The band grenade just multipoloded

[twinjet]

I voted carrots because the option I would take is not there. I would explain the situation to the venue owners and offer them the duet option. If they want to cancel, that should be their option. Also, it sounds like this took you buy surprise, were there warning signs?

You never really know how strong a grenade explosion feels until it suddenly blows up in your face. Probably didn't have time to get ready for it.

I say pull a duo. Stay reliable. Call the venue to figure out pay and set-up, if necessary.

 

[Jimmy4string]

1. Get some hired guns
2. if that doesn't work play a duet
3. NEVER cancel a gig ever
4. CARROTS FOR EVERYONE!!

 

[basscapes]

Keep on rockin', truckin, or whatever you wanna call it. Get some peeps in there and play the obligated dates. After that, go where you like, with whatever you like!

I've done many gigs as a sub where I was given a week or two to learn a full three set's/gig's worth of material.

Now mind you, with my general style, it was also the LAST time I was called for a few of those bands (and they KNEW full well what they were getting!).

No harm no foul.

Live and learn.

Be ready for surprises and ROLL WITH IT, wherever it takes you!

I once subbed for a NIRVANA TRIBUTE act. Knew the guitarist really well (and he knew me AND my style). We ended up morphing into a bit of a 3-piece ZAPPA EXPERIMENT by the time we ended the show. It went over pretty well, but between the me and the guitarist, the drummer was hanging on for dear life!

I grew up with an improvising heart and the ability to groove at the same time. But let's face it- even I KNOW that my Entwhistle/Squire Grind-like tone isn't exactly what EVERY COVER BAND WANTS/NEEDS!. LOL

 

[Ben B]

Hey OP, you left out one important piece of information. Are you the band leader? Did you personally book the gig? Whomever booked the gig should be the person to deal with the venue. I'm just not sure if that's you.

I asked the BL to contact the venue first on the calendar and see if they are ok with a smaller version of the band

I guess we were typing at the same time so I didn't see your post.

Since you are not the band leader, I would let the band leader handle it with the venue before committing to anything.

 

[awakefie]

Yes the warning signs were there. Our main solo player who plays fiddle, told us recently that he is retiring from gigging due to hearing issues and tinnitus but committed to play out the schedule through August. He's tried ear plugs and IEMs but nothing is working for him and he's worried about losing his hearing.

As an interesting side note: last gig he showed up completely unprepared, all frazzled, and I loaned him a Rolls PM50 that I'd just purchased as a back up, still in the box. At the end of the gig I asked him how it sounded and he said "great".
The next weekend I put that same Rolls PM50 on my pedal board and plugged into the mixer to test run the IEM feed and got nothing...silence. Then I read the manual and realized it was shipped set for stereo and the dip switch setting had to be changed for mono feed (with needle nose pliers), which I did and then got full IEM signal (we send a mono line feed). At that moment I realized that when the guy borrowed my Rolls he was getting nothing in his ears and had either lied to me or thought he ws hearing the feed. Strange for sure.

Anyway, he didn't show up for rehearsal last week, then sent out an email this morning saying he's not playing the remaining gigs due to having to move his son to college, which is going to take at least two weeks of his time. Seems he would have had that on his calendar a long time ago. The guy's been problematic since joining the band 2 years ago and now he's bailed on us.
So he's dead to me now.

Wow. Sorry it happened dude. I can relate to the losing the hearing thing, but that should be his problem and not the bands. By promising to play through the end of August and bailing early it sounds like he made it the bands issue.

 

[Omega Monkey]

I mean, I understand trying to be professional. At the same time, the band is over. What hasn't been mentioned that I've seen is is this a full night gig, or a multi band bill? Usually originals bands are playing with 2-3 other bands on a bill and play for like 45 minutes. So cancelling is not a huge deal in that case. If it's a full night (ie 3-4 sets), that changes the situation a lot. Honestly, the best bet in either case is to try to find a replacement band. In my area there are facebook musicians' groups that get used for that kind of stuff all the time and there are usually 10+ bands ready to jump in a gig.

 

[electracoyote]

Personnel issues have finally pulled the pin on the band grenade for my Americana band.
What's left after the collateral damage is a duet.

We have a couple of gigs on the calendar within the net 15 days. So it looks like its a Flight of the Conchords scenario if we keep the gigs.

What's your input? --- Do we cancel the gigs, since the venue operators are expecting a 6 pc band? Or call subs and expect them to learn the music within 10 days?

My inclination is to punt.

Even though your genre may be more forgiving when reduced to a duo, the main concern I would have is the risk of under-delivering and being perceived as bait-and-switching on the talent buyer. I have had talent buyers in the past notice and question line-up changes and going out shorthanded, sometimes something as relatively minor as a sub bass player, and sometimes going out with five instead of our normal six players.

Your band and brand may be history, but you still have a personal reputation to maintain and preserve. If you can back out of these gigs with full disclosure, that would be my call. Or, explain the situation and leave it up to the talent buyer to decide. But I would not stay mum on the topic and show up as a duo, roll the dice, and try to pull what might be perceived as a fast one on the talent buyer without discussing it up front.

At any rate, I would only accept one of two possibilities: Talent buyer is cool with a duo, or talent buyer says he would rather look for another band (and you might offer to help him in that regard if you're able). I would NOT try to find short-notice fill-ins for all those missing players. That would be not only stressful but just as risky to your reputation if it's a trainwreck.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Bands, doncha just love em. This is why I am recording my solo album

 

[Engle]

It depends on the place and whether you have the connections to pull it off. Whatever you do, you don’t want to be seen as a hassle to deal with. I would find and present a replacement band.
We have used a sub guitarist at pub gigs with good success, but it took a fair bit of work to get him up to speed.
10 days is possible, but only if you can get enough talent.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

When we talk about basses we always ask about the budget. What does this gig pay? I’d its $200 split among six people, my opinion is different than if it’s $2000.

 

[five7]

Hire 4 drummers and rock it.

 

[Skullheadrac]

This is what first came to mind when it was said the band imploded...

 

[Charlzm]

Personnel issues have finally pulled the pin on the band grenade for my Americana band.
What's left after the collateral damage is a duet.

We have a couple of gigs on the calendar within the net 15 days. So it looks like its a Flight of the Conchords scenario if we keep the gigs.

What's your input? --- Do we cancel the gigs, since the venue operators are expecting a 6 pc band? Or call subs and expect them to learn the music within 10 days?

My inclination is to punt.

First, decide whether playing with subs is going to work and if it's something you really want to do.

Second, ask venue operators if they are okay with duet. If yes, proceed as duet.

If no, inform them immediately of your intentions (cancel or play with subs).

 

[Christine]

Ha! I'm the polar opposite. It's a bar gig... not the end of the world. The bar owner will be fine. The audience will be fine. And you will be fine. Cancel the gigs and regroup (literally).

I will never understand how most of the crowd here thinks canceling a bar gig is a travesty. A little self importance, maybe? If you cancel, they will put someone else in your place. The crowd won't care or even notice.

Which is why I said to speak to the venue about it, they may have a band they can call in or they won't mind. I personally would never let anyone down, if they can get a replacement then that's fine you come to a mutual agreement with the venue but just pulling out potentially leaving them in the lurch just isn't cricket, after all we would be the first to have a moan if the venue cancelled us at short notice

 

[tycobb73]

Ha! I'm the polar opposite. It's a bar gig... not the end of the world. The bar owner will be fine. The audience will be fine. And you will be fine. Cancel the gigs and regroup (literally).

I will never understand how most of the crowd here thinks canceling a bar gig is a travesty. A little self importance, maybe? If you cancel, they will put someone else in your place. The crowd won't care or even notice.

I book gigs for a bar. You cancel on me for anything else other than accidental injury and you get pulled from my rotation. If someone else cancels I'll ask you to take the gig. If you do you go back in the rotation. If not I'll call you if and when i have another cancellation.

Asking me to find a band in 2 weeks when i don't want to break up my rotation is hard.

Keep the bars in the loop and you'll be fine. Just do what you can.

 

[tycobb73]

The "hire pros" option seems stressful and unnecessary for a now-defunct originals band at a bar gig. Although many on this site are devoted to zealous self-abasement before anyone who might offer you a gig, the product you were selling no longer exists.

Contact the bar, ask if they want a duo or if they want you to cancel, and perhaps ask if there's anything else you can do to help out. Don't offer less pay, although if the owner requests it, do as you see fit.

It takes two parties to fulfill a contract. You expect the owner to do his part, but if his ceiling caved in or his partner took off with the money, you wouldn't expect him to find you a new gig. You'd simply expect him to be honest with you and give you notice as soon as possible.

As a representative of the bar I've signed contracts that if this happened yes we'd have to pay.

 

[TheDominoKid]

What does the duo consist of? Drums and bass? Guitar and bass?

But yeah, I'd do it as duo if you can but if you know someone that can sit in and make things work better, go for that.

Good luck.

 

[Robscott]

Personnel issues have finally pulled the pin on the band grenade for my Americana band.
What's left after the collateral damage is a duet.

We have a couple of gigs on the calendar within the net 15 days. So it looks like its a Flight of the Conchords scenario if we keep the gigs.

What's your input? --- Do we cancel the gigs, since the venue operators are expecting a 6 pc band? Or call subs and expect them to learn the music within 10 days?

My inclination is to punt.

Never mind what to do, we all wanna know why the band imploded! Come on, spill the beans!

 

[danesdad]

The fiddler went deaf!

 

[J-Mags]

As a representative of the bar I've signed contracts that if this happened yes we'd have to pay.

Generally with touring bands, I imagine, or the top one or two local draws.

Like you said, communication is key. It can be worked out with the club owner. I just don't think that hiring multiple pros is practicable for most originals bands, and is unlikely to be worth it if the band is essentially defunct.

Plus, where are they gonna find another deaf fiddle player? It's not like they grow on trees!