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40 Degrees....too cold to play outside?

#42
No
 

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#43
If, and a big if, there enough heaters and wind break that patrons will actually be dining outside, then I'd play that for a decent pay. High school and college bands play football games in colder weather than that in some parts of the country. You need to communicate with them and see what the facilities are. I can't imagine a restaurant hiring a band to play in an area where no one will be sitting.
 
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#44
micguy said:
Unless you're playing after a Packer's game in Green Bay, ....
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Funny you should mention that. Back in the early 80's I played for the Bears (football team) band here in Chicago at the home games. There were times I had to clear snow off of the riser we played on so my amp could stand without falling over. I had all kinds of clothing tricks to survive. I used finger-less gloves when I played and pulled extra large mittens over them when I wasn't playing. I really didn't like that gig (gee .... wonder why) and only did it for one season.
 
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#48
We were on an all day stage with bands playing 1 hour sets, and we were closing the thing that evening. By the time we got up, it was 42F. We played the full set and had 5 people left at the end, but it got us a job at the same place the following spring, which saw nighttime temps in the high 60s and a full house all the way through 2 encores. That said, I wouldn’t play in that kind of cold again unless there was SERIOUS money on the line.
I’ve always been more about the fun of making music than making money, but miserable cold is no fun even if the music is solid, so there are exceptions to that fun first rule.
 
#50
No way. My hands start to seize up when it gets much below 60. I live in Wisconsin. I ride my bike to work every day through summer and winter, so I'm not afraid of the outdoors.

What's the venue trying to do here? The venue doesn't want the band indoors because... you take up space? You're too loud? A better approach would be to see how you can configure the band so the venue would be happy to have you indoors. Probably less gear and less loud. A win-win for everybody.
 
#51
51PRI said:
We have a gig booked for next weekend at a restaurant with an outdoor seating/dining area and a place for a band to set up and play. They have no indoor space for a band. One of our band members has already checked the extended forecast and 40 degrees is predicted that night. He sent out a text to the rest of us asking if 40 degrees is too cold to play. Nobody responded but I think that 40 degrees is too cold for a band to play outside, even with heaters going. This same venue cancelled us last weekend because of rain and storms and the season for gigs here is winding down. I'm thinking that we probably should tough it out and play if only to get us set up for playing there in regular rotation next year.

Thoughts?
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Of course it is too cold. don't some musician unions have a requirement to not play below like 55 degrees? I know few musicians are in a union these days but it at least gives you an idea of a reasonable standard.
 
#55
Yeah it’s absolutely too cold, but I’ve done it. A couple times. Dallas used to have a rock n roll marathon with a stage every mile of the route. We did it twice, loading in before the sun was up and starting about sunrise at 40 degrees one year and 42 degrees the next. It was horrible, especially since we were up on a stage and not even ground level. Just forget about tuning. Don’t bother.
 
#56
51PRI said:
We have a gig booked for next weekend at a restaurant with an outdoor seating/dining area and a place for a band to set up and play. They have no indoor space for a band. One of our band members has already checked the extended forecast and 40 degrees is predicted that night. He sent out a text to the rest of us asking if 40 degrees is too cold to play. Nobody responded but I think that 40 degrees is too cold for a band to play outside, even with heaters going. This same venue cancelled us last weekend because of rain and storms and the season for gigs here is winding down. I'm thinking that we probably should tough it out and play if only to get us set up for playing there in regular rotation next year.

Thoughts?
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I’ve played 3 outdoor performances in my life when it was stupid cold-freezing cold. When I was in high School, I was in marching band and played the halftime show of a Steelers game. It was 19 degrees. The Second one was in a rock band that played 2 hours in the 1970’s @ Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh and is was somewhere around 20 degrees. The last one was in Richmond Virginia, a 3 set Christmas show at an outdoor shopping mall and it was below 20 degrees as well.

It is survivable and not fun. At all! Best advice for cold weather performances, one you absolutely have to have a winter hat preferably that covers your Ears and or a high collar jacket. Dress in layers, several if possible. Two area’s that need to be well insulated, your fore arms particularly your wrists. You don’t do do this your fingers will not work and they will be really cold. The other area is your feet. Wear calf length socks a cotton sock under wool socks. Finally, a little moisturizer or Vaseline on your cheeks and ear tips.

At 40 degrees however, wear a heavy sweater over a flannel shirt over an under shirt. Pants? Heavy material, denim, wool. You will be fine. Absolutely no double knits. (Of course that kind of went away in the 70’s. Thank heavens)
 
#57
51PRI said:
We have a gig booked for next weekend at a restaurant with an outdoor seating/dining area and a place for a band to set up and play. They have no indoor space for a band. One of our band members has already checked the extended forecast and 40 degrees is predicted that night. He sent out a text to the rest of us asking if 40 degrees is too cold to play. Nobody responded but I think that 40 degrees is too cold for a band to play outside, even with heaters going. This same venue cancelled us last weekend because of rain and storms and the season for gigs here is winding down. I'm thinking that we probably should tough it out and play if only to get us set up for playing there in regular rotation next year.

Thoughts?
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turf3 said:
Like others, I'd VERY SERIOUSLY question whether a restaurant with outdoor seating is going to have anyone out there at 40F. Or even 50F.

Now, I've played outdoor gigs in the cold - Christmas tree lightings and the like - where people are moving around and they're properly dressed. I don't find it particularly difficult to PLAY outdoors in the cold. But I'm fat and hairy and I like cold weather and I have a full wardrobe proper for it.
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That is a possibility there could be a lot of empty seats, on the other hand I think that might depend on the venue. I’m pretty sure the management of the venue is not likely pay for a band if they aren’t expecting a reasonable turn out.
 
#59
We played a show for a small town holiday gathering. Stage was an old pontoon boat under an open picnic shelter. It was 40 degrees when set up and got colder as the night wore on. As the first set ended it started snowing - hard. By the time we finished there was 3” of snow on the ground and the temp had dropped below freezing. No heaters were provided. It was not very fun for us or the 17 people that showed up.

We did our job and got paid, but also made sure the organizers knew that we wouldn’t ever play in those conditions again…
 
#60
If the money was good I’d play it. As a consumer, theres no way I’d sit outdoors in that weather and eat or drink. So you probably won’t have an audience. If I was the club manager, I’d cancel the gig.
 

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