The band we played with on Saturday: What a**holes. (Rant alert)

[brassic]

I am a peacable type and play in a band purely for fun. I don't want to be a rock star, I don't want groupies, I don't even want adulation. I just want to rock out and have some fun with my friends. I know there are competitive little {censored}es out there who find this offensive, but I'm still amazed at the appalling behaviour of the band we played with on Saturday.

 

Everything started off quite well. Their manager called me beforehand to arrange some sharing of amps - pretty customary around here, I'm not sure if it's the same elsewhere. They agreed to let us use their Ampeg bass amp in exchange for the use of my Laney guitar amp. Not a problem.

 

The tensions started rising at the soundcheck. It seemed that the other band thought they were headlining (we were - it was a miscommunication between the promoter and the manager, nothing to do with us), so they started to set up for soundcheck before us. I personally don't go in for this pecking-order business with sound checks, but the promoter insisted that we sound check first.

 

During the sound check, the band sat right in front of the stage, with the singer and rhythm guitarist outwardly making fun of us - eg, mimicking our singer and keyboardist, doing big comedy yawns, etc. Really childish stuff. The rest of them just stared daggers. I can see why they were pissed off at the lineup change - especially as we haven't been gigging as long as them - but really, it wasn't our fault.

 

The soundman was a complete twonk too - he was being really condescending, and called us a novelty act - yeah buddy, I've never heard of an all-girl band either, what novelty - and basically wasted our time in the sound check. He didn't even bother to make a note of the levels, so of course he had no idea what they were by the time we went on. He also did really moronic stuff like miking up my amp for the performance when we didn't have it in sound check, plus he used an omnidirectional mike that you'd normally use for a kick drum. WTF? I may be "just a girl" but I'm not an idiot.

 

But the worst thing about it was during the other band's set. There was a raised platform to the side of the stage where all the gear was stored. During the show, the singer decided to climb up on the railings around the platform, dangerously close to where my guitars were stored. So he's doing his little rocking out thing then hops down from the railing - right onto my guitar (in a padded gig bag). By this time I was hyperventilating. To make matters worse, during their last song he tackles the lead guitarist, giving my amp - sitting atop a three-foot-high crate - a good shove in the process, which of course went crashing down onto the floor.

 

My boyfriend went mental at the band's manager, while I tried to play good cop because I really didn't want a fight five minutes before we were supposed to go onstage. The manager apologised and said he'd get the singer to come and apologise to me and cover any damage.

 

My guitar seems to be okay, but I haven't had a chance to check it out properly - I'm not experienced enough to tell if the pickups sustained any damage, and I was getting loads of feedback onstage (which actually fit in with what we were doing, but it was far from intentional). A couple of valve clips in the amp have loosened, but I think it'll be okay.

 

But did I get an apology from the singer? Did I hell. The little snotnose (he's about 20 or so) simply blanked me all night, even though he had to push past me several times to get to the bar.

 

Other fun stuff that happened that night - the band also got completely loaded onstage, beers everywhere, which got knocked into the DI boxes so they shorted out while we were onstage - with two synths and a drum machine going DI. And the icing on the cake: the other guitarist took my guitar home by accident (to his credit, this guitarist, not the one making fun of us during the sound check, was a gem - he called me in the morning, apologised profusely and returned it immediately, plus he actually was the one who thanked me for the use of my amp and apologised for knocking it over, even though he didn't do it).

 

I've sent off an email - polite but firm - to their manager thanking them for the use of their bass amp but reiterating that I'm upset about how my equipment was treated when I lent it to them in good faith, and that I felt that our band was on the receiving end of the tensions over the lineup changes. Maybe a bit heavy, but I really wanted to make sure that I had something in writing in case it turns out that my guitar was damaged, and I really couldn't let the condescension and rudeness that they displayed towards us go unnmentioned.

 

I guess this is just a rant, but do you think I overreacted? I've seen people get punched at gigs for less, but it's just not my style.

 

Phew.

[bobsetsfire]

I don't think you over-reacted at all, I've seen stuff like that at gigs, you just have to either rise above it or give 'em hell! We played one gig where some local 'rock god' (or so he thought) asked me if his band could play. (There were three bands already playing and we'd spent a long time organising it... no way buddy!) Whilst we were playing he was stood about two feet from me looking threateningly at me. We were headlining and when we got offstage he went to get his bandmates so he could play. Me and a friend told him in no uncertain terms to organise his own gig. Jackass.

 

Just think, that guy will be flipping your burgers soon

[Guitar Centaur]

You shoulda kicked him in his little brown shriveled mansack.

 

[brassic]

Ack, what is it with people like that? I had a similar thing happen a few years ago with a gig I'd organised with some friends (I wasn't in a band at that point). It was a joint birthday bash between about four or five of us. One of the guys worked as an engineer in a massive rehearsal studio and managed to blag a super-discounted rate for the room - the kind of place where touring bands do their live setup before hitting the road - Dido (urgh) had been there the night before rehearsing for her tour. So this place was pretty big.

 

We had seven bands playing two songs each and 500 people turned up (must have been a slow night in Camden Town). Periodically through the night various people in various bands would come up to me or one of the guys and ask if they could play, to which we said no because of the number of bands already playing, etc etc - same reasons as yours. Then someone comes up to me and says that he's with The Hives and they want to play. The Hives had just sold out Brixton Academy at the time, so I was like hell, YEAH!

 

I ran around asking the other bands if The Hives could borrow their instruments and managed to get the gear together. So I went back to the manager guy and said, "Okay, where's the band?" The guy points to a group of people who were most certainly not Howlin' Pele and co. My reaction was along the lines of, "Erm, the last time I checked the Hives were five Swedish guys, not two skinny guys and a girl." The manager guy sort of blanched and stammered a bit - did he really think I wouldn't know the difference? - and then finally admitted that the band in question had recently played at a festival that the Hives headlined. I didn't hear the rest of his response because I was already walking away, practically doubled over with laughter.

[zookie]

I started to write a thoughtful reply about professionalism winning out in the end, but, truth be told, I'm speechless at what utter jackasses they were. I've been in pissing matches with other bands when I was a youngin', but I've never had the displeasure of meeting arseholes like that!

 

Sweet Kidneys of Christ!

[JBJ]

another point for doing covers and getting paid against doing your own thing and having to deal with all the crap that goes with it.

 

truth be told i let no one use any of my gear because people can and will be total arseholes.

 

any gigs we do with other bands there's notices left on top of the amps saying this is for use by me only and if anyone decides to try and be fly i won't hesitate to unplug them myself wether they're inthe middle of a sound check, at the bar or halfway through their 1st song.

 

and i have walked onstage and yanked leads out of our amps just to prove a point.

 

might sound arsehole-ish of me but if they have the audacity to use an amp that has a letter on it expressely saying no ones to go near it then i've got the audacity to ruin their set and show them up.

 

It helps that I look look pretty menacing at the best of times and my twin plays for us too so we have a bit of a krays thing going on even though he's a big softie really.

 

 

 

 

 

ps PICS:D

[brassic]

Originally posted by JBJ ps PICS:D

 

Heh, I should have known that the words "all-girl band" would get that.

 

Already posted on a another thread, but what the hell:

 

 

We don't seem to have any of the whole band from this show, but there's five of us.

 

Despite all the tension, we did get a good response - not the best we've had, but good nonetheless and we did have a blast. We ended the set with a cover of AC/DC's Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and I must admit it brought the house down (for a London crowd that is - London's equivalent of a crowd going mad is a bunch of guys in leather jackets bobbing their heads a bit).

[Brian Krashpad]

You didn't overreact.

 

Fortunately here in the States it's uncommon to share backline or backline elements with people one doesn't know. But the incident does emphasize the necessity of hardshell cases for guitars (especially setnecks!) when gigging. I've brought back-up bolt-neck beaters in chipboard cases, but never would a setneck leave Casa Krashpad for a show in anything but a HSC.

 

BK

[brassic]

I guess because London is one of those places where not many people have cars, backline sharing is pretty common here. You kind of get made to feel like you're being a jerk if you won't share stuff. Next big purchase is going to be a Fender Deluxe Reverb '65 reissue and you can be damn sure no one's borrowing that. Let them think I'm a bitch.

 

I have definitely learned my lesson with the guitar though. I am shopping for a HSC before the next gig for sure.

[Scafeets]

Sounds like you kept your cool and acted professionaly in the face of really bad behaviour. Congratulatoins. Now, how about lessons learned? Girl band or not, you need an enforcer. A manager, road manager, Large Boyfriend -- someone who knows their way around a PA and can act on your behalf to make sure you get a fair shake from the soundman. This person also helps if you need to keep a watch on the door receipts.

As for the sharing -- I would only share with a band that acted professionally and respectfully. After the soundcheck, you should have told them to wank off and brought in your own bass rig. (Be prepared).

The fact that your guitar was exposed -- gig bag or not -- to Jumping Jack A-Hole tells me you need to come up with a plan on how and where to stow your gear when not being played at the gig. There's no way it should have been in the line of fire, nor should it have been mistakenly taken home by another guitarist.

You wouldn't believe how many bands lose valuable gear just by taking their eye off it for a minute.

I've been on the receiving end of crappy treatment - mostly from headliners that simply refuse to let you get a soundcheck or use half the lights. If charm doesn't work (and it will most of the time), a good third-party temper tantrum from managers, road dawgs and/or fans generally sets things straight.

Congrats on surviving your first of many bad encounters!

[SpacedCowboy]

Sorry about the bull{censored} you had to put up with, girlfriend. In one of those "I know where you're coming from" stories, we had an experience with another band who begged us for an opening slot on one of our club dates. We thought, "why not? Give another original band a chance to shine."

 

Well, they bitched about sound, especially monitors, they bitched about money, talked smack about us behind our back, especially about how THEY should have been the headliners...and they were the ones who begged US, for crissakes! (Need I even mentioned that they sucked?)

And didn't even stick around to say thanks or anything, even though they'd played on the biggest PA system they probably ever played through in front of the biggest crowd they'd ever played in front of...just packed up and split right after their bit was done. (Thankfully, none of our gear was damaged though, so I'm grateful for that.)

 

I have to say, though, they were the exception...most other bands we've had pn the bill as us have been solid professionals who were joys to work with. There's always one bunch of cunts that want to ruin everything...hopefully this experience you went through was a one-time-only dealie, something that'll make a good drinking story once the anger finally settles off.

[brassic]

Scafeets - you're right, I am going to be MUCH more careful where I leave my gear from now on. I thought it was safe where it was, but obviously not. And next time I'll just let my boyfriend kick off instead of trying to keep the peace.

 

Spaced Cowboy:

 

What wankers, especially the bit about talking crap behind your backs.

 

But this is a point of some confusion for me:

 

...just packed up and split right after their bit was done.

 

The guys we played with did the same - well, almost. They went downstairs and carried on drinking, and didn't bother to watch any of our set. I'm new to this playing out thing, but I thought it was common courtesy to watch at least a couple of the other band's songs. I watched their entire set - and this isn't sour grapes here - though I thought they were good musicians, they were pretty dire. Just another band ripping off the Libertines/Strokes/Killers/etc.

 

We can't play for toffee, but we put on a show at least...

 

You're right though, in a couple weeks time this is going to be a good old war story to laugh about later.

[LateGreats]

You handled it better than I would have...

[THB]

My guitars = $1000 average

My amps = $700 average

My mics = about $75 each

My P.A. = somewhere over $2500

My stage time = earned the hard way

 

Can you borrow it? = no

 

[Next to Nothing]

 

Originally posted by brassic I thought it was common courtesy to watch at least a couple of the other band's songs.

 

 

I agree.

 

Also, you handled having your gear being trashed MUCH better than, well, pretty much anyone I know!

 

Congrats on having self restraint.

[Locke]

Originally posted by JBJ truth be told i let no one use any of my gear because people can and will be total arseholes. any gigs we do with other bands there's notices left on top of the amps saying this is for use by me only and if anyone decides to try and be fly i won't hesitate to unplug them myself wether they're inthe middle of a sound check, at the bar or halfway through their 1st song. and i have walked onstage and yanked leads out of our amps just to prove a point. might sound arsehole-ish of me but if they have the audacity to use an amp that has a letter on it expressely saying no ones to go near it then i've got the audacity to ruin their set and show them up. It helps that I look look pretty menacing at the best of times and my twin plays for us too so we have a bit of a krays thing going on even though he's a big softie really.

 

I think your attitude is just fine. I go along the same lines. When we're done with the soundcheck and have to wait for our turn to take the stage I always, always take my guitar with me backstage even though it's just a stock tele (I'd be dead paranoid if I had a $1000+ guitar). I just want to warm up, make sure it's in tune and I sure as hell don't want anybody else touching it. I also take my effects with me. Since I have only three it's no biggie to just carry them backstage before our turn.

 

As for "guest stars" who want to come onstage at our gig...no way. Pure and simple. If I want somebody to join us onstage I'll invite them. I also make sure I bring all the gear (and some backups) I need so I don't need to borrow someone else's stuff. Of course if someone's amp breaks or guitar gets stolen or something equally grand I might make an exception but if not, fuhgeddaboudit.

 

I've found that pretty much the only thing that gets a reaction out of pricks like those discussed in this topic is the immediate threat of violence. Sorry to say but musicians, generally, are push-overs when it comes to the physical side and hence many are easily intimidated into leaving your {censored} alone/leaving you alone as long as you have a little something to back it up. So far I've never had to actually assault anybody but twice I've had to order a couple of pricks to not do this or that (my tone of voice leaving no room for debate). So if you're a girl band, even at the name of equality, it'd be good to have "reinforcement", as somebody here already suggested, just in case if things get out of hand. Even punk and metal guys usually back down when their physical health is on the line.

[Cassius]

Originally posted by LateGreats You handled it better than I would have...

 

Yep, next time have a posse, that was pretty out of order, they needed to be taught a lesson...

 

Id only let folks use my amp if they approached it and me with humility and geniune care. Its the only fashion id consider asking to use anyone elses. Sadly you didnt get to size up the arseholes in question beforehand.

[theAntihero]

WOW! If anyone had jumped on my guitar i would have beaten them severley with said guitar(in my case it might be fatal.My Epi LP weighs 14lbs:D )

 

You handeled it much better than i would have. If i were you i would take the guitar to a good tech to check everything over. If you are new to playing in public the feedback might just be that you were playing louder than you are used to ,than actual damage. I would more be worried that the neck or body got cracked. Have you had any tuning stability problems?

 

I would like to give you a couple of pieces of advice though(you may already know these, in which case roll you eyes and disregard)

 

1. Buy a hard case for your guitar

I use SKB cases that are really tough. The added expense is really worth it. Some people will tell you that you can get away with gig bags, but on the other hand they havent ever had an imbecile jump on their guitar.

 

2.Insure your gear!

I insure my gear with MusicPro Insurance and it cost me like 80 bucks a year for 3 guitars an amp ad a small Pa System. if you are a member of ASCAP (I Am)you can get a discount.

 

3.Never leave your gear unprotected!!

MY band and i usually have it either A: In the locked van B: Within arms reach or C: One member of the band sitting on a cabinet in front of the equipment.

 

4.Do not lend out your gear!!!

Or at least anything thats worth more than 20 bucks. A power strip? Sure A patch cord? Yep. A set of strings OK, an amp NO. I understand that where you live people will make you feel bad for not letting them borrow your gear but let them feel bad!! If they ask say "Cool then i can borrow your amp and your guitar?" If the band you are playing with doesnt want to haul gera they are in the wrong business. It would be like complaining that you had to keep breathing to live. All music requires mounds of gear....inless you just sing or play harmonica.

 

Hope everthing goes better for you.

[Scarlet Cris]

 

Originally posted by theAntihero WOW! If anyone had jumped on my guitar i would have beaten them severley with said guitar(in my case it might be fatal.My Epi LP weighs 14lbs:D ) You handeled it much better than i would have. If i were you i would take the guitar to a good tech to check everything over. If you are new to playing in public the feedback might just be that you were playing louder than you are used to ,than actual damage. I would more be worried that the neck or body got cracked. Have you had any tuning stability problems? I would like to give you a couple of pieces of advice though(you may already know these, in which case roll you eyes and disregard) 1. Buy a hard case for your guitar I use SKB cases that are really tough. The added expense is really worth it. Some people will tell you that you can get away with gig bags, but on the other hand they havent ever had an imbecile jump on their guitar. 2. Insure your gear! I insure my gear with MusicPro Insurance and it cost me like 80 bucks a year for 3 guitars an amp ad a small Pa System. if you are a member of ASCAP (I Am)you can get a discount. 3. Never leave your gear unprotected!! MY band and i usually have it either A: In the locked van B: Within arms reach or C: One member of the band sitting on a cabinet in front of the equipment. 4. Do not lend out your gear!!! Or at least anything thats worth more than 20 bucks. A power strip? Sure A patch cord? Yep. A set of strings OK, an amp NO. I understand that where you live people will make you feel bad for not letting them borrow your gear but let them feel bad!! If they ask say "Cool then i can borrow your amp and your guitar?" If the band you are playing with doesnt want to haul gera they are in the wrong business. It would be like complaining that you had to keep breathing to live. All music requires mounds of gear....inless you just sing or play harmonica. Hope everthing goes better for you.

 

 

Well written...My band has a rule where we don't leave our equipment anywhere without any supervision. We won't even go to the other end of the bar. And hardcases are a must!

Brassic, I'm sorry you had to deal with such assholes!!

[where02190]

 

I personally don't go in for this pecking-order business with sound checks, but the promoter insisted that we sound check first.

 

 

It;s not a pecking order, it's the logical way to do it, last band one checks first, and first band last. when you finish checks, the first band up us ready to go, and you simply reverse what you just did. Also, backline is simply peeled off as you go.

 

AFA gear lending, as a production manager I make a point to NEVER lend gear with the rare exception of sharing a basic drumkit if the venue stage is really small. Otherwise, bring your own gear. What if say an opening act uses your gear and blows it up, you're screwed.

 

Never, ever do I allow my artists to share vocal mics, or use house mics for vocals. Breeding ground for disease and germs. I always carry my mics for them, which are cleaned after every show with a disinfectant and mouthwash.

 

Kudos to you for holding your cool. Next time, kick their asses....

[brassic]

 

Originally posted by where02190 It;s not a pecking order, it's the logical way to do it, last band one checks first, and first band last. when you finish checks, the first band up us ready to go, and you simply reverse what you just did. Also, backline is simply peeled off as you go.

 

 

I see the logic behind it - not that the sound man actually bothered to make a note of our levels - but as we use a drum machine, I was willing to forgo it if the other guys were going to make a big stink about it. They were pretty much just out of high school, whereas the rest of us are in our late 20s-early 30s and can't be bothered with pissing matches. (I'm suddenly remembering that line in a Bill Cosby stand up act from years ago where he says in response to his bickering kids "I don't care about justice, I care about QUIET!") But I guess this is a harsh reminder of give an inch, they take a mile.

 

I'm really appreciating all these responses here.

I paid

[JBJ]

see what i don't get here is that your saying people make you feel like a prick if you won't share gear in london, but these are the pricks who are asking for {censored} ie aren't bringing anything...

 

whoever said that musicians tend to be pushovers is entirely correst for the most part. it might be a bit harder being a girl but if you've got a boyfriend or a mate there then you'll be ok most of the time because if someone got front about them then no one will mess in most casesbecause A: it makes them uncomfortable and B they assume this persons acting like that for a reason ie they can back it up....

 

think about it, when i walk up onstage and take someones lead out of my amp they're thinking, this guys just walked into the middle of a bunch of guys himself and ruined their song/set plus the fact there's probably a handful of the bands mates in the crowd he must be pretty crazy or at least a good fighter or he wouldn't be stupid enough to do that...

 

which neither is necesarilly true but what momma don't know :-) to be honest the only time i've ever had to resort to any form of violence has been when my bro's been runnign gigs and that's because he always tries to stay professional and calm so people think they can take the piss with money, stage times etc... which again, as soon as there's a chance of them getting their ass handed to them in the toilet or they're pinned to a wall by their throat, they aren't so into the idea of acting like an arse.

 

the best way to go about things in these situations is to really not give a {censored}. if we do a gig with people we know or invite a band then yeah we'll share gear if thats what both parties want but if anyone i dont know wants a loan of something ill tell them to go {censored} themselves in no uncertain terms. they can go around tellign their mates im a fanny till the cows go home i dont really care.

[ratthedd]

Originally posted by Next to Nothing I agree. Also, you handled having your gear being trashed MUCH better than, well, pretty much anyone I know! Congrats on having self restraint.

 

That's for sure. If someone jumped off a railing onto one of my guitars, gig-bar OR hardcase, they would have been carried out in their own zippered bag.

 

People disrespecting other people's property pisses me off. People disrespecting MY property that I had to work hard to get makes me go nuclear.

[MDLMUSIC]

A few weeks ago another band was hired to play at a club during the afternoon where we were going to play that evening. The drummer from the other group asked our drummer if she could use his drums, because she didn't have any of her own. She told him not to worry, because she was a "professional".

 

His response: "If you're a professional drummer, then WHERE ARE YOUR GODDAMN DRUMS!!!"

[Crook]

Originally posted by MDLMUSIC A few weeks ago another band was hired to play at a club during the afternoon where we were going to play that evening. The drummer from the other group asked our drummer if she could use his drums, because she didn't have any of her own. She told him not to worry, because she was a "professional". His response: "If you're a professional drummer, then WHERE ARE YOUR GODDAMN DRUMS!!!"

 

Good response!