Am I Wrong????

[maxx england]

Going back to the "unsolicited guest appearance" thing, I have to say that an audience would have no objection to a bandleader standing his ground and refusing an unknown player free exposure, rather they might actually enjoy this little bit of drama on stage. Just my thoughts, that's all.

[601blues]

Yeah, Maxx your right, and I have made it clear to everyone, that will not happen again, I really don't care if the crowd likes it or not!!There is too much work involved in puttin a band together to a point where they are ready to play live, and to have someone just ta git up and take advantage of that work ,that he has never contributed too for he or she's own exposure is BULL SNOT!!! And then have da Balls ta start talks with the owner for a gig date, and then start askin your bass and sax player for there phone ###!!!! Needs his butt Kicked!! Man if I was about 10yr younger I woulda cleaned his clock and set the time!!!But ya know everything has a reason, and maybe Iam being told ta stay solo or stay in the studio,Maybe that is the reason I never climbed the crap ladder in music, cause even at my worst drug riddin time I would not stoop that low!! And lets face it the music biz is about the worst there is as far as morals!!

[601blues]

Man I watch Dudley when I see them work, and Dudley runs a tight ship,and keeps everything flowin!! he is the heartbeat of the houserockers for sho!!


http://www.thehouserockers.net[/quote]

[jeffl]

601, it's funny that this topic came up this week, 'cuz last nite I took my wife out to a club where some buddies of mine from WAY back were playin'. These guys were together for over 20 years, and now they jus' take one or two gigs a month, and usually not with their whole old lineup. They asked me to get up with 'em, and I said that I'd see how the evening went; when they asked me again after the first set, I'd observed that they had a large following there from their old days, and I didn't think those loyal fans had any interest in hearing me play and that I didn't want to interrupt their set flow (I forgot to mention that their leader played racked harp/guitar) . I just didn't feel like it was a good idea to have a relatively unknown guest musician up there in that setting. If I was running the gig, I wouldn't have wanted it. They invited me to set in with them some other time, when maybe they didn't have so many of their old fans there, and I thanked them for the sentiment.

[601blues]

You are a true Gentleman Jeff!!

[jeffl]

8) You are a true Gentleman Jeff!!

That's just common courtesy,and it should go along way for future considerations for me in the music community. This is a very small market here and a reputation is worth protecting; I don't wanna get a bad name,especially with the best musicians in the area.

[bosco]

I just didn't feel like it was a good idea to have a relatively unknown guest musician up there in that setting.

The whole discussion of a musician setting in is multi-faceted and includes a lot of variables. Bubba just hit on a key point- "taking the temperature" of the situation is crucial.

I often take my harps along in case I get invited or opt to sit in. I don't automatically expect to play, nor am I dissappointed if the situation is not right. A perfect case in point-

This past Thursday at the "Blues Night," a special cirmumstance arose. Jerry Hale is somewhat of a local guitar legend and a bit of a recluse. His longtime bass player, a Vietnam veteran, just passed away and the night was turned into a last minute benefit for Bill's funeral expenses. Jerry would be a perfect candidate for a Hendrix tribute project, if you close your eyes, his playing and vocals are spot on. Despite a lot of the regular patrons asking me if I was going to get up and play, I knew most of them had never heard Jerry and the night was about his lost buddy's memory. His playing stands alone and he didn't need me, or anyone else, muckin' it up anyway. * EDIT- Here's a photo of Jerry-

http://www.getmadbaby.com/the_jerry_hale_band.htm

Besides that, Tuesday is billed as the regular Open Mic and the booked band was already being most generous allowing the impromptu benefit. In this case, the "relative unknown" was the night's special attraction and people will have lots of opportunity to hear regulars like me play.

Bosco

[jeffl]

'Zackly,Bosco, and there's always a chance that your behaviour is being observed by an aspiring musician nearby, and that he will learn how to conduct himself (or herself) in a dignified,classy way that will respect the rights and circumstances of those who are up on stage.

[jaybee]

I have and will never ASK to sit in with anyone, know them or not. I've BEEN asked, and if I know the songs I'll usually agree to do a couple of songs at the end of the set, so sitting OUT doesn't have to feel uncomfortable to anyone: I don't have to announce "I'm stopping now" (possibly implying I don't like it) and no one has to ask me to stop (possibly implying the same). If I'm asked in advance, I'll even put my own stuff in the car, but only get it out if they still feel like having me right there and then (you know how it is with those "hey, why don't you come sit in next week / month" kinda things )

and most of all: I make sure not to OVERplay, and even NOT to play at all if I happen not to know a song well enough

even stepped off stage once when a keyboard player started "Tears in Heaven", rather than messing it up, since I don't know the chords... got me some funny looks from the audience, but I KNOW the guys on stage apreciated what I did: I'm playing with them again this afternoon and next Saturday evening, don't know what exactly landed me the gig, but backing off when needed sure won't have hurt

[601blues]

Just an update, The Sat night week before last,2-24-07, The now Late Guitar Player ,Joel, and the Now as of last week ,Former drummer Skeeter, ASwe were settin up for the gig, I was feelin some strong Vibes that somtin was up, with Joel and Skeeter, this was the one's responceable for the Guest thing, The other guys Paul, bass and Lil Mac,Sax and multi purpose guy, and my self were going over current events, and thease two kept there distance,till show time, Just before starting the 1st set,I asked Joel if he had a problem with me,or the Band??? Oh No!! was his responce,I just had a BADDDDD week!!! My thought was BULL$HIT!! now he was tellin me My Vibe Dector was screwed up!!No way it was him that screwed up, Well we got thru the GIG and Thru out Joel was showin off tryin to upstage me and over playin, I mentioned this to him at at break,that he was not mixin well tonight, musta been a real bad week you had!! Well to top it off at the end of the show, He was bendin the owners ear alot, and was tryin to convience him he was the band,
This is gettin long, But the bottom line was He and thr drummer were Traitors, and Jealous Jerks, and that is a big problem when you try to do anything, is havin to weed out those jerks, !!!Well YES I fired em both Joel on monday, He called me and said he would play with me 1 more sat night, so I wouldn,t have to live without him?????? I told thats ok I didn 't need him for the next sat,3-3-07, I had a Guitar player Already,
The Drummer Skeeter was outta pocket, and would not return my call, He showed up Last Sat night right before my New drummer showed up, and I told him I thought he had went with his buddy since I had not heard from him all week and had another drummer for the night, And ta call me this week and we would talk about it, But he quit,OH WELL!! Iam just had enough of back stabbin Jerks, instead of workin for the good of the group they try to wreck everything!! Music ain't hard, its the Jerks you gotta deal with!!

[601blues]

Now I have a new Rythem player and new Drummer, and it has made a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the Dynamics of the group!! now if thease guy will hang awhile we may be on ta somphin,
Friday night 3-2-07 was the first gig with us for Brad, rythym. And John on drums, We Played a gig in Hattiesburg, a Block Party and resturant closing at BEAR GRILL, a Very small place and in an All Black hood wich is no problem for me ,my sax player is Black and my best friend, anyway Brad and John, there 1st gigs was kinda surprized, Brad over heard some talking outside Said," Man I thought we were having a BLUES BAND its just some white boys!!!I told him it will be alright!! WE started Out with some DEEP DELTA BLUES with me on my National Reso Elect, Then into a little funk, while I was playin one guy had a little too much juice,came up and told me this was a black hood and stop playing that BS and get outta there, well he was escorted out, and the rest of the night was great, we had a great time let everybody sing that wanted and let the kids sing This Little Light of Mine, But I FORGOT MY DARN CAMERA!!! this place was a cover !!fo sho, Iam gonna stop by today and get some pics of the outside, but ofcourse it won't be the same without the 2 Crawfish cookers on the sidewalk and everybody around!!

[ricochet]

Whew! You had me worried about the "Now Late Guitar Player Joel." Thank goodness you just fired him.

[maxx england]

Whew! You had me worried about the "Now Late Guitar Player Joel." Thank goodness you just fired him.

Word gets around like that, nobody messing with this ol' boy!

[601blues]

I know it sounds as if Iam going off the deep end, I get frustrated, Every body wants to get too heaven ,nobody wants ta die, Every body wants love But nobody wants ta Cry, What I mean is everybody wants to be a great musician but most people don't want to work for there dreams ! They want it ta just happen, well it don't!! you get outta anything you do, just what you put into it!!put in Nothing don't get nothing, Team work and unity is a hard thing to achive, look at sports teams etc, So at my age I don't have time to waste on BS, with a Band,if they ain't being a team player,Its a no Brainer cut em loose, they may find what they are lookin for in another Band and won't bring you down with Neg.Vibes! For instance ,Willie Dixon ,wrote Thousands of tunes most are in A-145 with slightly different turns, anyway what seperates thease,1 from another is the rythym and timing,and Belive me the Bass is the key groove, Now if you just get up on stage and only armed with a couple of grooves everything is gonna sound alike!! SO! IT Takes hrs of work on the ryrthym section to nail down that groove, Thats what seperates the Artist from a musician, NO EASY WAY around it it Takes work if you don't work at it you will always be a poor average player!! So Guys if you read my Rambling and think I am a A$$ well when it comes to my craft I get sideways with Lazy People that don't care, stay HOME!

[601blues]

Here I go again!!!!!! I play a lotta Juke joints all over Mississippi, and one thing I love about the Blues is, it don't matter how fancy the venue is ,when a Bluesman walks in everybody knows he is in the house ,just by his dress and demeanor, I love to see everyone get dressed up for the Blues, its exciting, and it shows respect for your music,as well as for the ones that pay to see you, its true if your exiciting then your music will be as well, that why its called a LIVE show!!! Now I don't mean You Gotta wear a suite However don't wear NO Damn TEE Shirt With BB KING on the frount FOR GODS SAKE!!