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

Subject: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: black walnut
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 03:39 PM

I'm sitting here at the tail end of the worst migraine headache ever. I am so thankful that I didn't have a gig today.   But I can't help but wonder what I would have done.

So far, thank my lucky stars, I've never had to cancel a gig for an illess. But what if I woke up with a severe migraine on gig-day? Is it as simple as phoning up the organizer and saying I'm sorry but the show's off? Are there costs involved? Would I owe anyone anything, legally or morally? What about the backup musicians and sound person who have been counting on doing the gig? Should something about illness or emergency cancellation be written into every gig agreement? Many gigs are casually done by word of mouth agreement, not on paper. Or by email. One doesn't like to think, let alone want to talk about the possibility of cancelling, when one is setting up a gig.

What are your ideas? What are your experiences? Is a contract necessary for every single little gig?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 03:45 PM

The old old story...Worry about it if it happens....think about what to do at the time, as you need to know how you feel at the time to make a judgement call.
Best wishes. Mike.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 03:48 PM

If I have to cancell a gig because I'm sick, I try to find a replacement if I can... if I can't I don't lose any sleep over it...

Also, one cannot plan for EVERY eventuallity

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Once Famous
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 03:50 PM

Please warn me and I won't sit in the front row.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 03:58 PM

Black Walnut

I run the Market Rasen Folk Club.

Honesty and trust prevails at all times.

An artist should let the oprganiser know as soon as they feel they cannot make it, so that the organiser can re-arrange the evening.

The earlier the better. Gives the organiser chance to ring other artists

One can't help being ill.

What is not acceptable is an artist not appearing without telling the organiser. The club is put on the line when an artist does that.

It goes without saying that fees are not paid in such a situation, as the organiser may have to refund or pay another artist.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 04:00 PM

I usually try to drag myself in and do the gig if at all possible. If not, I try to find a substitute to offer (clear it with the organizer first - don't just send somebody else). Otherwise if you're really too sick to go on stage, there's nothing to do but cancel and give them as much notice possible. If it's just a verbal agreement (as many of mine are) they can't really make you pay but they might hold it against you for future bookings - i.e. consider you unreliable and not book you anymore. It all depends on your relationship with the organizer, what type of person he or she is, what costs they have incurred, etc.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 04:06 PM

Oh ya... FYI... I'm referring to pub gigs above...   If it was a concert gig, I'm MUCH more likely to drag myself out...

Sometimes ya just gotta suck it up, walk it off and get back in the game!

:-)

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 04:09 PM

True. The only thing the pubs can do is not book you again, and how many pubs are there? If it's an actual show, you'd better think twice.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 04:10 PM

I've never found a pub so LAME as to hold a called-on-account-of-sickness against a performer...

Everyone gets sick sometimes...

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 04:15 PM

Its got to do with the trust you build up with the artist.

Word soon gets round.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 04:23 PM

I try to make the gig if at all possible. Being in a duo/trio format, if I'm miserable, all I have to do is play guitar. Margaret and Kate can do the singing, we can't do the three part harmonies, but we can do a good show. A lot of places will be reasonable, as long as they believe you are not just blowing them off for a frivolous reason. But, you are risking getting a reputation for being unreliable if it happens a lot.

We only cancelled one gig because I had a sore throat. We were just starting towards the place (about three hours away). It was starting to snow. We called the venue and found out they hadn't really done anything to promote the show, there was not a guarantee attached, and we were looking at the possibility of driving to play for three people for a percentage of the door. We decided it was better to cut our losses and go back home.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 04:30 PM

I've been trying to think what I would do, and how I would have to feel to force me to cancel.

I am now 74, and in my memory of my life I can think of only one occasion when, had I had a gig, I know I would have canceled. On that occasion I had kidney stones, and I wanted to cancel the world. I'm not counting when I was in the hospital for cancer surgery, because that was known in advance, and no gig would have been scheduled then for that reason.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 04:44 PM

It would have to be very bad for me to cancel but certainly there are limits. I don't think any organizer wants the singer or musician to collapse on stage. I guess the other thing is if you really have laryngitis and you're the singer there might be no way you could do a gig. How much croaking could people put up with. Although I've managed to get through many a set with a sore throat, and if my voice couldn't hit some of the notes I "talked" my way through the verses. These were just pub gigs - not concerts. Like any job - attendance and reliability are important so I think the advice would be only cancel if you absolutely have to.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 05:03 PM

It's never JUST a pub gig...

:-)

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 05:32 PM

I agree , there's no such animal as just a pub gig. Basically, you always do your best. I've been lucky, I dont recall ever missing a gig on health grounds, though I've had to be pretty much carried on stage someties(no it want the drink). I had oral surgey a while back, fiarly major, so I didnt sing for a month but I played guitar and percussion.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 05:37 PM

Well, if you THINK of it as Just A Pub Gig, then it will be Just A Pub Gig...

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 07:09 PM

No one wants to see you with intestonal flew . Some things just cant be ignored !!
             My faveroite story on playing a gig anyway happened the night after I had opened a Kiln ( Im a Potter ) and had cut the middle finger of my laft hand very very deep on a shard in the kiln . I kept in rapt tight the rest of the day and on the way to the show made a covering of crazy glue . Well that worked half the evening but in the middle of the third set I looked down at a lot of blood . Well Lui Collins played a solo and I got out the crazy glue in the dark and tried to open the stupdid thing with my teeth and got the stuff all over my mouth . Almost stuck my lips together .
             Pretty silly . Im older now . All the best , guy

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 07:12 PM

Many years ago, I was scheduled to do a night at the U'nI Coffee House in Massachusetts. It got up plenty early enough. Early enough to eat a couple of chicken burritos at Taco Bell. I got out to the place where I was going to play and by the time Ed & Beth Brown arrived to open up, my stomach was doing La Cucaracha. I tried to get everything up a couple of times, but my stomach had more knots in it than a seamans belt. I was in such agony I couldn't even stand up, so I asked Ed & Beth if there was a room I could go in to, and with the door closed, I ended up writhing on the floor. Thank God, I had asked Ed to book my friends The Beans as my opening act, and they were there. When Jim Bean saw me, he asked what he could do, and I asked him if he had a gun.

By the time the concert rolled around, I was rolling around, too. So, the Beans ended up doing the whole evening. When the concert was over, and had to drive home and didn't know if I could make it. I was scheduled to make chili for a thousand people the following morning. Honest. Ed was "reminiscing" about the whole experience when I saw him at NOMAD Saturday. What irony... I suppose it could have been worse. I could have had to make a thousand chicken burritos.

I managed (barely) to make it half way home to a motel and spent the whole night alternately crawling on the floor, lying in bed for five minutes stretches until I couldn't stand it any more, and pacing the room. At sunrise, I hit the road, stopping at a McDonald's to get an Egg McMuffin, hold the sausage, egg and margerine. I managed to get it down, and got back to work just in time to start making the chili.

Ah, the performers life! Such glamour!

I've never had another chicken burrito at Taco Bell, thank you..

Jerry

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: curmudgeon
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 08:08 PM

First and foremost, have an established network to draw from. In the event of extreme illness or the dreaded double booking, have some one or two you can call on to fill in. If on the road, have phone numbers of musical friends and even acquaintances that you can call in a pinch. The average booking person will be clueless as to finding a fill-in. Better for you to choose who can best represent your music.

Last spring when my health was failing, I managd to get through a very busy St. Patrick's Month. Then I had an April gig the night before I was to have some tests at the hospital. Gut feeling and lack of strength advised me to call a friend to fill in. The medical tests resulted in a long stay in hospital. I dread to think what would have happened had I gone through with the performance.

On the other hand, sometimes you just have to gird up your loins and be a veteran trouper. In this case, there are only two reasons to back out: Death's door, literally, or the possibilty that your performance will be so bad as to make dead air preferable. Just my opinion and experience -- Tom

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Gypsy
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 09:46 PM

Thus far, sick or no, we've performed. I do remember a performance with: a substitute guitarist, who we had NOT rehearsed with, while himself and i were both so sick we WANTED to die. I was hoping i would'nt fall on my hammer dulcimer, and he hoped not to smash the mandolin. Got great tips that day!

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 11:25 PM

Interestingly enough I think the fact that I had a job to do kept me from getting really sick until after the job. I'll bet I'm not the onliest person this has ever happened to.

Don

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Joybell
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 11:45 PM

I sang through untreated episodes of trigeminal neuralgia once. Had them about every 30 minutes. Tried to make them fit with breaks so I could go out of earshot and scream, then come back smiling. Luckily I've never had laryngitis and a gig at the same time - yet. Joy

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Gurney
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 03:53 AM

Depends what sort of sick. I've seen a performer with Montezuma's Revenge get through a gig with humour and "here we go again, talk among yourselves", and be roundly applauded for it. The compere took up the slack.
A fingerpicker with a broken finger managed by flatpicking, not very expertly, and a couple of apologies.
Chest problems can be sometimes got around with monologues or poetry to ease the strain.
Don't think you could manage with migrane. The advice above about having an arrangement with suitable substitutes sounds a good idea to me.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: GUEST,KJ
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 07:54 AM

If you're infectious DON'T DO THE GIG!!

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Mooh
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 08:39 AM

Twice in the last two months my fiddle/guitar duo has cancelled nursing home gigs because one of us was sick. They don't want us if we're sick anyway, though we maybe could have hid the fact we were ill. I've played through the chronic shits, hangovers, and various aches and pains and the only ones which made me suffer more were the back spasms that go with low back pain. Only through suffering can we attain perfection, or something like that.

Call it as you see it at the time, rise to the occassion, put on your game face, whatever, but don't disappoint.

The celtoid outfit I play with tried to convince me I should bail on our annual big festival gig a couple of days after my Dad passed away. I thought they were looking for excuses and I played anyway. Glad I did.

In the end, do the honourable thing and be honest about it.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 09:04 AM

I think you have to be very practicalabout this. There is SO much bullshit about the show must go on.

Obviously you don't let people down if you possibly can avoid it. But if you are ill , cancel evry time, without regrets.

The public (and I include myself)are very unforgiving about substandard performances.

Its a complete no win situation - you may lose the venue - the organiser may not inform the public.

Dry your eyes and get on get on with it.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 09:23 AM

I'm loving all of your responses! Guy and Jerry, you crack me up.

Obviously there's a difference between what is possible to perform with and what isn't. Some circumstances (in my opinion) are just too critical - a severe head-splitting screaming crying migraine, or SARS, emergency surgery, or a death in the family - that sort of thing. And it obviously makes a difference if you are performing as part of a team or if you are the central figure, without whom nothing much can happen on stage.

I hate to think that a person's reputation could be marred by such incidences, but I suppose this is the real world. Pretty sad, though.

But I ask again -what if you're the main act, with supporting players (as I tend to be)? Would it be customary to pay my backup players out of my own pocket, in case of a cancellation? I think not, but I'm asking the question anyway.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Mooh
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 09:38 AM

Well, I've been the victim of the leader/main act cancelling and I've rarely been paid not to play. 'Twould be nice though. I'm a poor folk musician so I doubt I could pay the band for not playing either, just beg forgiveness and try to make it up to them somehow. If I could pay them, I probably would, and perhaps a contingency fund for the purpose would be a good idea. A little agreement on the matter before the fact helps. If I'm out of pocket, then I make it up to myself somehow.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 09:51 AM

Nice (and helpful) answer, Mooh.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: GUEST,Jack
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 10:35 AM

I played an all day gig thing once, feeling, well not that great, I got to the gig and went into the pub just next to the venue to try and have a couple of pints to make me feel better, unfortunatly it didn't, but well I carried on anyway. Oh yeah, should I mention we were a emo-hardcore band, not a folk band. I played (I was the singer) and we actually did a really really good set, just talked a little bit more rubbish in between tracks to get myself sorted, but it was okay. After the last time I screamed I did just throw the mic away and go backstage to be sick, and left the gig early missing the headlining bands. But it was a good gig. and I still played.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 10:37 AM

Adrenaline is the best medicine!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Pauline L
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 11:51 AM

This thread is especially interesting to me because I suffer (really suffer!) from migraines. With a full blown migraine, there would be no question of me playing. I couldn't function at all. I'd be lucky if I were able to make a few last minute phone calls. One time I had a gig when I was on the tail end of a week long migraine. There were 11 others in the band, so I went and played as best I could and kept silent or droned when the going got rough. If I were the main act, considerations would be very different. I agree that giving a bad performance is worse than cancelling.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 12:01 PM

To answer the original question, short of being dead, I play. I do this for several reasons. One, the venue has usually put a fair amount of advertising out. Two, we have a very large and loyal following. Three, the other members of my band count on the income and unless I am in the saddle, the band cannot play. So I tuck it in and find the way to get it done. I will usually let the venue operators know I am very ill, but not the audience.

The show must go on.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 12:56 PM

This month two years ago. There was an artist playing my local town, and he was a favourite of my brother in law, who had never seen the guy play live. So I got tickets for the whole family - an early Christmas present and my brother in law and his wife drove two hundred miles to see his hero.

Just before the performance a guy came onstage and said, I'm sorry the artist isn't very well. he might be able to do one or two of his gentler numbers but thats it.

I was furious. A hundred and twenty quid on tickets and the guy brings a sickie! Brilliant! And I said so.

Well the artist came on . he did the performance of his life. all his hits . One hour forty minutes without blinking. Standing ovations. He shouts to the audience - see you next time!

Three days later the guy was dead. His name...... Lonnie Donnegan. For the rest of my life I will feel guilty about my loud mouthed stupidity - I just hope to christ he didn't hear a word of it.

If you feel ill. Take the time off. Live to fight another day. the show does NOT need to go on. Screw dr showbusiness, and the adrenaline fix. Absolutely nothing is that important

And supposing you do give a really crap performance - on a professional level that means there will maybe be room full of people walking round for eternity telling the world that you're crap, and not worth seeing.

It really is a crap scenario, but if you are wise you will cut your losses.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 01:15 PM

I agree with Pauline. With a full migraine it is impossible to do anything. No light, no music, no talking, no moving, no eating, no phone calling, nothing. Similar to being dead, only with a lot more pain.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 01:34 PM

Interesting thread!
There is a fine dividing line between disappointing the audience with a poor performance and disappointing the audience with a no-show. Both can get you a reputation for unreliability. I don't know which is worse.
The only time I have ever missed a gig was when I had laryngitis and couldn't even croak a note. A particularly severe bout struck a week before a singing gig. My partner rang the organiser to say I would have to cancel, but hoped that with a week to spare she could book another act and warn the club-goers that week there would be a change of plan. She was completely unsympathetic, and suggested I try antibiotics rather than cancel. Needless to say we have never been booked there again. And it was a gig I really wanted to do!
Had we turned up there we would have given a completely unacceptable performance because I had no voice,and croaked like a frog. The audience would have been ( understandably) annoyed at the standard of 'entertainment ', or would have possibly not gone back to the club in future weeks.
Mary

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 04:08 PM

Can't understand that Mary. You and Anahata are very serious artists who would not let somebody down like that. Silly organiser.
You are performing for me next year.
If you phoned me with a week to go, I would consider that I had failed if I couldn't sort the evening out with other artists.
Surely a good organiser has irons in the fire.
I would just book you for a gig at the next convenient time.
Illness etc cannot be avoided and I would be more upset if an artist through illness put on a poor performance just because they thought that they must turn up whatever.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: BB
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 04:25 PM

I've twice been unable to perform through voice problems - the first time we were on tour, so I went along to the gig, but Tom performed solo - thank God he can! But it was obvious that I was unable to perform. The second time, I'd had a general anaesthetic a couple of days previously, and didn't know that they would stick a tube down my throat! They knew I was a singer and had a gig coming up, but didn't warn me that the tube could (and did) scratch my throat. I completely lost the top half of my range, and had to severly curtail the amount of singing I did that night. Again, I'm fortunate in that Tom can carry an evening on his own if necessary.

Barbara

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 05:22 PM

Have you wound up anybody's clock lately Barbara :-)

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Cats
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 05:55 PM

Last month I did a gig with the rest of Cornwall songwriters and I had had virtually no voice for nearly a week. So, what did I do? I mimed joining in the choruses and just before the three songs I do either on my own or with one of the others, I took a huge swig of Buttercup syrup!! I got through a whole bottle in 2 hours. I managed to sing gently but had absolutley no voice whatsoever for over a week and spent the next 24 hours on the loo suffering the after effects of too much syrup! Really, I was a fool and shouldn't have done it. Someone else in the show could have sung my part. Although I did get one amazing response - if you sing like that without a voice, I can't wait to hear you when you have it all back! don't be rash. YTraet your voice with care, it's the only one you have. As for migraine, that's a totally different matter. If I had had a migraine that night I would not have been able to move, let alone sing, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Gypsy
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 10:20 PM

'ats right. Migraine is the only things that will stop me from playing.........not the pain, am accustomed to that, but cannot imagine cleaning the mess of throwing up on my hammered dulcimer!

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 02:01 AM

I've never missed a gig because of illness in 34 years, knock wood.
I've missed for a few other reasons, though.
When my parents died; caught in a blizzard on the way to the gig; flights grounded because of weather. I managed to call the venue and let them know the situation each time.
Once, I was doing a "reunion" show in Connecticut with my former partner, when I became sick on stage. Not puking, but I could feel a flu coming on, with a raging fever followed by the chills, headaches, cramps and the Hershey Squirts. Sweating one minute, shivering the next. The audience didn't notice it, though, and I got through the night.
Thank God for my partner, Tom O'Carroll. When I had to leave the stage to go to the head, I'd announce that "Tom is gonna do the next one on his own," or," here's Tom with another fine banjo solo."
he saved my underwear that night.

Seamus

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: fiddler
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 03:54 AM

I've skimmed over this thread and seen the opinions - much as expected. When I worked in Stage (Opera) we used to cal the thing stage Doctor - It is amazing how many stories exist of performers hwo have got off their sick (in some cases death) bed (probably architypal myth and legend) and given the performance to end all then gone back to bed and the audience never knew. Adrenaline dulls some aspects of illness and sharpens you in other areas.

I've never cnacelled yet - though I've tried occasionally - I once did i gig (calling) where when I was not on stage I was wrapped in a blanket in the corner drinking hot lemon - The audience were unaware - the organisors found out at the end when the rest of the band packed my stuff up and offered to drive me home!

I have a very serious contract to perform for a few hunderd people there is no get out clause!

Call me a fool if you will - I don't mind1

Andy

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Chris Green
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 11:12 AM

It depends on the kind of gig, I think. I do quite a lot of mediaeval banquets and other 'job gigs' and I've cancelled a couple through illness as there's a kind of a network of musicians who do them and finding a replacement is generally not a problem. The audience don't turn up to see a specific artist (actually the audience don't really turn up to listen to the music at all!)

However with band gigs it's a bit different. If I pull out of a gig, that decision impacts on the other band members as well as the audience - they get cancelled and lose money through no fault of their own. I think I'd probably only cancel if it were impossible for me to perform (ie - a broken finger or something). I did a couple of festivals this summer with some horrible virus thing - the adrenaline carried me through the gigs and I just flaked out the rest of the time!

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: black walnut
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 01:39 PM

If I have a gig, I usually have to drive to get to it. If I'm too sick to drive safely, then I'm not going to drive. If I had an accident and killed or maimed somebody, I could hardly say that getting to the gig, so as not to disappoint the audience, was worth the attempt. No way, no concert is worth putting lives in jeopardy.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: fiddler
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 02:07 PM

NO disagreement there BW!

A

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: BB
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 04:03 PM

No, Les - it's *my* clock that's supposed to be wound up! And it's doing very nicely, thank you!

Barbara

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

Whoooooo lucky you :-)

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Rasener
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 04:52 PM

It's Tom I suppose ha ha ha

Subject: RE: What happens if you're sick at gig-time?
From: Pauline L
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 05:22 PM

B.W., you're so right about not driving when you can't do so safely. Of course, as we've discussed, driving or doing anything else with a migraine is impossible.

Pauline

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.