Bass player took a separate gig, said we shouldn't play without him.

[2 hit wonder]

So, I'm trying to hang with a startup that is struggling. The bass player took a fill-in gig on an open night and let us know. However our band just got a gig offer that night and the bass player told the band leader that the band shouldn't play if everyone isn't available because we might not be good without him. We are a startup with no guitar player, but we hire subs.

IOWs, he took a gig with someone else and said we shouldn't play with a sub for him. The band leader appears to be going along with this. She can opt to do a duo on that date and still work. The bass player has a gig. The drummer loses a gig because another player took one with someone else and convinced the leader not to book the band.

 

[bermuda]

The bass player sounds very self-important. Does he really believe he can't be replaced, and that the band wouldn't sound good without him?! Sounds more like he's just insecure. Can't do much about that.

I think that's a lot of nerve on his part. As long as it's do-able to get another bass player, take the gig. If your bass player is good enough, he won't be replaced.

I play with several bands, and if I can't make a gig - for any reason - they bring in a sub. Sometimes I recommend the sub. And I always return to the band - not one sub has ever replaced me. I would never, ever suggest that a band shouldn't play without me.

 

[cbphoto]

There's no "Play without him" choice in your poll.

 

[JimmyM]

Poop on that clown!

 

[BobC]

Get a sub. The bass player thinks he's irreplaceable? Screw that.

 

[2 hit wonder]

There's no "Play without him" choice in your poll.

Fixed! I didn't put it initially because it appears that the leader has acquiesced to him.
He got offended when I said that not wanting us to use a sub sounds very amateur.

 

[mikyok]

Golden rule in a band is that nobody is irreplaceable, bassist is acting like his sh*t doesn't stink. Even the Beatles got a dep in for Ringo when he had his tonsils out at the height of Beatlemania 64ish I think?

There would be a polite conversation along the lines of we're getting a dep, don't like it tough titty!

Diary clashes happen as a musician if you're cool and give everyone enough time to get a dep there's no problems. We do it all the time in our band. It gets sorted in phone call or a text message.

 

[Adios]

I'm inclined to think that a temporary replacement might help reveal your current bass players genuine level of commitment
and dedication to your musical endeavour

 

[JimmyM]

Fixed! I didn't put it initially because it appears that the leader has acquiesced to him.
He got offended when I said that not wanting us to use a sub sounds very amateur.

I might have held back on that. I do know bands who don’t like to get subs with good reason . But they aren’t startups with people who cop an attitude over being replaced if they get another gig before the band does.

 

[Neal Pert]

If U2 can play without Larry and the Stones can play without Charlie and Bill, I can't see why your band can't play without your bass player. Most local bands I've played with have sub lists for most if not all of the members.

 

[2 hit wonder]

I might have held back on that. I do know bands who don’t like to get subs with good reason . But they aren’t startups with people who cop an attitude over being replaced if they get another gig before the band does.

The point made is that it wasn't the band's opinion or position. It was the bass player's position that he introduced for band approval.

 

[Tosheus]

Call his bluff with a big smile on your face.. ‘It’s all cool man, we’ll get back on it when it’s done’.. You might be surprised at his response..

 

[Tosheus]

DO THE GIG!

 

[No Way Jose]

Call another bass player. The band should have backup players anyway. If a musician gets the flu, you cant take them into a restaurant gig. You need backup players anyway.

 

[Caz]

Just to offer another perspective to some of the posts so far.. You mentioned she's the 'band leader', so personally I'd respect her decision and keep out of it. I'd hope maybe another gig will come in that night that needs drums.

 

[2 hit wonder]

Just to offer another perspective to some of the posts so far.. You mentioned she's the 'band leader', so personally I'd respect her decision and keep out of it. I'd hope maybe another gig will come in that night that needs drums.

That's not how it works. It isn't our policy. We aren't even a complete band yet.
If it becomes the policy then my decision is whether that's acceptable or not.

I took another gig. You guys can't work together without me and thus can't get get paid while I go get paid elsewhere.

 

[BruceW]

I took another gig. You guys can't work together without me and thus can't get get paid while I go get paid elsewhere.

That's the part that is BS. Big time.

The guitar player in our band and I do an acoustic duo act every now and again. We could book it a lot more, but it takes away gigs from the other three people don't gig when we do that. (Yes, they could book other stuff, but generally won't, we play 48 or so weeks a year so we aren't all out working with other people.) So we generally don't do that to our fellow band members. I realize that most bands aren't like that these days, so the attitude of your bass player taking away work from the remaining band members while he's gigging with someone else is pretty crappy.

 

[Rattlin' Bones]

"A startup with no guitar player, but we hire subs.". If you play without bass then you'd have a temporary guitar play and a sub bass. Doesn't really sound like a band, or that you're ready to be playing gigs. Like, what other instruments are actually in the band? Just a singer and your drums? And sounds like when bass took other gig you didn't have your gig booked yet/ he took a gig/ then you and whoever with a temporary guitar player booked a gig, and now you want the bass to cancel on his other commitment. I don't think so. He booked and made that commitment before you took other gig.

I think you need to become a real band first with a regular guitar player and regular all players and then start booking gigs.

The bass might be right - with such a start up and without a regular guitar player you might not be at point where you can take a regular gig. I'm with bass on this one. It almost sounds liken you really don't have a "band" yet, and booking gigs is premature. The bass may just be stating the truth - the band ain't ready to go out and gig using temporary guitar players and another bass. And bass did make other commitment on a date you had open/ before your loose assemblage booked a gig.

 

[BruceW]

Or take the gig with a fill-in bass player and call yourselves something else besides your regular band name...

 

[Bozozoid]

Poop on that clown!

Thanks for the laugh this morning JimmyM. Gotta we bit of a hangover out of town at the hotel with my fiance reading all of the responses. I needed a good laugh at the moment. .