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02-16-2006, 02:55 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia | | | I've finally made it - I've got a ROADIE!
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My new gig is so incredibly aswome, I have to share! Not only do they pay a rather generous rate per gig, and not only do they have plenty of gigs, but they also have a roadie. I feel like a rock star in a way. I turn up to the gig and my rig is set up and ready to go. Bass is in tune, soundcheck is completed, everything! Similarly, at the end of the gig, all I have to do is put my bass in it's stand and walk away. Someone else packs it all up and carries it to the van where it will stay until the next gig. It's too easy!
But wait, there's more. We did a road trip for a gig in big country town. The next day, we all sat down to breakfast and before we knew what was happening, owner of the band had sneaked away and paid for everyones meals. I of course tried to pay him for my share but he wouldn't take my money. That's what I call looking after your people!
But wait, there's more. A few hours later I arrived home and got a phone call from the band owners. They've decided to offer musicians earplugs for everyone in the band at their expense. There's 6 in the band and those things aren't cheap. I had a set made up a few years ago and they were AUS$180 back then, probably more now.
I've only been doing the gig for a few weeks and I'm already planning to stay with this band for the rest of my gigging days. The previous bass player stayed with the band for 12 years. That's a long time in anyone's language, a sure sign this is a gig worth hanging on to 
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02-16-2006, 02:58 PM
|  | Life is Tough. Laugh more. Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island, USA | | | Yer workin yer ole lady awful hard making her do all that
heavy lifting, Pete.
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02-16-2006, 03:51 PM
| | Registered User
Wouldn't you like to know?! | | Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Atlanta | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Thor Yer workin yer ole lady awful hard making her do all that
heavy lifting, Pete. | 
That's great, Pete.
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There's a reason why women love us bass players.The tone is like Barry White's voice, and the strings are thick like Ron Jeremy's...well, you get the point.
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02-16-2006, 04:02 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada | | | What is the gig? What type of band and what type of venues? |
02-16-2006, 04:13 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Smallmouth_Bass What is the gig? What type of band and what type of venues? | That's what makes it all a bit mind-boggling for me. I've always associated this sort of treatment with bands that have successful albums and are famous. In this case, it's just a covers band, with a twist. They do mostly medleys. The songs themselves are corny retro and not challenging, but the transitions from song to song make it a tricky gig. So does the sheer volume of medleys. There are so many, I wonder if I'm ever going to memorise them all.
The work is probably 50% corporate and private functions, and 50% night clubs and bars. The corporate work is very lucrative. It pays very well but is therefore very hard to get into. Fortunately for me, the band has been around forever and are very much in demand in that clique.
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Last edited by Petebass : 02-16-2006 at 04:16 PM.
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02-16-2006, 06:09 PM
| | | | Roadies are great, but where are the groupies? |
02-16-2006, 06:32 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada | | | Very cool! It's surprising how rewarding a covers band can actually be, even when playing tired old material. For the most part, I've been involved with original bands or bands that pretty much jam/warp existing non-popular songs. In the last couple of years I have been playing straight up classic rock and crowd pleasers. I get my energy off the crowd and them enjoying it and putting on a good performance rather than the material so much. Now if I could just get a roadie and get paid... |
02-16-2006, 07:07 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ferndale, MI | | wow -- you are living the dream! Congratz, man! Quote: |
Originally Posted by Skeletomania Roadies are great, but where are the groupies? | Well, the roadies will give you more time to get with the groupies!  |
02-16-2006, 07:12 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tulsa, OK USA | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by ikareru wow -- you are living the dream! Congratz, man!
Well, the roadies will give you more time to get with the groupies! | There ya go.
It's amazing how much more socializin you can get done when you don't have to load out!
Roadies kick ass. Take care of them, and they will take care of you. |
02-16-2006, 10:09 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Glendale & La Jolla, CA | | No pic no roadie. 
Just kidding, that's pretty cool dude. |
02-17-2006, 06:47 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacific Northwet, USA | | | I work in a tribute band that has full production including roadies. the one thing I personally do is tip the roadies from my own pocket BEFORE the shows. It makes a world of difference to me and them.
sounds like a cool gig... congrats and good luck!!! |
02-17-2006, 08:35 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wimberley, TX | | | thats wonderful man, good for you! good luck. |
02-17-2006, 10:14 AM
| | I call shotgun! | | Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Columbia MD USA | | I need me one of them roadies. I sometimes take my 15 son to gigs and he ends up helping the drummer.
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02-17-2006, 10:23 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edinboro, PA | | | Man, that's awesome. If I had a roadie, I would never stop thanking him... I hate hauling gear, by time it's rockin' time, I've used up a bulk of my insane bottled up energy.
That's sweet though, jealous is I.
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02-17-2006, 11:14 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Wausau, WI | | | Congrats!
Man, when I was younger and travelling on the road, playing full time, we had to turn down all the people who wanted to be a part of the road crew!
But back then I was younger and we really didn't need them. Now that I'm older, and could really use them...now I have to haul it myself!
That's just too cool that you have roadies. I've often said I now play music for free...it's the gear hauling and setup/tear-down that I get paid for.
Makes me think about just hiring someone to do it for me...even if the band doesn't have their own!
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fEARful...that's about as good as it gets.
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02-19-2006, 01:16 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by B-NoteCowboy Roadies kick ass. Take care of them, and they will take care of you. | Noted! We did a bit of a road trip this weekend so the whole band and crew spent a lot of time together. As it turns out, the roadie and I get along like a house on fire. I found myself making sure he was never hungry, never thirsty, and never left out of the fun and games. He seemed to appreciate that. And despite giving him my heavier gear, I went to the trouble of installing wheels and decent handles. He couldn't stop thanking me for making his life that little bit easier.
Even the sound crew are good blokes, as are the band members. Things are so much easier when everyone gets along!
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02-19-2006, 02:56 AM
| | Registered User
Independent Manufacturers Representative | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Frisco, Texas | | | That's awesome Pete! What's the name of your band by the way, and do you have a website you would like to share? |
02-19-2006, 04:45 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia | | way to go man!!
sounds like you'll be having a blast |
02-19-2006, 12:35 PM
|  | Moderator
Endorsing Artist: Martin Keith Guitars Moderator | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Long Island, NY | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by FriscoBassAce That's awesome Pete! What's the name of your band by the way, and do you have a website you would like to share? | What he said.
Congratulations!
Marshall |
02-19-2006, 04:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by FriscoBassAce That's awesome Pete! What's the name of your band by the way, and do you have a website you would like to share? | If you marketing students ever needed proof that a band name is what you make it, here's a perfect example......
The band is called Jellybean Jam! http://www.jellybeanjam.com.au/
Obviously I'm not on the website yet. I replace the guy in the red (Rob). He's a good player and a hell of a nice guy so they're big shoes to fill.
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