Played a gig as a 3 piece

[Bridie]

Hi,
Sorry to have a moan, but..
since I have been on here, our band has changed.
We have lost our lead guitarist...
He left because he wanted to play other styles of music, and we are still friends, but he left us 4 days before a gig....
Any way, we decided to try and do it as a 3 piece, we have lost a lot of songs because he was an awesome lead, and so all the songs with 2 guitars had to be cut...
To top it all, we had to borrow a PA, last minute and it was a bit of a nightmare... I feel like we played bad, but the crowd seemed to like us ( I think they had never seen us before, so they took us as we were)

I still feel a little sad and a bit mad that he went, but hope we can keep going, and learn more stuff with just 3 of us for now.
so yeah, not been a great 2 weeks feels better telling someone about it,
Bridie
'sniff'

[Northern Redneck]

Pretty unprofessional to not play the gig IMO.

[markthechuck]

Pretty unprofessional to not play the gig IMO.

+1 he should have really covered the gig, if he'd have left on bad terms it would have been different, i'm sure you'll find someone else soon.

Don't get to down beat, it won't be the last time you get let down, try to make the best of a bad situation.

cheers Mark

[crispycritters]

The fact that you played without your ex-lead guitarist, with borrowed equipment and still received a positive response from the audience is a good sign.

Leaving at such short notice just before a gig is pretty crappy and you have a right to feel a bit P'd, but I'm sure you'll get over it.

[kay-gee]

On the bright side...there's a lot of awesome trio's (past and present)...Rush, ZZ Top, ELP, Cream, Police, Green Day etc...to name a few.

all the best...

[Drumbledore]

Like what some of us say over here "She'll be right, mate!"

And what CC said:

The fact that you played without your ex-lead guitarist, with borrowed equipment and still received a positive response from the audience is a good sign.

Leaving at such short notice just before a gig is pretty crappy and you have a right to feel a bit P'd, but I'm sure you'll get over it.

Unfortunately some people, whether as musicians or just the day-to-day folks in your life, will have a track record of letting down everyone, not just yourself and your band mates. Just have to say "Oh well, might be better off without them, so what?" and before you know it, you'll be the wiser without them. Just concentrate on the positive.....I know it's hard at this moment, but a lot of us can sympathise as we've been in similar situations too. These are the moments where you'll know where your strengths are. Accentuate the positives and put aside the negatives, and before you know it, you'll come across perhaps an even better player, who is probably way more reliable. You'd never know who's around the corner.

Oh, and don't feel bad.....this kind of thread and forum is exactly where you should "let it all out". Better out than in, I say. After all, only your brother and sister drummers know these things, right? Right.

[8beat]

That is the music business.

I think it helps to have backup musicians. Sometimes singers get sick and can’t sing. You can call another singer or play instrumentals and fulfill the obligation of the gig.

[late8]

I feel really fortunate to be a member of this forum. The advice given in the above posts are so "on point" and I'm impressed by the humility and kindness we show to those who have suffered minor set backs. I can't add anything more to what has been said. This little "bump" in the road will only make you a stronger musician Bridie. You guys toughed it out on the last gig and made it work. Bravo!!

[Ricardo]

I feel really fortunate to be a member of this forum. The advice given in the above posts are so "on point" and I'm impressed by the humility and kindness we show to those who have suffered minor set backs. I can't add anything more to what has been said. This little "bump" in the road will only make you a stronger musician Bridie. You guys toughed it out on the last gig and made it work. Bravo!!

Agreed.
I also agree that your guitar guy could have played the gig and still moved on.
Poor professionalism to stand you up like that at the last minute.

[kickinit]

Agree with the above posts...
I hope you gtr player at least had a legitimate excuse for ditching other than he decided not to be in the band anymore.
Don't know how old he is but that is kind of immature and unprofessional if the above mentioned is the reason for not playing the gig.... especially if he is a "friend".

[Bridie]

Like what some of us say over here "She'll be right, mate!"

And what CC said:



Unfortunately some people, whether as musicians or just the day-to-day folks in your life, will have a track record of letting down everyone, not just yourself and your band mates. Just have to say "Oh well, might be better off without them, so what?" and before you know it, you'll be the wiser without them. Just concentrate on the positive.....I know it's hard at this moment, but a lot of us can sympathise as we've been in similar situations too. These are the moments where you'll know where your strengths are. Accentuate the positives and put aside the negatives, and before you know it, you'll come across perhaps an even better player, who is probably way more reliable. You'd never know who's around the corner.

Oh, and don't feel bad.....this kind of thread and forum is exactly where you should "let it all out". Better out than in, I say. After all, only your brother and sister drummers know these things, right? Right.

Thank you drumbledore,
we have another gig lined up for 2 weeks time, we are hoping to feel better by then. I am just feel let down because we were good as a band and had fun.
I shall try not to think about it too much!
Bridie

[Bridie]

Agree with the above posts...
I hope you gtr player at least had a legitimate excuse for ditching other than he decided not to be in the band anymore.
Don't know how old he is but that is kind of immature and unprofessional if the above mentioned is the reason for not playing the gig.... especially if he is a "friend".

He just messaged us the morning after a great gig, and said he was leaving, he was sorry, and wanted to play other stuff...
He plays bass in another band, maybe they have been going on at him to leave and go with them, I dunno.
He is just 17, but I am 13, and I wouldn't do it the way he did, but who knows why?
I am going to take all the advice I have got from you guys, and try to forget!
feeling a lot better now.
Bridie

[NewTricks]

1. Welcome to the real world

2. Congratulations on going through with the gig and playing without the second guitar !!!

You will do well in life

[8beat]

It isn’t always band members that cause trouble either. Sometimes it is the venue owners, or bookers, or the people throwing the party, bride or groom.

I think it helps to get a deposit.

I remember one night I was scheduled to play a singles party at a restaurant. I get there and the place is closed. I telephoned the owner and she says “oh yes I cancelled the party and forgot to tell you.” If I had a USA $ 50 deposit then I keep the money, might have been profitable that night even if I did not perform.

[Bish]

1. Welcome to the real world

2. Congratulations on going through with the gig and playing without the second guitar !!!

You will do well in life

This is what I was thinking, too. (corrected the typo's, tho)

[drummer5359]

It's no fun when someone does that right before a gig. I've played in a lot of trios over the years though, and there is a lot to be said for that configuration.

You three did the right thing playing the gig and I'm betting that you sounded better than you think that you did. Hang in there!

[pastor_bob]

Bridie, just remember that you are 13, and growing as a musician. It's just as important to learn to play as a trio as it is to play in as quad. Each of the remaining musicians will learn to pick up some of the slack, and you'll all be better for it.

[Bish]

Thinking back, I have a similar story. This was my third time out with the last band I played with. The band had replaced their singer a few gigs before I joined. The previous singer went into semi-retirement and was taking a break from gigging.

We had to travel out of town roughly an hour to the venue. While we were setting up the singer called and not only cancelled that night but quit the band. She was having panic attacks and should have been on meds or was but wasn't taking them. Not sure and not dissing her. It was real to her. So here we are all set up ready for a 4 hour gig starting at 9 PM.

Fortunately we were playing in a town near where the previous singer lived and was planning on coming down to see the new line up. He ended up singing for us that night. Got paid for it and we came off like nothing happened.

PHEW!!!!

[Drumbledore]

Thinking back, I have a similar story. This was my third time out with the last band I played with. The band had replaced their singer a few gigs before I joined. The previous singer went into semi-retirement and was taking a break from gigging.

We had to travel out of town roughly an hour to the venue. While we were setting up the singer called and not only cancelled that night but quit the band. She was having panic attacks and should have been on meds or was but wasn't taking them. Not sure and not dissing her. It was real to her. So here we are all set up ready for a 4 hour gig starting at 9 PM.

Fortunately we were playing in a town near where the previous singer lived and was planning on coming down to see the new line up. He ended up singing for us that night. Got paid for it and we came off like nothing happened.

PHEW!!!!

Did you buy a lottery ticket the next day? Jeez, I would have....talk about lucky!

[Bish]

Did you buy a lottery ticket the next day? Jeez, I would have....talk about lucky!

I never thought about it. Missed my op didn't I?

[kay-gee]

trios are great. Problem solving seems easier with three for some reason. The fourth and fifth members are adding "wild cards"

An observation of mine over the years.

all the best...

[Bridie]

thanks every one!
and the wages goes around better now too, it is split less ways

Bridie

[crispycritters]

thanks every one!
and the wages goes around better now too, it is split less ways

Bridie

Good one! Now that's what I call being positive.

[drummerboy60]

Sorry to hear that. I hope you find a replacement.

[porkpieguy]

As a 3-piece band, you are forced to become better to fill in the extra "space" that's been left by the absent guitar player.

Keep going. The last 3 piece I was in was a lot of fun.