What would you when your guitarist screws you over and you get this offer?

Let him stew in his own juice.

 

He basically cost you a prime gig by being a Diddlyboob, he will do this again,or something else equally frightful down the road. He's not that great of a catch musically anyway as you've stated. Time to cut bait, but tell him why. Take the better gig and I say piffle to the age thing. Buddy knew who and what you were when he rolled out the red carpet, all you have to do is stroll down it.........

 

Age should be no problem. Try to behave like adults though, always helps.
Also, stop smoking

 

Collect a cancellation fee

 

Hmm, something smells funny - I may be wrong, but I have a feeling the promoter and his sister just want to burn your gui**** by busting up his band.

 

+ 1000 for you and your bassist

 

With an underage bassist, are you going to have trouble getting him into some venues? It seems odd to me that two guys pushing 30 would consider someone nearly half their age to be in their band.

 

I think the age difference will be a factor in time. First of all, as a 31 year old, there are not many teenagers I would enjoy hanging out with. Its nothing against teenagers, its just an entirely different mentality. Secondly and most importantly, it seems like there would be a lot of venues out there that simply wouldn't let a 15 year old in the doors, in the band or not.

 

Okay,
I fully understand the health risks that come with smoking,
BUT,
If they hadn't been outside where it was quieter and away from the crowd the promoter would not have had the chance to talk to them and make the offer that night.

He didn't ask if it was a wise idea if he should smoke or not.

 

One thing I've learned from many years of playing music and booking gigs is:
It's all about who you know - despite how good you may be.

I'd take the offer to join the Promoter guy's band. Sounds like there's more opportunity there just waiting for you. And your guitar player sounds a bit like a hurdle in your path to wherever you may be going.

Then there's the power trio thing...you have to be great...not good but great in today's music world to achieve any level of success as a power trio. The days of ZZ Top type bands making it are over. Rush takes it to another level completely, not only from a performance angle but a songwriting angle as well...the question is...can you?

Sounds like a door of opportunity just opened for you.

 

Thats the only advice I had to give...

 

If you have time to do both, the best thing you can do at this stage is play with as many decent musicians as you can—especially ones who are already part of a network.

That said, I'd have modest expectation of the new band. It's not unusual for a promoter to also be a musician; but he's in his late 20s, so he should have a network of good players in his contacts. Asking guys whose age makes booking difficult is a red flag. If he's any good at all and easy to work with, he should be able to fill out the new band with 20-somethings.

Or, as someone suggested, it could be a Scott Pilgrim vs. the World deal, where the promoter guy is Gideon, you two are Sex-Bob-omb, and your current frontman is Scott Pilgrim.

 

Go for it. Screw the other guitarist - he screwed you and proved to be unreliable. As said before, this will happen again.

The band being older is no big deal. If they offered, go for it.

 

You and the drummer are still minors and should have your parents involved to find out what's really going on. I mean, you can't sign contracts and also need to find out what your state requires for minors to play gigs where alcohol is served.

They could "try" you have for a few months and then drop you.
Also, what about when school starts? What's you're availability for gigs?

You'll be backup players in the group and have to play exactly what you're told. Is that something you want to do? They may be thinking that you'll be cool with whatever happens and not speak up.

Because of your inexperience, I suggest you take at least one of your parents with you, should you decide to rehearse with them. Let them ask questions and check these guys out. It's easy enough to check them out on the Interwebz. Also find out about future plans/gigs/money/contracts, etc.

Then you can decide with your parents what's the best thing to do.

+1 Oh...yeah, the guy may be just dicking with you to break up your band. Seen it before and will see it again.

 

At the end of the day, you guys are young, 15 and 18. Screw ups are going to happen to you in bands when your young more than when your older IMO.

Give it a shot, doesn't sound like you have anything to lose.

Blue

 

This says enough right here. Go for it. It may or may not work out.
Youre young, you'll be in at least a handful of bands before you find one where things click.

 

You were right. BM is outgunning OT at the moment....

 

Its getting all dried up in there!

Since Im in the process of putting together a new band, Ive been peeping on other peoples' issues.