Just sharing because they have a lot to do with making it a great night.
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CRAZY perspective I got from a long-time DJ last night
- Thread starter two fingers
- Start date
Just sharing because they have a lot to do with making it a great night.
We were trying to make money but also spread the positive vibe.No big artist here. Just a weekend warrior playing other peoples songs for fun and to make a couple extra bucks to fund my GAS.
It's open to debate whether the band should even tip, since we are working there as well. I just figure it helps to curry favor with the wait staff since in this shady system their income is imputed with a certain percentage of tips. So they lose money if you don't.
It must have been an unusual thing for them as well. They committed on it.
The return was more that 10 fold to us than any gift we gave to them. Plus just the fellow feeling alone.
Other acts in our scene never understood why we were so loved. We were average. I contribute it to the vibe.
It wasn't always money.
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Yep it did, it was such a little thing to do.If that helped your band than more power to you brother.
Luckily there are no 3 chord blues songs, and sub-par musicians are prevented from playing jazz by court order.
The term hack actually means, a person who does dull routine work. It has nothing to do with a persons ability, or plans to progress at their chosen profession, trade or calling.
A good time party band sounds awesome, I'd probably take that gig for free, and set a minimum fee for anything I found dull and routine.
If you can’t draw enough people to validate your worth, then maybe YOU should stay in the basement.
Quantify the numbers. A crap band won’t have a good draw and the sales will reflect that.
Or play for the door, put your money where your mouth is.
Makes me happy i play jazz. For alot of the gigs i get, a DJ would never be on the table. I do a weekly jazz brunch, 11-2. A DJ brunch? Just no.
Point is, there are still gigs out there where a DJ would just not be appropriate. Think small coffee shops/cafes, or bars with a culture where a DJ wouldn't fly. There is actually a coffee shop here that has someone spin records a single night of the week, but the rest of the week are small groups playing.
Point is, there are still gigs out there where a DJ would just not be appropriate. Think small coffee shops/cafes, or bars with a culture where a DJ wouldn't fly. There is actually a coffee shop here that has someone spin records a single night of the week, but the rest of the week are small groups playing.
Also, jazz groups tend to have quality players. Not the 3 chord warrior variety!
Unfortunately too many jazz bands have have quality players who are decent but think they are brilliant and feel that they have to show everyone how good they are every single song with their 50-notes-per-bar solos. Turns me off every time.
When I'm offered a gig, I tend to think "is this right for me?" and not "would this be right for @two fingers ?"
Since this thread still has some embers, I'll drop this video.
@TBird1958 posted it on the wardrobe thread,
but it bears repeating as it provides such a rousing and inspiring
example of a band delivering on all levels.
Still not sure how to define "hack" but one way to rate one's own band
would be to deem this performance a perfect "10" and, in a fearless
self-inventory, start scaling downward.
@TBird1958 posted it on the wardrobe thread,
but it bears repeating as it provides such a rousing and inspiring
example of a band delivering on all levels.
Still not sure how to define "hack" but one way to rate one's own band
would be to deem this performance a perfect "10" and, in a fearless
self-inventory, start scaling downward.
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Here in Roanoke the changed the ABC laws a few years and made it easier for breweries to have a tasting room. We were able to get gigs pretty easily, not great paying but fun. Now the breweries all want to hire "traveling festival bands" for basically the same low rate. And these bands will travel several hours to come and play for maybe $100 a man, including their travel expenses. Now I'm fine with playing for $100 a man a night but I am not about to drive three hours, set up, play three hours, tear down and drive three hours home for the same $100. But these bands full of 20 something kids will.
I've experienced the inverse of this situation. I watched an entire hockey game while playing a gig. I don't think the patrons noticed, don't remember what we got paid either.
- Mar 13, 2008
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- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Those guys just cook! I like this specific song because everybody in the band really gets to shine - Their bassist is on it, and no standing in the shadows for him!
That would be a great band to go see, but not great for a bar where people want entertainment and to be able to talk to their friends.
Played on the same festival bill with them a couple of summers ago here in Podunk. Good high energy show band, wasn't crazy about their material but that's just personal taste. Kinda surprised to find out they're West Coast, Kansas was a long way from home for them (but they were well enough compensated). Definitely fun to watch. Bass player had a couple of nice Sadowsky's.
