This guy wants to sit in...

[Brad Johnson]

There was once a time when I might not have had an issue with it depending on who was asking.

However, after having met my share of inebriated morons over the years who want to “sit in” (i.e. wank on stage with a band) I now have a major issue with it. I’m there to play a gig. Not cohost an amateur hour.

Maybe my attitude stems from going to see far too bands where you’ll get at least one jerk in the audience continually pushing to “sit in” - and then copping an attitude (and occasionally causing a disturbance) if it doesn’t happen.

I’m paying to hear the name on the marquee, not “some guy” who wants to jam. So unless the name of the guy asking is Pino, Leeland, or Vic, don’t even ask me.

Just because you're a sub for the gig doesn’t mean the BL has the right to be grandstanding or doing the noblesse oblige routine with your gear.

Two words for your BL: piss off.

It wasn't a negative with the BL. He's cool.

 

[KohanMike]

The only time that happened to me was when my seniors ukulele group was rehearsing and a group of 10 middle school kids came to visit. When we finished, a young girl came over and asked me about my bass, an Epiphone Les Paul Express 22" scale guitar I converted to a bass. She said she was learning bass and could she try it. I didn't hesitate and handed it to her, which she played rather well.

At a couple of gigs I've been asked about the bass I was using since all mine are between 21 and 24" scale, but never to play it or sit in, which I would decline.

 

[Brad Johnson]

It's quite rare when someone asks to sit in. On the other hand, when we see musicians in the crowd they are usually invited up, simply because we don't get to play with these folks often. Either way, I will virtually always allow someone to play my bass. I play Alembic basses, and people are really curious about them. Alembics aren't seen in the wild very often, so I let them give it a spin. Over the decades of doing this I've never once had anyone treat one of my basses with anything but respect. A solid-body bass is an amazingly durable critter built to last through decades of use night after night.

Yeah, but cymbals and music stands are highly underrated as foes.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I've never seen anyone pick up another's instrument without permission. That is beyond poor manners...

I have.

 

[Eric Major]

Christ, I get antsy when my kids want to touch my guitars/basses without my permission. I don't want to think about someone else playing them.

Yeesh.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Very rarely. I let a young guy who was playing with a musician between sets borrow my USA Pbass. They were using our PA, and my rig, and his bass was a banger with dead strings and a bad jack. Nice kid, so I figured it was best to let him use the Pbass into my rig so I could control the input and output. No issues.

Seems to me the greater risk could be to your rig - some ham-handed player slaps your bass unmercifully, or cranks the gain, or steps on an effect and overloads the front end. I hate a scratch and dent to my basses, but I would lose it if someone wrecked my amp.

My rig wouldn't be at risk.

 

[40Hz]

It wasn't a negative with the BL. He's cool.

Glad to hear. There’s BLs and there's BLs. I’ve known both kinds. If you have a cool one you’re in luck.

 

[Wfrance3]

Neither bass was a backup.

Then clearly the requesting party was most likely in over his head. Would have probly been more of a disruptive accommodation than anything else if you let him play one of your expensive basses....

 

[JimK]

Glad to hear. There’s BLs and there's BLs. I’ve known both kinds. If you have a cool one you’re in luck.

...it also plays in Brad's favour that he's a bad ass player.

 

[Brad Johnson]

So this will now pose the question: What kind of backup bass do you bring to a gig for someone to sit in and play?

One I really, really don't care about.

 

[mrjim123]

Not a prayer of a chance.

I'd have words with the BL after the gig as well. He's supposed to shield you (and the rest of the band) from that kind of crap.

AFAIC, it depends. if the BL asks nicely that's one thing. If he expects you to just hand it over that's another.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I usually play fretless. Have never had a single person ask to borrow it.

View attachment 3327128

On gigs with my fretless five or six I've said yes when asked. Hasn't failed yet.

 

[CGremlin]

Many years ago, I was at a black-tie event in D.C. that had an awesome jazz trio for their entertainment. I talked to the bassist after the gig, and he had a really nice vintage Clevinger electric upright. After talking shop for a few minutes, he hands it to me and says, "here, try it out", even though I hadn't asked (and wouldn't have). Great instrument, very gracious (and outstanding) bassist, but that's not something I can see myself doing.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Many years ago, I was at a black-tie event in D.C. that had an awesome jazz trio for their entertainment. I talked to the bassist after the gig, and he had a really nice vintage Clevinger electric upright. After talking shop for a few minutes, he hands it to me and says, "here, try it out", even though I hadn't asked (and wouldn't have). Great instrument, very gracious (and outstanding) bassist, but that's not something I can see myself doing.

I do that too, quite often. On a gig though, performing with the band is different...

 

[richntiff]

There is a VERY short list of people that would be allowed to play my gear. Once we let another bass player that is a friend of the band sit in for a couple tunes - he had brought his bass along to our gig hoping to sit in. I let him run through my rig - didn't let him touch it though. He got handed one end of a cable to plug into his bass. He played a song or two, and that was that. I made it very clear to BL that will not happen again.

 

[Brad Johnson]

The answer is always no. Three times I've been asked and I flunked two out of three. The first guy played a single tune on an AEB I really loved and he dug his thumbnail so deep into the top I was never able to repair it.

Another guy played a couple tunes on one of my 5ers and had such acidic hands I had to blow $35 to swap them out earlier than usual.

The third guy, I said no to - and it turned out to be the right move. He was stealing local's gear, hocking it and skipping town.

Had a guy with acidic hands kill a brand new set of strings at a shed. Then shakes my hand and his was dripping wet. wtw?

 

[TheReceder]

View attachment 3327324 View attachment 3327325

Thank you... of course sometimes just looking at a picture can lead to option number 1.

 

[Brad Johnson]

...it also plays in Brad's favour that he's a bad ass player.

Garsh... i try.

 

[Brad Johnson]

AFAIC, it depends. if the BL asks nicely that's one thing. If he expects you to just hand it over that's another.

He wasn't expecting that.

 

[Danny O Danny]

Pretty much every band I've been in has had a policy against allowing people to sit in (unless it's pre-planned and practiced and they bring their own instrument). This includes corporate gigs. Usually a sitting-in musician is going to make the band look bad (either by being insanely great and stealing the show or, much more often, being mediocre or crappy and dragging things down). So it does not benefit the band or the audience. I can see in some genres, such as a blues band, where different rules might apply.

So I would refuse by let "some guy" come up and play my bass, even if I was using an old beater bass and amp. Now, if some guy or gal wants to check out my bass after the gig, while I'm standing there talking to them, I'm more than happy to oblige.