Check this out - Gig requirements

[lefty]

yea nikko mcbrain is the drummer for iron maiden. he replaced clive burr. these guys dont know what their talking about. if they cant get their iron maiden facts right i shure wouldnt trust them with my sound.

 

[jaywa]

What the h**l are "Reputation Points"? That part cracked me up.

 

[tommixx]

The tone of the email would rub me the wrong way. I don't like it when venue owners and promoters act like their doing me a favor by giving me a stage to play on when, instead, I'm the one helping them make money.

With that said, at least it's pro gear that they have. Instead of an Ampeg and an Engl, it could be a broken down Peavey from 1984 and a Crate guitar combo. My guitarist uses a rack system with a TC Electronics G-force and SansAmp PSA-1, so everything he does is MIDI controlled. He'd have to take his rack for that gig, but his SansAmp has an excellent DI if he didn't dig the sound of a miced cab.

The part about the bass head being hardwired is strange.

But they ARE doing you a favor by giving you a stage to play on....Where would you play if you did not get that gig? You see venue owners generally don't care who is playing on any given night, only that the same old crowd or at least most of them, show up and pay the cover and DRINK all night in the bar...They are ONLY there to make money...period. They hope you bring a crowd with you when you come and that is why they are hopefully paying you to be there. Now if you are NOT getting paid this is an even better situation in that all you have to do is show up and play and get out when you are done. I don't necessarily agree with the tone of the email but trust me...This club has THEIR rules and they don't care who you are or what you are they want you to play by their rules. Their attitude is probably if you don't like it, go play somewhere else. I see different versions of the same kind of thing ALL the time. Lately I carry my TC Electronic RH450 (which is my tuner, DI, and Preamp AND my amp when necessary) and I would DEFINITELY have my HS210 in the car just in case the bass cab was ratted out. I have NEVER done a job where I was forced to use broken gear. NO ONE is gonna trip if you HAVE to use some or all of your own gear. It seems the exception there is the drum kit which I understand. My drummer takes HIS SNARE, HIS PEDALS, and HIS Cymbals and he is cool with that. He is a GREAT Drummer and most places are GLAD to let him tune the set of drums if they are not up to snuff. All the guys in my band are pros and are used to dealing with every assh*le variety known to man. The key is NOT to rock the boat. Go in and ASK them how you can make things easier for them. before you know it they are eating out of your hands and you get to do whatever you NEED to do to make the gig happen. We usually get to do pretty much whatever we need to do but we are REALLY nice and tactful about expressing our needs to the people who can help us meet them...

ROCK ON!

Peace,

T

 

[crow01]

at least they are letting you play. some clubs around here if you don't bring a minimum of people they charge you to play.

 

[caeman]

at least they are letting you play. some clubs around here if you don't bring a minimum of people they charge you to play.

I can understand not paying if a certain minimum of people don't show up, but making the band pay? What, to cover the cost of electricity?

 

[big90sbasshorns]

One thing I don't think anyone noticed was that the OP is an Ashdown Endorsing Artist. The inability to use Ashdown amps at a large show could constitute a breach of contract. If that was the case it would definitely be a gig breaker to me. Besides, even if it doesn't constitute breach, no-one should be forced to neglect a loyalty.

Good...but the OP did say it's a friend's band who is playing...not him.

Our sound engineer (who previously worked at Cornwall’s famous Sawmills Studio and helped record albums by Muse, Supergrass, et all) will arrive around 7pm.

The soundman's credentials sound very good...

and three Marshall Powerbrakes. Each speaker cab is mic'd up.

The sound director for the venue is a smart person and understands sound...A marshall half-stack, let alone an ENGL (which I belive top out at 120 watts) is really too loud for any club and they know this! They went through the trouble to get 3 attenuators to tame those amps while still allowing the power sections to be run into "the zone".

 

[trunkshope6]

dang id play there in a second.

 

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Kink Rimson
The venue provide drum kit (take your own cymbals/snare/kick),

The 6-piece kit is a hybrid: the drums are Premier Artist Maple, the four cymbal stands are Pearl. Cymbals are Zildjian & Sabian, with Sabian hi-hats. Everything is mic’d up. Don't know the make of stool but it's big and comfy. The drummer MUST USE this kit! NO EXCEPTIONS EVER!

I didn't understand the drum part of the backline requirements.

sticks, snare, cymbals and kick pedal are the most "personal" and the most breakable parts of the drum set.

 

[skidrawk]

I'd be dissapointed of course since I use the modeling on my combo. I'd have to pick myself up an octave pedal and use one of my multi fx pedals but I guess I could make it work. I'd be nervous about using one of their amps too since my band just uses small Fender tube combos. (I double up the guitar and our sax player covers bass for me on some songs)

 

[ericw]

What the h**l are "Reputation Points"? That part cracked me up.

I have like 3,000 reputation points...

 

[LiquidMidnight]

But they ARE doing you a favor by giving you a stage to play on....Where would you play if you did not get that gig?

I totally disagree. I'm a contracter and they are hiring me to add value to their organization. If they don't want to hire me, I can offer my services to another organization. If I own a business and decide to hire an outside marketing firm to help me with my marketing strategy, I'm not doing the outside marketing company a favor. I'm hiring them because for some reason or another, I believe that they can help my organization. I'm not going to start off the relationship with this company by talking down to them and acting like I'm doing them a favor by asking for their services.

I can go DIY and throw my own shows if I want. I've had clubs screw me over, and I've pulled my services, only to have them call back when their bar only had 30 people in it. They are not "doing me a favor." It's a symbiotic relationship. I help them sell alcohol and make cash at the door. As you said, clubs don't hire entertainment for altruistic reasons. They hire bands to make money. Asking for reasonable accomodations, such as not ear blasting volume and swearing over the mic are one thing. Talking to professional bands like their idiot high school garage bands as per the email in the original post is another thing. You better be willing to pony up the cash if you're going to have that attitude. I don't care if Blaze Bailey graced your stage or not.

 

[Feral Feline]

the only bit in the OP that would annoy me is the bit where it said

"Don’t bother taking amps unless they’re crucial to your sound."

Yet bass players HAVE to use the house amp (AMPEG not withstanding...)

why do guitards get a choice and we don't?

However, if I can walk in with just a bass and a bits box, I could bite the bullet...

It doesn't say 'unless guitar amps are crucial to your sound', just "amps". And besides, the "...unless crucial to your sound" negates the "bass player MUST USE the house amp".

Just tell them your presets on your RH450 or whatever amp/rack you use ARE CRUCIAL to your sound.

The house PA should have enough extra inputs for the odd Balalaika or Auto-harp player that comes through from time to time -- use the free channel.

As for all who suggested bringing a backup backline and leaving it in the car -- you won't have it for long and your insurance may not cover the broken car window let alone your stolen backline.

If I were rich, I'd have a DI and in-ears setup for my backup. Hell, if I were rich, I'd have a car.