Asked to stop!

sound of bass · #1 11-14-2010, 12:48 PM

Our band was asked / booked to do a benefit show last night, with several other acts. Since these other acts were mostly acoustice, we let the organizers know that we were a rock n roll band and wouldnt be following the "theme" for the night. They were cool with that, and we were playing last anyway, approx. 9pm. Sooo, we get together early for a quick rehearse., pack it all up, get to VERY popular local venue / bar at 430 like we were asked, to set up since we had the most gear. Then hung out patronizing the bar for nearly 5 hourse til our spot. After our first song Fully Alive" by Flyleaf, we were asked to turn down..we did. After the 2nd song, one of our originals, we were told to trun down again..we did. Then after 3rd song "Scars" by Papa Roach...really not that heavy, we were asked to stop and leave! ***? We were sought out for this, we all arranged schedules to do this, we hauled everything, our time and energy we were "donating", wasted time for 5 hours waiting to play, only to be squashed like that! I was really, really pissed about it last night, but today, Im laughing because I really feel like we were validated as a rock n roll band,lol. But, they could have been respectful, considering we were "donating" our time etc. What do you think?

GlennW · #2 11-14-2010, 12:54 PM

I think next time y'all will know better than to be the only heavy band playing with a bunch of acoustic acts. Look on the bright side, at least they didn't pay you less than was agreed.

steveksux · #3 11-14-2010, 01:35 PM

Next time ask "how much should we turn down". "Is it instruments, vocals, everything causing the issue?"

Apparently you were way too loud, and didn't turn down enough to satisfy them. Poor communication on both your parts led to misunderstanding.

Must have been clear to them after asking twice in two songs to turn down that you weren't going to get anywhere near where they wanted you to be.

Randy

Stick_Player · #4 11-14-2010, 01:38 PM

Of course you left with your cartage fee (remember, you play for free)?

plangentmusic · #5 11-14-2010, 02:00 PM

Seems pretty obvious. You knew you weren't the right type of act and you were right. They didn't like it.

**lowfreqgeek** · #6 11-14-2010, 02:05 PM

I've been in a band asked to leave because we weren't playing our music fast enough. It was a paid gig and we still got paid, though (Casino gig...).

I've also (with the same band) been asked to turn down to the point where the unamplified voice, acoustic guitar and mandolin were still "too loud".

Can't please everyone all the time.

sound of bass · #7 11-14-2010, 02:24 PM

All good points. But they did know ahead of time what we were bringing, it really wasnt the sound levels as much as..well...just heavy songs...rock n roll. Yes, wrong crowd, we knew it, but thought we would at least been given the opportunity to play since it takes alot of effort. There was a conflict between the organizers, one asked us to stay, but the other, and I guess senior one didnt, as well as audience members. Several yelled out not to turn down, and then yelled not to quit but there was no point in continuing. In the end, im new to gigging, and Im lovin' it! This is just another gig story for my memory...good or bad.

plangentmusic · #8 11-14-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sound of bass

All good points. But they did know ahead of time what we were bringing, it really wasnt the sound levels as much as..well...just heavy songs...rock n roll. Yes, wrong crowd, we knew it, but thought we would at least been given the opportunity to play since it takes alot of effort. There was a conflict between the organizers, one asked us to stay, but the other, and I guess senior one didnt, as well as audience members. Several yelled out not to turn down, and then yelled not to quit but there was no point in continuing. In the end, im new to gigging, and Im lovin' it! This is just another gig story for my memory...good or bad.

Never expect the people doing the hiring to know what they're doing or know what they want or know what you mean. You have to learn to read a crowd and please them. That's being a pro.

sound of bass · #9 11-14-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

Never expect the people doing the hiring to know what they're doing or know what they want or know what you mean. You have to learn to read a crowd and please them. That's being a pro.

Yes. We did read the crowd, but we dont have easy listening songs, if we knew any we would have adapted accordingly.

timber22 · #10 11-14-2010, 03:08 PM

Sounds like it was just a bad match of your style with the other acts and what the organizers wanted. I'd just file it away as an experience and move on. Not every gig works out.

sound of bass · #11 11-14-2010, 11:13 PM

On to the next gig.

Marko5657 · #12 11-15-2010, 05:21 AM

When they don’t like the music, it’s always too loud.

Kudos for making the effort.

DWBass · #13 11-15-2010, 05:46 AM

I feel you. Been there before and we're not a rock band. I think it's a good idea for y'all to learn 'un-plugged' versions of your tunes in cases like this. I think all rock bands should.

shadow_FIX · #14 11-15-2010, 05:48 AM

An old band of mine played a show that may have been the exact reverse of your situation.

Us (my high school band, we were pretty good) : Rock/powerpop

The rest of the bands: METALMETALMETAL

We somehow got booked (not by my doing) onto a METAL battle of the bands. Not a good mix...two people listened to us and no, we did not place in the battle lol. I love metal, but powerpop is definitely not metal.

gareth dunster · #15 11-15-2010, 06:02 AM

They got what they paid for.

plangentmusic · #16 11-15-2010, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sound of bass

Yes. We did read the crowd, but we dont have easy listening songs, if we knew any we would have adapted accordingly.

When I say "read the crowd" I mean be able to adapt to what they want. Just knowing that they don't want what you do doesn't help.

Have you ever seen the movie "The Gig"? Watch it.

PJSShearer · #17 11-15-2010, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko5657

When they don’t like the music, it’s always too loud.

... and that is about the size of it!!.

tdub0199 · #18 11-15-2010, 09:05 AM

sounds like whoever organized this show was a complete DA!!! they should have known better to mix bands of the like.....

jgroh · #19 11-15-2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

I feel you. Been there before and we're not a rock band. I think it's a good idea for y'all to learn 'un-plugged' versions of your tunes in cases like this. I think all rock bands should.

I agree, and you have to read the situation. I dont know about having alternative versions of every song but for example, we played an outside gig (at a nudist resort

) and it starts pouring rain. They have an outside bar that is covered and thats where everyone went, so we grabbed the acoustic guitar and went there and did acoustic versions of some songs until the rain let up. It was quick thinking and not something we did before. This is good experience for the future.

Step · #20 11-15-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdub0199

sounds like whoever organized this show was a complete DA!!! they should have known better to mix bands of the like.....

on the other hand... I'd never ever consider papa roach and flyleaf rock 'n roll. If you told me there was a rock n roll band playing i'd expect some bluesy 70's-80's rock stuff