Between sets

[jaywa]

I talk to people who are there to see the band and find out what songs they would like to hear, thank them for coming, ask them if they are having a good time, etc. The audience members want to feel special and appreciated. If somebody requests a song we play, I get it into the next set and dedicate it to them. After all, they could go spend their money watching another band.

This is what I do too... on the nights when we're going over well and I'm feeling sociable.

Other nights I just a grab a beer, find an unused table someplace and chill out alone or with other bandmates. If it's nice outside I'll step out for some air. About 5-10 minutes before we go back on I go onstage and check tuning.

 

[T40Chump]

I listen to my drummer complain about the last set while I enjoy a frosty beverage and then I go pee.

 

[HeadyVan Halen]

2 lines of blow...3 pulls from a goofy cig..pound 2 shots of Petron...lurk in strangers pictures...shoot 38 cc's of Horse....grab a big pinch of Cope...huff large amounts of Mineral Spirits found under bathroom sink...tune up.

 

[deepBassie]

Find a quiet zone, a wee bit of attitude adjustment, a few deep breaths, tune me axe, stretch the fingers & forearms, let the guitarist(s) deal with public relations, and be ready jump back into the fray at the drop of a hat.

 

[electracoyote]

Drink. Tell stupid jokes. Press the flesh and endear the patrons to my band.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Depends on the gig/act/band

Last gig I did I was a sub, no one knew me so they all hung out and pretty much excluded me. So I pulled out my paperback and had a soda (I don't drink when I play...)

 

[mboogiemanusa]

Tune up, drink a water, pee. There is always one bass guitar geek in the room. The one bass guitar geek will approach me between a set and let me know how awesome my bass playing sounds. Of course I'm just an average player but always enjoy talking bass with the only bass geek in the club.

 

[fhm555]

Lol...I don't know how cut out for the cover thing I am anymore...

While it's not a problem with covers exactly, I feel you on the "not sure if I'm cut out" thing. I was having a lot of fun with this current thing because I was playing with a really good pedal steel player in a hardcore no apologies country band. We recently added a third guitar player and it is turning into nights of endless top 40 southern rock and countrypop covers with maybe one or two good country steel tunes thrown in. I got interested because of the country music and the steel and now it's turned into a grind.

Oh and between sets...load and unload liquid refreshment, tune, sit down, and last weekend at least, wish I was someplace else.

 

[jaywa]

While it's not a problem with covers exactly, I feel you on the "not sure if I'm cut out" thing. I was having a lot of fun with this current thing because I was playing with a really good pedal steel player in a hardcore no apologies country band. We recently added a third guitar player and it is turning into nights of endless top 40 southern rock and countrypop covers with maybe one or two good country steel tunes thrown in.

Three guitars and a steel player? Good grief man, how many people are in your band? You must be walking away with like $32 a night each.

 

[fhm555]

Three guitars and a steel player? Good grief man, how many people are in your band? You must be walking away with like $32 a night each.

Sorry, it was originally a 4 piece, bass, drums, rhythm guitar player, and a steel player. The steel player would play lead when he was not playing steel, then we added another guitar and since we don't play much which requires a steel we wound up with three guitars. Two alternating leads and a rhythm. It works for most of the chicken fried rock but it can really make some of the pseudo countrypop we do get long and tiresome. What really turned it off for me was when it began to morph into a (little) head bumping contest between the leads.

Oh and as for the dough, it's a house thing starts at 6 and ends promptly at 10:30 friday and saturday. We work for the door and since word got around there is (or was) a crackin little country band in the neighborhood, the money has been good enough to overlook the crash and burn I know is coming when the friendly little 6 string ego war finally reaches critical mass, but it was more of a way to knock the dust off and get back in playing shape after laying out since 99 than it was about the money. The hardcore country and steel aspect where just icing on the cake for me.

The good news is my brother told some of our old friends I was back playing and there have been some inquiries as to my plans so it shouldn't be too tough to find a situation with less drama and more fun.

My new first rule this time around is it's all about the fun. When that goes away, so do I. The money is cool and it's nice to once again have a bit of a get out of town by sundown stash no one knows about but me, although I usually wind up using it to buy wifey something so it scores me some extra points now and again. In short, the cash I glean from playing these days is strictly mad money.

 

[the yeti]

Feel envious as the guitar player gets laid :/

if he can do that between sets no need to be envious. or maybe you guys should consider shorter breaks?

 

[the yeti]

Drink. Tell stupid jokes. Press the flesh and endear the patrons to my band.

...i go p....

Flirt my ass off.

Schmooze with fans.

Tune, hit the head then visit with the crowd.

all of these ones.

cry deeply

rarely this one, but it happens...

 

[Bassmanbob]

Varies:
pee, chat with those who've come to see our band, get a water and also a club soda with a lime, go for a walk to get some quiet, change my shirt if I've been sweating, talk to band mates

I was once on call and had to go do a consult at the ER. My guitarist filled in for me for about 30 minutes till I got back. After the gig, the guys were nice enough to let me leave without helping the PA break down. I had to go back to the hospital and take the patient to the O.R. Hell... they got home before me.

 

[TC2112]

Varies:
pee, chat with those who've come to see our band, get a water and also a club soda with a lime, go for a walk to get some quiet, change my shirt if I've been sweating, talk to band mates

I was once on call and had to go do a consult at the ER. My guitarist filled in for me for about 30 minutes till I got back. After the gig, the guys were nice enough to let me leave without helping the PA break down. I had to go back to the hospital and take the patient to the O.R. Hell... they got home before me.

Wait a minute -
you left, saw a patient, left the patient to go back and finish the gig, then went back to the O.R.? You rock, Dr. Bob.

 

[Derock85z]

I talk to people who are there to see the band and find out what songs they would like to hear, thank them for coming, ask them if they are having a good time, etc. The audience members want to feel special and appreciated. If somebody requests a song we play, I get it into the next set and dedicate it to them. After all, they could go spend their money watching another band.

QFT

I usually check tuning, grab a drink, a quick smoke, then its off into the audience for this lefty. People like it when you interact with them on and off stage, I've gotten a lot of "fans" by simply talking to them, which is cool to see a familiar face that isn't a direct friend of the band. I enjoy a few local bands, and half the reason I come back to see them is because they are an awesome guys that like to go out and meet people. No since not being personable if your an gigging musician.

 

[jaywa]

The money is cool and it's nice to once again have a bit of a get out of town by sundown stash no one knows about but me, although I usually wind up using it to buy wifey something so it scores me some extra points now and again.

This man is wise...

 

[Corevalay]

Lol. This started as a rant between sets that I decided to take back after the following set because I got 0 responses and it depressed me even more. I don't know how cut out for the cover thing I am anymore. The money helps, but I like doin original music 1000X more. Not sure how people get a rush out of playin covers, but god bless those that do.

I hear ya man. Covers feel like a job, Originals are fun and enjoyable. I need the extra $$ though, so it's definitely not the worst job in the world

 

[JDJen]

Check tuning and ask the drummer what the hell he was thinking.

 

[jaywa]

I enjoy a few local bands, and half the reason I come back to see them is because they are an awesome guys that like to go out and meet people. No since not being personable if your an gigging musician.

This reminds me of last weekend... the first time we had played at this place quite a drive from our hometown. We're loading out and the head bar gal says "hey I just wanted you guys to know you're the most fun band we've ever had here, and really nice guys too." Then she proceeded to name a very very big-name regional band from our area (who charge a sh*t-ton of money) who had played there a few weeks ago and said they were posterior orifices.

Schmoozing the crowd -- and the staff -- does pay off. Make sure to tip well too, even (and especially) if you're being comp'ed.

 

[skwee]

Lol. This started as a rant between sets that I decided to take back after the following set because I got 0 responses and it depressed me even more. I don't know how cut out for the cover thing I am anymore. The money helps, but I like doin original music 1000X more. Not sure how people get a rush out of playin covers, but god bless those that do.

Just remember that a good tune is a good tune, whether you wrote it or not. Maybe I'm a little more oriented toward it because most of the music I perform is already composed, but one way to get out of the rut is to do up some unique arrangements of covers that you can call your own. Then, you're putting more creativity into the tunes than just making it sound close to the record.