European tour! HELP!!!

Not to ruin the party, but as a Stagemanager and bandmanager I would like to say: Don't start your first gig in the Netherlands in Pijnacker. It is just a tiny small little town with no musical reputation at all.
Where is it you guys exactly in Pijnacker are going to play, when is it, how much do you guys want etc? Maybe we can arrange a better gig.
And btw: "Amsterdam-Belgium- Germany"????
Amsterdam is the capitol of the Netherlands my dearest, not a country.

Wendy

 

I'm bit north from where you guys are touring, but welcome anyways! It's always a big thing when you get to cross the pond

I'm sure you'll have no worries, most europeans are friendly and speak decent english. Perhaps you could talk your agent to give Scandinavia a good look, rock'n'roll is a huge thing over here.

 

It's little offbeat but it might be helpful:

Check the weather beforehand, and bring some warmer clothes too, e.g. long-sleeve shirt, jacket, and jeans.
I've seen several bands get sick because they would run around in t-shirts and short-pants in cool or rainy European weather.

Are you playing Cologne by chance?

 

Although this is true and Tony's English is better than mine here's my 2p...

Make an effort to learn some basics words in the relevant languages. Nothing fancy; please, thank you, hotel, room, beer, fries, taxi.

Different countries have different cultures so don't insist on eating burgers and drinking Bud.

Have fun.

 

PS

If you want to be really cool introduce the songs in the language of the country you are playing in.

 

Plan for different power outlets!

 

Or rent a(n Ampeg SVT) stack, might be a lot cheaper than hauling it over the atlantic.

 

Good plan! It would be a shame to find out you can't plug your equipment in without blowing it up - check the voltage as well.

Also, figure out what spares you'll need. Things like AA and 9v batteries should be easy to pick up over here but if you've got particular requirements for strings then bring enough of your favourite brand to keep you going.

Wulf

 

And of course if you plan to drink something similar to Bud, better bring your own..

CS, cheers! I hope I can come give you guys another visit during the winter

 

TB Finland get together?

 

European tours are the business, so far this year I've gigged in France, Germany and Prague (which is the dogs scrotum....I mean you cant argue when you can get hammered drunk on the equivalent of 10 euro and still have enough for a box of cigs )and am heading to Amsterdam in November.

We've had different experiences with booking agents ie for the Prague trip our flights and accomodation were paid and we also received a daily food/drink allowance however we didnt receive a gig fee per say so basically we got a free holiday which was pretty sweet. For the Amsterdam gig we're getting flights/accomodation/food and drink allowance/gig fee AND A CAR!!!

The great thing is you can quite easily give up the day job and spend a year touring/gigging around Europe, there's plenty work to go round (hell I know a guy who owns 15 properties in the canary islands and he bought them all from gig money).

but the best thing about European gigs are.......

THE WOMEN!!!

 

Heh. Ever been to Denmark?

Wow.

 

Yeah, and as a female stagemanager I can only say that almost all the non euro bands are tooooo interested in the females...
Where in Amsterdam are you going to play?

 

Bring your own toilet paper


Good luck and have a blast!

 

Heck can u blame them

Anyway, I'm not sure about the venue, our promoter looks after that end of things (we just get a phone call...could be a cow shed for all I know), I'll find out cos I'd be interested if you knew the place so I could get an idea of what to expect .

 

Actually Joe one thing you better get used to before you come over is that European women (including in the UK) don't shave, so armpits, legs, and the ol' haven are all as nature intended, eyebrows get a little out of hand at times too? The question is, are you man enough!?!

Good luck tho, sounds like cool fun!

Learning bits of the language will go down a treat, the majority of us English speaking bastards dont bother, so a little effort goes a long way!

I'm touring 5 dates in southern ireland at the end of this month... and my rock band are trying to get a gig at some headbanging festival in germany apparently? All good fun I guess?!

 

Yep, let me know, I can give you details and stuff if you want. Maybe I drop even by to come and check your gig!

 

DON'T SHAVE!!!???
I shave almost everything!


Damn, to much info I guess!

 

Yup, way too much info.


Actually I was hoping it would become a really good wind up! So if Joe did get lucky over here, he'd be prepared for some seriously deep undergrowth