"Check In" here before and after your gigs, Set #2, the sequel!

[PimasterPearson]

I'm playing at a nearby coffee shop tonight- just me, the singer-songwriter-guitarist, and a drummer. I'm not expecting a big crowd, but that's okay. This is our first gig together and for now we're just doing it for fun. If it goes well we might decide to make a permanent band out of it.

 

[gustobassman]

We are playing this today! 3:45... [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] scroll down for bands..

pretty cool, the guy the party is thrown for was a POW so that's why it's called the coming out party. they've been throwing it every year since he got out. Bands this year include RX Bandits, Authority Zero and the Aggrolites. along with localbands such as mine.. Split Finger.. gonna be a blast, will post vids and pics as soon as possible!

G

 

[Winemule]

Halfway through the last set Friday night, very large, very drunk guy walks through the door with a taser. Kept flicking it on and off. I thought very seriously about just putting down my instrument and getting the hell out of there. But I didn't, we finished up, and probably set a load-out speed record. I'm definitely getting too old for this sh*t.

 

[JimB52]

Breastfest went really well, despite the rain and very short set.

 

[rtslinger]

Had a gig last night raining as always when we play this place crazy. The show went well place was packed owner was happy I will have a video later today. Next I have two shows on the same day a outdoor concert in the early evening followed by a club gig that night

 

[jaywa]

Halfway through the last set Friday night, very large, very drunk guy walks through the door with a taser. Kept flicking it on and off. I thought very seriously about just putting down my instrument and getting the hell out of there. But I didn't, we finished up, and probably set a load-out speed record. I'm definitely getting too old for this sh*t.

So any schmoe on the street now can just go out and buy himself a Taser? That's comforting...

 

[KenHR]

The folk group is playing Carmen's again this Friday. This weekend, we received an e-mail from the venue that they were contacted by ASCAP/BMI with the message that, unless they paid an annual fee, they could not feature acts playing cover songs (checked with a lawyer and it's true...they can do that). So 2/3 of our set is gone.

Somehow we're going to stretch 1.5 hours of material into 4. I think our singer might "open" for the group doing a bunch of his own material.

 

[BluesBear]

So any schmoe on the street now can just go out and buy himself a Taser? That's comforting...

Since one does NOT "flick" a Tazer... I suspect what he really had was a Stun Gun often incorrectly identified as a Tazer in many TV shows with morons for weaponology advisers.

But yes, there ARE models of genuine Tazers (Tazer is a registered trademark) that are available for purchase by just about anyone. Except of course for those areas where the government thinks mere civilians shall be deprived the right of self-protection.

 

[BluesBear]

... we received an e-mail from the venue that they were contacted by ASCAP/BMI with the message that, unless they paid an annual fee, they could not feature acts playing cover songs (checked with a lawyer and it's true...they can do that). So 2/3 of our set is gone.

So they actually told you that you couldn't play covers???
Didn't they already know you played covers?

Without the performance license, this also means they can't play CDs or even the radio during hours of operation.
What happens during the band's breaks? Total silence?

If it were me, I'd just play the originals then repeat them all again with the announcement that the managment has deemed that covers are verboten.

Also remember that it is the VENUE'S obligation to pay BMI/ASCAP/SESAC fees. Not yours.

 

[rtslinger]

If they told you you can't play covers and your a cover band walk away from the gig
1.5 hours worth of music is never going work. Cancel the gig and tell the club when they can have cover bands to give you a call. We had a same thing happen and we cancelled.

 

[KenHR]

So they actually told you that you couldn't play covers???
Didn't they already know you played covers?

Without the performance license, this also means they can't play CDs or even the radio during hours of operation.
What happens during the band's breaks? Total silence?

If it were me, I'd just play the originals then repeat them all again with the announcement that the managment has deemed that covers are verboten.

Also remember that it is the VENUE'S obligation to pay BMI/ASCAP/SESAC fees. Not yours.

They weren't aware of the requirement, and they have been hosting bands playing covers and originals for quite some time now with no problem. They just got caught by the music police now. As for us not knowing if they had a license, it honestly hadn't crossed my mind to ask them.

They can play a radio during operation. I've researched the NYS laws in regard to this very thoroughly as a favor to the venue; the senior VP at the company I work for had a major hand in passing legislation to combat ASCAP regarding them shaking down real estate offices for playing music through a little boom box. So I am fully versed on what is and what is not allowed. Note that this is NYS, and laws regarding performance licenses are regulated state by state. People in other states should research their own laws as they can and will vary.

The owners have since told us to play what we wanted and they'd deal with ASCAP, so we're good. Even if we had to do all originals, all three of us write so we have enough non-band material to fill out the time, it would just be like a succession of solo acts.

 

[mikeswals]

Not much to say other than rocked Tacoma's Hells Kitchen lst night.
Crowd was great, all bands did great.

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[KenHR]

Gig on Friday was okay. I got a lot of compliments on my bass playing, and my songs seemed to go over well, but the other guys in the band are having some serious problems acting professionally. As I had to work and these guys apparently forget that every time they book a show (this was scheduled to start at 6:00), I was to show up at 6:30; they were to warm up the crowd before then. I got to the place at 6:15 and they were still setting up. We didn't start until 7, and our singer decided to revamp the setlist at the last minute. I know the restaurant's owners weren't happy with our set, and to be honest, I felt guilty taking their money.

Don't think I'm long for this group, even if they are getting paid gigs. Their too-relaxed approach to everything is going to blow up in their face and make them unhireable eventually, and I don't want to be associated with that.

 

[JimB52]

Playing the Collingswood Mayfair Saturday May 28. Supposedly tens of thousands of people show up.
Link Removed

 

[Lazylion]

Haven't posted here in a long time. We're getting into the busy season!
My country band, Brandy Stills, has a 2-nighter this weekend, at Addy's in Manassas. The club had taken away enough of the pay from Fridays that it wasn't worth our while to play them. They were having karaoke instead. But it seems karaoke is not packing the crowds in (I'm shocked ) so the boss asked us to come back! W00t!

 

[Sleeq]

Here's from last night's blues gig:

 

[RH434]

Well, the date has finally arrived. First gig with the new band..... large outdoor Birthday party & pig roast for a friend of our guitarist.

I'm not sure how the setlist will go over, but I trust the band leader and he knows the people who are putting it on. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

Testing out the new Hartke LH1000 to see how it plays outside of the practice room. Too bad the new 12AX7-LC tube from Groove Tubes didn't come in on time.

Guess I'll take the Fender P with new flats on it and the T-Bird with new Black Beauties and see how they both sound. Bring the SX (Essex) Jazz for a backup.

Wish me luck! I might need it....

 

[bassmeknik]

Tonight at Holly Meadows Bowling, Golf, Comedy club, and Classic Rock covers on the main stage (there are 2) in beautiful (cough) Capac, MI. It is a very large complex with a semi captive audience (not much else to do or see for about 30 miles in any direction). The gigs here are usually fun as there is no where else for people to go... other than the 40 mile ride home it is nice playing in a large room with no direct reflective walls (the back wall is at a 45 degree angle to the stage and helps a lot with reflected sound waves). We get 1 drink per performer per set (I seldom drink more than 1 per night) and do 3-1 hour sets with 30 minute breaks and I will have 100 bucks before filling my pick-up trucks gas tank. After expenses I hope for about 85 before paying uncle S..

However, I am sure I am not alone in stating "I perform for free. You pay me to get here, set up, tear down, and go home." At 53 I do it because I still like it. A LOT.

 

[Bredian]

However, I am sure I am not alone in stating "I perform for free. You pay me to get here, set up, tear down, and go home." At 53 I do it because I still like it. A LOT.

You share something in common with my friend Charlie "Winning" Sheen..... "I don't pay them for sex..... I pay them to leave"

Have a great gig!

 

[RH434]

Yesterday's gig didn't go terribly, considering right after we got set up, it poured down rain. Luckily we had most of the equipment covered, and the board out in the grass covered by a 10x10 ez-up tent. My cabs got splash damage, but dried out nicely. The heads were covered by large trash bags, so they faired okay.

Had one scare, my LH1000 wouldn't put out any sound. After lots of checking, it turns out my power supply in my pedal board failed. Luckily I had some wall warts handy and got my tuner and chorus working.

Our rhythm guitarist's pedal board got soaked, and created problems the rest of the day.

Turnout was low, probably due to the weather. Had all of the food and beer we could drink and the people who hired us seemed very happy, even with the problems and weather.