Band Drama The Other Night - Help

You put my thoughts to words, even down to the willingness to work the occasional dive and road gig as part and parcel of the other easier/better gigs (I won't go out on anything extended at my age - we've got 3-nighter coming up 7 hours away in Branson, pretty much my limit).

For me it's all an exercise in acceptance. Otherwise I can make myself pretty miserable expecting everything to go my way.
I would estimate the percentage of musicians (let's keep it at "Bass Players" just for the fun of it)
who can freely pick & choose what gigs they'll play, where they'll play them, and who they're going to work with/for at, IDK, maybe .001 %??

NOW- I'm not talking about me or anybody turning gigs down, of course anybody can do that.

What I'm referring to is-If you are actively seeking gigs-short or long-term, at home or on the road, or in session:

Unless your name rhymes with "Marcus Miller" or "Nathan East" e.g. If you want the pay-out, be prepared to endure any compromises that may be required.

Or start your own Band!
Then, players will have to endure YOU!
:cool:
 
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I would estimate the percentage of musicians (let's keep it at "Bass Players" just for the fun of it)
who can freely pick & choose what gigs they'll play, where they'll play them, and who they're going to work with/for at, IDK, maybe .001 %??

NOW- I'm not talking about me or anybody turning gigs down, of course anybody can do that.

What I'm referring to is-If you are actively seeking gigs-short or long-term, at home or on the road, or in session:

Unless your name rhymes with "Marcus Miller" or "Nathan East" e.g. If you want the pay-out, be prepared to endure any compromises that may be required.

Or start your own Band!
Then, players will have to endure YOU!
:cool:

Agreed, still with limits though. For instance I won't take gigs at outlaw MC clubhouses where I've seen things you can't un-see.

I also stay clear of venues where there's a history of police response to shootings. One venue where I used to sub is in a neighborhood where things were getting dicey; The doorman got shot one night a month after another shooting a couple blocks away. Yeah - I'm out. 'Guy calls me every now and then for gigs down there and - damn - I'm already booked.
 
Tell me about bat poopie crazy.
Was it a one off crazy episode?
I pray.

I can't even repeat it in gig stories. Would not be fair.

Best musician by a country mile though.
 
Agreed, still with limits though. For instance I won't take gigs at outlaw MC clubhouses where I've seen things you can't un-see.

I also stay clear of venues where there's a history of police response to shootings. One venue where I used to sub is in a neighborhood where things were getting dicey; The doorman got shot one night a month after another shooting a couple blocks away. Yeah - I'm out. 'Guy calls me every now and then for gigs down there and - damn - I'm already booked.
+1 on all that!
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Worked gigs with a hard-core Drummer/BIKER one time; They had "hangs" (Bars/Clubs) where I would not venture in (except to entertain with Him)'cause if I did, I might not walk out! I mean, these Guys were drug-dealing hard core outlaws (a "subsidiary/affiliate" of Hell's Angels) and they were not open to outsiders.
One of the Club's" ladies" almost punched me out when she overheard a joke I made to him about Bikers- She didn't know that we were buds, and razzed each other. Lucky for me, her "Man" chilled her out. (She could have taken me down, no doubt bout that!

Today, I don't need the $$ like I did then, but in retrospect, It was a Blast!:roflmao:
 
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I play decent, can call which gigs I'll do..but yep, there are those that slip though and thats when I'm so grateful I dont have to do them so next time I don't.
 
Tell me about bat poopie crazy.
Was it a one off crazy episode?
I pray.

I can't even repeat it in gig stories. Would not be fair.

Best musician by a country mile though.
Ronnie has passed, RIP, a few years back. He had worked w/ James Brown on a few gigs, and Gladys Knight IIRC. He cut his teeth tap-dancing on the streets in New Orleans, and had the Louisiana Boog-a-Loo chops that are off the chain.

"A one-E-and a Two-E and you got your Boog-a-loo-ey!" Like that.

When rehearsing, he used a small "cocktail Kit" Snare, Hi-Hat, Kick drum, and Ride cymbal. That's it.

So once we're doing a pretty complex syncopated groove, and his cell-phone rang. Pulling his phone out, answering it, He kept the meter with his FEET on kick and Hi-Hat, while talking:

"Yeh, Yeh, Right" I'll be there later for sure" hey, I gotta call you back, we're rehearsing now".


All that while keeping totally in the pocket. Amazing.

He had full dentures, that he would remove while we were traveling, and I would sit across from him in the Van, looking at his gaping lips!

And in Park City UT, we shared a 3-room suite provided, and he spent all night bugging me and making crazy noises.

In Sedona AZ, I got lucky with a fair young lady in the audience who enjoyed the music and followed me "home" to the Motel.
Ronnie kept banging on the door, knowing what I was up to, saying, "Hey FRODE, you got any ICE???

Wow, I miss him.

:roflmao:
 
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I would estimate the percentage of musicians (let's keep it at "Bass Players" just for the fun of it)
who can freely pick & choose what gigs they'll play, where they'll play them, and who they're going to work with/for at, IDK, maybe .001 %??

NOW- I'm not talking about me or anybody turning gigs down, of course anybody can do that...
My cousin plays in the St. Louis area. He tells me they are well known enough, and do so many Facebook posts of their gigs, that all of their bookings come to them via Facebook Messenger and that they are at the point where they are able to turn down gigs at venues that they don't like so much. They are playing 2-3 times most weekends and are fully booked through the end of the year.

Nice "problem" to have.
 
My cousin plays in the St. Louis area. He tells me they are well known enough, and do so many Facebook posts of their gigs, that all of their bookings come to them via Facebook Messenger and that they are at the point where they are able to turn down gigs at venues that they don't like so much. They are playing 2-3 times most weekends and are fully booked through the end of the year.

Nice "problem" to have.
I wish all my problems were of that type.
I also know Bands that turn down bookings by choice- They have a following, the Club Owners or Booking Agents know they will draw, and therefore the room makes $$.
That's how its done! I also know a few-(very few) Players that have earned their rep as stellar musicians & always get calls to work.
I would venture to say that those players/bands are in the large minority,tho, and most of the poor working-stiff "average Joe" players like myself (And I mean, I think I'm fairly skilled) have to work hard at getting bookings or being hired out as a player for clubs, sessions and such.

Could you imagine trying to get a record deal or finding an audience if you wished to do originals?? I hardly can. More power to those that try.
 
If someone jets out early, that’s a signal to me they need to be replaced. While they may or may not end up quitting anyway, the jet out is a way to put the BL in handcuffs and that’s a losing operating model. From my experience, placing a FB add, “Working band holding auditions this Saturday 9am - 4pm. If you think you’re a good fit contact us to schedule your time”, will result in your inbox getting flooded
I was playing a blues gig years ago when the lead guitarist stormed out without saying a word seconds after the last song.
He was pissed that I, while setting up, didn't refer to him as one of the front people of the band - I've always given the lead singers that designation.
We never heard from him again. Replaced him with a better player the next week. C'est la vie.
 
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