If Someone Walks up on Stage . . .

[Mark Stone]

. . . . and asks if they can play your guitar for a few minutes, would you let them?

Since my main stage instrument these days is a relatively humble Taylor 110e that is already a little banged up, I usually say yes. In the days that my main squeeze was a Gibson, I’d say “maybe” - when I was using an 814ce a definite NO. But these days? Yeah, have at it So, would you let them?

[guitom]

It’s happened. No.

[slimey]

My question is " why"

[Skarsaune]

A random someone? Heck no. If it's a gig, I'm getting paid to entertain. This ain't karaoke.

If it's one of my local musician friends, sure.

[Racerbob]

Back in the day when played in a band at paying gigs we would occasionally get the request. Usually alcohol was involved. We said we were a union band and asked if they had a current musician's union card. No one ever did, easy way to settle the issue.

[jricc]

Politely I say, no.

Inevitably they'll ask why, I say I'm sorry but I'm working.

[lowrider]

How drunk is he?

[Bob from Brooklyn]

They get this..

[davenumber2]

Keef knows what to do.

LOL. Bob beat me to it.

[Wade Hampton]

Letting some random drunk from the audience play your guitar is a quick way to get decades’ worth of scratches on the top in just five minutes. That’s a big no from me.


Wade Hampton Miller

[frankmcr]

yeah, uh, no.

[Goat Mick]

During my gig? No. Before I start or on my break and they want to try out my guitar, yeah if they're not obviously drunk. But unless it's someone I know well, they're not taking over my stage for even a song or two on my break.

[Charlie Bernstein]

I've never had anyone walk on stage to ask to play my guitar. That seems vanishingly unlikely. But I have had people ask when I wasn't on stage. I used to say yes, until:

I was at a weekly electric blues jam at a popular bar. One of the regulars asked to play my guitar, and I let him. He played his three songs and brought the guitar back to me. No problem.

But then a falling-down drunk I'd never seen before came up to me and asked to play it. I said no. He balled up his fists, leaned in close enough I could smell the Bud, and said, "Why not? You let him play it!"

I thought for a second and said, "Yeah. But I owe him money."

It worked. But I don't want to assume it'll always work.

[Monty Christo]

"Sorry. You should bring yours next time."

[jaymarsch]

If I know them, then yes. If not and I have time to chat with them for a minute about why they want to play it, then maybe. Every situation is different so my answer is that it would depend on the circumstances.
Best,
Jayne