After a few thousand gigs, years ago I came up with what I call The Gig Triangle.
The three sides to my gig triangle are:
If a date has all three sides, it is a wonderful gig. Count me in!
If a date is missing all three sides, I'm not available on the next call.
Nice and simple.
My conclusion is if even one side of the triangle is good, it's worth showing up.
If each side is weak or absent, I should pass. I don't need the money, the music and playing the bass is what I love.
Played a date last night with the worst band ever. Lousiest in the last 200 gigs.
The tune choices were s***. Achy Breaky Heart, Guitar Boogie, Spanish Eyes, on and on. I gotta vent about this one...
The drummer was soooo frick'n loud, especially with the bass drum. The guitarist's lower strings were way louder than me! The sax player played without the mic through all this haha! Guest girl singer who actually was pretty good did not have a chance with these clowns. When she sang they played just as loud as if they were taking a solo. She had not rehearsed or sang with the band, all done cold on the stage. She was on the stage all night, poor thing. The sax player sang a bunch of tunes she did. Then she would sing the same thing AFTER him in the tune. This guy can hardly sing! He just had to sing cause he always does.
The band leader insulted my new $9500 bass, said the old one sounded better. I responded with 'you won't see it again'. He might of thought I meant I'd bring a dif bass next time. The guitarist insulted me by bragging about some jazz gig he plays with an awesome pianist. I ask who they use on bass and he says 'we don't want a bass it conflicts with the piano'. Wt****. This from a pro musician who also taught guitar at the college level. But he can't figure out how to back up a singer. Damn this was almost the gig from Hell!
This gig had crap musicians and low money ($90). The audience was ok. The only thing that made this gig almost worth doing was dinner/drinks included. And I won a door prize haha. The band leader gave me a raffle ticket, they gave away 20 gifts and I won a box of turtles. Got home and my wife said Yahoo! I made myself a stiff cocktail.
I play 50 to 100 paid gigs a year with a huge variety of musicians. Never rehearse with anybody. If you need a rehearsal or early set up you pay extra. Just show up and play the gig. Done this since the early '70's. I practice, but with myself one or two hours a day. I have regular groups I play with but often just freelance with who ever calls. Bass for hire electric or acoustic. My triangle developed after playing dates where I should of stayed home. Have to judge this somehow and the triangle works.
How do you do it?
The three sides to my gig triangle are:
- Great Music
- Great Money
- Great Audience
If a date has all three sides, it is a wonderful gig. Count me in!
If a date is missing all three sides, I'm not available on the next call.
Nice and simple.
My conclusion is if even one side of the triangle is good, it's worth showing up.
If each side is weak or absent, I should pass. I don't need the money, the music and playing the bass is what I love.
Played a date last night with the worst band ever. Lousiest in the last 200 gigs.
The tune choices were s***. Achy Breaky Heart, Guitar Boogie, Spanish Eyes, on and on. I gotta vent about this one...
The drummer was soooo frick'n loud, especially with the bass drum. The guitarist's lower strings were way louder than me! The sax player played without the mic through all this haha! Guest girl singer who actually was pretty good did not have a chance with these clowns. When she sang they played just as loud as if they were taking a solo. She had not rehearsed or sang with the band, all done cold on the stage. She was on the stage all night, poor thing. The sax player sang a bunch of tunes she did. Then she would sing the same thing AFTER him in the tune. This guy can hardly sing! He just had to sing cause he always does.
The band leader insulted my new $9500 bass, said the old one sounded better. I responded with 'you won't see it again'. He might of thought I meant I'd bring a dif bass next time. The guitarist insulted me by bragging about some jazz gig he plays with an awesome pianist. I ask who they use on bass and he says 'we don't want a bass it conflicts with the piano'. Wt****. This from a pro musician who also taught guitar at the college level. But he can't figure out how to back up a singer. Damn this was almost the gig from Hell!
This gig had crap musicians and low money ($90). The audience was ok. The only thing that made this gig almost worth doing was dinner/drinks included. And I won a door prize haha. The band leader gave me a raffle ticket, they gave away 20 gifts and I won a box of turtles. Got home and my wife said Yahoo! I made myself a stiff cocktail.
I play 50 to 100 paid gigs a year with a huge variety of musicians. Never rehearse with anybody. If you need a rehearsal or early set up you pay extra. Just show up and play the gig. Done this since the early '70's. I practice, but with myself one or two hours a day. I have regular groups I play with but often just freelance with who ever calls. Bass for hire electric or acoustic. My triangle developed after playing dates where I should of stayed home. Have to judge this somehow and the triangle works.
How do you do it?
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