The British Steelies Society

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:17 pm**

I struggled a bit on a title for this post,however, here goes.
For one reason or another gigs in this neck of the woods are not plentiful.It is not unknown for bands to go several weeks withot playing.
It is quite common for instrumentalists to be a (full) member of one band and to be seen playing with another band.
Our band is at a Festival this weekend and our lead guitar player cannot do the gig,after phoning around We were lucky to find a good player who was not working this Sat and had agreed to dep with us.He has just informed us that His own band has been asked to fill in for a cancellation somewhere and He has left us with the task of getting a player at fairly short notice.
Having spoken to a fellow steelie His take on the situation was to say that when He(the steelie)accepts a gig there is no way He would call off even if His own band got a late call.He considers His word to be His bond.
I have also said in the past to our bandleader that I take gigs on a first come basis,with the result that if We get an enquiry The bandleader phones around to see who is and is not available for a certain date before accepting the booking.
What is the opinion of the Forum,Would You accept a gig and then cancel for any reason other than emergencies.
Best regards
Billy

Posted: **Sat Sep 03, 2011 6:49 am**

If I need to take a night off from gigging for what any reason I phone the agency that gets me the gigs, and book the night off, as I did when you gave me the 2 pub gigs Billy, I made a lot less money but it was great fun and I told you I would do them. Did I ever send you that commission.

Posted: **Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:43 am**

Hmmm yeah, its a difficult one Billy, always a bit of a dilema, and has happened to me on numerous occasions, couple of times even last month, im working with a band, who formed just 4/5 months ago, and our bandleader is working hard at establishing and getting bookings, bearing in mind it is a six piece, it is not easy to fill the book, so we all have various irons in the fire, ie duo gigs etc, whereas, myself, i freelance a lot, with several different acts, as part of two duo's or a 5 piece wedding band, and dates obviously will clash from time to time, and though its the ideal situation, to say once you have taken a booking, honour it, my take is different to yours, my number one commitment is with the 6 pce country band, but i freelance with any other takers, on the express understanding, that if my main band do take a booking, i have to go with that, i have had to pull out of two dep gigs last months, that originally i could do, i dont like doing it, but you cant be in two places at one time, do you choose to stay with the wedding band dep job, with the band you might play twice with in a year, or do you go with your own band who you might play with countless times a year, and do weekly rehearsals, no contest, as long as you make it clear to the dep band, that if anything with the regular band comes up, you will have to go with that, you cant just operate first come first served, but i know its not easy either way, but i would rather have two takers for a night than none, good thread Mr. M. as always, Eddie :guitar:

Posted: **Sat Sep 03, 2011 9:26 pm**

Thanks Eddie and Donny for Your replies.
Donny it is I who should be giving You commission but I know You would have been embarrassed at having to take money from a pensioner.I will make it up to You someday.Seriousely I am grateful for having had someone of Your calibre sitting in for Me.
Eddie ,You make a very valid point by stating Your allegience to one band.It is "Up Front" and everyone knows where they stand.
The dep I was talking about had said that He would not be working on the night in question hence my being a little miffed.
Alls well that ends well,We contacted an American Gent who had recently arrived in Glasgow and He played the gig with us.What a superb player He was,absolutely tremendous.A nice guy to boot.I sicerely hope we can have Him with us again.
Best regards
Billy

Posted: **Sun Sep 04, 2011 5:46 pm**

If I accept a gig I always honour it.I inform my regular two bands I am unavailable on that date.In all my years of playing I can honestly say I have never cancelled off an already accepted gig, unless it was an emergency(family, illness etc) .That has only happened once when I went down with flu.

Posted: **Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:28 pm**

Same here Malcolm. And my once cancellation was also due to the flu. I was playing in a duo but my piano player didn't sing. If I could have gotten a singer for the night I would still have done the gig. As Billys friend says your word is your bond.

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