I will probably get responses that are too late to help me now, but hopefully I can plan ahead for next time.

I was scheduled to do a wedding this weekend -- rehearsal tonight, wedding tomorrow night.

Yesterday I woke up with a sudden stomach bug, and later ran a temp of 102.5. I could barely get out of bed, let alone make phone calls or even think clearly about the weekend.

Today I no longer have a fever, but do not feel great by any means. I'm very weak and still achy. I started the day by trying to find other pianists in the area and asking if they could take the job for me. So far, everyone who responded is already booked, not surprisingly.

What do you do in a situation like this? Just push through? Should I tell her I'm sick and that I can't come to the rehearsal, but I'll be better for the ceremony (and then give her half off the price)??? (I've never done a wedding without being at the rehearsal before). Any other ideas?? How do you handle it when you get sick?

Redhead

how awful.. I don't know.. do my best to get a substitute is all you can do.

i think i'd play. I can't even imagine tho.

Well, what ended up happening was that I got a little better through the afternoon, and was "good enough" to take a Tylenol and attend as though nothing was wrong.

It was a good thing it wasn't the day earlier, though -- no way could I have done that with nausea and a 102.5 fever!

Redhead

It's a tough call. I went to a gig once, and had to find a bathroom on the way there (you don't want to know more).

I played the gig, and when we were done I passed out, in slow motion, onto the keyboard. Luckily my wife was there to drive me home.

I played a gig once when I was quite sick. Looking back, I really should have cancelled, and I will in the future.

The reasons I didn't cancel were:
1. That particular band doesn't play often, and I'm the bandleader so there was no getting a sub.
2. I didn't want to disappoint fans who went out of their way to be there.
3. I didn't want to damage my relationship with the venue.

In the end, I gave such a weak performance that I would have been better off canceling. I haven't been able to book that venue since.

I don't know how often you work with them and how well they know your playing. But if you don't play well because you are sick, it might give a bad impression about your ability. If they know you well enough, they might understand you were just having a bad day. The problem is that people are going to remember you not playing well, and not the fact that you were sick.

It also depends on how difficult the gig is.. if it's a easy gig you can do in your sleep, then it shouldn't matter whether you are sick or not. I guess it's up to you to decide just how well you will be able to play the material when you aren't doing so well physically.