play it cold’ bragging competition. Telling the guy to rethink accepting sub gigs? What a DB comment. One sure way to grow as a player is to push yourself and put yourself under some pressure - and that’s exactly what the OP is trying to do! Maybe a number of guys on here who have been playing out live for 30+ years could walk in and hit a good number of the right notes, possibly even something resembling a signature riff or two. But then again, maybe you’ll actually just suck, but not realize the difference. I’ve found that generally in my area anyways, the guys that think they can just roll in and play anything are pretty delusional about their actual ability level - even for classic country (say, pre-1990). It obviously would be different if I lived in Nashville, Austin, or the like. Audiences at a country gig aren’t going to realize either way.

This times 1000. I have done a lot of sub gigs over the years, I don't do them anymore. A couple of reasons one, every band thinks you should know every song they play and the structure they play it in. Second, every band thinks you as a sub are only entitled to an equal cut of the pay. No, I am working a lot harder than you to make your band sound good, my fees are set, take it or leave it. Oh, by the way, if you want a rehearsal, that is going to cost you too.

I had a job lined up one time, everything was agreed on and I had worked through the setlist. The day before the gig, I get a message that says that their guitar player's brother's best friends sister's husband played bass and he was going to play the show for free. I am sure that went well.

I got sick of the attitude of, "this is an important gig for us, but we are not getting paid." Cool beans dude, I don't play in my own bands for free and I sure as heck am not going to play in yours for free.

The story is completely different with jazz/standards gigs where reading is part of the job.

 

[Hevy T]

It's amazing how many guitarists automatically assume you already know their stuff. Then you ask then you ask them about a song you know and they blow it off!

 

[Jaycat]

Try playing bass at a country/bluegrass jam, where you never know what someone is gonna call til they call it. The songs aren't that difficult to suss out.

 

[Acoop]

I always found them great gigs. ... It'll be 1, 4, 5 with an occasional 2 or minor 6. ... Keep your head up and ears open and you'll ace it. ...

 

[ColonelZulu]

I have less than a monthl.

No biggie. I’ll do it for you.

 

[getBAK]

If a band can't act like professionals before a gig, they likely won't act as professionals at the gig

 

[pcake]

while you're asking them for a list, you might also want to ask if they play the songs in the same key as the original recorded versions and whether they're playing note for note covers or whether they've added solos, bridges, longer intros and outros, etc.

Always stand on stage where you can see the guitarist's fretting hand, and the drummer's bass drum. I've gotten through a few gigs that way.

we had a guitarist try to do that. my husband played tuned down, and the other guitar player played wrong notes through an entire song before i asked him about it... he said he knew something sounded wrong (it didn't sounf wrong - it sounded horrible!) but wanted to keep trying.

 

[brianrost]

Based on what you wrote in this thread I would suggest you tell them they have 24 hours to give you a setlist or you're not going to do the gig.

 

[Nightman]

Get all of your money at gig setup.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Regardless of your level of playing or their level, they should be making this easy for you. Give me a set list and what key you do and I’ll show up ready to play the recorded version at least. If you deviate from the recorded version and don’t tell me, it could be be “interesting”. But a full month to prepare for a gig seems excessive. Assume that they have a gig between now and then, they should at least give you the set list soon. But maybe their expectations are that you’ll just wing it because that’s what they’re doing.