What would you have done?

44guitar · Post by **44guitar** » Monday May 04, 2009

I'm no stranger to the stage....I have been playing for 35+ years now...(Yes, I'm old...lol) My new band the ZOO played at Mojo's this weekend in Clearfield for the first time. I have dealt with bizarre fan activity before.....but this one got a little irritating.

Jim, my other guitar player, brought to my attention that someone was riding him like a young Shetland about playing with us. He said the guy was relentless...In his next breath he said....here he comes....

I turned around and there they were..... two guys who were waiving there hands at me and talking at full volume....The one was telling me how great he was and he could play anything and play any instrument....and for me to let him play. I told him it was our first show with our new drummer and we would like to just have our band play tonight....It was like I didn't say a word to him. He replied....I can play anything, I'm real good....Let me play. Meanwhile his friend is saying.....Yes, he's awesome....Let him play....I repeated my previous statement and they kept repeating their act. All awhile they kept tough loving me....high fiving me and hard slapping hand shakes....I remained as cool as I could be and told them maybe next time we were here they could get up. This went on for 10 minutes. The left the stage still telling me I should let them play....while the one kept playing his air-guitar....I think to show me his abilities? He did play the air real well. (insert laugh track here).

This doesn't make me bitter....It makes me scratch my head and think why the hell does this keep happening?....and it makes me wonder why people do the things they do?

Where in the manual does it say all bands should allow people we don't know access to OUR stage, OUR instruments (Costly as they are) and OUR fans? (Who we appreciate)

Has this been happening to anybody else?
What would you have done?

Chris

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Monday May 04, 2009

I would have done the same thing. We had a dude jump on the drummers kit without asking one time. I just went to his buddy, who was egging him on, and said, if you don't get him the fuck off of that kit, he's gonna get hurt.
They called me a dick, and stuck around for the whole show. lol

Some people should just not drink. I'd imagine this has gone on as long as live music.

Pizon · Post by **Pizon** » Monday May 04, 2009

We had that problem not too long ago. some a--hole jumps on stage
and starts singin with us. If they're as good as they think they are, then
they should start their own band. We occasionally let people sit in, but it's only after we ask them, not the other way 'round. I guess some people think that just because they paid a cover charge, they should be
allowed to do whatever they want.

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Monday May 04, 2009

This activity has been going on for decades but has become increasingly worse with the advent of the karaoke mentaility. People who think they can sing while drunk at karaoke think they are great performers and every band should let them "sit in". My response to these people is that this is my job and ask them what they do. No matter what they tell me, I always say I will show up where they work and ask to sit in at their job even though I have never done it before but always wanted to try it out and I have never met them before in my life.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Monday May 04, 2009

Well, I've sat in with a ton of bands, and there is a rule of thumb that I go by. Never play unless asked. Most bands will call me out and say, you're playing something tonight. I wouldn't go up to a band I don't know and tell them I wanna play, that's just fucked up.

rickster · Post by **rickster** » Monday May 04, 2009

Rob was gracious enough to ask my drummer this past weekend if he wanted to play, but he didnt.I think he had too many drinks and was afraid of messing up?Thanks anyways Rob.

E.V.P · Post by **E.V.P** » Monday May 04, 2009

I am bad ass @ guitar hero, but that dosent mean i can rock the strings.

Your equipment/your gig. Have them come down to your practice spot and jam out.

P.s I love you Chris Kane

VENTGtr · Post by **VENTGtr** » Monday May 04, 2009

moxham123 wrote:My response to these people is that this is my job
and ask them what they do.

This.

Tell you CK, I wouldn't have let him/them sit in either. It's a big difference
when you know someone, etc. but when you don't, and they just have the
nerve to ask..and certainly push the issue...either they've had to much to
drink, they're trying to impress (Which could be worse than if they're WAY
drunk), or they're a noob. TOO MUCH of a noob (Nothing wrong with being
one, just learn some courtesy to yer elders...one of which CK more than
likely is.).

I don't even mind when it's someone you know and they ask if they can.
Again, depends on who, etc. If it's Mr. Kane, always. Thunder Alley baby!

Worst I've seen in a while was a guy who was being the "guy who stares
intently at drummer as if he's judging every things he does". After the
first set, the guy starts talking to Jas, going on about he's been a drummer
since he was 7, been playing over 30 years, etc., etc....and wants to sit in.

Second set ends and the guy's still at it. Jason says for the guy to look at
the setlist to, first off, see if there's anything he knows (There isn't). YET,
he's still intent. Jas tells him to talk to me, and the guy SAYS Jas said it was
okay for him to sit in (If I'm correct in remembering...this wasn't exactly
the case).

I said that if it was okay with Jason, fine (Though...I'm still going to check).
The guy says "Cool. But (Of course!), here's the thing. We have to play
"Mr. Brownstone" by Guns and Roses". Why? Because it's the only thing he
knows how to play "in front of people". WHAT?!?!? Well, we DON'T play the
tune, I doubt I've HEARD it since...1988, maybe....and I KNOW our singer didn't
know it (Think Rob does, though). SO, THAT made it an easy "Forget it man".

To give him some credit, he did just go "No?". I said "No". and he walked
off. Was fine after that.

Jas did let the guy sit at his kit after we were done playing for the night.
There were wood chips flying everywhere from him hitting the rims more
than the heads.

FUN!

Your guy must have been pretty confident though to feel he could get up
there with the Kane/Force show.

felix'apprentice · Post by **felix'apprentice** » Monday May 04, 2009

thats funny ... i only know one song i can play in front of people hahahahaha. you gotta have quite the nerve to do that, im a nervous wreck if someone asks me to play (til i get up there). but i do thank the people who have let me sit in.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Monday May 04, 2009

I'm extremely proud of my ability to con my way onto practically any local stage.

Seriously, I am fortunate to be asked to play alongside my friends in local bands. I've apparently paid enough dues and practiced hard enough that my friends feel I can make a good contribution to the task at hand. I look up to these people, so it means a lot to me, it really does. I NEVER go into anyone else's musical situation with the intent of performing at their show... with the exceptions of The Hurricanes and Rusty Gun Revival, where I have standing invites. Even then, I still ask before I even bring my harps in.
Now that said, if I get the urge to play with a certain band, I'm not above dropping hints, or even outright begging

, but I just don't go to shows thinking I'm going to grab some spotlight.
I is a perfessional.--->JMS

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Monday May 04, 2009

but dude, he was REALLY good. didn't you see him jamming the air? you should just know he's amazing. he radiates amazing-ness. honestly, he does, and i don't even know the guy.

just tell him "come on man, i don't come down to where you work and ask to flip the burgers, do i?"

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Monday May 04, 2009

To repeat what others have said, I'm humbled to be invited on stage if I'm in someone's crowd, but wouldn't ask to play. That's gay. When we recognize peers in our audience, we generally extend the invitation, although, we leave it up to the specific player. In other words, if there's a bass player in the house, it's Bobby's call as to whether that person plays. We don't lend out each other's gear. r:>)

DrumAndDestroy · Post by **DrumAndDestroy** » Monday May 04, 2009

slackin@dabass wrote:just tell him "come on man, i don't come down to where you work and ask to flip the burgers, do i?"

that actually might be a good idea...at least you'd get your food right.

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Monday May 04, 2009

DrumAndDestroy wrote:
slackin@dabass wrote:just tell him "come on man, i don't come down to where you work and ask to flip the burgers, do i?"
that actually might be a good idea...at least you'd get your food right.

well, you do indeed have a good point, sir.