Cushy Corporate Gig

Hi,

It's a little slow at work so I was able to take a vacation day and go play a corporate gig with my band, without the "chick" singer since she is on vacation. Originally the client wanted her but she explained that the band can get along fine without her and we'd kill it, which we did.

We played for a company called Arbonne, a large cosmetics company based in Orange County. I think their big product is a "miracle" anti-aging cream.



This was a lunchtime affair and I arrived a little before 9:30am to load in and sound check. The sound crew was ready to go and the drummer was already there and set up. It was catered and tented in the parking lot.



It was kind of a small stage but we fit everybody on there.



It was a little messy "backstage" but no one paid any attention.



As usual on these types if gigs, you have to be flexible. About the time were were originally supposed to start playing, we were told that we would start an hour later. We were supposed to be done by 1:15 but they asked if we could play until 1:30. We kindly obliged.

Here's the band, minus the bass player, in our "hurry up and wait" mode.



We eventually got started and the crowd really enjoyed us. They actually put down their forks and applauded for songs like "Black Water", "Rock This Town", "Amie", and "Cruise".



We played about 40 minutes and then the CEO got up and spoke, introducing various employees and congratulating them for their outstanding achievements.



I sang one more song and then the line dance lessons started. We had a couple that we've worked with before teach the crowd a couple of line dances. The cool thing about a cosmetics company is that 90% of the employees are women, most of them are quite lovely. Here you see Amos and Rachel leading the line dance.







After a couple of line dances we played two more songs and we were done. Everybody had to go back to work. The event organizer was gushing at us. I told her I'm glad we could help make her look good. The CEO was very complimentary about the whole shindig, the catering, the band, etc. Overall it was a great excuse to take a day off work. The worse thing about the gig was driving during the rush hour traffic to and from South Orange County. Oh well.

How do you get a musician to complain? Get him a gig!

One more picture. This sound crew has worked with the band before on other events and did a fine job.



This was my only gig this week. Next week we've got 7 gigs in 6 days. Plus I've got my day job to go to. It's gonna be a long one.

Break a leg!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

Hi,

Thanks! They even fed us lunch, BBQ chicken and beef, pulled pork, salmon, roasted veggies, new potatoes, salad, and desert. It was a sweet deal.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

Hi,

Ha!

Believe it or not, I once played a gig for a porta-potty company picnic. By my observations you are correct, sir.

True, we've all played on smaller stages. I guess I've been spoiled lately.

So that's not too big of a mess? Cool. Most of the time we try to hide all the cases and gig bags. For some reason we just let it all hang out yesterday.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I hope you don't mind me sharing my fun. I'd love to see your gig pics and stories. Break a leg!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

Hi Mr. jaywa,

The band made at least $1500 for that gig, 3 bills each. The client also paid for the sound company, the stage, and the dance instructors. It was a package deal that our Kelly arranged with their event coordinator. I don't know the cost of the entire package. But, yes, we played less than an hour and a half. It took me longer just to drive to and from the gig.

There's been a few times that the band has worked without Kelly. We use a different band name in those cases, "Back Road". But everybody knows we're "The Kelly Rae Band" just without Kelly. We will probably start doing more without her because she's going to want to take a little break after our busy summer season. We like to work a little more often than she does. Kelly likes the larger corporate events, private parties, larger venues, etc, and doesn't mind when we do the leaner, meaner gigs, mostly just to have our fun and keep the band tight. She treats us well and we're "her" band, more like a family. It's great when you work with people you love.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

Hi,

It seems a lot of the "western themed" parties we play have beans and BBQ. I know it sounds cliche but it's really no joke in my experience, and I've been doing this for decades.

We played a party this past Saturday night that was fully catered with steak, salmon, fancy bacon-wrapped hors d'oeuvres, a gourmet pretzel bar, a gourmet flat bread (pizza) bar, and other high-falootin' stuff we country musicians call "jazz food".



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

Hi,

Yes! Sounds like my kind of gig!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff