DRUMMER CAFE

Hey guys,

Hav'ent posted here for long while, but just wanted some thoughts.....

I play in a busy Soul/Funk cover outfit. We do a lot of weddings and corporate dates as well as normal bar gigs. Our guitarist and lead singer are both doing this as a full time job, they handle the business end of everything, while the rest of us (Myself, Bass Player, Singers) are all weekend warriors with full time jobs.

We were approached to enter a televised competition here in Ireland, quite similar in format to say, X Factor. Although, this was open to bands as well as singers and offered a cash prize for the winner.

We were required to do an audition, and if we were successful we would be required to attend a "boot camp" which would last for a whole week (this included over night stays).

While the audition was no problem, myself and a couple of the other band members were unable to commit to the boot camp because of our jobs, so we had to bow out of the competition entirely.

The whole a point of entering was simply for publicity for the band, as you can imagine, getting a slot on prime time TV is not cheap! While I could see the point of this, I had a couple of reservations.....

1) What happens if we get axed from the competition in the first televised round? Would it look bad for a proffesional group?

2) We would have had to cancel 2 wedding dates to attend the boot camp. Icould only see that damaging our rep.

Like I said, I know there is no such thing as Bad Press, but what do you guys think?

That was my position. Although I never mentioned it as we had already dropped out so it was by then a moot point.

But one of my mantra's has always been: NEVER drop out of a gig.

Hmm?, ya.... I suppose..... take care of your prior committments so you can be the consumate pro and wear the white hat but dam!, what a choice!, its like Christine Aguilara saying hey hotty, what ya doin tonight sugar and you have to say, um, takin the wife and kids to the carnival as she blows you a kiss goodbye .