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Worst gig I've played in a while

LOL, I read this and laughed. Reminded me of my last band. Some highlights:

The guitar player makes the band and audience wait 15 minutes past start time so he can finish his meal. He gets into a yelling match with a DJ for playing music too loud during band set-up.

The singer got so overweight during COVID he made Vince Neil look thin. He couldn't remember the lyrics to "Welcome to the Jungle" so just repeated the first verse for verses 2 and 3. When I suggest that he focus on songs that are in his vocal wheelhouse, he replies that it's ok to sing badly as long as the audience is dancing.

The guitar player, who also doubles on keys, attempts to play the intro to "Mr. Crowley". He gets this dazed and confused look on his face. Nobody can decipher what he's trying to play. Same with the AC/DC song "If you want blood". He fumbles about. A member of the audience posts a comment on Facebook the next day suggesting that the guitar player must have been missing a string.

Meanwhile, the drummer plays superbly and carries those clowns.

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Yeah, been there too. I assume it could be a number of things. Some people are genuinely impressed by any musical playing and in their mind it was a great show because anyone strumming basic chords on a guitar is a great show. Super low expectations?

I'd agree with this. I have to remind myself that most people view what we do as some form of magic. The constant "Oh I could never do that" comments. Of course we all know that it's just time and practice, but to the average gig patron we are freaking wizards (or witches if you will). I have done gigs with guys that can literally only strum cowboy chords (admittedly some of them were fantastic vocalists), and they have people telling them how great they are at guitar etc., etc. To say nothing of the fact that the idea of getting on stage for some if a horrifying aspect. Ok, ok, rambling over.
 
1. Your story was funny. The tap on the shoulder lol!

2. I’m not crazy about alcohol, but I happen to like Fireball. Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

3. What we do—some call it “music”—started with primitive people sitting around a fire, making noises together so as to feel like a community. Not all of them played, but some just listened, grunted, and drank their Fireball. Nobody cared if Grog missed the modulation on the and of 3 before the bridge. You guys were the backdrop to a moment of community, and ironic as it may sound, if your weird coworker had a good time, y’all did your job.
 
One of the busiest, most successful and well-paid cover bands on my local circuit regularly have long gaps between nearly every song. I reckon they could fit another song in between those gaps. It drives me nuts, but none of the other patrons seems to mind at all.

It quite possible you're over thinking this particular issue.
 
Last week, I picked up a sub gig from another bass player because he got double booked. I've played with the band before and it was a good time so I was looking forward to some easy money. The whole schtick of the band is they only play really dirty songs. Think songs like Big Bottom, I Kissed a Girl, Dirty Diana, Big Balls etc. I spent the days leading up to the gig refreshing the songs, dialing in some synth tones for a few of the songs, and was feeling really good going into the gig. I'm doubly excited because I just got a new bass and I'm stoked to get it out on it's virgin gig. Sound check happens, and one of the singers is running late. She's got a reputation around the music scene for being kind of a mess, so while it's annoying, it's not altogether unexpected.

Show time comes, and we start playing without her. The second song in the set requires our delinquent singer, so we start hopping around the setlist seemingly at random and it takes several minutes for the group to decide what song they want to do. It seemed like an eternity on stage, but looking at my video footage, it sometimes took as long as 3 long minutes to get going on the next song. We can't keep a crowd on the dance floor to save our lives despite playing top 40 songs with great singers because we're so disorganized and everything is just a complete mess. I get the sense that everyone else in the band is here for free pizza and beer and they seem completely unbothered by how poorly the show is going. It's even more odd because I've played with the bandleader and most of the other musicians in other projects that were very put together by comparison, and I'm very confused that no one seems to have their act together here.

45 minutes into the first set, the singer finally shows up, but the rest of the gig is no better than before. The bars patrons seem to be tolerating us more than anything, and I can't help but feel absolutely embarrassed to be on a stage with such a dysfunctional band. It seems like no one is taking this very seriously except for me. Forgotten lyrics, meandering guitar solos, and messy transitions all around. Thankfully, this gig is taking place in a town an hour away from where I live, so at least no one I know is here to see this titanic failure, right? Right?

Or so I thought.

During our break, I get a tap on my shoulder, and who should I see but my least favorite co-worker. She's a bit of brown nosing busy-body at work, the kind of person who would remind the teacher about a pop quiz they would have forgotten about otherwise. Apparently, this dumpy dive is her favorite bar, and she's thrilled to see me, even though she's the last person on earth I'd want to run into outside of work. I'm mortified because most people at my job know I'm a musician, but this is absolutely not the gig to get recognized at.

As soon as we hit midnight, I'm quick to pack up and get my ass outta there, but not before my co-worker has tried to buy my girlfriend (who does not drink) and I a shot. Fireball. Of course. When in Rome, I suppose. Here's hoping she was too drunk to remember much, because I certainly would like to forget this gig forever. It really stinks to show up prepared and professional when it's clear that no one else is.

Anyway, thanks for reading my sad story. Really sad for this to have been my new Serek's maiden voyage into gigging, but at least it's only uphill from here.
As a freelancer, it's always handy to have one of these stashed in your gig bag...just in case.

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Everyone will feel better if you post photos of the new Serek on this thread.

Don't have to tell me twice!
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didja get paid?

Still waiting on that part, unfortunately.

What was the lead singer's excuse for being late?

I find being late terribly disrespectful to the band, the audience, and the venue.

I hope the band sat around drinking while the lead singer broke down and packed up all your equipment for you.

I agree. Punctuality is really important to me, and I get really annoyed when I'm not afforded the same courtesy. I don't know what the excuse was, but her mom is the bandleader. "The only time she's been on time was when she was born." She's a really great singer and entertainer, but she's frustrating to work with.
 
I’d say you’re fine with no fallout from the brown nosing co-worker. She’ll say you rocked and probably will be your best new buddy. (Been there)

As far as the gig goes, at least you got to check out the room to see if it’s worth getting your other group (s) in. Sometimes it’s the experience is helpful. Hope the free pizza was good.

I did a sub gig one time. A booking agent friend asked me at the last minute. I had to drive 45 miles, but he made sure I got paid extra. Classic rock and I’ve never met the band. Get there at 8:10 for a 9pm start. I set up in 10 minutes. No other band members there. Small divey bar.

I wait another 10 minutes and then I decide to wet my whistle while I’m waiting. 8:45 rolls around and still no one else. I make sure with the bartender this band is playing tonight. He confirms yes.

At 8:53 the 3 remaining members show up simultaneously. It was the most disorganized load I’d ever seen. They were bringing in cords by the armful, that sort of thing. Small ratty Peavey PA SP2s for mains with no monitors. Normally, I would get up and help, but I’m enjoying my beer and I’m sort of appalled. Best to avoid train wrecks in progress.

Of course, we’re right on time at about 9:20 or so. The bartender has already had words with the BL. It’s basically jam quality and LOUD as HELL! Yes, I wore plugs. Don’t know if they got paid, but I did via the agent.
 
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I’m not much of a drinker, especially hard liquor. More than once I have accepted the shot graciously and then made an excuse like, “I have to use the rest room, but I’ll enjoy this when I get back!” Then I dump the shot into an empty glass, throw it out the back door, or pour it down the sink. I’ve found that offering it to a band member is counter-productive.
Keep a beer bottle with you on stage. Accept the shot graciously, chase it with beer, but spit it into the bottle. Everyone's happy and you get to drive home safely after the gig.
 
I always hated what I called " Band Meetings" on stage between songs. I had nothing to do with set lists, but seems like better planning was needed. I hated standing on stage in a circle talking for what seemed like a long time to play a song we had already played 15 minutes ago. Usually because some drunk woman wanted us to. Or a song we didn't really rehearse for the gig, or haven't played in a long time. Train wrecks then occurred.
I filled in for a few songs for a new band, awful, 2 sisters were singing, we were turning the chorus back to the verse while the 2 sisters argued on who was going to sing the 2nd verse,,,,,