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FINALLY, some gigs!

bassfran

bassfran

Supporting Member
Mar 1, 2012
1,999
3,327
Chicago
Disclosures
Endorsing artist: Lakland basses
#1
I got a call a few weeks ago from one of the BL's that I work with and was informed that he'd landed a regular twice a month gig.

Was I interested? You bet yer' sweet bippy I was!

This particular outfit is a blues-wreck power triumvirate and the shows are typically fun. As most of you know there's no hiding onstage in a trio- you either throw down or you go down. I enjoy the challenge and both the guitarist and drummer are strong players that keep me on my toes most of the time.

The only info I have is the $, it's 3 sets, and that it's a smoking bar. ("Hello- 2013 called and wants to know if you got the surgeon general's memos".)

So I packed my only true fan and am ready for a long Saturday night. Wish me luck.

:hyper:
 
#3
Way to go. Getting the first gig is often the hardest. And to have guaranteed repeat gigs is sweeter still.

Smoking bar? Drink LOTS of water. Before, during and after you play. Secondhand smoke dries you out like you wouldn't believe. And spend as little time actually in the bar as possible. When I used to play smoking bars I was the first one out the door every break and the last one back in before we went on. Even when it was blazing hot or bitter cold outside. The more garbage you can get of your lungs on breaks and fresh air pumped in, the better.

Congrats again, and have fun!
 
#4
Awesome, break a leg!

My band has managed to get a couple low-paying gigs. We made $100 (10% of the bar on a Tuesday) putting together a show last month. We only played a 45 minute set.
The mayor of the city I live in popped in near the end and talked to our bandleader. He did a little acoustic demo for him because he missed our set. The mayor dug it, and booked us to play a 2 hour set for $300 this coming May. We're also putting together another gig at that same venue, with better promotion this time around.
 
#8
Ok- *cough, cough*, here's my story.

It was a D-E-A-D night but thankfully, (according to the nice lady behind the bar), not at all our fault. She had corroborating spies all over town. Sorta' one of those nobody paying attention, "Hey, how about some Zeppelin we've never rehearsed before?" kind of nights.

Decidedly ragged but still a good workout. Twice a month for the indefinite future because well, I like to eat and stuff.

I got in at 4:30am, dropped the gear, did not pass 'go', and immediately hit the shower.

The fan was useless and my throat feels like I gargled a bowl of rusty razor blades.

But be that as it may I would always rather be working. :bassist:
 
#10
I wish we still had "smoking bars" in Australia. I'd get more gigs with better attendance. Anti-smoking laws have hurt the live music industry - every club manager I know agrees, whether they hate smoking or not.

Well now that I've finished that spiel, best of luck on your upcoming gigs. There's nothing worse that sitting at home watching some crap movie, wishing you were on stage with the sound of the bass drum smacking you in the chest, a power chord ripping through your ear-drums. It's like withdrawal for me.
 
#14
Thanks for chiming in, guys.

I didn't realize the smoking issue would become the crux of my little thread, but that's cool. It's good that we're talking.

I have smoked cigs in the past and have no big problem with them either way. I was just surprised that this place didn't have a smoke eater installed as the air quality's pretty bad. Our singer/guitarist said that he's played there before and it's been difficult for him to sing a full night because of it.
 
#15
I 'm pretty sure I would have quit playing out by now if my state hadn't enacted a smoking ban two years ago. Same deal with my lead guitarist.

It was to the point I'd play back to back weekend shows (4 hours each) at the smokiest venue in town and be absolutely worthless for the whole day on Sunday. My family deserved better than that.

I know this has the potential to get political real quick but in my case, a smoking ban probably saved my gigging career. My body was at the breaking point.
 
#16
jaywa said:
I probably would have quit playing out by now if my state hadn't enacted a smoking ban two years ago.

It was to the point I'd play back to back weekend shows (4 hours each) at the smokiest venue in town and be absolutely worthless for the whole day on Sunday. My family deserved better than that.

I know this has the potential to get political real quick but in my case, a smoking ban probably saved my gigging career. My body was at the breaking point.
Click to expand...

I hear you, Jay- Sometimes the price you pay just ain't worth it. Glad you were able to keep at it.
 
#18
jmac said:
Ha, when I first read that sentence I thought you were talking about your tuning. I thought, "what does the lady behind the bar have to do with your tuning?" The next sentence cleared it up, but for a second (or a minute) I was confused.
Click to expand...

Ha! I should've said "Capital D-E-A-D", of course.

Maybe in a black metal band...
 
#19
Congrats on the gig. I always laugh about the complaining about smoking. I started playing in the late 60's before there was such thing as a non-smoking bar. Somehow we managed to survive playing 6 nights a week, some bars with 6 sets on Friday and Saturday nights.
 
#20
Congratulations on the Gig's. "Break a leg" as they say
lfmn16 said:
Congrats on the gig. I always laugh about the complaining about smoking. I started playing in the late 60's before there was such thing as a non-smoking bar. Somehow we managed to survive playing 6 nights a week, some bars with 6 sets on Friday and Saturday nights.
Click to expand...
"I second hand smoke 2 packs a day" Jerry Seinfeld.
 

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