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Walked out on gig

#84
Chris,
What a story, sorry for you......I've had the power cut twice in 40 years, once for playing "the pusherman" Steppinwolf and playing "in a ga da vida" as a last song, I guess it was too long...... In my world the drummer is always right!! so I would have just muted the bass with the left hand and played bass drum all night..... no one would even notice and then go home and be glad it was over.
 
#86
Chris 'Wighat' Jordan said:
I was asked to sub in a popular country-ish cover band. These guys play regionally and open for larger touring acts. I've seen them a few times and they are quite good. So I said yes. I get the play list and actually listen to all the original recordings. I run through the bass parts at home. I make charts. This is more work than I have ever done for a sub gig and that's only because the material is mostly new and I'm not familiar with it.

Now, these guys use IEM's. I know because I ran sound for them once. So I call the BL and ask if I need to bring my own buds or what. His answer was "we have four body packs, so yeah you could do that". But it's a six piece band, so I ask if they have a wedge to throw on the floor for me and he says "sure".

Fast forward to gig night. It's at a tiny club that has horrible acoustics. A small PA with only vocals in the mains would have been perfect. But, no, these superstars bring towers and subs, etc. And they're late. Everything seems about set-up except for my monitor. I ask BL about it, he asks sound guy, and sound guy says "it's broken". But they drag out a crappy powered wedge anyway. It IS def broken. About this time the drummer wants to know where his monitor is. BTW, it's the drummer's second gig with the band.

Monitor doesn't work, drummer doesn't have one at all. I can hear NOTHING. Drummer can't either. He's young and a little green and his reaction is to bash the hell out of everything. I trudge through the first set and tell myself that we'll get it straightend out on break.

Second set: still no monitors for me and Animal. But now, everyone else's IEM's are crapping out. I'm getting steamed. At one point, half the band is playing one song and half the band another.

A break is hastily called and I walk out the door and drive home. Not proud, but there it is.

I go the next day to get my gear and my bass is in the manager's office with a note on it that says I owe $40 for my tab. Never had my bass held for ransom before!

Anyway, I saw the BL the other night and we shook hands, all cool.

Punch line: he calls me yesterday and askes me to join as permanent bass player!
Click to expand...

All cool?
Eh, no. I would be furious and would never work with those n00bs again.
 
#89
I've walked out on all sorts of various things in my life, but never a gig. The way I see it, I have a very limited amount of time on this Earth, and I'm not going to spend it by intentionally putting myself in situations that lower the quality of my life, unless it's worth it to me.

I have played something similar. An open air stage at the Arizona state fair. Only thing I could hear is the acoustics of the drums, and then the echo of my bass coming out of the mains half a second after I played. At least I knew my instrument was on, I guess.
 
#90
Unbelievable! All of it.

This band has been at this a year, is popular and is still futzing about with broken monitors and bad sound situations?
Unbelievable!
You ran up a $40 tab in 2 sets and could still walk out the door and find your own way home?
Unbelievable!
You left your gear at the gig?
Unbelievable... Well, maybe not considering the $40 tab.
And after all that trainwreck and walking out you STILL got offered a full time gig.
Unbelievable!

You should definitely join this band. You are a perfect fit!
 
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#93
That sucks. Personally, at every gig (especially sub gigs) I assume that no one is looking out for me, so I pack the car with everything I need, plus stuff I shouldn't need. In addition to the usual stuff, and enough power cable to power things from a block away, that includes a little self powered monitor that'll go on a mic stand.

Not knowing all the circumstances from not being there, we can know what the severity of it all was. But I'm not sure I'd ever walk out on a gig, and never, ever, ever without my gear. We had a walk-out happen once when I was in a cover band and we had a sub guitarist. He was aware that he was there to play guitar as we already had 3 vocalists with harmonies well rehearsed. During the one rehearsal, and despite subtle and not-so-subtle clues, he insisted on singing harmonies that drifted all over and wrought havoc on the song. When we got to the gig, we let him know that we had the harmonies covered and were looking forward to having him focus on guitar. He packed up and walked out. He's on the do-not-call list now.

But I'm glad it worked out for you. Are you sure you wanna be in this band that has these kinds of issues?
 
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#95
You're one lucky guy. The bass pool must be small in the BL's world. I understand the frustration though. I don't know what I'd have done in your situation, all the same. Glad to hear all's cool with the BL and you're now a fixture.

$40 though? What were you drinking, Cognac? lol
 
#98
Steadfast said:
This past NYE I wanted to walk out---the band was soooo bad. However--when the gig ended I packed my gear and told the BL I don't want the pay and moved on. She asked why--I told her we were not professional and didn't deserve pay (Truthfully--I was professional but was so angry it was the only way I could express myself kindly). Oddly--she has asked me to play again---I said NO.
Click to expand...
HUH? I'd have told her I wanted DOUBLE the pay for having put up with them all night. Not a chance I'd leave MY share with the crappy BL.
 

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