Members fastplant Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 I'll never understand this behavior: people who come up to you, sometimes in the middle of a set, to ask if they can come up on stage and play a song. What nerve! If you were any good, you'd have your own band playing. And if you did, why would you ask another band that you've never met if you can use their instruments to play. Of course they always go on and on about how good they are, sometimes saying they're better than what ever person in the band they want to take the place of for a song. I guess they want to impress someone. But I don't get it. The few times I've actually let someone do this, they were god-awful. To the point of stopping the song mid-way through and apologizing to the audience. I rarely go up on stage even when I'm ASKED by the band (usually if I"m friends with them). I don't need to take their spotlight, they earned this show, not me. What do you guys do when the inevitible question is asked? "Can I come up and jam a tune with ya?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JBJ Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 tell them no....... a band i know get people up to sing stuff now and again but it's tunes they know these people can do and will ask the same people to do the same songs y know. i do suspicious minds for them now and again if i'm at a gig :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fastplant Posted September 13, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 See that's just it. A simple 'no' rarely suffices. They'll just keep coming up over and over again unless they get a reason that satisfies them. Usually I say that the band has a contract with the bar that states only the band can be on stage. Seems to work most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Krashpad Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Thank God this doesn't happen to punk bands. Our friends come up onstage from time to time (I've done the same when friends were playing), but to just have a stranger come up and ask to "jam" or play our gear? Never happens. If it did, I'd just tell them we had a certain number of songs to do in a certain amount of time, and they didn't know any of those songs and weren't in the band, so sorry, but sod off. BK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RupertB Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 I start with "no, we don't do that". If that doesn't work: "Management says no-one else gets behind the mic or on-stage. period.""Why?""Because when its happened before (with another act), it got really ugly. They're not having it." There is one place that would let us bring up a friend to play if we are sure he or she is really good, but most places we play either don't allow it or frown on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Old Steve Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Just say no! I had this happen about a year ago. Some drunken guy stumbles and bumbles his way across the stage tripping on everything in his path to get to me behind my drums. He whips out some cash and says, "Tweny dollarz if you led me zit in...hic" So I tell him, "Sorry dude, can't do it" and he grumps back off the stage knocking over crap, and bumping into our guitarist. Anyway, between sets, we had passed out cards where people could return them to us and get added to our mailing list. We had left a comments section thinking that people could put requests for future shows on it, etc. At the end of the night, we're sifting through about 50 of these things, and reading some of the comments. Most of them were complimentary, we got a few requests of songs people would like us to play, etc. In addition, we got one back where somebody (wonder who ) wrote "you guys were great, but your drummer sucks." Hmmmmm...ok..... Get your own damn gig, loser! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ratthedd Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 you can tell them that your insurance policy won't cover other people playing your instruments. That will also cover you when you invite people to sing backup on selected songs--in that case they're not using your instruments, only singing into your mic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lee Flier Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Originally posted by fastplant I rarely go up on stage even when I'm ASKED by the band (usually if I"m friends with them). I don't need to take their spotlight, they earned this show, not me. Amen to that! It's incredible how many people don't want to respect musicians' "stage space." We tell people, "Well, I'm sure you're really good but the problem is if we let one person do it, other people start asking, and a lot of them suck. So we just don't let people come up anymore." That usually works. And if not, there's always the Keith Richards method: if anybody gets on your stage, smack 'em upside the head with a solid guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zookie Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 This has happened to me three times in the 3 years. Twice (in different venues) the person approaching us was some sort of hanger-on to the venue. In one case, the owner asked me to hand my guitar to some drunk cook who put a couple of scratches into it. In the other instance, we were auditioning for a swanky restaurant and this weasely guy approached the stage and announced he was singing the next one. We told him twice to shove off and he came back by pointing out he was the manager's cousin and always sang with the bands. In that second instance, we let him sing, then packed up and left. I've matured a but and now and will not allow anyone to touch my gear. I would rather limit my venues than be someone's personal dysfunctional playpen. The stage is MY dysfunctional playpen, dammit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Outrider Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 My bass player is a businessman and has a pretty serious poker face when people try this, so we play a little good cop/bad cop. When people ask to sing, I try to dissuade them in a friendly manner, and if that doesn't work he walks over and states firmly that it's against his personal policy to let people sit in. So get off the stage. Now. He's also a great guy to have around when club owners try to dicker over money. Zero compromise. Last week this truckstop-lookin' girl was really diggin our music so I smiled her way for a while and made some eye contact...part of the show. She took it as an invitation to sing. She walked up onstage, grabbed a mic, and said, "Okay...'Me & Bobby McGee.' I'll start, and you guys follow me." Yeah. That didn't happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 I think it's even worse when they send their girlfriends up to ask. Occasionally, if it's a small club and the requestee is part of a large group that's been spending a lot of money we may let them sing a song. Sometimes they're good, sometimes not. It's all in the name of fun. I've never let anyone play my guitar though. If they're obviously drunk enough that equipment is in danger we tell them no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Outrider Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF Occasionally, if it's a small club and the requestee is part of a large group that's been spending a lot of money we may let them sing a song. I've done that before, too. I was even persuaded to allow a guy to play harmonica with us for a while for those very reasons. Did you know that you can play in any key with just one harmonica? This guy thought so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bones Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 A couple of bands ago, was doing a wedding reception at an upscale local country club. One of the guests asked if he could sing some Sinatra with us. Given that its was a wedding, he was a guest, and that we always tried to accommodate any request the family might make during these things ('cause they we're paying real well) we allowed it. After finishing the tune he says "C'mon guys, one more." We accommodate. After three songs we ask him to sit down, tell the crowd how great he was, and ask for a round of applause. A few tunes later and he's slapping a Sinatra song book on my keys and talking at me about what tune he'll do next - all while I'm trying to play and sing - in the middle of tune. (Why do these schmucks always head for the keys player?) Usual offense taken at my lack of ability to talk to him and play at the same time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Originally posted by Outrider I've done that before, too. I was even persuaded to allow a guy to play harmonica with us for a while for those very reasons. Did you know that you can play in any key with just one harmonica? This guy thought so. I've had a couple of them. When I played in a blues band, it wasn't unusual for the one drunk guy to stand right in front of the band and play along on his harmonica, regardless of the song or the key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bones Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Originally posted by Outrider I was even persuaded to allow a guy to play harmonica with us for a while for those very reasons. Did you know that you can play in any key with just one harmonica? And they don't lay out at all. Play right over the top of whatever is going on. This stuff really burns my ass when playing with the blues band. Especially when they tromp my solo. But, I'm just back-up band in this situation. Harmonica carrying whoevers are invited up by the lead celeb. Once there up, it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Krashpad Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Gawd, all these posts make me glad the two bands I'm in are piss-ant bands that will never make any money and don't do covers. Because if I was in a more commercial band, I'd be on the lam for several homicide charges. BK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members klrbee03 Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 That wedding story reminds me of one of the coolest experiences I had in my youth. The band at my older sister's wedding let me get up and jam with them. They made me go home and get my OWN guitar, and we played through a blues jam in A and I traded riffs with the saxaphone. I still have pictures of myself as a 17 year old kid with my strat doing a rock-puss pose in my tuxedo. All my cousins and grandparents were shocked. Classic! Of course, when they kicked me offstage, I left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members worthyjoe Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Yeah, people are crazy. The problem is anyone who has the balls to ask you to play also has the balls to give you a hard time about it. I will usually jus say sorry or whatever and turn away and start playing the next song or something. The other thing I hate is when people ask if you know a song, you say no, then they proceed to describe the song to you and remind you of it, as if I will then magically know how to play the song. I usually just say.. "yeah.. still don't know it, sorry." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zookie Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Originally posted by worthyjoe The other thing I hate is when people ask if you know a song, you say no, then they proceed to describe the song to you and remind you of it, as if I will then magically know how to play the song. I usually just say.. "yeah.. still don't know it, sorry." That's a whole nuther skill set. Sometime I'll say "It's Murphy's Law - it's always the one you ask for they don't know." Sometimes I'll offer a substitute song. If they're drunk enough, I'll just nod and then I'll introduce the next song as a request from the audience. And then I'll play whatever was on my set list anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Centaur Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Originally posted by Lee Flier And if not, there's always the Keith Richards method: if anybody gets on your stage, smack 'em upside the head with a solid guitar! ....or kick them in their brown, shriveled mansack! But seriously..... Give em some bull{censored} about "insurance regulations". No way to disprove it, and it sounds official enough to be believed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members THB Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 I usually just say no. Rarely will there be an exception. If they argue, I just say because it's my shift and we do things my way. A good musician knows better than to ask to jam with the band as a way of introducing his/herself. P.S. Chicks who are absolutely sure they can sing because they do karaoke and harmonica players are the WORST!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LateGreats Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 The only person I ever let up onstage to "play" was some drunk who wanted to tell a joke. He stammered through this unfunny joke while we played cartoon music in the background. Even the bar owner thought it was funny. Looking at it from the other side, when I see bands that have all their friends and every other patron in the bar sit in leaves a bad taste in my mouth. When it comes right down to it, the whole practice is unprofessional. A friend's band always ask me to come up and sing when I see them, and I always tell him no. It's their gig, not mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Preacher Will Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 Originally posted by fastplant What do you guys do when the inevitible question is asked? "Can I come up and jam a tune with ya?" i tell them, "sure! But first you have to rehearse with us at least three times. Our next rehearsal is Saturday morning at 8:00 am. Hope to see you there!" No one ever showed up. Can't imagine why . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lee Flier Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 LOL that's great Preacher Will! Originally posted by LateGreats Looking at it from the other side, when I see bands that have all their friends and every other patron in the bar sit in leaves a bad taste in my mouth. When it comes right down to it, the whole practice is unprofessional. That's exactly it. Audiences don't like it any more than the bands do. If I go see a band, I want to see THEM, not a bunch of drunk inept friends and bar patrons who've never rehearsed anything. I was in a band once where the band LEADER was fine with this practice. He'd let all his drunk friends get up and sit in with us, in spite of everyone else in the band telling him it was unprofessional, brought the whole vibe of the gig down, we didn't enjoy playing under those circumstances and the audience didn't enjoy it either. He (leader) insisted we were being a bunch of stuffed shirts who didn't want to "relax and have a little fun." Needless to say I didn't last long in that band, and the only people who did weren't very good musicians. Uggghhh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Locke Posted September 13, 2005 Members Share Posted September 13, 2005 I just shut them down. I say no and if they ask why I say because. It's a bit rude but so are they for asking something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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