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What would you do?

#41
I think everyone is looking at this backwards.

If I were you, I'd get with some of the previous vocalists, and other players, and talk about putting together an act with a different guitar player.

He's the sound man at a coffee house? How hard can that be? Is it his system? I would take a different night, and do the gig without him, and let him replace everyone else if he so wishes.
 
#42
mellowinman said:
I think everyone is looking at this backwards.

If I were you, I'd get with some of the previous vocalists, and other players, and talk about putting together an act with a different guitar player.

He's the sound man at a coffee house? How hard can that be? Is it his system? I would take a different night, and do the gig without him, and let him replace everyone else if he so wishes.
Click to expand...

Great idea. Treat it as a way to audition vocalists for your band. ;)
 
#43
I'd have some passive aggressive fun with it.

Show up to the next gig with a paper bag on your head. Talk in a very sad voice, "I just figured out that I'm ugly because you don't want me in the band photo."

Wear an I'm with Stupid T-shirt under a button up shirt. Remove shirt when you go on stage.

Get someone to come in to the audience and heckle the guitarist by making stupid faces and playing air guitar.

Next time he asks for more stage space tell him "you know, I was in a band once with a singer that always wanted more space on stage too. Later I ended up going out with one of his ex-girlfriends who told me he had a really small penis, so I kinda figured that's why he was that way. Poor guy. He can't help the way he was born. Here, let me get all this stuff off stage for you, I'll set you right up dude. I don't mind playing on the floor if it helps you feel better."

etc...
 
#44
It sounds he is embarrassed of your image onstage, frankly, screw him. If you were getting paid well it might make sense to be a behind the scenes sidemen, but for $20 at a coffee house gig, image isn't your problem. I rarely say screw someone and quit the band, but this is just inexcusable behavior.
 
#45
It would have to be two glasses of really expensive wine for me to want to put up with any of that. I started a jazz group with some guys who heard me playing at an open mic.

The respect level at the open mic wasn't great but better than your "band", and all the free cheap beer I could drink, no rehearsals. My jazz band gets paid good money and I'm an equal member but the least talented by a long way, we rehearse occasionally. Win.
 
#46
MatticusMania said:
I dont know... $20 an hour to do nothing is pretty good money.
Click to expand...

How much is the egoist being paid? Doubt it's $20. :atoz:

Are you sure you're getting an equal split? What's your agreement.

People are commodities to him as long as he can be the center of attention.

Boot me off stage for a guitar stand? Screw him (Cartman style)!

Guitar stand is more important than you.:atoz:

I'd be looking around for another band situation.
 
#47
Hi.

Perhaps it was buried in some of the replies, at least I didn't notice, but I think everyone is missing one key point here.

IME anyway.

The OP is a bass player, and the BL is a BL/guitarist/artist.

Is there really anything else that has to be said?

:)

In an ideal world us bassplayers do get the equal recognition we deserve, but IME the world is pretty far from ideal.
Seince some of us like me can be said to be a failed guitarist, perhaps some of the guitarists feel they did or would "fail" on bass and opted for more lime-light time by taking on the skinny string instrument instead?

Regards
Sam
 
#48
What are you really trying to say Sam?

In my fusion jazz band I am the focus of attention being out front and the only one standing and moving. I get to ring most of the changes and drive most of the grooves. It's a bass player's paradise, which I haven't really earned, just lucky to be Johnny on the Spot with decent ears and an EUB.

Could be an opening like that for the OP. I play the Stagg with regular electric bass fingerings, the horror, the horror, chuck a little reverb on it and a few choice pedals and hey presto, paying gigs!
 
#49
T-Bird said:
Hi.

Perhaps it was buried in some of the replies, at least I didn't notice, but I think everyone is missing one key point here.

IME anyway.

The OP is a bass player, and the BL is a BL/guitarist/artist.

Is there really anything else that has to be said?

:)

In an ideal world us bassplayers do get the equal recognition we deserve, but IME the world is pretty far from ideal.
Seince some of us like me can be said to be a failed guitarist, perhaps some of the guitarists feel they did or would "fail" on bass and opted for more lime-light time by taking on the skinny string instrument instead?

Regards
Sam
Click to expand...

This is the first band in which I have played bass, and I've been in bands since the seventies.

I have never been in a band where the bass player was any less important than anyone else.
 
#53
I wouldn't bother talking with him to figure out what he's thinking: you know already that he treats everyone badly, and his MO is to regularly drive collaborators away.

But I would tell him what I need if I'm going to stay on the gig.

That set of non-negotiables will be different for various TBers (and will differ for the same layer from situation-to-situation). The only important thing is for you to figure out what you *have* to have from this gig and what you won't put up with, let the BL know in a non-emotional just-business manner, and then stick to it.
 
#54
Nev375 said:
I'd have some passive aggressive fun with it.

Show up to the next gig with a paper bag on your head. Talk in a very sad voice, "I just figured out that I'm ugly because you don't want me in the band photo."

Wear an I'm with Stupid T-shirt under a button up shirt. Remove shirt when you go on stage.

Get someone to come in to the audience and heckle the guitarist by making stupid faces and playing air guitar.

Next time he asks for more stage space tell him "you know, I was in a band once with a singer that always wanted more space on stage too. Later I ended up going out with one of his ex-girlfriends who told me he had a really small penis, so I kinda figured that's why he was that way. Poor guy. He can't help the way he was born. Here, let me get all this stuff off stage for you, I'll set you right up dude. I don't mind playing on the floor if it helps you feel better."

etc...
Click to expand...

Cracks me up!
 
#57
sounds like you've got plenty of people out there that would really love to start a band with out him after what hes been doing. who cares if hes the "booking agent" .... he can book himself solo all he wants. meanwhile take the band and go play everywhere else, and don't look back. ive encountered people like your guitarist before. they don't change. they fear confrontation, so it never goes well when you talk to them. get your people together and politely tell him your out. no need to remind him of his obviously small and insignificant genitalia....hes well aware
 
#58
Hi.

Downunderwonder said:
What are you really trying to say Sam?
Click to expand...

IME guitarists who feel they're artists do not generally appreciate bassplayers much.
If at all.
Takes less skill to play 4 strings and all that nonsense.

IME again, the bassplayer is traditionally the person who owns the PA and the van.
It's a plus that he has an instrument so asking to use the said PA and van for free doesn't feel so awkward ;).

Or he is the worst of the guitarists in the band so it's easy to convince him to switch.

I'm perfectly ok with the less exposure and less recognition us bassplayers generally recieve, if I want more (which I don't), I'll grab a guitar :).


mellowinman said:
This is the first band in which I have played bass, and I've been in bands since the seventies.
Click to expand...

I have only played from the mid 80's, and save for an occasional acoustic "bands" and one-offs, I have played bass. I gladly leave the guitar and the usual drama associated with playing one for the others.

mellowinman said:
I have never been in a band where the bass player was any less important than anyone else.
Click to expand...

Lucky You/them.


bassbully said:
Check out the Rolling stones, U2, Aerosmith there are allot of them.
Click to expand...

Or Cult, Doors, Steppenwolf, Metallica, the list goes on and on and on.

It would be easier to list the bands where the bassplayer is considered as an equal, IMO very short list outside prog rock and jazz.

But WHO THE HECK CARES?

Regards
Sam
 
#59
T-Bird said:
Hi.



IME guitarists who feel they're artists do not generally appreciate bassplayers much.
If at all.
Takes less skill to play 4 strings and all that nonsense.

IME again, the bassplayer is traditionally the person who owns the PA and the van.
It's a plus that he has an instrument so asking to use the said PA and van for free doesn't feel so awkward ;).

Or he is the worst of the guitarists in the band so it's easy to convince him to switch.

I'm perfectly ok with the less exposure and less recognition us bassplayers generally recieve, if I want more (which I don't), I'll grab a guitar :).




I have only played from the mid 80's, and save for an occasional acoustic "bands" and one-offs, I have played bass. I gladly leave the guitar and the usual drama associated with playing one for the others.



Lucky You/them.




Or Cult, Doors, Steppenwolf, Metallica, the list goes on and on and on.

It would be easier to list the bands where the bassplayer is considered as an equal, IMO very short list outside prog rock and jazz.

But WHO THE HECK CARES?

Regards
Sam
Click to expand...


You have no idea what you're talking about.

The players in those band have respect for their bass players.

I would never dream of playing with anyone who doesn't respect me. Life is far too short for that.
 
#60
Hi.

mellowinman said:
You have no idea what you're talking about.
Click to expand...

:).

mellowinman said:
The players in those band have respect for their bass players.
Click to expand...

The first three had pretty long periods they disrespected bassplayers enough not to have any live or as band members.

Ron McGovney is/was well respected?
Newsted?
If so, they have a damn funny way of expressing it.
IMHO anyway.

Regards
Sam
 

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