Why You Need to Watch Out for Shady Musicians

I fixed this by giving people a breakdown of the performance fee vs. rehearsal fees in my rider. (Yes, I charge rehearsal fees!) It gets me around the people who try to get me to commit to an honorarium, THEN start trying to schedule all these "added" rehearsals! Because some people don't want to pay deposits, I also charge the non-refundable variety. It eliminates the people who aren't about business!

That guy burned bridges with a whole band which means it will be multiplied by a factor of 10. As the saying goes, "Do a good job they tell 5 people, do a bad job they tell 10"

This is one of the reasons I quit the industry. So many flaky people, back stabbers, and bad actors. It's sickening.

The moment I got my mechanics ticket everyone started showing up at my place on Saturday wanting their cars fixed for free.

And this is why " managers ,agents, contracts , entertainment lawyers," exist... salute..👊🏼

This why I quit the music industry back in the late 90s. Imagine how even worse it was back then. At least there's email, text and what not. Back then it was only phone numbers. Couldn't make ends meet, late rent, selling gear just to float another month. Bailed LA and had to move back in with mom in San Jose Ca. Shameful but I was always one paycheck away from being homeless.

Excellent point. I have played in so many bands over the last 50 years. I learned early on, a rehearsal is for bringing it all together. Each musician must learn their parts before the rehearsal, NOT AT THE REHEARSAL. Telling someone just before the gig that "I got another band" is bad business. It brings to mind the saying "I'll see to it you never work in this town again!". Thanks for your videos and wisdom. Peace☮

We used to have functioning "Musician's Unions", that you paid dues, had monthly meetings & gigs were posted daily. In the '70s @ N.Y.C. I was a member of 'Local 802'. If you played "Union Rooms" you were paid "Union Scale", no problems. So many 'Clubs' have no affiliation with any Unions. In the '80s we used beepers & would hang in a bar or club waiting for the beeper to send a phone #. In the '90s beepers had messages on them & cell phones led into the 21st century. Technology changes, musical styles change, but "bad faith behavior" among musicians, bandleaders, producers, studio owners & club owners has led the "Music Business" less rewarding for all.

Really digging your channel, looking good, here’s to growth and prosperity!

Wow! This is what I gotta look 4ward to? That was messed up ALL THE WAY AROUND! Thanks for the video! I will sure keep an eye for that BS! Right on point!!🤨🎶🎸👍🏾

This happen to me on many occassions...Its ashame there are so many musicians who have some of the most horrible personalities, very selfish & dont care about anyone but themselves....smh!!

Love your channel, just figured. Great stuff

Absolutely classic.. loving the content!

I had a pastor text me two hours before service and said “service cancelled for the summer”

This was just on my mind this morning ‼️ some people ain’t who you think they are and it’s always some other musician that smiles in your face. I either keep my distance or have people put down deposits.

I’ve had similar experiences. If you’re around long enough, you’re bound to run into people like that. It’s one of the reasons I mainly do solo gigs. I just don’t want to deal with the frustration

I quit a band BECAUSE they didn't want to rehearse. I get not needing a rehearsal if you're familiar with the songs and the other musicians, but still.

great post, I love band stories. best regards. <--- love from ft. worth, tx

Only 2 hours, I was playing with a band where there were vocalist auditioning. Three hours of of not knowing lyrics and out of tune singing. Then one of the actual singers came for rehearsal. There were other circumstances, but that was the last straw for me. I wished them the best and quit that band.

That's the thing about the pool of musicians. As much as we all might complain about working a 9-5, there is a lack of "Straining out" of the flaky ones compared to a corporate job. That unfortunately leaves situations like this.