The Weekend Warrior Band Guide to Unrealistic Expectations

For those of you who fit the "weekend warrior" mold, lets hear about the unrealistic expectations put upon you by your band. I'll start:

tl;dr: learn 28 songs in 10 days for a new cover band. Day of gig, BL tells me I can't use charts on stage.

Three weeks ago, I was asked to audition for a local cover band. They are pretty strong musically, and have some decent gigs lined up, so I gave it a try. The audition went well. I knew about 10 of their songs and played them flawlessly. I got along well with the other members, and they told me as I left that they'd be in touch in a few days.

In a few days, they contacted me to ask me to audition again, because it was down to me and another guy. That's cool...I've never been asked to a call-back for a weekend warrior cover band, but whatever. I charted an additional 5 songs in less than 24 hours at their request. At that audition, I again nailed all the songs I was requested to play. During the audition, one of the members asked me about my iPad (I chart everything in Word and download to ForScore), so I showed it to him. He asked if I always used charts, and I explained that they were just temporary since I had to learn 5 songs in less than 24 hours. "Cool" he says.... and we move on. At the end of that audition (which was a Sunday), I was told that I was "basically in", but they were still going to audition the other guy on Monday. I would hear back after that.

Monday comes and goes. Tuesday as well. At the end of Wednesday, I'm assuming I didn't get the gig. A first for me in many years, but not a big deal. I text the BL to ask for an update, and he tells me that they still intend to audition the other guy, but he's cancelled on them three times. On Thursday, he texts to tell me I'm their guy. He also wants me to be ready for a rehearsal on Sunday and a 3 hour bar gig the next Friday. That gig will require me to learn an addition 23 songs I don't know, but I agree. I've done it before.

Being a bit of an overachiever, I chart all 23 songs between that Thursday- Sunday, in order to have them ready for the rehearsal. 23 songs..... in three days. Again, the same member asks me about the charts. The conversation gets interrupted before it can finish. All the members are impressed I'm ready with all the songs...in theory.

That was last Sunday. The gig is tonight. This morning at 4:30am, I get a text from the BL. It reads, in total: "Looking forward to tonight. Hope you've memorized those songs, because we don't allow charts or music stands on stage."

At 5:30, I replied: "I'm sorry but you should have told me that on Sunday. I've learned 28 songs in 10 days for this band, and I would need charts for some of them. I really don't like surprises at 4:30. No worries....have a good gig. I'm clearly not the right guy for you."

He's either still asleep, or in shock, but I haven't heard back from him yet.

 

8:31....text from BL: “please call me ASAP”.

 

Aww.

 

I didn’t call him, but the lead singer and drummer have both called apologizing for the “miscommunication”. They claim the BL assumed that I wouldn’t use charts because I told them I didn’t use them in my other established bands. They say charts are fine and they really want me in the group. They blame the text on the BL being overly concerned with “image”.

I’ve told them I’ll let them know if I’m playing in an hour or two. I also told them I’m disappointed that the BLs only response was to demand a call. They’re going to get him to call me.

Maybe I’ll go, and just dad-band it up. Ball cap. Band shirt. Cargo shorts.