 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ginny
Date: 2009-10-27 21:36
How much notice do you expect if a member bails on a gig on you? I just had one of ours want to come to the gig half way through, with less than one week's notice. I'm steamed about it, I think only a real family emergency should intervene or at least a reasonable amount of time to work with some replacement.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-10-27 21:57
What kind of group is it? How many on a part? What kind of "gig?"
Karl
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2009-10-27 22:14
I am serious fascist when it comes to such things (I was brought up that way), but, professional or amateur, one should either commit to a gig and then do everything one can to make it and all of the rehearsals leading up to it, or stay away from all of the rehearsals and the gig.
In my opinion, you have a right to be steamed. Everyone else in the group--and therefore the performance--is injured when members behave that way.
(I've observed that that times have changed, and that "commitment" now can be modified with the adjective "optional.")
B.
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Author: ginny
Date: 2009-10-27 22:23
It's an ethnic dance band, mostly Eastern European, the fellow plays bass, sings some and plays some accordion. The bass really helps a dance band, we can play without it, but it really weakens the sound - I didn't want to be trying to find a ringer for what we can pay with 5 days to go!
My husband and I can play as a duo, six are committed to the gig and that is what was hired on.
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2009-10-27 23:39
My thoughts:
1. being steamed doesn't help you or that person
2. don't call him to play again
3. TELL him you won't call again or refer him to others, and why
4. maybe he will plan to be there as agreed
5. if you allow him to come late because you can find no one else, go back to #2
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-10-28 12:53
The one question I didn't ask was what this person's reason was for bailing. Given that each player is responsible for a unique part and the music you perform seems very specialized (making subbing without prior rehearsal difficult at best), I think anything less than a family death or emergency hospitalization is a poor excuse for bailing on a job that's been scheduled well in advance and accepted by everyone involved. Just being sick isn't really enough - we all play sick on occasion with the help of lots of palliative meds.
If you and your husband are the core of this ensemble, you should certainly let the person know in some clear way that you feel canceling out was rude and detrimental to the group's performance. If someone else is the leader, let that person know your feelings. At the very least, it made a mess of any repertory planning you'd done based on having all six players. However, all of this may be better said when (assuming you are the one who books the work) you check with everyone on the next booking. It would be easy at that point to say, "Are you sure you'll be able to do this? We really need to be able to count on everyone to be there once we accept the gig, and I'd rather know now if you think you may need to do something else." That may be enough to sensitize your bass player to your feelings about honoring these commitments.
Do you perform in any subgrouping other than as a duo with your husband (do you ever schedule work with only 4 or 5 of the players)? If he sees that you book some jobs with fewer than all six players, he may well have the idea that his part isn't really needed and it won't make any difference if he isn't there. You may need to find a way to address that.
Karl
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Author: lrooff
Date: 2009-10-28 14:39
Assuming that he has some good reason for missing half the performance, about the only suggestion I can make is to shuffle the music order so that the ones where his absence are least noticeable are played first.
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Author: graham
Date: 2009-10-28 16:15
I am going to assume that any excuse/reason given was one you found trivial or else you would not have posted as you have even though you are suffering as a consequence. It seems therefore that the reason for the cancellation is trivial and based on the person's preferences and whims.
That is not acceptable. Tell him where he can go.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-10-28 17:31
Have him send a sub at his expense for the first part of the engagement. Let him do the leg work. If he's not willing then you know what kind of commitment he has to the group. Don't panic...it isn't the end of the world.
This might not happen with him for another ten years....you don't know. If it's repetitive then you know.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: DixieSax
Date: 2009-10-28 17:53
Seems to me that the question that STILL has not been answered is "What is the reason that the guy can't be there."
It's hard to even give any suggestions as to what you should do without this crucial information. I take a dim view of people that do stuff like this, but I have no idea what the reasoning is. If he wants to watch a football game or something, I'd tell him don't show up and I'll never call you again. If there is some once in a lifetime family occasion or something, I'd cut him some slack.
But the recommendation of a sub is a good one. A week before the gig, the guy has to be responsible enough to cover for himself.
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Author: Bobby McClellan
Date: 2009-10-28 20:32
I play in a few amatuer groups. My feeling is that once I commit to playing a concert I do everything I an to play. I cannot imagine to just bail out at last minute with out a real good reason. I even make sure that there are no rehearsal conflicts before commiting to anything else.
I hate that that happened to you. I even got a chance to play with a group forthat reason. the 2nd clarinet player bailed out on the 1st rehersal for a concert . I just happened to be there to play bass for a passage and ended up playing the 2nd part.
Bobby
Bobby M. McClellan
Flowood, MS
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Author: ginny
Date: 2009-10-29 01:56
The member who wanted to bail was doing so because his wife wanted them to make a 'grand entrance' in their special Halloween costumes at the dance and not many people will be around early during the first set. I think she needs more going than that, but it's his marriage.
He changed his mind, thank goodness. Indeed I had written a new set list around the hole he was leaving and was hoping the rest of the band could pull it together on one short rehearsal. Glad I hadn't tried to find a ringer.
I'll push the little group to come up with some general guidelines about when it's ok to bail on a gig you've committed to.
For me it would be my own serious illness (I've played pretty sick before), maybe if my dad died or one of the kids was in the emergency room. Pretty much never if I've said I'd do it. With an amateur group you sometimes get people who get better gigs and bail on you, higher paying. People have different takes on that.
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