Thank you... of course sometimes just looking at a picture can lead to option number 1.
They can definitely contribute to making a gig more fun for me.
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This guy wants to sit in...
- Thread starter Brad Johnson
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They can definitely contribute to making a gig more fun for me.
No from me. I've had a headstock knocked off, lot's of speakers damaged and replaced cuz BL told me I had to provide backline. At the end of the day all repairs came out of my pocket. It's a very uncomfortable position to be put in. The BL/guitarist on the other hand would not let anyone use his gear but put the drummer and me on the spot many times????? So not cool.
Indeed they are!
Nonetheless, 40+ years and no damage has been caused by someone sitting in. There is always the possibility of gear damage at a gig. The gear on stage is a set of tools. When something breaks or gets damaged, it is either repaired or replaced; it is part of being a gigging musician.
It's been said repeatedly already: amateurs ask to sit in whereas pros are asked. I've handed my bass to amateurs between sets under a watchful eye, but those are asked up to play are known entities so they get handed my bass without reservation. Everyone is different, and each is entitled to do as they wish. Perhaps I've been amazingly lucky.
For the record: I'm one that always brings a backup...not for people sitting in, but for the exceptionally rare occasion when one might be needed. I find "emergencies" are typically the product of poor planning.
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I have one or two instruments that are "my babies", and I most definitely would not loan them out to some random guy who might or might not give them a dose of belt buckle rash (the way I play, such diseases don't arise). Not gonna happen. Hell, I'm reluctant to even let people I know play them if I'm not darn sure they won't do damage. If I had a beater handy, then maybe. But a nice instrument that I treasure? Nope.
- Sep 4, 2010
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- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
I'm personally ok with it as long people don't move the goal posts, and respect the music and the people they will play with. (Besides careful use of loaned equipment of course). If you want to sit in, you play with the people.
For example this guy who asked to sit in on a set we played (he did bring his own guitar) and and then went on to "show" us "what real music is". We should have kicked him off right then and there.
For me, everybody has the right to politely ask and everybody has the right to politely refuse, without questions being asked or explanations necessary.
For example this guy who asked to sit in on a set we played (he did bring his own guitar) and and then went on to "show" us "what real music is". We should have kicked him off right then and there.
For me, everybody has the right to politely ask and everybody has the right to politely refuse, without questions being asked or explanations necessary.
I've been asked if i wanted to sit in... But I never asked a working band to let me sit in. Not my gig... I sure don't want to screw anything up...
I own two basses—a $700 RW Precision and a $9K five string. I take the five-string to every little hole in the wall and dive bar that we play; I bought it to play it, not to keep it protected in my living room. That said, anyone can play the Precision (if it happens to be on the gig). No one but me plays the other one. No one. Ever.
Corporate gigs, weddings, private parties are fertile fields for impromptu sit-in requests on any variety of instrument or vocals. I think the OP did well. Further, generally the requests come from individuals that have their inhibitions lowered by consuming mood altering substances...
jdthebassman
play to live live to play
I had that same problem BL wants this guy to sit in he has real sweaty hands and kills a brand new set of strings. fast forward he comes in again and wants to sit in, I give him the bass he starts to play and grimaces, looks real upset I gave him my fretless and he was lost. no one sits in and uses my bass anymore.How would I know that without a conversation beforehand?
I had another BL make the same request years ago and until the guy walked to the stage, stumbling into the drums I didnt know that he was drunk. At which point I wasn't going to hand him my 84 Tobias.
I've also had a guy whose sweat was so toxic it killed a brand new set of strings after only ten minutes. I don't gig to lose money.
Who the heck asks such a thing? At a corporate gig? Some wannabe wanker no doubt.
I'd tell him to get his own band and sit in with them.
I'd tell him to get his own band and sit in with them.
That's my take on it. If band leader was respectful, he would have added, "I understand if you're not comfortable with that, and I'll be glad to tell him 'no'." I'll never judge anyone based on their willingness or reluctance to loan an instrument; that is a very personal and subjective decision, and the value of the equipment is meaningless. And I'll never expect it and always be ready to cover for someone when the request is made. I'm not all that thrilled about spontaneous "unknown guest musicians" in the first place; the majority I've seen have either been mildly awkward, cringe-inducing, or gone horribly wrong.
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I just had the opposite happen. A guy who comes to see my band shows up with a brand new Alembic Series 1 5 string. Every bell and whistle you could dream of and a street price of about 11 grand. Asked me if I would mind playing it for a set as he wanted to hear how it sounded thru my rig live 
well yeah I suppose I can do that for ya 
I see now why they cost so much.... absolute perfection.
well yeah I suppose I can do that for ya I see now why they cost so much.... absolute perfection.
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