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Uncool to try and poach someone's gig, right?

#81
Always make me laugh how often people just read the thread title and start typing ;)

How could anyone possibly think that a fan of the band saying hi and offering to sub at a future date if needed is “being a douche”?

Who exactly would he be harming in that scenario? That’s literally how I’ve found subs for my own gigs before: in professional/semi-professional circles it’s standard networking.
 
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#82
For those just tuning in and not reading all the way through, or for those not paying attention, or those misunderstanding me, etc, allow me to recap, clarify, and so on.

  • I said “poach the gig” but in the end I didn’t really mean that. As others have said, the most I would do would be to offer my services as a sub, and hope perhaps the other dude was thinking of moving on anyway, and it turned into a full time gig. I wouldn’t go in to unseat him, or create any drama. That said, I would secretly hope that somehow the gig would end up mine, for sure. What I was really asking, was would it be a d-bag move to even do the low key network/sub offer thing, while secretly coveting the gig. I think I got my answer.
  • I’m a better fit for the band because, as others have sorted out, I am taller, thinner, younger, have more hair, am better dressed and better looking, and frankly, would bring more energy to the gig. This dude can play, but it sounds to me very rote. And his look his horribly out of sync with the rest of the band. It was actually the first thing I noticed.
  • I’m 53, and very much act like it, thank you.
  • A bit of research indicates the dude is in another band (covers) with some of the band I want in on, and this one gigs a fair bit (the other doesn’t). So they have a bit of a machine going, I doubt anything would come of any action I take, unless the dude gets burned out and wants to step back. But on the surface of it, it looks like they all have a good professional working relationship. If I had to guess, the band I want in on is a side project spun off the other band.
 
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#83
MDBass said:
Always make me laugh how often people just read the thread title and start typing ;)

How could anyone possibly think that a fan of the band saying hi and offering to sub at a future date if needed is “being a douche”?

Who exactly would he be harming in that scenario? That’s literally how I’ve found subs for my own gigs before: in professional/semi-professional circles it’s standard networking.
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Right? Actually, the first few responses were on target, then it quickly went off the rails, because, talkbass. LOL!

I do think my use of the word “poach” was the issue. But I wouldn’t do anything shady, it would need to happen organically. I just wondered, in the “sub offer” scenario, if even that would be uncool. I think I got my answer early on.
 
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#85
DanAdams said:
I'll take the better player with the worse "visual vibe" every day
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I can cover the gig just fine, the music has been in my DNA since about the age of 13. I know 80% of the setlist already. Some of the songs I play in my band, some I have just known for years. I know without question that I can bring that intangible element to the songs that this guy doesn’t. Sometimes it’s more than notes.

Should the opportunity arise, should Bono and crew replace Adam Clayton with Victor Wooten?

I think not, for so many reasons.
 
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#86
DanAdams said:
I'll take the better player with the worse "visual vibe" every day
Click to expand...

If you can burn solos over any changes in any key and sight read flawlessly, but insist on wearing shorts and sandals on stage and weigh 400 pounds...you’re a better choice for the professional tribute or cover band than the guy with the p bass who actually looks like a member of the band and plays the songs perfectly?

Nope.
 
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#88
David Marr said:
We call that "Gig-napping". How would you feel if the shoe was on the other foot? Some Cat sniffing around your Gig. Not cool in my book!
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Honestly, I'd be like, yeah, good luck, buddy.

People only fear competition when they have something to be insecure about. I bring a very unique package to the table. When I join a group, I make myself hard to replace. If someone doesn't appreciate that and would rather have someone else, I'd feel like they never deserved me anyway, and I'll just move onto the next opportunity.
 
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#89
Get to know the bassist. Buy him a buncha drinks and/or get him otherwise toasted before the gig and step in when he passes out or falls off the stage. Assuming it's not that kinda band, of course ...

Actually tho', the sub offer thing is good, and if you are cool, offer to the BL and the bassist; "You guys are great -if you ever need a sub I'd love to sit in ..."
 
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#90
MDBass said:
Always make me laugh how often people just read the thread title and start typing ;)

How could anyone possibly think that a fan of the band saying hi and offering to sub at a future date if needed is “being a douche”?

Who exactly would he be harming in that scenario? That’s literally how I’ve found subs for my own gigs before: in professional/semi-professional circles it’s standard networking.
Click to expand...


Why of course, he's obviously unbiased?
 
#94
gln1955 said:
Nothing wrong with getting your name out there.

I'm thinking that band likes what it has in the current bass player and isn't so shallow as to replace him for a pretty face.
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charlie monroe said:
Wow. You literally have none of the information required to make that judgement.
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gln1955 said:
We're all throwing opinions out there with no information. Lighten up Francis.
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Funny stuff guys!

As I mentioned, the band I want in on is also the nucleus of another, busier band, so yeah it does seem clear that it’s working for them. And, as we all know, who the hell looks at the bass player anyway?
 
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#96
MDBass said:
If you can burn solos over any changes in any key and sight read flawlessly, but insist on wearing shorts and sandals on stage and weigh 400 pounds...you’re a better choice for the professional tribute or cover band...
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Nice way to stretch a simple sentiment into an extreme view, and then pin it to me.
It's true that I don't come at this from a tribute or cover band perspective.

Who said that a better player "burns solos" or anything about morbid obesity and sandals.. not me, not anyone.
The bassist was not said to be wildly inappropriate, and an admittedly better player.

I think it's fine to inquire about being a sub and/or getting your info out there. Great! go for it.
However I think it's petty for anyone to consider themselves a more appropriate bandmate based not on skills, but on their own self identity... Perhaps that's a nice quiet thought to have, but discussing it in a forum of strangers may get sticky. case in point ^^^^^^^^^^
 
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#97
vvvmmm said:
...
Actually tho', the sub offer thing is good, and if you are cool, offer to the BL and the bassist; "You guys are great -if you ever need a sub I'd love to sit in ..."
Click to expand...

There's the rub. I'd approach the bassist first and talk to him, treat him as fellow musician and mention to him and then the band leader how much you like the band and would like to be on their sub list. It's cool to say you dig the band and would love the opportunity to work with them, not cool to go "poaching" someone's gig. It's his chair.

And after all, after a few rehearsals or sub jobs, you might find you can't stand them off stage!
 
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#98
DanAdams said:
Nice way to stretch a simple sentiment into an extreme view, and then pin it to me.
It's true that I don't come at this from a tribute or cover band perspective.

Who said that a better player "burns solos" or anything about morbid obesity and sandals.. not me, not anyone.
The bassist was not said to be wildly inappropriate, and an admittedly better player.

I think it's fine to inquire about being a sub and/or getting your info out there. Great! go for it.
However I think it's petty for anyone to consider themselves a more appropriate bandmate based not on skills, but on their own self identity... Perhaps that's a nice quiet thought to have, but discussing it in a forum of strangers may get sticky. case in point ^^^^^^^^^^
Click to expand...

You said “any day”, which I took to mean “any circumstance”: I was only pointing out that there will be obvious cases when the “visual aspect” will absolutely outweigh the overall skill level of the player, and there is no harm in the OP offering his services here.
 
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#99
honeyiscool said:
Honestly, I'd be like, yeah, good luck, buddy.

People only fear competition when they have something to be insecure about. I bring a very unique package to the table. When I join a group, I make myself hard to replace. If someone doesn't appreciate that and would rather have someone else, I'd feel like they never deserved me anyway, and I'll just move onto the next opportunity.
Click to expand...

So if I hit on your wife, you’re cool?
 
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#100
honeyiscool said:
Honestly, I'd be like, yeah, good luck, buddy.

People only fear competition when they have something to be insecure about. I bring a very unique package to the table. When I join a group, I make myself hard to replace. If someone doesn't appreciate that and would rather have someone else, I'd feel like they never deserved me anyway, and I'll just move onto the next opportunity.
Click to expand...

MultiScaleMale said:
So if I hit on your wife, you’re cool?
Click to expand...

:roflmao::roflmao:

I suppose it might depend on how unique you package is.
;):thumbsup:
 
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