If asked back, I don’t think I’ll take the gig

trumpetchops · Heavyweight Member Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 2644

I was hired to play a show. Two rehearsals and three weekends. The money wasn’t good but, not horrible. When I got there I found out you had to park about a mile down the road. Not the end of the world. The walk is good for me. Then I found out we were playing outside. Again, not what I like but, not horrible. First rehearsal went well. Then they asked if we could come for an extra rehearsal. Great, more money.

Second rehearsal, it’s raining but, OH, it stopped, set up outside. It started to rain again, move everything into the rehearsal room, it stopped raining, move back out. I was there at 7PM, rehearsal ended at about 12. same for the next rehearsal.

First show. We were asked to get there for 7PM for an 8:30 show. Sounded funny but, maybe they needed to run something? Get there and nothing is set up for the pit. We weren’t asked, we just set up the chairs and stands. Found the lights and extension chords. Everything ready to go at about 7:30. Then we just sat there.

Next show we get there, Nothing set up. Well, now the musicians start talking to each other. They must want us here early to set up before they open the house. We are all set up getting out our own stuff when a girl comes up to us and says; "I’m the something, director. It’s not the actors job to take your things back in. YOU have to put everything back inside.” I thought a little rude but, I already took the job. It’s not an easy thing. The storage is far away.

On my mile walk to the car at about 11:30 last night I was thinking, “This is really a crappy gig” Not just because of the extra work they didn’t tell us about but, I get the feeling they don’t really care about us at all.
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Joe Spitzer
Monroe Ct.

kanemania · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:49 am Post subject:

Was this for a community playhouse kind of thing? A school?

gstump · Heavyweight Member Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 934

Musicians are so professional. At this point in my attitude development I am unemployable. I was blessed with a strong local union to protect me from such things.

Congratulations Joe and your colleagues for representing. Next time double your price.

Cheers,

Gordon Stump
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trumpetchops · Heavyweight Member Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 2644

gstump · Heavyweight Member Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 934

I totally understand Joe. There is very little local union theater work these days. I was so blessed to perform in the day when there was more than enough protected work. I know how musicians are treated in some cases. That is why I commended you for making the best from an amateur disrespectful situation.

All the best,

Gordon
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Shaft · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 985

I'd leave
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zaferis · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:40 am Post subject:

Good on you for not ripping into someone. But don't forget to take the opportunity to teach, make sure you talk to the "something director" and enlighten them on how to treat people, the musicians and standard practice.

This could always turn into a nice little gig for you or other local players - maybe young players/students (not great money, but experience).
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jhatpro · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 8:10 am Post subject:

I think the answer lies in how much you enjoyed playing. If you did, then perhaps the other stuff is irrelevant.
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trumpetchops · Heavyweight Member Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 2644

BeboppinFool

We often learn more from the lousy gigs than we do from the good ones.

You are now a better man for having endured it, hopefully without leaving a trail of wreckage (that you might have caused) behind you.

As a younger man, I would always feel compelled to let them know just exactly why their gig was so lousy, but as I've gotten a little older and have matured slightly, I try to keep my mouth closed and when they call again, gee, I'm already booked.

Works the best of everything I've tried. Your mileage may vary, but probably not much.

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pfeifela · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 2:01 pm Post subject:

I admit I am prone to an occasional bitch session from a bad gig. But I ALWAYS save that session for the right ears. Even a place I may never want to return to could provide valuable networking. I have a large nose, but see no reason to cut off even a small portion of it…...
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Larry Pfeifer

khedger · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:50 am Post subject:

Brad361 · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 5:35 am Post subject:

I think I would be inclined to pass if offered that particular gig again, I'm not sure that explaining to whoever offers it to you why you are passing would do much good though. And what that might do is ding your reputation somewhat, even though it sounds as if you certainly were cooperative, and were not being a "whiner." Generally speaking, I have found that people who treat others badly don't realize it, but in a lot of cases also will not believe they are behaving badly.....also don't care.

Brad
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kanemania · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:23 am Post subject:

Having been on both sides of this issue ...

It may be that this particular community group, like so many others, has a let's-all-pitch-in culture. You know: My dad's got a barn, my mom can make costumes, the actors can do their own make-up, and the musicians can do their own setup and breakdown. They're probably ecstatic that, by cutting back on production donkeys, they can actually afford to hire real musicians.

So just as Miss Something Director may have inadvertently stomped on one of the rules of our culture, you guys may have unintentionally broken one of theirs. Which might excuse the request, if not the rudeness.

I'm not saying this is right or wrong, or that you should or shouldn't pass on the gig next time. But the whole issue is not so black and white.

Larry Smithee · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 4399

cheiden · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:45 am Post subject:

Perhaps the most productive approach would be to be prepared to educate them then next time they call you. I'd ask for reasonable parking, pit setup/tear-down and sensible hours for rehearsal and performance. If they can't make a good faith effort to address those then politely pass.

I've been very fortunate to work with two different high school drama groups where the organizers and the kids are extraordinarily appreciative of the adult volunteers. They cart gear, fetch snacks, erase books,..whatever. And a show never passes without a goodly number of kids spontaneously shaking hands and expressing their gratitude.
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Tony Scodwell · Heavyweight Member Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 1961

I believe we've all been in similar situations and you did the correct thing by taking care of business and just "being booked" the next time. There's no way you can educate those kind of amateurs who certainly cannot relate to what a proper musician should be treated like. As for union protection, by accepting a non-union gig like this you have a zero fall back position. But, and it's a BIG but, I have to relate a story that did involve our local at a union gig here in Las Vegas. It was at the old Frontier Hotel and Casino and in addition to playing trumpet in the house band I was the union shop steward and band contractor. We had been doing the Sigfried and Roy show for eight years and when I showed up to work one night I saw seven ABC television cameras and a feed to the sound booth in the showroom. Hmnn…
I called our union VP who was in charge of these things and he came right over to see what was going on. So far so good until he tells me that "he's checked everything out and it's just a spot for the 20-20 news program and they'll only use 2 minutes and will monitor it down the line. Never mind that the operating agreement between the hotel and union stipulated 24 hour notice of any TV or recording of the show. He gives the band permission to play both shows that night and even though he (or I) had the legal right to pull the band off the stand, we played (and recorded both shows in entirety)
which became a one hour TV special shown in Japan prior to Sigfried and Roy's gig there after leaving the Frontier on way to the next long term engagement at the Mirage. Oh, did I mention that they used a recording in Japan and for every performance at the Mirage?

As a professional working musician, a word to the wise. You, and only you can police the working conditions you may be involved in and there will be times when it may be necessary to "be booked".

Tony Scodwell
www.scodwellusa.com

Craig Swartz

hose · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 11:16 am Post subject:

Enlightening to read these stories. Makes some of the "stuff" I agree to do a lot more palatable.

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chuck in ny · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 9:24 pm Post subject:

every type of trade and craft has something about it that is absolutely revolting. usually a list of such things halfway down a legal pad.
don't spend much mental energy figuring out intent. when you get abused and put upon it's deliberate. i doubt the a/hole running the show had to walk a mile to his car. real issue in this country, parking spaces.