cameltoe Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 So, we've had a quiet start to the year for various reasons. Saturday was our first 'big' gig of the year at the Falmouth Folk festival. We've played here before and gone down a storm, and do a few local festival gigs for this promoter. We were the second to last band on at 8:30, but on arriving it was obvious our fiddle player was drunk. Really drunk. We took to the stage and it was an absolute mess. He had managed to sneak in a hip flask of whiskey and had brought a few cans along with him which he was sipping away on stage. He barely played a note right and nearly fell over a couple of times. We had to cut the set short and get out of there. There were several songs we just couldn't do as he has to lead on them, so we just cut them out. It really was one of those moments where you hope the ground opens up and swallows you. We've had different issues with this guy in the past, he's tried to convince the rest of the band to sack various members, me included, after I'd just had my first child (I wasn't committing to the band). This year he's been wreaking havoc by messing about with our website and social media by not giving anyone else any control over what is published, (the images he uses are dreadful), firing various angry emails across to us all for whatever reason, cancelling rehearsals left right and centre, including not turning up on a couple of occasions and not letting us know. In addition, he's always the first to sling sh** around if something hasn't gone his way, acting as if we are not professional enough. The rest of the band are not keen to sack him as we have a gig booked in Italy in August that they really want to play. In addition, it's hard to find a committed, competent fiddle player in Cornwall, and we'd have to start all over again. And he is a really good player. Any words of advice from the BC community? How do we address this one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 (edited) Get rid of him, if he's that much of a train wreck he'll end up taking the rest of you down with him. Somebody I know played at Falmouth. Edited March 29, 2016 by RhysP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 (edited) Oh dear. It sounds like the chap has a problem, and your band has one too. I think you need to have a serious talk with your bandmates about him. Gigs or no, if you turn up to the big gig and he's a mess then you'll likely not get booked again, so keeping him for the gig in Italy may turn round to bite you in the long run. If the band decides to soldier on then it's about how you feel about playing with him. He does need to be told that his drinking isn't right tho - he needs to be urged to get some help about it. Edited March 29, 2016 by ahpook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyKnees Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Personally, I'd give him an ultimatum, and if he doesn't sort his sh*t out, get rid of him. Learn/write some songs that don't require fiddle if you can't find a replacement.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzneck Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Fire him and get another fiddle player. There are players out there who may not be as good musically but the rest of the band can make up for it as required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyder Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Fire him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 I had an unfortunate incident with a lead guitarist who was blind drunk before what turned out to be the band's farewell gig. I still have the recording and frankly its embarrassing. At least he had the good sense to call it a day. Sounds like your fiddle player needs to recogise his shortcomings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Save the party for afterwards. I'm pretty organised and committed and give short schrift to others that can't do the same. You need to sound out the rest of the band, but unless he had a pretty good reason I'd be dumping him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 We had a few issues in my last band and my experience is that they do not go away, even though there might be temporary "reforms". I left the band. You really have to decide what your personal standards are and who you want to work with. The trouble is we bass players so often put the music first and put up with the cr*p. I have done it myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Sack him and trawl round the Cornwall open mics for a replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 if he's the bloke with his own wiki page, then he sounds like a right arrogant tw*t, get shot and move on, plenty of fiddle players in cornwall, along with mandolinn and bodhran, cant move for em! Seriously, drinking before a gig is a big no no, especially if you're getting paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefbaker Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Fire him, but before you do hire a tuba player to follow him around for a week just playing root fifth at him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Sack him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Nothing wrong with having a drink, but if that detracts from the performance then just wait for the apres-show party. Sounds like there's more than just that going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Put in place a fine system for anything that threatens the livelihood of the band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Agree,get shut of him. Also maybe try and find if anyone captured his 'performance' on their phones to back up your decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Haven't read the replies yet, but I think you should walk. The guy sounds like an aggressive drunk/alcoholic . If the band are sticking with him , they aren't helping you much . You need to look after yourself . Alcoholics ? Fair enough , they sometimes can't be helped an need sympathy . This guy seems to be a complete twit . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Sack him now! Second chance would only involve proving himself/herself fit & able at a later date Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 (edited) [quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1459256572' post='3014804'] Haven't read the replies yet, but I think you should walk. [/quote] It's the fiddle player who should be walking. I wouldn't ask him to leave, I'd grind him into a smooth paste and flush him down the toilet. Is that a bit harsh? Probably. Anyway, he's [i]got [/i]to go - being in a band should be fun and it doesn't matter how good a player someone is on a good day, it's how good they are on a bad day that counts, and he very obviously is failing that test. So he should go. Easy for me to say as I don't have to find another fiddle player, but you won't be a happy band until he's gone. It's not just the drunken playing, there's all the other stuff as well. He'll keep on doing what he does, he's a deluded alcoholic. Get rid. Edited March 29, 2016 by discreet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameltoe Posted March 29, 2016 Author Share Posted March 29, 2016 [quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1459255512' post='3014779'] if he's the bloke with his own wiki page, then he sounds like a right arrogant tw*t, get shot and move on, plenty of fiddle players in cornwall, along with mandolinn and bodhran, cant move for em! Seriously, drinking before a gig is a big no no, especially if you're getting paid. [/quote] That's him. Honestly, it has been leading up this anyway, as he has been insufferable this year. He has caused major fall-outs in the band by being aggressive and not listening to us. He's given us a really hard time, then done things like not be available for a rehearsal for a whole month. Saturday was the icing on the cake. An update though, the drummer has just sent him an email asking why we haven't had an apology from him yet. There was a swear word in there too. Let's see how this unfolds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 [quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1459257482' post='3014814'] An update though, the drummer has just sent him an email asking why we haven't had an apology from him yet. There was a swear word in there too. Let's see how this unfolds! [/quote] A swear word?? ...Please keep us updated, Holby City is really boring at the moment. Seriously though, good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 [quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1459253143' post='3014740'] We've had different issues with this guy in the past, he's tried to convince the rest of the band to sack various members, me included, after I'd just had my first child (I wasn't committing to the band). This year he's been wreaking havoc by messing about with our website and social media by not giving anyone else any control over what is published, (the images he uses are dreadful), firing various angry emails across to us all for whatever reason, cancelling rehearsals left right and centre, including not turning up on a couple of occasions and not letting us know. In addition, he's always the first to sling sh** around if something hasn't gone his way, acting as if we are not professional enough. [/quote] To me it's the above, not the drinking, that's the bigger problem. He has evident ego/control/narcissism issues, of which thinking he can both criticise others for lack of professionalism whilst lacking that very professionalism himself is only one of no doubt many symptoms. This weekend's drinking is to be honest a good opportunity to get rid of an ongoing problem that was probably going to get worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1459257591' post='3014817'] To me it's the above, not the drinking, that's the bigger problem. He has evident ego/control/narcissism issues, of which thinking he can both criticise others for lack of professionalism whilst lacking that very professionalism himself is only one of no doubt many symptoms. [/quote] Booze does make it easier for one to be a total dick though, I can tell you that from experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 ...and for those of you who don't play the type of music in question, the egos of even average fiddle players can make those of rock singers, prog keyboardists and blues guitarists pale into complete insignificance IMO of course..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1459257748' post='3014819'] Booze does make it easier for one to be a total dick though, I can tell you that from experience. [/quote] Ha ha, yes, our old singer, an intelligent, articulate and sensitive singer songwriter, was a true gent, never drank on stage, and always treated the audience and the band with real respect. Then one night had two pints before quite a big gig that was going out live on radio, started using the F word, and then made some rather inopportune comments, especially given the demographic of the audience in question. And all on live radio! I just have to mention the name of the festival and he goes bright red and starts to sweat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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