What happens if you're sick at gig-time?

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Marion
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 06:50 PM

I think the best thing is to do your best to find a substitute performer yourself, unless the nature of the gig makes it really impossible. That way, you're not letting down the booker or even creating that much extra work for them, and your substitute owes you a favour and may call you when they need to suggest someone.

What I've done a couple of times, when I was mostly over a cold and felt that I could play but not sing yet, was hire a singer to go with me. Since I couldn't expect the venue to pay more than we had agreed for a last-minute addition, and since half of the one-person fee wouldn't be a fair price for the singer, I ended up giving the whole fee to the singer. But I felt that doing the shows for free was better for my reputation than cancelling.

You don't have to be at death's door to be too sick to perform, especially if you're solo and especially if there's no PA. Even if it's "just a cold" - you might be able to get away singing on a sore throat if there's a PA, but do you really want to be interrupting the songs to have a coughing or sneezing fit? And if you have a runny nose, how are you supposed to play guitar - just leave the snot on your face till the end of each song? Nobody wants to see that.

Oh, and about Big Mick's "the show must go on"... I'd think twice before taking advice from the guy who played through a heart attack...

Cheers, Marion

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 06:54 PM

The only time it's NOT just a pub gig is when all you play are pubs...

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 07:24 PM

G'day Black Walnut,

I recently had an interesting experience with a migraine:n It wasn't a gig, rather I was running my usual Monday Night Workshop at the Bush Music Club (Sydney, Australia) when I realised that I was getting a migraine. I normally get strongly "visual" migraines and ... sometimes ... if I am aware early enough ... can 'meditate' myself out of them - but this was beyond that point when I realised I was losing vision in the centre of my eyes.

I knew that I would be quickly feeling ill ... and would have an increasing "black hole" of no vision - ringed by vivid, jaggy, flashing lights like a 'psychodelic' fire ... and not be safe to drive home. I asked the Workshop attendees to work without me and to close up at the end of session. However, as I was packed up and leaving, one of my old friends (and past band-mates over the years) said he believed he could ease my migraine with massage and 'gapping' (lifting the head to ease nerve points.

This was difficult for him, as he is in remission from a spinal cancer, but he has studied both chiropractic and therapeutic massage. He sat me down in a chair, positioned himself and gently lifted my head and performed some gentle rotations ... and I could see the visual "aura" start to shrink and recede - with my vision returning in the 'blacked-out' areas! The 'aura' almost vanished, I was considerably improved in the sickening 'ill' feeling I normally experience ... but I decided it was best to head home while I was so relieved of the migraine!

I have seen reports of medical researchers identifying the specific 'pressure points' associated with migraine attacks ... and this convinces me that there is a lot in what they have found ... and my friend (John Poleson, a great stalwart of the BMC ... and father of a bunch of fine younger musicians!) has accurately identified the points and the 'treatment'.

The point of all this is to say that there are some successful treatments for migraine ... Would I, having had a migraine stopped this way, go on stage for a major gig? ... That's hard to say, but it certainly changes the odds!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: LadyJean
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 09:53 PM

When I was in high school, I came down with a cold the week before I was to read Walt Whitman's "A Carol of Harvest" at the Thanksgiving program. I nearly always lose my voice when I catch cold. But that week, I drank Eucalyptus and Peppermint tea several times a day. It tasted horrible, but it kept my throat clear until the day.

I've been in my new house for a month now. My second week here, my stomack tied itself up in a knot, and it hurt like hell. I was without a phone, so I couldn't call the lady I was supposed to clean for and tell her I couldn't come. So, I spent the day cleaning and hurting. I still don't know how I got home. I just know I did and crawled into bed.
As soon as I could, I bought a cell phone. I hate the loathesome things, but they do have their uses.

I don't get migraines, so I can't offer much advice there. Do you know what triggers yours? Food? Stress? Lack of sleep. It would help if you could avoid triggers on the eve of a gig. A migraine in a pub would be pure hell.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: black walnut
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 09:02 AM

Yes, I know that my main trigger is weather pressure changes. I try to avoid the weather right before gigs!!!! lol

~b.w.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 12:15 AM

Well, if your name is Bryan Bowers and you are so sick that you can only manage to croak through two or three songs, you don't warn the organiser beforehand, turn up anyway and inflict your audience with 3 croaked songs and 75 minutes of Autoharp instrumentals and collect your money. It happened.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: black walnut
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 09:31 AM

Migraines. Ugh. And I've cancelled two studio gigs I was to do this month, because I can't even sit at a harp and practice and watch all those strings wobble back and forth when I'm not even touching them.   I've advanced from Maxalt to Verapamil. Crossing fingers and toes.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: ToulouseCruise
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 03:28 PM

Well, this past Friday I sang through it... bad move. My partner ended up having to do the last third of the night by himself as I became worse and worse... sore throat, cough, voice got raspier and raspier. Now today, swelling to my throat, so off to the doctor tomorrow (heavy duty winter blizzard here today, all clinics are closed and I am not heading to the emergency room at the hospital).

In short, try to cancel it or find a replacement. I have heard so many times people say not to sing through it, but being the horse's ass that I am, I may have done some damage... I'll keep you updated on what the local quack sez about the throat of an ass....

Brian

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 03:44 PM

Back in my student days I tried to get out of a promised lift to and help at a gig as I was looking after a couple of children who were ill with chicken pox. Their mum hadn't had it and she was pregnant so she was sent off to stay with a relative. I phoned to say I couldn't go.

The main act insisted, can't let them down, the show must go on, etc. etc. So I gave in, I found a babysitter, off we went. I was tired but all went well, we sang and danced, packed up and went home.

A month later I heard that almost everyone had gone down with the chicken pox, all the performers, (except me) and most of the audience were mightily ill.

Until now I never let on how they were infected.

Anne

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 03:51 PM

I usually throw up and continue. But, if it's a 105 fever and projectile vomiting, I stay home and drink cold beer.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: black walnut
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 06:50 PM

Anne, this is the Mudcat Public Forum Open to Googlers Everywhere. We'll keep your secret safe here. :-)

~b.w.