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Worst thing to happen during a gig
- Thread starter balton4
- Start date
Wow. Lots of great tales from you all.
I've had some 'doozies' as well. Here are some highlights...
Playing a bar in a sketchy 'hood in town. Onstage in the front window when we notice those familiar blue lights right outside. Then some more. Then a whole lot more. Show stops. The place is crawling with police to investigate the (apparently during our set) stabbing. Packed up & skedaddled.
Onstage at week-long hotel gig in Canadia. Obnoxious drunk dude jumps up and proceeds to sing back up for our blues band on my mike. I lift my foot up and shove hard, as he sprawls into the 1st row of tables sending chairs flying. Bouncer then decides to do his job.
Outdoor gig in a park, plywood joke of a stage and not enough power for a puppet show, much less a 6 piece band. Maybe 3 songs in there's a huge voltage dip. Protection lights flashing from everyone's amps. Comes back end of song. Next tune, same thing. Shut 'em down, comes back on. Do the rest of the gig thru the D.I., no bass in the monitors. Fun.
Huge, prairie out door show. Weather warnings, nobody wants to get off the bus. Promoter pressures band into setting up. Storm clouds loom ominously while we lug our gear across the field to the stage (about a block away). "It's gonna' miss us", assures Mr. Promoter. Get everything up and running to line check. *BAM!* Thunder, lightening, torrential midwestern downpour. Thankfully, the stage is covered but the monsoon is literally flowing sideways. Entire crowd leaves, show cancelled. Similar incidents happen 3 times that summer to same group, with varying soggy results.
Onstage about halfway thru the last set of the night, 1st of two night stand. Hard Rock in Biloxi, MS (after Katrina and after they've rebuilt the place). I notice water dripping from the ceiling. Naturally dripping about a foot away from my rig but nowhere else. Walk over to monitor guy- "Hey, am I nuts or is it raining in here?" He comes over to inspect. "Yep, it's raining." Between songs I tell the singer to stall a minute while I pull the amp away from the leak. Oh, and did I mention that this was AFTER they rebuilt the place? Next thing we know, they make some announcement about the weather, show's over. I start packing up and moving my stuff, just in case. 1/2 hour later we look out the back where the buses are parked and the water's up to the doorway, about a foot deep. We walk down the front stairs to the doorways of the hotel and the water's ankle deep. Miraculously the bus started and we all sloshed knee-deep to get on and ride to relative safety.
I could go on and on and on. But I wouldn't trade a minute of it for an office job.
Congrats, Balton! Keep up the good work.
And always ask for cash.
I've had some 'doozies' as well. Here are some highlights...
Playing a bar in a sketchy 'hood in town. Onstage in the front window when we notice those familiar blue lights right outside. Then some more. Then a whole lot more. Show stops. The place is crawling with police to investigate the (apparently during our set) stabbing. Packed up & skedaddled.
Onstage at week-long hotel gig in Canadia. Obnoxious drunk dude jumps up and proceeds to sing back up for our blues band on my mike. I lift my foot up and shove hard, as he sprawls into the 1st row of tables sending chairs flying. Bouncer then decides to do his job.
Outdoor gig in a park, plywood joke of a stage and not enough power for a puppet show, much less a 6 piece band. Maybe 3 songs in there's a huge voltage dip. Protection lights flashing from everyone's amps. Comes back end of song. Next tune, same thing. Shut 'em down, comes back on. Do the rest of the gig thru the D.I., no bass in the monitors. Fun.
Huge, prairie out door show. Weather warnings, nobody wants to get off the bus. Promoter pressures band into setting up. Storm clouds loom ominously while we lug our gear across the field to the stage (about a block away). "It's gonna' miss us", assures Mr. Promoter. Get everything up and running to line check. *BAM!* Thunder, lightening, torrential midwestern downpour. Thankfully, the stage is covered but the monsoon is literally flowing sideways. Entire crowd leaves, show cancelled. Similar incidents happen 3 times that summer to same group, with varying soggy results.
Onstage about halfway thru the last set of the night, 1st of two night stand. Hard Rock in Biloxi, MS (after Katrina and after they've rebuilt the place). I notice water dripping from the ceiling. Naturally dripping about a foot away from my rig but nowhere else. Walk over to monitor guy- "Hey, am I nuts or is it raining in here?" He comes over to inspect. "Yep, it's raining." Between songs I tell the singer to stall a minute while I pull the amp away from the leak. Oh, and did I mention that this was AFTER they rebuilt the place? Next thing we know, they make some announcement about the weather, show's over. I start packing up and moving my stuff, just in case. 1/2 hour later we look out the back where the buses are parked and the water's up to the doorway, about a foot deep. We walk down the front stairs to the doorways of the hotel and the water's ankle deep. Miraculously the bus started and we all sloshed knee-deep to get on and ride to relative safety.
I could go on and on and on. But I wouldn't trade a minute of it for an office job.
Congrats, Balton! Keep up the good work.
And always ask for cash.
I have been to sick to perform about three times in 37 years of performing. Had a few equipment failures over the years and now I always carry a backup bass and set of strings extra cords etc in a suitcase.
BUT tonight takes the cake. Tonight I missed the first performance with my new band completely due to at home drama involving the cops, stolen property and drugs. Not my drugs mind you but the property was stolen from me and I totally felt my home was threatened. My "house guest" stole from me and as she has a key I felt as though my property was in danger. The cops showed up twice and she is moved out as of tonight. MICHIGAN'S Landlord/tenant law protects the tenant totally and does nothing to protect landlords/owners. This has been the worst night of my professional career, probably will get me fired (although thank GOD they had a backup bassist). What a lesson for me. I tried to help my sons mom (we have been broke up for 33 years- my son is 33) and it backfired in the worst way. I feel that I deserve to be fired for this and would have trouble accepting this from any one else so we'll see if they can forgive me and trust me again. Doing stupid stuff like letting your ex of 33 years ago stay with you (she just got diagnosed with cancer and had nowhere else to go yadda yadda yadda) ended up leaving me to decide between my HOME and my JOB. My own naivety bit me hard tonight.
My lesson: YOU can't rescue everyone. Drama has a way of creeping into every thing if you let it. She was my EX for a reason. my bad. I hope it doesn't cost me the job but i think it will. I am going to post my letter to the rest of the band in the next post and would appreciate any critique TBers may have. I am 54 and been performing professionally for 37 years so I am not a noob, but I did do a really dumb thing. Fortunately they had a backup guy and they were able to do the gig with out me. Not that this justifies anything but this band is a small night club act playing a dive bar in the sticks in rural Michigan. I am SOOO embarrassed but own my actions and will "face the music" and have another band soon. With my experience as a performer I should have known better. But I will live and be in other bands.
BUT tonight takes the cake. Tonight I missed the first performance with my new band completely due to at home drama involving the cops, stolen property and drugs. Not my drugs mind you but the property was stolen from me and I totally felt my home was threatened. My "house guest" stole from me and as she has a key I felt as though my property was in danger. The cops showed up twice and she is moved out as of tonight. MICHIGAN'S Landlord/tenant law protects the tenant totally and does nothing to protect landlords/owners. This has been the worst night of my professional career, probably will get me fired (although thank GOD they had a backup bassist). What a lesson for me. I tried to help my sons mom (we have been broke up for 33 years- my son is 33) and it backfired in the worst way. I feel that I deserve to be fired for this and would have trouble accepting this from any one else so we'll see if they can forgive me and trust me again. Doing stupid stuff like letting your ex of 33 years ago stay with you (she just got diagnosed with cancer and had nowhere else to go yadda yadda yadda) ended up leaving me to decide between my HOME and my JOB. My own naivety bit me hard tonight.
My lesson: YOU can't rescue everyone. Drama has a way of creeping into every thing if you let it. She was my EX for a reason. my bad. I hope it doesn't cost me the job but i think it will. I am going to post my letter to the rest of the band in the next post and would appreciate any critique TBers may have. I am 54 and been performing professionally for 37 years so I am not a noob, but I did do a really dumb thing. Fortunately they had a backup guy and they were able to do the gig with out me. Not that this justifies anything but this band is a small night club act playing a dive bar in the sticks in rural Michigan. I am SOOO embarrassed but own my actions and will "face the music" and have another band soon. With my experience as a performer I should have known better. But I will live and be in other bands.
A few months ago I broke a string at a gig. I had that set on for 8 years! I didn't have a backup, but within a few minutes someone rushed up to the stage with a Squier Jaguar bass with the highest action I had ever seen. It wasn't a Rickenbacker, but it sounded better than nothing!
This is the email I sent to the rest of the band members tonight while they were on stage at work...
Guys, I understand and accept that today's outcome may cost me my place in [band name]. I can not say I would be less than pissed off if someone had done this to me. In 37 years as a performer I have never missed a performance unless I was simply to sick to be in public. It has happened about three times in 37 years and I was fortunate to have a back-up performer that was capable and ready to take my place each time. I am grateful that your former bassist was able to take my place tonight for your sake. This event has been the worst event to occur in my life as a performer. And I recognize that I am purely at fault. Being the son of two performers I know full well the importance of being at the gig on time and prepared. For this reason I fully understand the hardship I have placed you all in tonight. I also understand why any one (or all) of you would feel that I can not be relied upon in the future. Tonight was pure stupid drama. I am very sorry to have brought this to you. You do not deserve this kind of misbehavior as I see you as professionals and my circumstances/actions were purely unprofessional. I have never done this before and have learned a costly lesson in trying to help people indiscriminately. I have through my actions endangered your relationship with the bar owner/manager. That is no small error, it is very serious and I just want you to know that I understand the imposition I placed on you all. I do know better than to let this happen, and yet I allowed it to happen through my own weakness in dealing with my house guest. I am strong willed in many ways but have a soft spot for people and am naive in identifying appropriate people to extend my help. My relationship ended badly with [son's mom] 33 years ago when she became pregnant and she forced me to choose between fighting her in court over parenting rights or walking away from my son. I grieved about my son growing up with out a father but in the late 70's a father with no job had virtually no chance of winning in court so I walked away. Years later he (my son) sought me out and I have tried to have a relationship with my son after his childhood. My relationship with [my son] has been damaged as well as [sons mom] has played us both to her advantage. I have been a fool. My desire to help [sons mom] came from a desire to help my son and his mom totally forgetting how it ended the last time. This is NOT an excuse as THERE IS NONE and do not wish to use my explanation as justification for the outcome. I do know better. This event has saddened me and caused me pause as no matter what happens tomorrow I am aware I have seriously let you down big time. I sincerely hope the performance went well and that the band gets more opportunities to play at [bar name]. I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding your decision about my future (should there be ANY) with [band name]. Sincerely, [my name]
Guys, I understand and accept that today's outcome may cost me my place in [band name]. I can not say I would be less than pissed off if someone had done this to me. In 37 years as a performer I have never missed a performance unless I was simply to sick to be in public. It has happened about three times in 37 years and I was fortunate to have a back-up performer that was capable and ready to take my place each time. I am grateful that your former bassist was able to take my place tonight for your sake. This event has been the worst event to occur in my life as a performer. And I recognize that I am purely at fault. Being the son of two performers I know full well the importance of being at the gig on time and prepared. For this reason I fully understand the hardship I have placed you all in tonight. I also understand why any one (or all) of you would feel that I can not be relied upon in the future. Tonight was pure stupid drama. I am very sorry to have brought this to you. You do not deserve this kind of misbehavior as I see you as professionals and my circumstances/actions were purely unprofessional. I have never done this before and have learned a costly lesson in trying to help people indiscriminately. I have through my actions endangered your relationship with the bar owner/manager. That is no small error, it is very serious and I just want you to know that I understand the imposition I placed on you all. I do know better than to let this happen, and yet I allowed it to happen through my own weakness in dealing with my house guest. I am strong willed in many ways but have a soft spot for people and am naive in identifying appropriate people to extend my help. My relationship ended badly with [son's mom] 33 years ago when she became pregnant and she forced me to choose between fighting her in court over parenting rights or walking away from my son. I grieved about my son growing up with out a father but in the late 70's a father with no job had virtually no chance of winning in court so I walked away. Years later he (my son) sought me out and I have tried to have a relationship with my son after his childhood. My relationship with [my son] has been damaged as well as [sons mom] has played us both to her advantage. I have been a fool. My desire to help [sons mom] came from a desire to help my son and his mom totally forgetting how it ended the last time. This is NOT an excuse as THERE IS NONE and do not wish to use my explanation as justification for the outcome. I do know better. This event has saddened me and caused me pause as no matter what happens tomorrow I am aware I have seriously let you down big time. I sincerely hope the performance went well and that the band gets more opportunities to play at [bar name]. I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding your decision about my future (should there be ANY) with [band name]. Sincerely, [my name]
The whole thing blew up about an hour before I had to leave for performance and I am on my own in this world with no one to watch the house while I went to work. I own my actions and trust myself to not repeat this so I am ok with posting it on my beloved TB. It is what it is. 
I'm going to have a cup of hot tea (decaf) and try and go to sleep, fortunately my praise band will be happy to see me at church tomorrow. The man upstairs will forgive me, he just wanted to teach me something important tonight...
- Jan 27, 2010
- 4,141
- 471
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Genz Benz Amplification
bassmeknik said:The whole thing blew up about an hour before I had to leave for performance and I am on my own in this world with no one to watch the house while I went to work. I own my actions and trust myself to not repeat this so I am ok with posting it on my beloved TB. It is what it is.
Well, your email to the band was on point. You took responsibility, no excuses, and made it clear this isn't a normal occurrence. As a bandleader I'd be willing to let it slide the one time. Lord knows a few people have given me a get out of jail free card before.
bassman314
I seem to be a verb, an evolutionary process...
This. It sounds like your band is well beyond the "Dude, suck it up.. THIS IS ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!". I'll send one upstairs for you and your family.
What a crazy situation! Please let us know how the band replies. Very nice, professional e-mail to the band, by the way.
I became violently ill just before a gig last year. I felt great all day, but 2 hours before show time I began losing it profusely out the top and bottom. I was shaking so badly I could barely play and I kept sneaking off stage to use the restroom but I managed to finish a 3 set gig.
During a concert, the guitarist's amp lead fell out.
Also worth noting, the bassist who went on before us had his strap snap off the strap pins... His bass was fine, he caught it, but he stood there for the rest of the song just cradling it in his arms... Poor guy.
This. +1
Also worth noting, the bassist who went on before us had his strap snap off the strap pins... His bass was fine, he caught it, but he stood there for the rest of the song just cradling it in his arms... Poor guy.
ghostdog93 said:
This. +1
This didnt happen to me or my band, but it is at least worth mentioning.
We were playing a bill with a few other bands several years ago. One of the groups was just taking the stage. Younger dudes, glam rock. Well, a couple songs into their set, the guitarist (who had been flailing about the stage) trips, tries to catch himself and manages to break one of his fingers in the process. A pretty bad break too. Ive never seen a finger bent at that angle. Needless to say the set was over and one of his buds drove him to the hospital. The band tried doing a couple songs without him, but it fell apart. Poor dudes. I commend them for trying to push on, but it wasnt happening. Needless to say, my band went on much earlier than planned that evening.
We were playing a bill with a few other bands several years ago. One of the groups was just taking the stage. Younger dudes, glam rock. Well, a couple songs into their set, the guitarist (who had been flailing about the stage) trips, tries to catch himself and manages to break one of his fingers in the process. A pretty bad break too. Ive never seen a finger bent at that angle. Needless to say the set was over and one of his buds drove him to the hospital. The band tried doing a couple songs without him, but it fell apart. Poor dudes. I commend them for trying to push on, but it wasnt happening. Needless to say, my band went on much earlier than planned that evening.
I just got a phone call from the lead guitarist, I am forgiven but on "super secret probation" 
and I am OK with that, practice Wed and the NEXT first gig is in two weeks
and I am OK with that, practice Wed and the NEXT first gig is in two weeks 
Last night I spilled a beer all over my cab and a little in my head as well lost concentration and kinda screwed up the song. People were so pumped no one noticed but I sure did an I was super disappointed. The next set I came on and killed it didn't miss a note and felt slightly better.
I just got a phone call from the lead guitarist, I am forgiven but on "super secret probation"
