I got f***ed!

[Spudman]

So we started this cool band and played a great gig on Halloween. All is good right. Then I get a last minute gig in one of the hot clubs in town and the f***ing bass player doesn't show. We talked to him on the phone and he says he's on the way. Some of our friends even saw him drive by the place twice! No calls, nothing. I talk to his father and he said his son seemed to think the gig was Saturday and Sunday. WTF!?

We even talked to him earlier today and he was excited to play. His sister went over to his apartment and told him that we were waiting for him. We even got a bass so that could just show up and hit the stage.

Then the owners stop in and they are certainly more than mad. We have a meeting with them at noon on Saturday. It will either be tear down and never come back or some crappy thing we'll have to endure all Saturday night.

He was really enjoying playing and his father even said so.

What the hell is wrong with people? This is the strangest thing that has ever happened to me...well, other than those two girls in Canada.

 

[hubberjub]

That sucks man. There is no excuse for a no show at a gig.

 

[M29]

We had a band where we always wondered if the keyboard player was going to show up. We had to go get him a number of times. He lost his drivers license eventually. Then we did have to go get him every nite and he lived about 20 miles out of everyone's way. Man that is a reeeaaal bad feeling. It is actually amazing to me to be able to get 4 or 5 individuals from different families and lifestyles to all get to one place at one time. I sure can't do that with my family.

Mojo out to you and the band Spud.

M

 

[just strum]

Maybe there is a mental issue, did you have a real sit down with the guy and see if there is some sort of personal issue? He certainly should not have done that, but you know "two sides to every story".

Now enough of that, what about those two girls in Canada?

 

[oldguy]

That is really weird. I've had people show late, or just in time, or forget a piece of gear............... but to drive by the place and not park and go in to play the gig? Like I said, really weird.
The guy may have his reasons, if you can get him to talk about it honestly.
In any case it's too bad it happened, sympathy and mojo sent your way, and here's hoping it gets better for you all.

(we had a guy quit once b/c he couldn't take the bar atmosphere, people smoking and drinking, but he did give notice first)

 

[Robert]

Man that sucks. What about finding another player in the last minute, do you have some contacts? Something like that has never happened to me, but I have done gigs where the bass player never rehearsed with us and didn't know half the songs, but that you can at least fake somewhat. Not showing is game over.

 

[bigG]

spud, by f***ed you mean FRAMED, right? Otherwise some mod might come by and think you meant...oh, ummm...nevermind...:french

But seriously, there's something wrong with that boy. Not to show even the slightest courtesy, and just "disappear in person", says to me either some mind-altering substance, OR, a hot little chippy was involved. The latter even moreso if he's a married lad.

Obviously some skullduggery afoot! And, if that gig was the one you posted pix of from the soundcheck...hell, man, that was like a major deal! No excuses, no matter what his "reasons" might be!

I was just lucky, I guess. NEVER had to deal w any of that kinda stuff!

 

[bigoldron]

That sucks about the bass player...

Now about those 2 girls in Canada???

 

[Spudman]

Maybe there is a mental issue, did you have a real sit down with the guy and see if there is some sort of personal issue? He certainly should not have done that, but you know "two sides to every story".

Now enough of that, what about those two girls in Canada?

That is EXACTLY what I'm thinking. None of what happened makes any sense.

He called me at 1am to apologize. He said he thought it was Saturday and Sunday. Then he said he couldn't find the place. Then when asked he tells me he has lived here all his life. Our entourage saw him drive by the place 2 times and they were yelling at him and being really animated to get his attention but he never stopped. He could have also asked anyone for directions.

He then said his phone died and he ran out of gas. He did call me from a friends phone at 1 am. I asked how come he didn't call us to come get him or have a friend bring him etc. At which point he said 'I've done this before' and said 'this is it' and hung up on me. I wasn't being mean just asking him what and why. I do think he has some mental issue.

The club owner is pissed and we have to meet with them at noon today probably to pack everything up. I've also got a bunch of gigs on the books so this is serious money lost not to mention reputation.

Arrrgh! :flamemad: :reallymad:

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Man . . . I am really sorry for you it did not work out last night. I hope you can have a productive conversation with him and figure it out, and that bridges at this place aren't burned beyond repair.

 

[just strum]

Sounds a little like Syd Barrett syndrome. I heard his band eventually did okay.

You have to hope that the guy gets his life figured out, but you have to focus on getting the band moving forward. Seeing that you've been in a number of bands over the years, I would think you've had to deal with some difficult situations.

Is the whole gig situation at the place where you were suppose to play a total loss, or do you think you can work things out.

The reputation thing sucks, but can be forgotten if you have another good product to offer. It's about marketing now, and I don't need to tell you anything you don't already know.

 

[M29]

2 girls Spud come on oke

 

[Spudman]

2 girls Spud come on oke

I don't think forum rules will let me.

 

[jpfeifer]

I've experienced this before myself, and it was also a bass player who did this to us in that case. This kind of passive-aggressive behavior drives me up the wall, and gives musicians a bad name.

I really don't understand people who can feel that it's o.k. to blow off a gig and leave the rest of their bandmates in a lurch. I feel so strongly about following through on a comitted gig, that I've done gigs sick before (fever, sore throat) just so that the other guys weren't left without a member.

My advice would be to fire this guy and never use him again. You're better off without him than to have him pull this same thing on you in the future.
Attitude is everything, and this guy is showing that he isn't a professional.

--Jim

 

[Rampant]

This is the strangest thing that has ever happened to me...well, other than those two girls in Canada.

I'm sure I met those same 2 girls

 

[M29]

PM, inquiring minds want to knowoke

 

[Spudman]

Okay. We salvaged the gig.

Turns out the guy is very naive and innocent. He got the wrong dates in his head and when he was finally found and told that he was supposed to be playing he panicked. He is night blind and didn't have his glasses (poor move) and the club sign is set back far off the road and is really pretty hard to see. He just kept missing it. Ran out of gas trying to find us and his cell phone died. So since he doesn't handle stress very well he suffered for it. He has beat himself up terribly for his mistake. This is his first band ever. He's got enormous talent and really loves to play. He realizes how fortunate he is to be playing with players with our experience and lack of baggage (forget about the 2 Canadians for the moment).

We talked to the club owners and we are playing for free tonight and that will allow us to get further gigs down the road from them. They lost a lot of money last night. Apparently many people had heard us or heard about us and came specifically just to see us. Those people told the owners that we could indeed deliver the goods so that helped sway things in our favor.

It's all now water under the bridge and we are just looking forward to moving on and having a fun gig tonight.

 

[Kazz]

well hopefully spud you have better potatoes for us in the morning.....sucks that because he was a bit embarrassed he could not call you guys and get directions. Playing tonight for free really bites.

 

[bigG]

Nice save, spud. Hopefully it's onward and upward from here!

Geez, talk about stepping in ***** and coming out smelling like a rose, pulling it out of the fire at the last second...or something like that. Really glad to hear it! :applause

 

[M29]

Thats great!!! Let the good times roll!!!
Now about those girls in Canada..............Oh never mind I think you are making it up.....:what

 

[Kodiak3D]

Best of luck on tonight's gig, Spud! Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Spudman]

Thats great!!! Let the good times roll!!!
Now about those girls in Canada..............Oh never mind I think you are making it up.....:what

Thanks guys. It was a fortunate save for sure.

M29 I try to be a gentleman...however, Penthouse magazine December 1985 if you can find a copy.

 

[evenkeel]

Very glad it has, hopefully, worked out for you. Went from wanting to strangle the knucklehead to feeling sorry for the poor schmuck.

I'm guessing the "playing a freebie" bought you some good will. Good on ya for doing that. :AOK

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Good, saved the opportunity. I hope he has learned and grown. That he is so young makes me more hopeful that it was a true mistake and learning experience rather than some other issue. I am glad you were able to save the opportunity!

 

[marnold]

Hope things go well tonight. His rationale sounds plausible and I hope it is.

 

[M29]

Whoh..................:drool

 

[msteeln]

Hooray! Great story...

Spuds, your OP made my own roller coaster of emotions week seem like nothing. And how awesome it was to read you pulled your butt out of the fire with the bosses, plus the guy kept his job! Everybody is a winner, providing the kid is able to show he was worth the troubles. I had a feeling it was as you/he stated, a mix of smaller things building up and then panic. Life can hand it to you that way sometimes.
But kudos for you giving him a second chance, you're a bigger spud than most! :AOK
Sure hope he learned the lesson.

 

[player]

Excellent news Spud except the having to play for free part but as you say it could be better in the long run.Glad to hear his issues were really not his fault although he could have been up front with the band from the get go.in short nice save. :AOK

 

[Spudman]

salvaged

you're a bigger spud than most! :AOK

That's what she said.


Things went pretty good tonight. The owner was very happy and we had a good crowd. The bass player really surprised me. He's very good. I would throw some curve balls at him and he would totally catch them. Very solid and I can follow him. I'm glad he didn't bail on the project.


So all is good now and I can relax. If we would have lost him it would have cost the Phat Bone around $4,700. That would be from booked gigs that we would cancel and equipment investments that I've made. Phew! We dodged a real bullet.

Thank you all for your kind words and support. Rock on!!

:beavisnbutthead:

 

[Kodiak3D]

That's great to hear, Spud! Really glad everything turned around and worked out well in the end.