I havnt really done a gig per se, more like school concerts. The first one I did I borrowed a school bass and strap. Half way through the song the strap broke. Embarrassing...
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Worst gig you ever had.
- Thread starter Down & Outman
- Start date
I have a best ever worst gig. True story.
Singer, bandleader let's her kid book a gig. Some kind of barter fair hippy dip gathering up near Mt Adams. (30 some miles away) No web presence, no advertising, and we're supposed to get some of the barter fair/camping gate fees. Okay, the Rainbow family gathering is in the area, so maybe it's real.
Still, the drummer and I are doubtful, we want a guaranteed minimum pay. Agreed, cool let's load up!
We get there, and it's a beautiful spot. Old white haired guy comes out of a house. "Who are you guys?". Uh oh!
"We're the band."
" I didn't know we were having music tonight." Uh oh!
He tells us take the stuff up into the barn loft. That's a lot of stairs, we have a full pa and lights to do an outside gig. He says we don't need any of that stuff, it's all up there.
Now I'm curious, so I go take a look. Huge stage, full pa and monitors, pro drum set already miked, the whole shebang! The place is totally cool.
The guy says, "I love running sound, just grab your amps and we'll have some fun."
So we play a couple sets. The sound is great, I get to run my amp up in the fun zone, we have a great time. We even play great, one of the best sets ever. The singer goes above and beyond.
Only problem: except for the really cool dude who loves running sound, there is nobody else but us.
We don't let the kid book gigs anymore.
Me and the drummer got our agreed upon pay. I'd go do that one again anytime!
Singer, bandleader let's her kid book a gig. Some kind of barter fair hippy dip gathering up near Mt Adams. (30 some miles away) No web presence, no advertising, and we're supposed to get some of the barter fair/camping gate fees. Okay, the Rainbow family gathering is in the area, so maybe it's real.
Still, the drummer and I are doubtful, we want a guaranteed minimum pay. Agreed, cool let's load up!
We get there, and it's a beautiful spot. Old white haired guy comes out of a house. "Who are you guys?". Uh oh!
"We're the band."
" I didn't know we were having music tonight." Uh oh!
He tells us take the stuff up into the barn loft. That's a lot of stairs, we have a full pa and lights to do an outside gig. He says we don't need any of that stuff, it's all up there.
Now I'm curious, so I go take a look. Huge stage, full pa and monitors, pro drum set already miked, the whole shebang! The place is totally cool.
The guy says, "I love running sound, just grab your amps and we'll have some fun."
So we play a couple sets. The sound is great, I get to run my amp up in the fun zone, we have a great time. We even play great, one of the best sets ever. The singer goes above and beyond.
Only problem: except for the really cool dude who loves running sound, there is nobody else but us.
We don't let the kid book gigs anymore.
Me and the drummer got our agreed upon pay. I'd go do that one again anytime!
Back when I played guitar I was playing a amp through a P.A system and the speaker busted.. that's it not even the worst part. When the speaker busted it busted the PA speakers too. (Mind you this is a smaller PA like 75 watts) I was out $1200 and had to buy a new amp. And that's the reason I switched to bass...
We had a gig that paid a percentage of the door. No big deal, as the place we were booked was a popular college bar and never has a "bad night". What we didn't know was that the cover charge was only for this room we were in, which was NOT the main room, and that there was a DJ playing house music in the main room. We made like $50, but it was all worth it for the 4-5 people who drove an hour and a half just to come see us play there. I guess I haven't really had that many awful gigs, fortunately.
>> Be 23
>> Have gig scheduled at local club
>> Get to gig half hour early and set things up with band.
>> Doors open
>> Nobody shows up for a good half an hour
>> Start playing anyways
>> Finish set
>> Find out no one is showing up because there was a homicide in the parking lot the night before.
>> Have gig scheduled at local club
>> Get to gig half hour early and set things up with band.
>> Doors open
>> Nobody shows up for a good half an hour
>> Start playing anyways
>> Finish set
>> Find out no one is showing up because there was a homicide in the parking lot the night before.
The worst gig I did was at a bike show in late 2010. On paper, this gig was going to be amazing. Big stage, good backline and the expected turnout was in the thousands. We were the main support for a big national act and a big international act and there were probably around 10 other local bands that played throughout the day.
Come day of the show, it had been raining for days making the grassy amphitheatre muddy and dangerous. Because of the rain only about 20% of the expected crowd showed up and most of them left before it got dark.
There were so many things that were wrong about this gig so I won't go into too much detail, but the guitars were DI'd, the leads for the mics were bad and kept crackling and the sound guy had no clue. Then about 5 songs in, one of the stage crew just walked on stage and said 'thats it' even though we were the first band to actually have people come to the front of the stage and they were shouting out for us to keep playing. We later found out they were running behind schedule, because they let certain bands who were friends of the stage crew play for over 45 minutes.
AND we didn't get paid, or even get free beer or two.
Come day of the show, it had been raining for days making the grassy amphitheatre muddy and dangerous. Because of the rain only about 20% of the expected crowd showed up and most of them left before it got dark.
There were so many things that were wrong about this gig so I won't go into too much detail, but the guitars were DI'd, the leads for the mics were bad and kept crackling and the sound guy had no clue. Then about 5 songs in, one of the stage crew just walked on stage and said 'thats it' even though we were the first band to actually have people come to the front of the stage and they were shouting out for us to keep playing. We later found out they were running behind schedule, because they let certain bands who were friends of the stage crew play for over 45 minutes.
AND we didn't get paid, or even get free beer or two.
played a show where a "legend in their own minds" band was "headlining" and forced everyone to use their gear or threatened to not play the show. or I should say the singer threatened this. weirdest part is every other encounter we've had with them they were amazingly nice guys and they put asses in seats. start setting up and find my power supply to my pedal board is ripped in half. plug straight to the no name rig of this band and get a low e from my guitarist so I can tune. get to playing and the only way you can hear this guys rig is if it's farting out. otherwise it isn't enough to keep up with the guitar. now you may say "turn the guitar down" the guitarists rig was barely loud enough to be heard over the drums, and this was after our drummer toned down how hard he was playing, and it's not like he plays all that hard or loud to begin with especially when you consider we're a metal band. on top of that the guitar rig sounded like ass and the drums were beat to hell and out of tune. I've never torn down and been out of a venue so quickly. I was pissed for days.
Played at a Rick's Burger during an intermission for our guitarist's dad's band. We played four covers that we simply butchered. Everyone's playing wasn't together and our singing sucked. But hey we've improved verrryyyy much and we got free Rick's Burgers!
My bass teacher at the time asked that I sub for a gig that he couldn't make. He told me there would be about 30 songs I'd have to learn in less than a week. There would also be one rehearsal. I showed up to the rehearsal and the singer/drummer wasn't there yet. He didn't show up for a while and when he did, he yelled at me for not knowing the songs (this is 2 days after I was asked to do the gig and barely had a list of songs to work from). Well, the practice was a total waste because we barely even covered a few songs. Plus the singer/drummer would barely look me in the eye. From that night until the night of the gig, the guitarist/singer kept calling me to add more and more songs to the list (up until the night before the gig).
The night of the gig came. I arrived very early. Finally, the guitarist and keyboard player showed up. We set up, but... no drummer!!? The crowd started getting restless so we started playing without a drummer. What a total embarrassment! We sounded awful. I barely knew the arrangements. And worst of all, no drummer. I've played a good number of shows in my life before this, but I had never wanted to get off stage so desperately before this gig. I was sweating bullets the whole night from nervousness.
The drummer finally showed up an hour or so into the set. We had to stop the set to help him load in and set up. He brought along another drummer from his church (about 17 years old) so that he could sing lead. What the heck?!
The worst thing about it all was after every song the singer/drummer sang he raised his fist and proclaimed loudly: "ROB SOUL!". At the end of every song. Apparently, this was his pseudonym. If it was me, I would have made up a name so that no one would ever be able to identify me with this abortion of a show we played.
I made $60 for driving 2 hours and be at a club for about 6. Then I had to give the guitarist a ride home too.
Since then I've been a little more picky about what gigs I take.
The night of the gig came. I arrived very early. Finally, the guitarist and keyboard player showed up. We set up, but... no drummer!!? The crowd started getting restless so we started playing without a drummer. What a total embarrassment! We sounded awful. I barely knew the arrangements. And worst of all, no drummer. I've played a good number of shows in my life before this, but I had never wanted to get off stage so desperately before this gig. I was sweating bullets the whole night from nervousness.
The drummer finally showed up an hour or so into the set. We had to stop the set to help him load in and set up. He brought along another drummer from his church (about 17 years old) so that he could sing lead. What the heck?!
The worst thing about it all was after every song the singer/drummer sang he raised his fist and proclaimed loudly: "ROB SOUL!". At the end of every song. Apparently, this was his pseudonym. If it was me, I would have made up a name so that no one would ever be able to identify me with this abortion of a show we played.
I made $60 for driving 2 hours and be at a club for about 6. Then I had to give the guitarist a ride home too.
Since then I've been a little more picky about what gigs I take.
My last band got progressively worse due to our pill-popping, alcohol-swilling rhythm guitarist. Mid-way through the second set, after his 5 or 6 beers would start to interact with the pain killers he was taking, he would forget songs, hit random chords, and worst of all, in typical guitard mode, would turn way up. He was one of the co-founders of the band, so we could not vote him out. Instead, I left. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, this band has been in existence over 10 years and the only two original members are the two co-founders.
- Oct 7, 2000
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That's a tough call. Angriest I ever was however I think is an easy call...
We booked a few out of town shows that we planned to pay for by doing a cover gig along with them. Cover gig was to pay $600 at this HUGE restaurant bar. Don't remember all the details, but before we even began they started with the, "You guys have to play real low!" We were doing rock covers, and they knew when they hired us. We started as low as possibly could, and you guessed it... wasn't quite low enough. Got asked angrily about 3 more times, and truly complied all 3 times to the point that we were able to talk quiety with one another on stage during the songs. First set done, a bartender tells us we're done. And they're giving us $100. Adrenaline pumps again, as I write this... ya see, if the people around the bar couldn't talk quiety, the bar tenders were going to lose tips. So they didn't want us there.
We tried to work things out peacefully and compromise, but they weren't having it. They were angry, and wanted us out. So my singer said fine, got on the mic, explained the situation to around 200+ people that were there and said we were going to pass around a hat to cover our expenses. The bar people said we couldn't do that, but we didn't care.... bla, bla, bla... next thing ya know one of the sympathetic workers approached me and said, "Cops are here. Trust me, and be really cool with them or you're gonna be screwed bad." A lot of the staff was on our side, and got a kick out of what we did. Anyhoo... cop approaches me with an attitute, I calmly explained the situation and he understood, but said we had to pack up and go. And they were going to wait until we were gone. They did, and actually followed us to our hotel. They also had horses, riot gear, busses, and whole bunch of crap waiting oustise the restaurant for us because the owners reported that we were inciting a riot.
In the end, we lost that one. We at least got a little drama and a story out of it.
This thread is no good for me, as about 5 more similar stories just came to mind. Not even sure if the above got me the angriest now. I HAVE had worse.
We booked a few out of town shows that we planned to pay for by doing a cover gig along with them. Cover gig was to pay $600 at this HUGE restaurant bar. Don't remember all the details, but before we even began they started with the, "You guys have to play real low!" We were doing rock covers, and they knew when they hired us. We started as low as possibly could, and you guessed it... wasn't quite low enough. Got asked angrily about 3 more times, and truly complied all 3 times to the point that we were able to talk quiety with one another on stage during the songs. First set done, a bartender tells us we're done. And they're giving us $100. Adrenaline pumps again, as I write this... ya see, if the people around the bar couldn't talk quiety, the bar tenders were going to lose tips. So they didn't want us there.
We tried to work things out peacefully and compromise, but they weren't having it. They were angry, and wanted us out. So my singer said fine, got on the mic, explained the situation to around 200+ people that were there and said we were going to pass around a hat to cover our expenses. The bar people said we couldn't do that, but we didn't care.... bla, bla, bla... next thing ya know one of the sympathetic workers approached me and said, "Cops are here. Trust me, and be really cool with them or you're gonna be screwed bad." A lot of the staff was on our side, and got a kick out of what we did. Anyhoo... cop approaches me with an attitute, I calmly explained the situation and he understood, but said we had to pack up and go. And they were going to wait until we were gone. They did, and actually followed us to our hotel. They also had horses, riot gear, busses, and whole bunch of crap waiting oustise the restaurant for us because the owners reported that we were inciting a riot.
In the end, we lost that one. We at least got a little drama and a story out of it.
This thread is no good for me, as about 5 more similar stories just came to mind. Not even sure if the above got me the angriest now. I HAVE had worse.
Worst gig? I got a million of 'em! Here's one:
The band I was in during the late 70's/early 80's in Memphis was a very popular local band. We'd get dinged to play all these parties/concerts whatever. Lots of the we turned down because the pay was like (an actual offer): "all the beer you can drink and all the acid you can eat."
But this one we took, they guy seemed really together, he was a good ol' boy from down in Mississippi, owned hundreds of acres of land, and was going to do a little festival with us and several other bands from the area. He was promising to pay us decent bucks, and it sounded like fun.
On gig day, we headed down there. Our sound guy was providing the PA for the whole gig as we had a huge system then. From what the guy had said, we were going to be out in the country where "nobody would bother us." We envisioned being on his land out in some field somewhere away from civilization, but when we got there we found out that while he DID own a lot of land, there were a lot of neighboring houses around. Turns out he didn't say a damn word to his neighbors about a thousand or so drunk/stoned/tripping rockers in close proximity to their homes! He had a beer truck out there and of course didn't have any permit for ANYTHING.
Anyway, by the time we got there a band or two had played and the band that was before us was just going on stage. The PA was crankin' and it was nice and loud. The crowd that was there was having a good time. So why, when we drove in were all these nice neighbor people lined up on the road shouting at us???
We find our host, drunk off his ass and hollering obscenities at a local cop, a real old guy, who was there in his car. We asked him what was happening, and he told me that they wanted him to cease and desist RIGHT NOW with the noise and the unauthorized party. He was a big guy and the old local cop was intimidated. I noticed the cop looking our way and talking on his radio. I didn't have a good feeling about this...
The band before us finishes their set, our stuff was almost set up (we actually had roadies, dammit!), and we were just taking the stage when 5 or 6 Mississippi state troopers come haulin' in with sirens wailing and lights blazing. We're standing onstage when our host goes out to meet the cops. I hear him shouting at them, then turn around and stalk toward the stage, the cops all following close on his heels.
He climbs up on the stage, and so do the cops. Mr. Drunk-ass host then proceeds to grab the mic and harangue the crowd, "These ****in' cops think they can tell me what to do on MY land! They want to shut down this good time we're havin'! I say, **** 'em all, I don't care if I go to jail," and pointing at us, "the BAND don't care if they go to jail we're gonna ****in' party!" We're back there shaking our heads "NO!!!" A state trooper near me points at me and says "you play that guitar, boy and you're gonna be in the back of my cruiser!" We slink offstage right about the time the good ol' boy starts trying to get physical with the cops, and they force him to "assume the position" and cart his still cussin' ass off to the pokey.
The remaining cops stand there and tell us to get our **** and get out RIGHT NOW, so we pack up under their watchful eye and beat a hasty retreat back to Memphis, just glad to be young and free! We never saw a dime from that one.
The band I was in during the late 70's/early 80's in Memphis was a very popular local band. We'd get dinged to play all these parties/concerts whatever. Lots of the we turned down because the pay was like (an actual offer): "all the beer you can drink and all the acid you can eat."
But this one we took, they guy seemed really together, he was a good ol' boy from down in Mississippi, owned hundreds of acres of land, and was going to do a little festival with us and several other bands from the area. He was promising to pay us decent bucks, and it sounded like fun.
On gig day, we headed down there. Our sound guy was providing the PA for the whole gig as we had a huge system then. From what the guy had said, we were going to be out in the country where "nobody would bother us." We envisioned being on his land out in some field somewhere away from civilization, but when we got there we found out that while he DID own a lot of land, there were a lot of neighboring houses around. Turns out he didn't say a damn word to his neighbors about a thousand or so drunk/stoned/tripping rockers in close proximity to their homes! He had a beer truck out there and of course didn't have any permit for ANYTHING.
Anyway, by the time we got there a band or two had played and the band that was before us was just going on stage. The PA was crankin' and it was nice and loud. The crowd that was there was having a good time. So why, when we drove in were all these nice neighbor people lined up on the road shouting at us???
We find our host, drunk off his ass and hollering obscenities at a local cop, a real old guy, who was there in his car. We asked him what was happening, and he told me that they wanted him to cease and desist RIGHT NOW with the noise and the unauthorized party. He was a big guy and the old local cop was intimidated. I noticed the cop looking our way and talking on his radio. I didn't have a good feeling about this...
The band before us finishes their set, our stuff was almost set up (we actually had roadies, dammit!), and we were just taking the stage when 5 or 6 Mississippi state troopers come haulin' in with sirens wailing and lights blazing. We're standing onstage when our host goes out to meet the cops. I hear him shouting at them, then turn around and stalk toward the stage, the cops all following close on his heels.
He climbs up on the stage, and so do the cops. Mr. Drunk-ass host then proceeds to grab the mic and harangue the crowd, "These ****in' cops think they can tell me what to do on MY land! They want to shut down this good time we're havin'! I say, **** 'em all, I don't care if I go to jail," and pointing at us, "the BAND don't care if they go to jail we're gonna ****in' party!" We're back there shaking our heads "NO!!!" A state trooper near me points at me and says "you play that guitar, boy and you're gonna be in the back of my cruiser!" We slink offstage right about the time the good ol' boy starts trying to get physical with the cops, and they force him to "assume the position" and cart his still cussin' ass off to the pokey.
The remaining cops stand there and tell us to get our **** and get out RIGHT NOW, so we pack up under their watchful eye and beat a hasty retreat back to Memphis, just glad to be young and free! We never saw a dime from that one.
Wow. I have a really boring life.
No stories to share, but thanks everyone. I've been alternating between recoiling in horror and laughing my elbow off.
No stories to share, but thanks everyone. I've been alternating between recoiling in horror and laughing my elbow off.
I don't know if it was the "worst", but certainly one of the most notoriously memorable: last year, playing in a club whose stage does not butt up against a back wall...so in other words, you can step off the back of the (2 foot high) stage.
Well, our singer likes to get girls dancing up on stage throughout the night. Drunk girl went down, fell against my amp (4x10 cab and 2 racks), and it ALL went off the back of the stage. This managed to take out the lights and rest of the sound as well.
The silence in the room was deafening as the crowd just gasped as the poor girl plucked her drunk @ss off the floor and sauntered out.
Miraculously there was no damage to any of the equipment. 10 minutes later things were restored and we started off again.
Lesson learned - no more girls on stage?? Heavens no!!!! The girls still remain, but nowaways I have moved the casters to the SIDE of my cabinet for just such situations. ;-)
Well, our singer likes to get girls dancing up on stage throughout the night. Drunk girl went down, fell against my amp (4x10 cab and 2 racks), and it ALL went off the back of the stage. This managed to take out the lights and rest of the sound as well.
The silence in the room was deafening as the crowd just gasped as the poor girl plucked her drunk @ss off the floor and sauntered out.
Miraculously there was no damage to any of the equipment. 10 minutes later things were restored and we started off again.
Lesson learned - no more girls on stage?? Heavens no!!!! The girls still remain, but nowaways I have moved the casters to the SIDE of my cabinet for just such situations. ;-)
I played a wedding reception in October a few years ago. This reception was held in a horse barn.
These people had these rather expensive horses and it was unseasonsbly cold and they had to bring the horses into the barn early when the reception was still going on.
The guitarist was wailing away with a bottle neck slide solo at high volume. The horses didn't like it. I saw one of the horses jumping up on his hind legs and the other horses followed. I thought the horses were going to jump up on the stage and trash it.
Blue
These people had these rather expensive horses and it was unseasonsbly cold and they had to bring the horses into the barn early when the reception was still going on.
The guitarist was wailing away with a bottle neck slide solo at high volume. The horses didn't like it. I saw one of the horses jumping up on his hind legs and the other horses followed. I thought the horses were going to jump up on the stage and trash it.
Blue
once we played a gig that we promoted the hell out of in a new town. we invited all the other venue owners and everything, made a HUGE deal out of it. and like three people showed up!
what happened? well, it turns out that the big football game with the high school's rival team was that night. so everyone was over there instead of coming to check out literally anything else. we played our asses off anyway and had a great time...but now we check all local events calendars before playing in a new place.
what happened? well, it turns out that the big football game with the high school's rival team was that night. so everyone was over there instead of coming to check out literally anything else. we played our asses off anyway and had a great time...but now we check all local events calendars before playing in a new place.
Last year three of us schlepped two hours with our instruments to our sometime lead guitarist's favorite open mike bar in his neck of the woods. They have a policy of allowing acts to do up to 45 minutes sets every night and we thought it would be fun and give our guy a break from always having to come to us.
When we arrived, we found out that the sound guy had cut a deal with a friend's band that pretty much showcased them for the entire night. When the band finished a one hour set and went on a break the sound guy told us we had 20 minutes to play. When we tried to explain that we came a long way he told us to take it or leave it. So, we played a fast, hard and angry set, then left. The patrons wanted more but we were out of time. For the record, the featured band was pretty good. It's just that this particular club doesn't work that way.
Our guitarist spoke to the owner soon after (he was not there on on our night) and knew nothing about what the sound guy had done. I don't know what happened after that as we never went back but it was a long ride home and felt like a waste of time.
When we arrived, we found out that the sound guy had cut a deal with a friend's band that pretty much showcased them for the entire night. When the band finished a one hour set and went on a break the sound guy told us we had 20 minutes to play. When we tried to explain that we came a long way he told us to take it or leave it. So, we played a fast, hard and angry set, then left. The patrons wanted more but we were out of time. For the record, the featured band was pretty good. It's just that this particular club doesn't work that way.
Our guitarist spoke to the owner soon after (he was not there on on our night) and knew nothing about what the sound guy had done. I don't know what happened after that as we never went back but it was a long ride home and felt like a waste of time.
