In one of my regular groups years ago we would have a conversation with the bartenders before the show. If someone is trying to buy the band shots, tell them you know just what we want. The just send us something that looks good that is non-alcoholic and charge them whatever you want. The staff always liked us.
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Worst gig I've played in a while
- Thread starter droo46
- Start date
Why does it seem that certain bands that play certain kinds of music at certain venues are sinking to a lower level?
That they just don't have to put up an effort.
And that they can do less for the same result?
That they just don't have to put up an effort.
And that they can do less for the same result?
To avoid problems, learn your set list well enough you can play any song any time it’s called. I’ve never played in a situation where the set list was played by the numbers that we didn’t suffer occasional aw poopie moments of standing around like knobs while trying to figure out what to play after we somehow got out of set list order. Know your material well enough you can fall in based on the opening notes of the song, that gives your BL the option of winging it to better reflect the mood of your audience.
Have your songs backward and forward, upside down and sideways. IME, it’s the most effective hedge against dead air when there should be music.
Have your songs backward and forward, upside down and sideways. IME, it’s the most effective hedge against dead air when there should be music.
I think "And sometimes the show actually wasn't terrible, the audience actually enjoyed it, and we're our own worst critics." is the most likely situation. They don't know what is should be like and we do.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?
Or, maybe they feel compelled to be positive and supportive because they heard how sloppy the set was, or they can read how embarrassed some of the band feels.
Or, some people just really want to talk to the band, and complimenting the show is just an icebreaker to talk to them, and they're not impolite enough to walk up and say, "Hi, my name is Joe and boy did you guys suck tonight! Can i buy you a drink?"
And sometimes the show actually wasn't terrible, the audience actually enjoyed it, and we're our own worst critics.
I did sub a show once many years ago where the only two audience members to show up were my girlfriend and her friend. Even the other band canceled (or didn't show). Luckily, being a sub i wasn't embarrassed. I felt bad for the band, and especially bad for the bartender. It was an 18+ entry, 21+ drink venue, so two under-21-y/o audience members sitting there drinking soda while he sat through a set of songs... Fortunately the bartender said "we're all here. You might as well play." while he did some cleaning and organizing. And the band did an incredibly abridged set to end the suffering and get everyone out of there asap. They were apologetic to the bartender and while he was clearly annoyed, he was incredibly nice about it. My gf & her friend were like, "It's a shame nobody came, you guys were really good!" The rest of the band didn't take the compliment well.
I’ll bet Miss Busybody thought you guys were great, as long as she had a great time. No joke. Never give the audience too much credit to understand what is going on up there.
Now, back to the gig. That would be a one and done for me. i can’t stand working with unprepared musicians.
Had a regular gig where the bartender would send me a lowball glass of ice tea when the "buy the band" a drink came up. Dark, brown, looks like whiskey. He would laugh and say the "fool's tips" made for a great night.
We like to go to a restaurant near a bar with live music. The patrons sound happy, but I can assure you that some people within earshot might definitely notice an incompetent band playing live… ;-p
, keep on keepin' on!
- Those who've picked up regular sub work have probably all experienced this.
- I'm just grateful that no matter what, my job is to suit up, show up prepared, get paid and go home. Other than that, what happens as a result of others doesn't get free rent in my head.
- I've found that these kinds of sub gigs are vastly less intolerable when 100% sober & clean. Sometimes I'm even a little grateful for 'em.
Maybe just a little.
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The definition of "experience" is that it's what you get when you didn't get what you wanted to get. You are now more experienced.
Any gig is useful, because at the very least, it can serve as an example of something you want to improve/change. This gig was "worth" more, as you got a few examples out of it. Yes, some of it might be painful - that pain is there so you remember it, and to help you solidify the lesson.
We've all had manure-ish gigs . Some folks, shrug their shoulders, and say "that's the way it is", and end up making the same mistakes forever, The smart folks decide to change things, and figure out how to avoid repeating those mistakes.
Any gig is useful, because at the very least, it can serve as an example of something you want to improve/change. This gig was "worth" more, as you got a few examples out of it. Yes, some of it might be painful - that pain is there so you remember it, and to help you solidify the lesson.
We've all had manure-ish gigs . Some folks, shrug their shoulders, and say "that's the way it is", and end up making the same mistakes forever, The smart folks decide to change things, and figure out how to avoid repeating those mistakes.
I hope you got paid more than free pizza, shots and beer! I'd be pretty P.O.ed at the whole situation and learned a long time ago that free food and booze isn't worth all the time and effort I put into being a bass player and musician! Free food and booze as payment is more of an insult than anything else.
That was probably a huge sigh of relief. But on a positive note, you showed up well prepared, on time. Professional. You at least have that to feel good about.
Cave Puppy
"Humph Bo, he's wond!" - John Lennon
For sure, especially if they’re musicians. MOST of the audience don’t care.
Three minutes between songs is an eternity of dead air. I would have been mortified. Hopefully the pay was worth it.
I had a big festival gig in the 90s where the lead singer/bassist was late. After the leader tried a little stand-up to buy time, we borrowed the bassist from the previous band and played some extended instrumentals. It was fun for me to stretch out a little (I was playing lead alto sax), but we basically blew half our set before the guy showed up.
I never played with that band again.
Bottom line for me is that the show is the thing. You're not just standing there playing through a random list of songs, in the best case you're grabbing the audience and taking them on a musical journey. If the rest of the band isn't bought into creating some kind of experience I'm out. I don't need the money.
I had a big festival gig in the 90s where the lead singer/bassist was late. After the leader tried a little stand-up to buy time, we borrowed the bassist from the previous band and played some extended instrumentals. It was fun for me to stretch out a little (I was playing lead alto sax), but we basically blew half our set before the guy showed up.
I never played with that band again.
Bottom line for me is that the show is the thing. You're not just standing there playing through a random list of songs, in the best case you're grabbing the audience and taking them on a musical journey. If the rest of the band isn't bought into creating some kind of experience I'm out. I don't need the money.
Mine wasn't recent. Me and the bandleader of our last band had a quick gig and, on short notice, we had to go with an available drummer from our rotation pool. Most times this drummer was right on, excellent really, but had a tendency to have a few too many early on. This night we had a delay getting started due to the club manager not being available when we checked in and set up. This got the drummer going early on his refreshments and by the time we started, was playing sloppily. Soon as the second song ended, the BL laid his guitar down and reamed this guy out for his unprofessional behavior. That straightened him up enough to finish the gig and we never saw that drummer again.
It was a little rough on me as the bass player due to him not staying in the pocket, made me feel like I was playing sloppy.
I was just the opposite. Get high and have a pitcher of cold beer and I'm rockin' out - no problem.
It was a little rough on me as the bass player due to him not staying in the pocket, made me feel like I was playing sloppy.
I was just the opposite. Get high and have a pitcher of cold beer and I'm rockin' out - no problem.
So true. I’ve played gigs that I thought were totally awful all around, and people still came up at the end and said “you guys were awesome!” I think you have to be exceptionally, terribly bad to have people think you’re bad.
If it was a Friday night, you have nothing to worry about. I read in the "Book of Rock Lists" (I'm paraphrasing here) that Friday night gigs are the best because 1) everyone's gotten paid, 2) everyone wants to get laid, and 3) the drinks are flowing so the senses are dulled. It goes on to say that any band that can't go over on Friday night gig should be shot.
I always keep a couple of water jugs with me to stay hydrated. If someone buys me a shot, I'll down it, keep it in my mouth, grab one of the water jugs pretending to chase the drink, and spit it back into the water jug. Make sure they are different colors so you know which is the spit/liquor jug an which is just water. That's a typical bar fly routine I learned from an uncle.
I always keep a couple of water jugs with me to stay hydrated. If someone buys me a shot, I'll down it, keep it in my mouth, grab one of the water jugs pretending to chase the drink, and spit it back into the water jug. Make sure they are different colors so you know which is the spit/liquor jug an which is just water. That's a typical bar fly routine I learned from an uncle.
You are a bass player. No way witnesses can pick you out of a lineup.
