Appropriate time to set up before a gig?

[neddyrow]

i prefer to set up early.

i can do without out all the people in the way and definitely do without all the dirty looks and comments about how we are an inconvenience to their social time.

i am always surprised at how many people just roll in and set up an hour before the show. "have you guys ever been harassed by patrons when setting up?" "do you just not care?"

 

[sludgetail]

In situations like these, I always think 'down the line' and that's truly what you should consider if like you said -- the market for venues is few and far between in your area...

Questions I would ask *myself:

• Is the owner a guy I can build a relationship with -- not only for this band, but for future bands?
• Can I bite the bullet on this and play for cheap beer / no pay and will he appreciate it, and can it lead to other 'paying' opportunities or allow me to play originals with the band at this venue in the future?
• Does this guy hang or keep a network of other club/bar owners close by and can he get my foot in the door with them (and possibly a paying opportunity) if I do a great job on this gig?

There are more questions I'm sure, but if you're able to leverage this as an opportunity, rather than see it as a hassle (which I get that it is), then you may come out on top in the future... that said, it all depends on the owner and whether he/she is receptive to a relationship, or just turns/burns bands/entertainment and is of the 'you play for cheap beer and on my time schedule' forever mindset.... that's for you to decide though brother....

I would say try to build a relationship, especially if like you said it's a tight town and there aren't a lot of venues. With the right person on the other end who appreciates it, you get some patrons in there having fun, dancing, spending on liquor and the guy is now willing to pay or offer better slots/conditions in the future. Good luck brother!

 

[Turbo Sparky]

I have a gig tomorrow with a cover band I recently joined. We'll be playing a medium sized bar, for no pay other than cheap beer, which I won't be drinking since I'll be driving. The show is scheduled to start at 10:30. The bar owner wants us to be there at 6:00, because the bar opens at 7:00. I haven't played many of these kinds of cover band in a bar type gigs so I was wondering if this is normal.

It seems too early. I'm not crazy about having to kill four hours and also putting my car in a parking lot for that time. Any advice?

In my experience, wee that it is, if there is a dedicated "sound guy" the venue may want to get it all set without "disturbing" the patrons.
Are you the only band? Is there a "promoter" involved? Backlining?
I've only played 2 or 3 shows like that...it sucks, but sometimes that's the way it is. Look at the Brightside, your bass will of had plenty of time to acclimate and settle.
Good luck!

 

[MrLenny1]

I'd stay home based on what the owner wants.
My rule for years now has been one hour.

 

[two fingers]

OK, first off, that's way too early. The gig will wind up taking you over 8 hours from beginning to end.

Now, let's discuss the elephant in the room. You don't have a band leader/manager. You have a doofus who simply has to get his rocks off by playing in front of people. A COVER BAND gig for FREE????? That's just stupid.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do in an originals band. But a cover band playing for free is the height of idiocy.

 

[Wesley R]

Other than weddings where we upped price for such nonsense, we did it once. Imagine a room with over 200 women that have just been watching male strippers and for the most part the women are a tad drunk. We absolutely had to be set up before the male strippers started, and had to hit the stage as the last stripper was walking to the dressing room.

 

[bherman]

In a prior band, we did it (set up most of the gear - pa, etc) in the afternoon) and showed up an hour before the music started. And yes, it was a restaurant until 8-9 or so; we got paid pretty well; and had a tab for food and beer, to compensate for early setup.

 

[arbiterusa]

They want you in and set up and soundchecked before anyone comes in. Totally reasonable back in the old days when you'd get booked into a place for a week. But for a one-nighter and no pay? I wouldn't do it. But that's me; I've played hundreds of gigs and the novelty wore off a long time ago, and I'm older. Picky, if you will. Might be worth it for you, especially if gigs are as hard to come by as you say.

 

[arbiterusa]

Having a venue make excessive demands on a band is not unusual.

That's not the same thing as saying it's acceptable.

I want these to be the very first words of the book "Gigging 101".

 

[MF-Winzlow]

They want you in early so that you can buy some (maybe a lot) of "premium" stuff.
Bar = business = selling drinks. You are not an unpaid band - you are customers who happen to supply free music.

 

[Sparkl]

I have a gig tomorrow with a cover band I recently joined. We'll be playing a medium sized bar, for no pay other than cheap beer, which I won't be drinking since I'll be driving. The show is scheduled to start at 10:30. The bar owner wants us to be there at 6:00, because the bar opens at 7:00. I haven't played many of these kinds of cover band in a bar type gigs so I was wondering if this is normal.

It seems too early. I'm not crazy about having to kill four hours and also putting my car in a parking lot for that time. Any advice?

I would say that 6.00 is no problem - for 700$. No pay? Not even free but "cheap" beer? What kind of a bar is this

I would simply say, thank you but no thank you.

 

[Vinny Vincenzo]

NO WAY!

 

[obimark]

I have a gig tomorrow with a cover band I recently joined. We'll be playing a medium sized bar, for no pay other than cheap beer, which I won't be drinking since I'll be driving. The show is scheduled to start at 10:30. The bar owner wants us to be there at 6:00, because the bar opens at 7:00. I haven't played many of these kinds of cover band in a bar type gigs so I was wondering if this is normal.

It seems too early. I'm not crazy about having to kill four hours and also putting my car in a parking lot for that time. Any advice?

HELL NO would I show up 4.5 hours early to play a free gig. I'd show up around 9:30, setup my bass gear in 15 minutes and be ready to go.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

As has been said, I think it's too early for a free gig.

We allow 2 hours pre start time for every gig. If it's a normal load in we can usually haul in the gear, set up and sound check/be ready in under an hour. The other hour is social time for us, maybe eat, talk to people we might know that are there, etc.

If you just joined this band is this normal for them. Maybe there's a reason for this extra time, I don't know. Use it as a learning experience and make decisions after it's over. If you're the new guy sounds like you have questions that need to be answered going forward.

 

[lokikallas]

Yeah, no, not happening. 1- 1.5 hours is enough to setup PA on sticks and my own gear. unless there is a legitimate soundcheck with a FOH guy, in which case, why am I not being payed?

 

[pappabass]

One hour is always good. Our gig start time has changed to 7:00 p.m.. By issue is that I do not get home from work until 6 o'clock p.m.

 

[pbassnut]

I have a gig tomorrow with a cover band I recently joined. We'll be playing a medium sized bar, for no pay other than cheap beer, which I won't be drinking since I'll be driving. The show is scheduled to start at 10:30. The bar owner wants us to be there at 6:00, because the bar opens at 7:00. I haven't played many of these kinds of cover band in a bar type gigs so I was wondering if this is normal.

It seems too early. I'm not crazy about having to kill four hours and also putting my car in a parking lot for that time. Any advice?

That's not a gig ... that's band abuse. I would balk.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Modern gear is a lot more load in and hit go than it used to be. Maybe you can just tell BL you will be walking in with your suitcase rig, take it or leave it.

Any advice?

Think about how badly you want this gig first.

 

[SoCal80s]

At this point it's too late. Do the gig as requested, and then have a serious conversation with the band leader about future bookings. Even for a band that is just starting out, this is unreasonable. AND the band leader should have found out about this before accepting the gig and should tell you about it before asking you to commit to it.

To answer the main question, there are some places that want you to set up early so you are not dragging gear between tables while people are eating. I get that, and for a PAYING gig I can live with it. You go set up on time, then go home and change into your stage clothes, have some dinner or whatever, then come back to do the show. But for any non-paying gig that is too much to ask.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I have a gig tomorrow with a cover band I recently joined. We'll be playing a medium sized bar, for no pay other than cheap beer, which I won't be drinking since I'll be driving. The show is scheduled to start at 10:30. The bar owner wants us to be there at 6:00, because the bar opens at 7:00. I haven't played many of these kinds of cover band in a bar type gigs so I was wondering if this is normal.

It seems too early. I'm not crazy about having to kill four hours and also putting my car in a parking lot for that time. Any advice?

4 hours does seem like a long time, but.... even though you are playing for free, you are a guest there. My advice is to appoint somebody who can appreciate the free beer (in moderation of course, ahem) have him stand guard over the gear, then the rest of you get lost somewhere like a nice dinner, see the local sites, go to a park, driving range, batting cages, a movie......