[Dixielandjazz] Re: Musicians Sitting in

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/9/03 10:07:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
dave at creolejazz.com writes:

> 
> What do you think about musicians sitting in on a band's regular weekly gig?
> 
If it is a regular weekly gig with a regular audience that does not have to 
pay a cover charge to see  and hear your band, then there is absolutely no 
problem with it.

You should however always announce that you have a special guest in the house 
who would like to come and perform a number or two (at most) with your 
regular band, and make certain that the guest player will not cause a conflict with 
one of the regular players, who might interpret the gesture as auditioning a 
replacement for them.  It is always a prudent and good idea to ask the other 
band members if they mind if the player sits in for a couple of numbers.  If 
they object don't be afraid to ask them why and ponder their reasons carefully, 
we can all be temperamental at the drop of a hat.

For the new young player attempting to get some live performance experience, 
it can be very helpful, and the regular guys should feel a sense of nurturing 
along a new guy who needs to get some positive interaction with an audience.

If the new guy is good and can come up to your level of playing from his 
experiences then you have accomplished a great deal, we all get better and play 
better by performing with better and often more experienced players than 
ourselves.  Without this opportunity many younger players would simply not learn how 
to be better.

On the other hand if you indeed know that a certain player who shows up every 
week, is not very good, and his only gig is to go around sitting in where 
ever he can just to get on a stage.  You should politely avoid accommodating 
them, because, no one ever hires him/her to perform for money.  This type of 
player is typically not, or ever will be professional and will only deter from the 
overall quality and reputation that your band has earned over the years.

If people are paying to come and see and hear your band, then the only folks 
allowed to sit in should be actually guest Star players known to you and your 
band as equals in quality and stature with the public or better.  That is 
called professional courtesy, and many great players will be honored to be invited 
to come up and play a number or two, but do not get upset if they decline 
your invitation as well, it is a two way street.  Some folks like to do it and 
some don't.

Sometimes professional players like to just go out and hear someone else 
play, either for their own enjoyment or to check out potential players for future 
gigs, and have no intention of sitting in and playing on their night off.

You should also be aware that sometimes the sit in dude is actually looking 
for a chance to be seen and heard by the gig owners boss, in the hopes of 
stealing the gig, (yeah I know it is an ugly thing to think about but it happens 
every night).

Sad to say but an unemployed musician is more desperate than an unemployed 
hooker, at least the hooker has many more prospects for getting employment.

Since I do not work those kind of gigs anymore, I never have to worry about 
it, but you guys and gals who work the club scene know what I am talking about 
or sooner or later will.

The best Sit in players are the ones you personally invite, who you know can 
and will enhance your performance or at best not detract from it.

I don't do Sit-ins, except for very special circumstances for long time 
professional friends who are actually in need of my services on a particular given 
performance due to a dire illness or emergency with one of their regular band 
members.  In such a case I would not hesitate to help them finish or perform a 
show, other wise I prefer to sit in the audience and enjoy their performance 
as a member of the paid audience, which sometimes I am a paying member.    

When I buy a ticket to see and hear a particular act that I respect, I do not 
expect to be asked nor do I want to be asked to sit in, I came to hear them 
and BE entertained, besides, (I would never pay to hear myself play).   :)  :)

Entertainingly yours,

Tom Wiggins
Saint Gabriel's Celestial Brass Band