Well gang, the saga continues but now has ended.
Over the past couple of months things had begun to deteriorate with DLH. (I know, "ugh" here we go again.)
To begin, when I was hired on for the DLH project, no information was forthcoming about the future. It was hurry up and get yourself prepared to play. So I dilligently put my current life to the side to focus on getting up to speed. For not knowing any of the 50 songs I was required to learn, for not having any help with any kind of support from anyone buy my ears and my patience, I got those 50 songs learned and as close to the originals as I could. By June 1 I was ready. I knew the beginnings, the tempo's all the breaks and the endings. By the end of June I could play them any way shape or form. I feel I'm ready for anything. An aside to this is, even last weekend, the main lead guitarist, Marty, who's been playing these songs for ever was still making huge mistakes with leads or tempo's, endings and beginnings. It seems the better the band got the worse he got.
Well I also learned that being "hired on" meant, STFU and do as you're told without asking questions. I even abided by that for a while. I've never been in a band with this kind of reign so it took some time getting used to it. That also included that we would be "INFORMED" we had a new booking. No one ever asked if we were able to make the new booking just when and where it was.
About a month ago a new twist occured. A bar (that we haven't had that much luck with) was on the schedule and when we showed up, they didn't know we were still going to play since the two entities hadn't been in communication that week. Long story short, we set up played a full night and at the end of the night got docked $100. Two things about this didn't gel with me. The first being, I'm not really sure we got docked the $100 but I took a hit on pay even tho I fulfilled my end of the agreement. The second part is, we are never informed of how much we are to make per show until after we get paid. :shock: To me that is crazy. I usually know how much I'm expecting to get paid for any services I perform before I perform them...be it IT support, personal computer support or playing a gig. More on this later.
A couple months back we got booked for a Friday-Saturday show, 2.5 hour drive from where we live. Since we start at 7 we were supposed to be there by 5 for setup and sound check. First off, how many people work til 5 PM? A lot I'm sure. So the time was somewhat unreasonable for an out of town gig. I took time off work to make it. The bass player informed us well in advance he would not be able to do that gig. So it comes to pass that for whatever reason Marty (supposedly running the show) spent almost $400 to fly in a pro from California to assist us that weekend. We were scheduled for the Fri-Sat show at the casino and then back into town for a county fair show on Sunday night. Since the guitarist had flown the bassist in for the casino show, he also told him he could play the Sunday show. I sort of agree with that since he's already here. The bad thing was, they didn't tell our bassist until the Thursday before the show. So now the bass player is bent and he quits on the spot. So that means for the next few or who knows how many gigs, our keyboardist took over the bass position and we added another guitarist. Still with me? :D
So with all this going on...shortened pay for gigs and flying in people to play, I'm not quite sure they aren't taking our gig money off the top of these shows to pay for their needs and requirements. So I emailed a request to the booking agent, Danielle and Marty, that I would appreciate knowing what each gig pays and if food and lodging are included in out of town gigs. I asked to have that information before the next gig. After a week I got now response. So I cornered them after practice one night to update my information on gig dates and how much I was expected to get paid and if meals and lodging was included in out of town gigs which almost every one is from here on out. We are the only local band not playing local gigs.
So after practice when I brought this up, the entire band turned on me and were appalled that I was asking to know up front what I would be paid. This unfinished argument went on for 20 minutes before I got up and said, "I see this isn't going anywhere." and I left. I know based on what the bass player did, they expected an "I quit" email from me. I never sent it because it takes a lot to get me to quit.
This all happened over the last 4 weeks. Over the past two weeks Marty had called me twice to find out what is going on. Saying things like "if there are issues we need to find a solution." I kept saying things are fine and I had planned on putting my head to the stone and make sure I had my parts learned and I was prepared.
We played two jobs last weekend. Another early out of town job on Friday night :roll: and an in town job the following night that everyone agreed was our best gig yet. Nice way to end the weekend.
Wednesday Marty called to say that there were issues and they had been talking to their ex-drummer who had shown interest to get back into it. So I told Marty that I'm not sharing duties and if they wanted another drummer I would be fine and leave effective immediately. So I had to go to practice and pick up my gear. All the time Marty is saying, I'm sorry, I hope we can do this amicably and I'd like to work with you in the future. :roll: I just looked at him and said, if you can't work with me now what makes you think the future will be any different.
So as it's boiled down to, so far they've replaced the bassist, now they've replaced me and they still don't have a keyboardist. After telling a few local musicians about this, I was laughed at as they were saying we are surprised you lasted this long. Apparently they have this nasty rep already.
There were many other small instances of disrespect that went on every gig but I just grinned and bared it because I'm a professional. I ignored the negatives and kept looking for positives. The only real positive was that there was good cash flow. The downside to that was that the out of town travel pretty much ate that up plus the time away from home. So it wasn't real profitable. And now they think they need to go 6 piece with 2 guitars, keys, bass, drums and singer. Down goes more pay per person.
So what have I learned? I dunno but it was an interesting 9 months.
I think I had the gut hunch way back, when I questioned about staying with this group. I think my original hunch was right.
As I look for a bright spot...now I can refocus on my guitar playing and may even see about getting back in the church band on guitar. I've missed it.
So all in all, it was a whirlwind time period.
Thanks for letting me share. :D
Bish
"I play live as playing dead is harder than it sounds!"
The thread title is wrong; it's not your demise, it's just the end of that relationship. You'll have more. They are dysfunctional and possibly dishonest and it was time for you to move on.
As I look for a bright spot...now I can refocus on my guitar playing and may even see about getting back in the church band on guitar. I've missed it.
A calling ...
8)
"Everybody got to elevate from the norm."
That sounds like a rough period, Bish. It's easy to understand your disappointment because it must have seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime at some point. As an uninvolved observer, though, it's clear that they were jerking you off big time and in reality it never was the opportunity you hoped it would be.
I'm glad you're able to take something positive out of this, and you never know what opportunities (real ones!) will still come your way. You obviously have a lot of talent and they won't be the only people to see it.
Cheers,
David
Dang, I'm going to miss those gig reports.
I'm happy for you though, Bish.
Don't look back. :D
Don
Bish, you are one tough dude to hang on that long with all that BS going on. They are way out of line.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Bish, I think you know the lesson you learned. I'm guilty of it myself. One cannot hang around in environments that are un-healthy. I'm guilty of that all too often.
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
:evil: Can't post an honest open response here bro, check your PMs :evil:
#4491....
Thanks, guys.
I'm fine with it, really. I knew it was coming and I know I'm not the last one to get the boot. It really worked out great. If not, I wouldn't be able to post right now as I'd be on the road again to our next 2 hour away job.
NOT FOR ME, teehee, teehee.
:D
And to TL....LMAO!!!!!!!!! Thanks, bud!
Bish
"I play live as playing dead is harder than it sounds!"
Hey, how many of us can say we got to play for like 10,000 people like you did? That's once you can share with the grandkids, and you've got video! But, if you're not having fun, it's not worth it!
Falling in love is like learning to play the guitar; first you learn to follow the rules, then you learn to play with your heart.
Bish,
I'm glad you are out of that unhealthy relationship.
When you 1st started that band, I remember going to the web site, and it was all about the singer, nothing about the band, and I thought, "Hmm... doesn't seem right..." :roll:
Keep all the good experiences you had with you & forget all the negatives you had to put up with. Then, as a wise man once said: "Pick up your guitar & play! Just like yesterday!" :D 8)
Take care bud,
Dan
"The only way I know that guarantees no mistakes is not to play and that's simply not an option". David Hodge
I'd say they were very lucky to have you as long as they did - wasn't the old drummer fairly useless anyway, if I remember correctly?
Seems like you had to put up with a lot, Bish - I'm a fairly mild mannered person, but I think I'd have killed someone before now. Or at least smashed a guitar over someone's head. (Their guitar, of course, not mine. Goes without saying.) You've gone out of your way to fit in, worked your whatsits off and for what?
Oh well - at least you'll have time to work on your own projects, and maybe fit a few jams in. Money's cool, but it isn't the be-all and end-all - satisfaction's important, too.
All the best, and I hope something good turns up for you!!!
Oh - and does this mean we don't have to vote for the DLH band anymore?
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Hi Bish,
I've always admired your self deprecating sense of humour and your general style, so it's no surprise that you stuck out such a crummy situation for so long, and with such a degree of dignity. I'm with Vic - if it had been me, there would have been guitar splinters embedded in somebody's skull long before now... :evil:
Good things will come from it though. My wife just went through several years of similar unprofessional scummy behaviour at work. It culminated in her getting passed over when they finally advertised the permanent position for the job she'd been doing, with great ability, for the past three years on a 'temporary' basis. Everybody at the office was stunned at the decision, and it really threw her for a loop for a few days, as she'd only ever had very good feedback for her work. I told her that I'd always had a bad feeling about the politics of the place and the unprofessional behaviour of the management above her, and that it would turn out to be a blessing in disguise - the old "silver lining" to the cloud.
And so it proved. :D After a few months, the flashy looking candidate who was given the job turned out to be an unmitigated disaster who fights with the other managers at her level, screws up some of her jobs, and is all talk and not much competence. Some chickens coming home to roost there.... :twisted: Meanwhile, Vicki quietly rode it all out, waited until a better opportunity came along and then applied for another job. She duly got it, and it's a far better job, with a much superior team of people and an incomparably better working atmosphere. A better deal will surely come along for you too.
You have some more good notches on your belt now, and they all prove useful eventually. All the best with the next stage - onwards and upwards to better things. :wink:
Cheers,
Chris
Bish, too bad, but sounds like you were the only real pro in that situation. Let them continue in their misery. You will be fine. I'm sure of it. 8)
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
Bish,
Sounds like you're better off without them. I'm sure someone with your talent
will find a more suitable situation soon. Then we can once again enjoy the
wonderful Gig reports.
Take Care
John
At least you proved that you can still cut the mustard(not that it was ever in doubt) :D Most bands would jump hoops to get someone like you. I hope the next situation you get into is a lot of fun.
