Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
40 Degrees....too cold to play outside?
- Thread starter 51PRI
- Start date
Wind is a killer. But, depending on the setting, a cold crisp night can make for a great gig. Personally, I have a 10 lb propane tank and propane heater for such occasions I’m not a fan of being too cold for an extended time. Propane heater will keep you nice and toasty.
I survived a (3) 45minute sets at less than 20 degrees light flurries wind and uphill both ways…. Seriously, it was cold for sure but the problem was nobody wanted to be outside and the event was poorly attended, like 6 people. The organizer made us play the entire night anyway, although he left after two or three songs.
I agree fully. Most of the time the weather is a damper on the crowd. I’m normally the consummate professional, but there was a one off gig where we setup on a deck far away from the main facility, under a small covering. The cold wind and rain started coming down hard after the 2nd song and all the attendees went inside to a quaint bar. I suggested to the coordinator that we relocate to that same bar. But, the coordinator said she really wanted us out on the deck. So, I made her an offer… we relocate to the bar or I refund the fee and the band goes home. After strong arming her into making the only sensible decision, the gig turned out fantastic and everyone was happy. At this stage of my careers, I’m too wise to make the band spend 4 hours in inclement weather at the whim of some coordinator
Last edited:
Good story. Glad you got it worked out. Mine was in Pittsburgh at Market Square in the mid 1970’s. I had another cold weather sort of engagement. this one was when I was a Junior in high school.I agree fully. Most of the time the weather is a damper on the crowd. I’m normally the consummate professional, but there was a one off gig where we setup on a deck far away from the main facility, under a small covering. The cold wind and rain started coming down hard after the 2nd song and all the attendees went inside to a quaint bar. I suggested to the coordinator that we relocate to that same bar. But, the coordinator said she really wanted us out on the deck. So, I made her an offer… we relocate to the bar or I refund the fee and the band goes home. After strong arming her into making the only sensible decision, the gig turned out fantastic and everyone was happy. At this stage of my careers, I’m too wise to make the band spend 4 hours in inclement weather at the whim of some coordinator
Our marching band played the halftime show of a Steelers-Browns game. For the day we imported 20,000 or so highly inebriated Brown fans and since the the Steelers were at the end of their worst season since the Card-Pitts of the WWII era.
Normally we opened our show with a cannon blast that shot smoking rags 60 yards between the 20s. After the blast we’s come marching out onto the field from the sideline to a rousing Roman epic piece. However, thanks to the snow that happened overnight and some rowdy Clevelandites with too much time on their hands and too little sobriety, decided that this cannon was fair game for a snowball fight. One well place snowball managed to to dampen the fuse causing it not to go off on cue. Due to consideration for the broadcasting aspect of we had to clear the field at a set time, we played on without it.
At the end of our show we were standing on the home sideline, players are back along the bench warming up for the second half. What we didn’t know was that our cannon operators were busy while we were playing our tunes and re-fused the cannon. Now this cannon was loaded with two pounds of black gunpowder had a bore of about 2.5 inches and when it goes off, it’s LOUD! When one in not expecting it..well looking up in the stand there were beer cups flying screaming and programs flinging in the air. Players jumping around like they were walking on coals. Quite an experience.
Last edited:
We did one like this last December and it was right around 38 degrees. I kept waiting for the venue to cancel.
But the show went on, we did have a decent heater and it was under a small tent with sides so it took the edge off.
It's a small venue and no inside space for a band.
The only audience outside was people smoking and then going back in. People did come out afterwards and said we sounded great from inside. It was right up there in the top 10 of worst gigs ever for me. Getting paid was the highlight.
But the show went on, we did have a decent heater and it was under a small tent with sides so it took the edge off.
It's a small venue and no inside space for a band.
The only audience outside was people smoking and then going back in. People did come out afterwards and said we sounded great from inside. It was right up there in the top 10 of worst gigs ever for me. Getting paid was the highlight.
Cold isn't much of an issue. I've lived in New England; I have coats and hats and gloves.
Wet - that's an issue. I played one gig under a tent, 40 degrees and soft drizzle. I was on the end, so my right side got sopping wet. (I can't remember if this was the gig where we had to wear undersized bright red plastic cowboy hats or not - ahh society gigs!) It was a Christmas tree lighting at a local shopping center, so there was still some sort of crowd.
That's pretty crazy. Hope it was at least a good paying gig.
Reasonably well for starving artists..lol…The gig was booked well in advance. What happened with the weather just happened to be happenstance, and as the old saying goes “the show must go on”.
Last edited:
It was one a series of events with the city parks and recreation through out the year. if I remember right through out the year they contributed a significant amount to our overall revenue stream and were not about to stiff them.
Mostly these wereout door concerts during better weather. Two of 6 events broke out in gang fights. And our last one was on a party liner that cruised the rivers of Pittsburgh as we played. The electricity on the boat came from a generator running off the engine so the current varried with the rpms of the engine somewhat. Not enough to effect our amps, but enough to effect the pitch of our Hammond B3 that has a sound generator dependent on steady current levels.
fwiw last night's outdoor gig was hovering around 50°F during our final set ...and while it was tolerable onstage while playing/moving, as soon as we stopped I realized I was freezing.
(The fact that there were only 5 people left in the audience by the end of that set should have been the giveaway.)
40°F would have definitely sucked.
(The fact that there were only 5 people left in the audience by the end of that set should have been the giveaway.)
40°F would have definitely sucked.
