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Dont play Army gigs

P

Paddy 002

Nov 5, 2008
3
0
Williamstown Victoria AUS
#1
Got a gig at an army barracks. 300 soldiers in the mess hall. All they wanted to hear was Khe San & Summer of 69 which we blatantly refuse to play. Our lead guitarist decides to dye his hair fluro pink that day (bloody chefs i tell ya) The tension in the air was full on and after the first set we comment we are taking a short break to which a response from the back of the room comes 'make it a f****n long one':hiding: The pay was 3 times what we usually charge but still an interesting evening. A bit like the blues bros 'lets get the hell outta here!'
 
#3
So you went into the thing deciding not to play covers of songs you presumably knew how to play to what, antagonize the audience? And your guitarist died his hair for what reason? Was it because he just does that sort of thing out of the blue or was it in hopes it would antagonize the audience because it was pink?

Seems to me that the reception you received could have been the natural response of an audience watching people they knew didn't want to be there and were giving off signals to that effect. I'd probably react the same way. Its kind of insulting.

Anyway, sounds like you guys didn't want to do the show. If the pay was the only reason--which I don't necessarily think is wrong in itself--going there with the intent off pissing of the audience seems pretty juvenile and unprofessional if that's what you guys did...conciously or unconsciously.
 
#4
MyUsernameHere said:
Seems to me that the reception you received could have been the natural response of an audience watching people they knew didn't want to be there and were giving off signals to that effect. I'd probably react the same way. Its kind of insulting.

Anyway, sounds like you guys didn't want to do the show. If the pay was the only reason--which I don't necessarily think is wrong in itself--going there with the intent off pissing of the audience seems pretty juvenile and unprofessional if that's what you guys did...conciously or unconsciously.
Click to expand...

I agree with this 100%, if this is indeed how it is.
Why bother playing the show just to "blatantly refuse" to play what they want to hear? Especially an army gig. These guys do a lot of hard work in training and whatnot, certainly you can play a few songs they want to hear, no?
 
#5
Paddy 002 said:
Got a gig at an army barracks. 300 soldiers in the mess hall. All they wanted to hear was Khe San & Summer of 69 which we blatantly refuse to play. Our lead guitarist decides to dye his hair fluro pink that day (bloody chefs i tell ya) The tension in the air was full on and after the first set we comment we are taking a short break to which a response from the back of the room comes 'make it a f****n long one':hiding: The pay was 3 times what we usually charge but still an interesting evening. A bit like the blues bros 'lets get the hell outta here!'
Click to expand...

You aint gettin that gig again...

D.Don
 
#7
your lucky you just had an unpleasant experience. They musta been 300 cooks, 300 infantrymen and you might not have been here to post how you mistreat our vets.
PS i hate brian adams as well, but still its your job to play music people want to hear.
 
#10
Reminds me of a gig I played years ago on a military base. It was just before Christmas, and everyone who could go home had already left. So we played for the guys who were stuck on base for Christmas. Try that if you ever want to see a drinking crowd who are NOT in a party mood! Absolutely no applause after any song, even requests. We were not used to that! Two waitresses, the only females in the building, spent about 3/4 of their time dancing. So that's 2 couples dancing, and about 200 grumpy guys drinking as fast as possible, in near-total silence.
So much fun.

The best part of the gig was load in. We had 8 or 10 pumped-up guys helping, who grabbed up all the heaviest stuff and whipped it into the building in like 2 minutes. I loved that part! Regrettably, they'd all vanished when it was time to load out.
 
#11
I was in a band and we did a couple of shows for armed forces.

2 gigs after an air show for the USAF, and one at a banquet for the Army (Can't remember the occasion).

Depending on the occasion you may have to treat it more like a corporate gig. The ones we did for the USAF was just a party after the air show so we did our regular club stuff. The Army gig was formal and did an hour or so of cocktail/dinner music and then our club stuff. IIRC on both gigs we had request for Bob Seger, Brian Adams, etc.. and other tunes not on our set list.

Point being, don't take a gig if you or your band have problems with things as simple as request. It's called being professional.
 
#12
Isn't it your job to play what you play? Is it Jukebox night? How did you get the gig?

If you got the gig playing songs you typically play, then why be a jukebox?

It's entirely lame to think that just because people holler out songs you don't play that you owe it to them to play those songs.

Really, if anything you should just have a tight several sets and be able to jam in and out of them, and extend segues and bridges so there's no time standing around for anyone to want something other than you.

Thinking it comes down to being a jukebox sells real performers short.

If your band isn't awesome don't play gigs until you are. It's a waste of your audience's time and yours.
 
#15
W/O chicks you weren't looking to fill up the dance floor, so turn it into a concert. Tap into whatever music you have that they will enjoy (Stand By Your Man/Rawhide - BB). Think you're lucky to have come out with just rumpled feathers.
 

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