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Topic: Nashville Steelers/bands beware of this gig |
Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2004 4:59 pm |
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| I've been working The Rest Stop in Lebanon, Tn for the last five plus years and we've got some new owners in the last five months. We play there usually three weekends a month or maybe two and play other places the rest of the time. After a handshake deal to play this coming New Years Eve six weeks ago, we found out last night by accident they'd booked somebody else for that night for half our price. The thing about it is they weren't going to tell us and it's just a little late to nail down a New Years Eve gig now. In addition to that you have to put up with the daughter of the new owner that's at best a very green wannabe singer. She comes with the deal when you play there no exception. And if you don't make this girl sound good you'll get read the riot act. I was waiting for the $200 New Years Eve gig to quit but after we found out the deal last night the s**t really hit the fan so we're out of a gig now. This is just a heads up to the locals around Nashville or nearby to know about this place and the new owners way of doing business. I'm looking for a gig as of now be it country or a mixture and can travel for a New Years gig. I just got this nearly new Carter guitar this week and need a good smoky barroom somewhere. |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 12 Dec 2004 5:04 pm
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| * [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 13 December 2004 at 03:57 AM.] |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2004 7:32 pm
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A few years ago the same exact thing happened to some friends of mine.(wink wink)They all decided to make an appearance at the crowded club anyway since they had nowhere else to go on NYE, but right before they entered the place they all made sure to generously cover the bottom of their shoes in fresh dogsh*t. They didnt stay long, but they did make a lasting impression.
Frank...you didnt hear this from me.  |
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JB Arnold
From:
Longmont,Co,USA (deceased)
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Dyke Corson
From:
Fairmount, IL USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2004 7:49 pm
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| Sorry to hear this Frank, hope you get to enjoy that Carter soon...something will come up! |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Dec 2004 8:08 pm
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Frank;
Your situation makes me (almost but; not quite) 'happy' that I never get any calls for gigs any more! It's been going on for years, and still getting worse! In the end, they (the club-owners) will be the losers! _ _ _ _ I'm working on the tape you talked about and I'll be in touch when it's ready to pick up. “Big John”
P.S. Strange coincodence, but; I was actually thinking of sneaking out to bring you the tape on NYE¡
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“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here
[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 12 December 2004 at 08:10 PM.] |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 12:32 am
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That's great John, looking forward to it but I'll drive over for it instead. There's a fair chance I may be working NYE somewhere else already. I've been a club owner and it doesn't pay to treat your people like that. These folks are brand new at the business and really I think they bought this place purely to showcase the girl that sings very sharp. Her and her sister had won some contests in "Cub Run wherever they come from" when they were growing up and naturally the family thinks the one girl is going to be a star. It's going to take protools on steroids to bend her notes back in key but what the hell, look what they did for Tim Mcgraw!
Dyke these guys took Gary (bandleader) outside and just ripped him a new one because they didn't think we were trying hard enough to make the girl sound good. I went outside and got into it with them and just told them how it was. They weren't impressed with my bluntness but I wasn't impressed with them either and I figure five years is long enough in that place anyway. This was two months ago and I've actually sat down and worked up five tunes note for note of the new girl songs on the radio from a CD she gave me so it ain't like I'm not doing my part. I had to hunt for something that was country enough for us but found some good Sarah Evans and Lee Ann Womack tunes on there and with good steel parts so I enjoyed it. I took all of the charts with me when we packed it up Saturday night too! I don't think anybody in the new band can read them anyway but I didn't write them for the band that undercut us so I'm sure the girl star will have a great time working with the new band that has a girl singer of their own. It ought to be a hoot in about a month. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 4:09 am
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Sorry about your gig Frank..but like you've already stated..you probably have another already..
We were offered a second gig and asked to give up the first one which pays less..but we are not going to do that..we made a committment..
The thing that would bother me more than the actual gig or the money( it's never enough anyway) is the girl singing who is not part of the band. Long term this won't fly especially if she is not good. Bands that can play in tune and stay in tune generally don't accept this "Let me be the Star format " for very long.
I kinda get the feeling that eventually they will end up with a house band which feature the "sharp" daughter..and if in fact she is just another lousy singer trying to make it big..the owners will not be owners very long, the crowd will dwindle and so will the income at the door..
Our band does not do this sort of thing,and if we don't get the gig because of it then we just stay home and watch TV..
I played behind a CHILD star in Ct for many years. Brenda McGarvey..she was cute and had a nice little show when she was 11, 12 and 13..
But man when she turned the corner going past 14..she got hit by the stick for sure..She did move to Nashville,but I think she's making Omlettes over at the Waffle House off of I40..
I doubt her parents bought her a club to showcase her ahh..uuhhmm.....well...image ?
Just move on and be done with it..
Your Carter Steel deserves better than this..
t
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Pete Knapton
From:
Otago, New Zealand
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 4:12 am
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Yeah, its hard to find good venue owners who are 'straight up' with you.
Our drummer was telling the story of a gig he played. At the end of the night and wanting to be paid, the venue owner was nowhere to be found. The band eventually tracked him down at his girlfriends place and banged on the front door in the very early hours of morning. They advised him that he should pay them NOW or they would return, with his wife!
They got paid. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 4:23 am
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Frank sorry abou the gig,
as Tony noted, I suspect their days ion the club business are numbered.
"I think she's making Omlettes over at the Waffle House off of I40.."
I think she served me there too.
In NYC you go to eat and fall over actors,
in Nashville go to eat and fall over singers.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 13 December 2004 at 04:24 AM.] |
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Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 4:29 am
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Yeah ! I can relate to that. We were playing at a really nice place with a huge wooden dance floor. The place was packed every friday and saturday night.We walked in on saturday night , our equipment on stage from the night before. The new bartender,owner was behind the bar. He hands me a napkin with a bunch of songs written on it. I said what is this. He say thats what your playing tonight and I want them played in that order.He added I'm an organ player and I know what the people want.I said " did we get a helluva big raise or something "?,if not you better get your organ and roller skates ready. We packed up and left and he lasted about six months and the place closed.
Old Bud |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 11:20 am
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| The new owners informed me that the girl was to do her bit on the first set as her mother had to leave early and only on Saturdays nights, thank God! They also installed a DJ playing CD's on the break and he tells the band when they have to go back up. I played along with it all until the NYE deal. Like I said, I think five years is a pretty good run and I've enjoyed as much as I can stand. I got an e-mail from one of our prominent locals asking me to fill in for him when he plays the Steel Guitar shows and after talking with him today he said he'd help me any way he can. What a guy! Thanks a bunch! I appreciate that more than you know. |
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Kenny Dail
From:
Kinston, N.C. R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 12:51 pm
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Frank...most of us have "been there and done that." I hope a new gig comes thru for you. Please update us as to how things went at the gig you were cut out of. I think it would be nice to hear about the a$$ reaming they got if the owner wasn't happy with them.
Hqappy Holidays... 
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kd...and the beat goes on...
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Rick McDuffie
From:
Benson, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 1:51 pm
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Based on my experience with people in the "club" business (many years ago), that's par for the course. In general, it's not a reputable bunch.
Brings back some bad memories.
Someone told me about playing a gig with Chuck Berry, who hired his band locally. He drove himself to the gig, walked in with his guitar, asked to see the promoter, got his money... ONLY THEN did he introduce himself to the band and start the rehearsal. That would be the proper order of activities for doing business with club owners |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 2:38 pm
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| Take it east there Rick. Not all club owners are like that. Everytime I go back downtown to Broadway all the pickers ask me when I'm going to reopen a bar because they were treated like they wanted to be there. When I had the real pros working the stage I never got a call from a bartender complaining about a thing but the slugs would try to take advantage of everything they could. It just goes with the territory when you're working with pros or slugs. The slugs are weeded out and the pros remain. I never had too many rules with the exception of keeping the bad language off the mike and all the drinks and ashtrays off the equipment and that's even if it's your own. When you spill a drink in your amp, you're out of business and so's the bar so I think that was a fair rule to have. The equipment isn't a coffee table. It's your living and you should treat it with respect. |
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 3:24 pm
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I had a situation where I had a signed contract with a club owner that hired us about 5 weeks before New Years eve(Rockville CT.).He had taken over the club as a new owner and had seen our packed houses when we played there before. About 2 weeks before New Years eve he decided that country people don't drink enough and were bad for his cocaine concession.He never told us we were done after we got through playing on a Saturday night and that Sunday had a Rock band start. All our equipment was put in a back room until we showed up to play the following wed. He wasn't there and had the bartender tell us the place was not Country anymore.I had a signed Contract for 1400.00 (for New Years eve) to which I immediatly informed the man I would be there New Years eve with my band.Apparently the owner found out he would lose more than the 14hundred (from a previous band screwing)so he told us we would play New Years Eve. But by then he had pi$$ed off the country folk and had nothing but teenie boppers coming out each night. That night everyone stayed away but 3 tables of 4. We played 4 sets of 50 minutes took exactly 10 minute breaks, did the New years eve stuff and got paid. (certified check as per contract) The place did get two three other owners but folded for good.I guess we all went through "the when I make it I'll take care of you"period.There were three other bands that had dates there one had a contract and won in court and recieved estimated lost wages. Oh there were times when I had to pay the band out of pocket during my learning process.But this was not one of them.
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Smiley 15-4 Crank&pull pro model Deluxe with auto string changer.200 ft. roll.
[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 13 December 2004 at 03:27 PM.] |
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Mike Richardson
From:
Rutledge, Georgia, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 8:04 pm
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Hey Frank,
Sorry you lost you gig.Having the play for the owners daughter to make sounds like blackmail.
There is a place in nashville(I want call namea) that you pay a good price for dinner and a cover charge to hear a kid sing or try to sing.Oh well they have to start somewhere.....
Mike Richardson |
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Ken Lang
From:
Simi Valley, Ca
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 8:23 pm
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Idiot club owners fall under the "Cost of doing business" for musicians.
Fortunately most are fair and honest but there is that rare occasion where the band gets hosed. That falls under the cost of doing business.
There has even been a time working under a UNION contract when the hosing happens. Go to the union for help...bwahahaha. What a rip for local musicians. Even the idiocy of the musicians union is....a cost of doing business.
So we get to sing, strum, pick, toot and drum our way thru life hoping for as few bumps as possible.
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 9:04 pm
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Sounds more like "The Rest Room" to me.  |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 9:53 pm
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| I love that one Howard! I don't expect to be an unemployed weekend musician here too long but I am looking forward to Big Johns help on learning some Hawaiian stuff. I almost sold my D-8 Stringmaster a couple of weeks ago and somebody mentioned learning this kind of stuff and retiring. Then this guy sent me a picture of him playing his T-8 Stringmaster in his Kahuna shirt and the whole bit and I'm thinking "now that's way cool." I know exactly nothing about this stuff so learning all the slant bar stuff is going to be fun and no doubt useful on the PSG. I figure I can become the next Jerry Byrd or maybe Jerry Springer! Either way it'll be better than having to hear that gal sing anymore. |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2004 11:58 pm
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| There's some really amazing chords available on the C6th neck if you a combination of forward slants, and the pedals and knee levers - it's right there in front of you.... |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2004 2:01 am
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Dave,
I'm really looking forward to it. I've seen BE and JD and so many others use this stuff at will and it's facinating to watch and hear. I doubt I get much chance to use it on stage but am looking forward to the chance to play in situations I've never been in. It just seems so relaxing and fun to do. I've been fooling around with the dobro the last couple of years mostly on the new stuff from JD and have fallen in love with Bluegrass. Putting it all together now gives me more things to play and listen too. I never get tired of something new and different. |
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Aaron Schiff
From:
Cedaredge, CO, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2004 1:51 pm
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| About a year ago I went to a club in Golden, Colorado to hear Doug Kershaw. The club owner fancied himself a harp player and sat in on the last 4 or 5 songs of the opening act. He was pretty decent, but definitely not a pro. When Kershaw's band began his intro, the club owner jumped on stage and started "squawking" his harp. My wife and I turned to each other and said, "He's in the wrong key!" After several minutes of the band leader trying to get this turkey off stage, Kershaw finally made his entrance. After the usual gymnastics, he comes to the mic and says, "That's what I like to hear folks, my favorite keys G and B. And both at the same time." Good luck, Frank. |
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Nick Reed
From:
Russellville, KY USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2004 5:23 pm
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Like Tony Prior's Band, I was also offered a second Gig for my Band that would pay more. However, I had already committed us to the first one. It's not my style to break a booking after we get hired.
Frank, I'm sorry about your "Rest Stop" NYE Gig. I hope another one works out for you.
Nick[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 14 December 2004 at 09:46 PM.] |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2004 7:42 pm
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| More than you know Nick. |
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