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Topic: They Walked. |
Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 1:28 pm |
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Remember two weeks ago I posted a thread (A strange way of doing things) about a club making it mandatory that the band allow patrons to come up to the stage and sing. I knew right from the onset that this would not work and that it would eventually lead to trouble.
Last night, a considerably drunk customer climbed onto the stage and insisted that he be able to use the lead guitarist’s 1957 Telecaster. The guitarist refused to turn his, very valuable, guitar over to this jerk. An argument ensued; the club’s manager ordered that the band’s guitarist had to comply with his customer's wishes; the band packed up right then and there. There was a slight scuffle and now the club doesn’t have a band.
Now right or wrong in many professional musician’s opinion, I would not allow anyone who is pissed out of their mind to even get close to my guitar. In this case, I, personally, fully support the band walking because of the situation. Professional protocol.......there is a limit!
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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)
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Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 1:57 pm
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| I am with you on this one Les. I would not want any Tom,Dick or Harry playing on my equiptment, especially if they were drunk. The only ones that play my steel are the ones I invite to play it. |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 2:05 pm
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"the club’s manager ordered that the band’s guitarist had to comply with his customer's wishes"
That guy is an idiot. Too bad the customer didn't wish for some sexual favors from the manager.... |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 2:23 pm
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| You were exactly right. If you allowed it, every drunk would be wanting to play the Strat. Then the steel. The drums. Etc. |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 2:56 pm
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| Nah--if you are looking for anyone to suggest that professionalism requires you guys to put up with that....no sir. Yes, there are arguable compromises and sacrifices that professionalism calls on us to find in ourselves but this isn't even close to any fine line between duty and whatever.....my only regret about your story is that it doesn't include any mic stands used in proctological ways with the manager although I guess Chas has that covered. |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 3:00 pm
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As a side note guys, and admittedly knowing little about the older Fenders, what would a 1957 telecaster be worth? I am sure that this guy looks after and loves his tele more than he does his wife.
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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)
[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 02 October 2005 at 04:05 PM.] |
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 3:08 pm
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A few years back we used to play a gig that after a while mandated that we let "whoever" as long as they were a guest of the Dude Ranch to get up and "sing" with the band! That was bad enough.... but play our inst.? Come too close to me and my steel uninvited on stage and I WILL smack you SOOOOOOO hard between the eyes that you will be a very old man by the time you come to!....and NO APOLIGIES!!
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Sho~Buds,Fender Steelkings,Twins,Strats and Tele's, Tut Taylor
reso's
[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 02 October 2005 at 04:09 PM.] |
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Webb Kline
From:
Orangeville, PA
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 5:52 pm
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What's wrong with that picture. That sounds like something right out of the twilight zone.  |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 6:41 pm
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I don't blame them for walking, but I have to say there's one thing I don't understand.
You guys have been playing there and knew it was a "sit-in" deal, so knowing that, I don't think bringing a '57 Tele or anything remotely comparable to this kind of gig was exactly a really smart thing to do.
When I played clubs that had "Sunday Jam night" crap, I always brought whatever guitar I wanted for myself and one of my less-favored (but still good) guitars for anyone who just had to play guitar, I put it in a stand and if they wanted to play, they used it or didn't play, and only I played the one I brought for myself.
That way I get to play my favorite guitar instead of hiding it under the bed, and the wannabees can still jam on a decent guitar that I'm not that worried about. This system worked out very well for me.
If the '57 is all he has or all his others are also rare and valuable, well then of course he couldn't have done that.
Either way, the club manager is an idiot (what else is new), and you guys are better off out of there.
[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 02 October 2005 at 08:42 PM.] |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 6:52 pm
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Sure you can play my valuable guitar, you drunk. And you can borrow my wife, too. Sure, as long as the manager insists... Jackass.
Of course you walk away from that gig. And good riddance. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 7:53 pm
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Walk, and do it quickly...
It's one thing to have a open mic gig,
and another where the band is just
a whipping boy for a demented bar hack.
Open mic means they MAY sing... if they can.
NOT borrow instruments and hassel the band
if they don't get their way.
Truely absurd.
But not as much as the manager,
who needs a brainectomy.
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 02 October 2005 at 08:54 PM.] |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 8:11 pm
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How long did it take to pack up and get the h#$% out of there????
Wouldn't took me long!!
Larry |
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Andy Greatrix
From:
Edmonton Alberta
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 9:02 pm
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| My take on that is this. The club hired my musicianship and entertaining abilities. (I will back up bad singers if I have to.) They didn't rent my equipment. By all means, walk. |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Oct 2005 9:16 pm
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Funny, I always l©©ked for someone to sit-in on my steel, but; I never found anyone! However, I'm kinda glad I didn't! _ _ _ _ Actually there was one guy in Ms. about 14-yrs. ago that sat-in and he's the first one I ever knew that didn't use any picks. Anyway, I was really glad when he was finished beating up my Steel! MERCEY!
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“Big John” Bechtel
’04 SD–10 Black Derby w/3 & 5 & Pad
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
web site
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Rick Garrett
From:
Tyler, Texas
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 2:10 am
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No way no how would some club manager (owner or anybody else) tell me that I must let some drunk play my guitar. I believe I would take my guitar and work somebody over for just asking such a ridiculous question. There are not enough appropriate words in the English language to describe how quickly I would get fighting mad over somebody wanting to handle my guitar.
Rick |
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 2:12 am
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In the late 70's, when I was working with Bobby Helms, I let someone sit in on my then brand new P/P. He played it a whole lot better than I could. His name was Jimmy Day. It didn't seem to bother him at all that my pedals were "backwards".
I had a guy sit on the edge of the stage and lean on the pedal rods once. I told him to move it, he said something stupid so I tapped the top of his head with the end of my bar. He moved....down. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 2:42 am
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NOW THAT is where the line gets crossed....
You want some fool to stand up and sing..and prove that he's a fool ( or she)
thats one thing...
To allow someone to have access to an Instrument..regardless if it's a $150 Korean Guitar or a $5000 / 57 Tele...
I would pretty much need perhaps 15 minutes ..to pack it all up and show them my tail lights....
A few years back at a local Steel show where our band had "MUSIC" duties, I was on Steel during a segment where some vocalists came up and sang a few..
A guy comes up to sing and before I could say "WTF" he had my beloved 1988/ 52RI in his hands ..this Tele, is without a doubt my favorite Instrument of all time...the best Telecaster I have ever owned...
If my house was burning down, I would get this guitar out first and tell my wife , wait here, I'll be right back for you 
This guitar, I change strings before every gig and I wash my hands before I even pick it up..even between sets on the gig....
and here I was , watching some guy pick it and just start banging away on it..he probably just ate French Fries..maybe just came from the Mens Room..who knows...
this is where I excercised ...
good GUN CONTROL.......
The guy says to me when he's done, hey man thanks for letting me play your Tele, it's awesome...
I simply said..yes it is awesome..and I never gave you permission...please do not ever do that again...that is not a community Guitar...I do not own any community guitars.
It was very tuff not to blast him right there in front of a few hundred people...
[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 03 October 2005 at 09:25 AM.] |
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Drew Howard
From:
48854
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 6:16 am
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Not a gig for me.
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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden D-10 8/8, Fessenden SD-12 5/5 (Ext E9), Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 7:54 am
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We all agree the club manager acted like a jerk and the band was right to walk.
The other side of this is, why bring a priceless viontage guitar to a club? There are tens of thousands of cheap knock offs that are perfectly suitable for gigging. The audience can tell the difference, and they are easily replaced if they get damaged or stolen. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 8:30 am
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Mike, I know many that play em' out...
I'm one of them..
Although I do not own any classic old Electric axes anymore, when I did (few short years ago) I played em' out...
I still do have my D35 Guild which I bought from Manny's in 1968....
If you're lugin' around a $4000 Steel..what the heck..bring out that old Tele or Strat...
But ..ok..Leave the Stratovarious at home... no need to sit down accidentally on a 250 year old classic Violin ![This message was edited by Tony Prior on 03 October 2005 at 09:32 AM.] [This message was edited by Tony Prior on 03 October 2005 at 10:05 AM.] |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 10:20 am
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Les, I can't imagine booking a club with a manager that would even think of such a thing in the first place. Singers, fine--they can make an ass out of themselves all night long--I don't enjoy it, but I really don't care. But to even imagine that someone was going to be allowed to sit behind my guitar is outrageous. I don't believe I would have booked the club if playing on our instruments was a prerequisite. Just my take.
Phred |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 11:52 am
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| Quote: |
| or a $5000 / 57 Tele... |
I hate to say it, but an original 57 Tele in any kind of reasonable shape is way more than 5 grand.
This is where the club owner crossed the line. Nobody, but nobody, plays my instruments unless I say so, period, end of argument. You wanna play guitar on stage, and the owner says OK? OK, bring your own guitar. But 'lessin' I'm sayin' so, keepa you greasy mitthooks offen my geetars, bozo! That is a line I have down pat. 
I've never heard of such a ridiculous thing. I can't imagine anybody not walking on that, and also demanding payment for the gig [good luck, I know.]
Of course, my first question is, "After the first story, why did they go back there in the first place?". |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 1:18 pm
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| Just when you think you've heard it all, absurdity is raised to a new level. Giving this gig the deep six was the only way to stop the madness. Some people are just clueless. |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 1:36 pm
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To clear things up a bit. I was the one who was picked up as a temporary fill in, The band is on full time three nights per week and was on their third week into the gig. Their regular steeler, who has been fighting a sagging battle with cancer, needed a month or so off. I sat in as a favour to the drummer who is a friend of mine and was the one who asked me to fill in. After the first night however, I bowed out because of what I saw transpiring. With 40 years of gigging experience, I could see the problem coming.
The band's leader signed an open end contract (no end date timeline: his first mistake). It also stated in the contract, that -"occasionally"- patrons would be allowed to sing with the band if they requested. That’s all fine and dandy because as was posted in here, there are some great singers out there who do have tremendous talent and do know how to work with a band “HOWEVER”; this bar is a known “Redneck” establishment. This was the band leader’s second major mistake, no stipulation of who could come up on stage and sing “-no band approval required-”. By eleven O’clock, this place gets very noisy and rambunctious.
Why did the lead guitarist have his 57 Tele on stage. If this guy loved and treated his wife and kids the way he treats that guitar, they would be living in second heaven. He loves to play that guitar and I have to give the guy all the respect in the world for that.
Now, all that’s left is the legal ramifications that the band leader will be facing. Patrons getting up and singing fine; being allowed to use the bands instruments; NOPE!
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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)
[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 03 October 2005 at 02:37 PM.] |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 3 Oct 2005 1:36 pm
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| Just a side note, but if you take a 57 Tele to a club gig, you invite disaster. Kinda like taking a 63 Vette to the demolition derby... |
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