Absolutist statements are always stupid.
You're being kicked out of the band because your lack of preparation resulted in the loss of future gigs.
Customers with negative consumer experiences are far less likely to book subsequent bands.
Ultimately, you're screwing the ecosystem and pissing into the well from which we all drink.
It's not all about you.
And if there was damage to the kit, who pays?
What is the lack of preparation?
This was spelled out on page one.
Performers should be prepared for gigs that require shared equipment, guest performers, sit-ins, shared-stages, shared merch tables, "can our Gfriends hang in the green room?", stage dancers, drunkards who want to sing, etc. None of these occurrences are uncommon, and it's always going to be inconvenient.
When it happens, as it did in the OPs instance, everyone should 'already' be on the same frequency. The discussion on what conditions need to be followed to say "yes" should have happened before the band decided to play it's first professional gig.
There's more to preparation than simply being a musician and playing an instrument. You have to be prepared to perform, socialize, haul gear, run a business, handle press, run sound, etc.
To illustrate this with an example in preparedness.... When I toured, I always had two SM58's. One was mine and always mine. The other was for anyone else. Consider it remarkable that I've played several thousand shows and don't have oral herpes, never got mono, never got strep... Never gave it to other performers as well. In our clubs, we disinfect mics between performers, sometimes a dozen times on open-mic and karaoke nights.
That little bit of preparedness, and similar initiatives, are what cultivates an ecosystem and keeps it healthy and profitable. Dead weight gets smart or gets cut. Preferably the former.
KamaK, what do you disinfect the mic with? That's probably a good practice I should introduce at our open mic.
KamaK, what do you disinfect the mic with? That's probably a good practice I should introduce at our open mic.
When I toured, I used a spray bottle with ~10% H2O2 and a toothbrush. Unfortunately, the ball on my SM58 began to rust about a year into touring and had to be replaced.
In the clubs, we use a spray/mist bottle with isopropyl alcohol, because it disinfects and evaporates very quickly, so no rust.
I've walked up to mics where they've tried to be ecological and use vinegar.... NOPE!
You share your Mic with random strangers without disinfecting? Can I borrow your toothbrush?
He acted unprofessionally when he agreed to let the other group play without consulting his own band, and again in the way he talked down his bandmate.
The keyboardist acted professionally by servicing the customer's request.
The keyboardist, and band, acted unprofessionally by not having it sorted ahead of time, and instead of sorting it out immediately afterward, causing an escalation of malcontent rather than saying, "Hey guys, this shouldn't have happened. How do we fix this so it isn't a problem next time?".
Or TLDR...
The keyboardist wasn't the problem, he was the symptom of the problem.
Again, when does a request become unreasonable?
The keyboardist acted professionally by servicing the customer's request.
The keyboardist, and band, acted unprofessionally by not having it sorted ahead of time, and instead of sorting it out immediately afterward, causing an escalation of malcontent rather than saying, "Hey guys, this shouldn't have happened. How do we fix this so it isn't a problem next time?".
Or TLDR...
The keyboardist wasn't the problem, he was the symptom of the problem.
well the keyboardist or whomever didi the damage of course. My point was any of us can feel anyway we want about this, you don't need to be vindicated. As said over and over, some share, some don't .....and its all OK
No, the keyboard guy was the problem - he should have informed the customer that his request wasn't part of the initial agreement and he would have to check with the band to see if they were willing to allow total strangers to use their equipment.
And that's perfectly fine if you don't want to play at the subsequent weddings of his other two daughters. There are a bunch of DJ's sitting in the wings just waiting for bands to lose their shit over such trivial matters. I'll happily continue this conversation in the "Where did all the good gigs go?" thread.
I don't understand how allowing complete strangers free access to your instrument is a trivial matter. Would you feel the same way if someone volunteered your car to their teenage child?