All good points here. I have never hit the mute button on a guest singer, but I have been known to play the shortest version of the song ever heard.

Just two weeks ago, a party that was considering hiring me to play for them was at one of my gigs...they had a lady with them that they said was "phenomanol" (sp?).
I caved and invited her up, after first talking to her in private to select song(s), keys, etc.

Turns out she leans heavily to jazz interpretations and has a range that goes from Barry White to Minnie Ripperton. She was jumping octaves and most of the melody lines were so obscure as to be un-identifiable. Now, here is the kicker: The crowd liked her because they thought she was trying to be funny and had the pipes to really mock a song. (Not the reaction I think she was looking for.)

But as UD says, I was viewed as being a good sport by giving her decent backing and sharing the stage with her.

Later SHE asked if she could come up and do some more. But, I noticed a horn player in the room who also asks to sit in...and I said NO. Ya gotta know when to put that foot down and keep control.

Finally, another word about celebrities in the room. NEVER put them on the spot without prior consent...but it is a good idea to talk to them and find out IF they want to be acknowledged or not...or perform.

Don.... do you recall Bobby Lord? He hosted the Opry sometime in the 60s. The only big record he had that I can remember is "Hawkeye". Several years ago some local folks here asked him to do a show and he asked me to back him. It took an afternoon of rehearsal to learn some of his particular songs...the rest were pretty much 3 chord standards. I forget which arranger I was using at the time, probably a PSR 5700, but he was happy and he came off looking like the star he used to be in the Nashville circuit.
Eddie

[This message has been edited by btweengigs (edited 12-02-2002).]