I'm here to play

[juancaminos]

A few posts in the humor section reminded me of the time we were playng, 1st set I think, and this guy walks in with a guitar case. He waits until the song is over and asks where he could plug in. What? yeah I brought my guitar so I can play with you guys. What? We told him that we don't do that. He went to sit at a table until break then bugged the heck out of us to play. Eventually he got real upset and left. REALLY?

 

[Flamingo21]

Good on you for not giving in. If you don't, you don't.

 

[Torrente Cro]

That is what Jimi Hendrix used to do before he got famous (according to few autobiographies)

 

[hrodbert696]

I've had guys wanting to get up and play with the band. If we didn't know the guy we would say that's great, but unfortunately the bar is paying us to play and they would get pissed if we didn't do the job. It's not instrumental karaoke, there are open mics for that.

 

[Joe Nerve]

We had a guy pull that with a harmonica at a wedding not too long ago.

We did our best to let him know that we were sticking to a very specific set list, and he was insistent. Because it was a wedding we didn't want to cause a scene, and asked if he could work his way through any of the songs we had planned. Nope. We went through our song list with him. Nothing he knew or was willing to work with. He didn't want to do a short, simple blues jam - nor did we, as it was a wedding. He was being impossible. We finally had to say we just couldn't let him sit in. He wasn't happy, but it was what it was. Thankfully, it seems the rest of the people at the wedding knew this guy and his antics.

Somehow, I still prefer people doing that, to people insistent on having conversations with me mid song while I clearly show them I'm wearing IEMs and can't hear a word they're saying. That is my #1 peeve of all time.

 

[2saddleslab]

History has proved to me those who ask to sit in typically have no business being on stage. Those musicians who come to your show who don’t ask to sit in are typically the ones with not only the talent but also respect for you and your gig.

 

[mellowinman]

I have always welcomed every drunk, ne'er-do-well, vagrant and dangerous psychopath to plug in and damage equipment, ruin rehearsed sets and otherwise make my life a living nightmare.

Of course, afterwards I invariably follow them out to the alley, and they are never heard from again, but that's just me.*



*this is a joke answer.

 

[Warpeg]

Many years ago, we made the unfortunate mistake of allowing a "spoons player" to sit in with us mid-set. He came up to the stage between songs and badgered each of us to let him play until we finally gave in. A few guys in the band knew of him; he had a decent reputation. So, what could it hurt, right? Big mistake.

We were ahead of schedule for the set, so we had time to throw-in a quick funk jam for him to play to. He got up on stage with his cutlery, we gave him a mic, and away the band went. Personally, I try my hardest to be as open-minded as possible when it comes to a musician's playing style, as it is their art and their craft. However, this was just something else. Random clanking sounds, varying volume as he moved closer and then further away from the mic, no discernible rhythm or tempo....this guy's playing was the epitome of a dumpster fire. There was absolutely nothing musical, let alone pleasing to the ear, about what he was playing. Was it abstract art? What is it drugs?

Imagine Yoko Ono giving up singing (sic) to play with silverware.

 

[JRA]

I have always welcomed every drunk, ne'er-do-well, vagrant and dangerous psychopath to plug in and damage equipment, ruin rehearsed sets and otherwise make my life a living nightmare. Of course, afterwards I invariably follow them out to the alley, and they are never heard from again, but that's just me.* *this is a joke answer.

fact is: when you play jazz = lots of folks sit in: sometimes it's a great honor and thrill...sometimes it's a nightmare. no biggie.

 

[mellowinman]

fact is: when you play jazz = lots of folks sit in: sometimes it's a great honor and thrill...sometimes it's a nightmare. no biggie.

fun fact: but in the rock and roll world, everyone who wants to sit in will scare the living poopie out of you and the audience.

 

[rodak]

We went through our song list with him. Nothing he knew or was willing to work with. He didn't want to do a short, simple blues jam

You got my curiosity up - so what song DID he want to play?

 

[JohnMCA72]

...
Somehow, I still prefer people doing that, to people insistent on having conversations with me mid song while I clearly show them I'm wearing IEMs and can't hear a word they're saying. That is my #1 peeve of all time.

I swear, one of these times I'd like to wave the band to a halt, announce to the audience that <d-bag> has something important to say, that requires us to stop. "What's the matter, <d-bag>? Is there a fire? Is somebody choking? Did Timmy fall down the well?..."

 

[40Hz]

I got my start in jazz where the etiquette was you waited to be asked to sit in. Because sitting in was a honor reserved for players who had an established “rep” - or as an act of noblesse oblige toward promising up and coming jazzers. You never asked to sit in. That would be considered a jive move. As in: It’s simply not done.

It’s getting bad. There’s this local wannabe who has this kid (about 7 years old) who plays some guitar (and wears a hat) that he drags around with him to anything remotely resembling blues. Kid is ok. Not bad for a 7-year old. But nothing special. Or at least not yet. But his dad is always trying to get people to “ask him up.”

Saw him repeatedly try to pull it on Tab Beniot one night. It was annoying.

Because there was a kid involved, Tab was far more polite about declining than normally would have been warranted in the face of the father’s persistence . But still…

 

[Jimmy4string]

NOPE! I don't like it!

 

[RichardW]

At least your guy was (presumably) a musician. More often we get the drunk lady who grabs the tambourine and plays in a different tempo and rhythm. So helpful.

 

[mikewalker]

Many years ago, we made the unfortunate mistake of allowing a "spoons player" to sit in with us mid-set. He came up to the stage between songs and badgered each of us to let him play until we finally gave in. A few guys in the band knew of him; he had a decent reputation. So, what could it hurt, right? Big mistake.

We were ahead of schedule for the set, so we had time to throw-in a quick funk jam for him to play to. He got up on stage with his cutlery, we gave him a mic, and away the band went. Personally, I try my hardest to be as open-minded as possible when it comes to a musician's playing style, as it is their art and their craft. However, this was just something else. Random clanking sounds, varying volume as he moved closer and then further away from the mic, no discernible rhythm or tempo....this guy's playing was the epitome of a dumpster fire. There was absolutely nothing musical, let alone pleasing to the ear, about what he was playing. Was it abstract art? What is it drugs?

Imagine Yoko Ono giving up singing (sic) to play with silverware.

I had an 80-year-old guy who wanted to sit in playing "spoons" on SAW BLADES.
Yes, actual 10 inch circular saw blades, strung together like a small mobile.
Couldn't say no to THAT!

Luckily, the guy had an excellent sense of rhythm, and the blades sounded really good (he was hitting them with a steel rod). Kind of like the bell of a good ride cymbal, only brighter...

 

[JRA]

fun fact: but in the rock and roll world, everyone who wants to sit in will scare the living poopie out of you and the audience.

i believe it!

 

[acleex38]

At least your guy was (presumably) a musician. More often we get the drunk lady who grabs the tambourine and plays in a different tempo and rhythm. So helpful.

I was wondering where she went. I haven't seen her at my local open mic in a couple of years.

 

[CalBuzz51]

This might be a tangent, but I've had conversations with guys at work that are like, "You have a band? I play guitar...

...We should jam."
...I could play with you guys, I'm really good. I could add a lot to your band."

Then I have to say, sorry, we're an established band, not looking for another member right now.

Come hear us play? No, they're busy.

Like I would invite myself to join someone's band. I even know bands that play with no bass player, and I never say "You need bass," or "I could help your band a lot" because I know they know lots of bass players.

 

[cchorney]

Many years ago, we made the unfortunate mistake of allowing a "spoons player" to sit in with us mid-set. He came up to the stage between songs and badgered each of us to let him play until we finally gave in. A few guys in the band knew of him; he had a decent reputation. So, what could it hurt, right? Big mistake.

We were ahead of schedule for the set, so we had time to throw-in a quick funk jam for him to play to. He got up on stage with his cutlery, we gave him a mic, and away the band went. Personally, I try my hardest to be as open-minded as possible when it comes to a musician's playing style, as it is their art and their craft. However, this was just something else. Random clanking sounds, varying volume as he moved closer and then further away from the mic, no discernible rhythm or tempo....this guy's playing was the epitome of a dumpster fire. There was absolutely nothing musical, let alone pleasing to the ear, about what he was playing. Was it abstract art? What is it drugs?

Imagine Yoko Ono giving up singing (sic) to play with silverware.

Even when they're good, they're still playing SPOONS. After about 1 song the novelty wears off for me. If you're that good, go form a spoons band and get your own gigs.