Gigs: Do's and Don'ts

[Leo Smith]

Leo Smith, said: "show up early for gigs.

don't bang the lead singer or the guitar player's girl/boy-friend"

Fabian_Aryo said: ↑
I don't believe any bass player has managed to do that, that's just sounds bass-playerly impossible.

the female lead in My band is my fiance,
so improbable, not impossible.

ANYTHING is within the realm of possibility, and there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rules.

Stay low, my friends!

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Haha....calm down turbo. It's all good. I have no intentions on intimidation lol. I'm only 33 years old, I probably don't know anything

I thought averaging 120 shows a year in my 20's was pretty darn good. Had the time of my life. I'm just trying to share my personal experience so others can draw from it. We have obviosuly walked different paths in different times.

I will say this though, sounds like my path was a LOT more fun Yours sounds stressfull and sterile. Getting treated like the beer delivery guy, playing in venues where the owner didn't care about the music, and not arranging a rider..............

really, I'm just messing, but you have to understand that there are many people out here who have had different experiences than you and it's not black and white across the board. Just relax and let them have their opinions. I don't think they are lying........I know I'm not.

Fari enough. My experience was a lot of fun. All I'm saying is there are two components to what we do. The artistic side and the business side. In any business there are expectations of bahavior. You can't have fun with the artistic part if you don't have a venue to play. You just have to abide by a few basic rules and you will be fine.

I would say 120 shows a year is a pretty good schedule. Play the infamous, but fun, Holiday Inn circuit (see Blues Brothers for refernce), we were doing close to 300 a year. That was 6 nights a week. One year I had only 2 weeks off the entire year.

As far as club owners go, we are just like the beer man. We provide a service he wants to help sell and promote his business. I'm sure there are clubs where the owners do care about the music, but they are in the minority.

So why aren't you still playing? I am.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I personally have never thought that, and I don't know any musician that plays in original bands that thinks that. It seems like a broad statement to say that musicians in original acts are "something special". Perhaps you have run into that kind of attitude in the past, and that's the cause of your statement. When it comes down to it, we are all just musicians, no matter if we play covers or originals.



Aside from some minor differences that really don't have any bearing on the logistics of a gig (usually), there isn't much difference between original and cover acts. You have the same "job", you need to entertain, and hopefully you will be asked back. Many of the do's and don't apply to both types of bands.

Many of the venues around here, from bars to halls, book both original and cover acts, and expect the same conduct from every musician, regardless of the music. It might be different in other parts of the country, or even other countries, but this is what I have seen here.

I don't think there is any difference at all. We are in agreement. And yes, my statement comes from a post here where someone said "It's different for original bands" and in others on TB where the guys in original bands seem to think they are superior and above playing covers. For me, I much prefer cover bands. There is a lot of good music that is fun to play. I would fee trapped if I had to play the same songs all the time. Imagine being in a group like the Rolling Stones where you have been playing the same sets for 50 years. That's scary.
Yeah, they got rich and famous - good for them. But at what point would you say I just can't play that song again?

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Never did I say any of that. Why do you have such an issue about pointing out the logistical and practical differences between originals and cover bands? In your very next post you get all pissy about how we in originals bands think we're special, when in reality I have said no such thing. You clearly have a chip on your shoulder about something.

I understand that as a working musician that I can't get so drunk as to botch the gig, I know not to show up late. I know not to steal. I know not to leave the stage a mess, ESPECIALLY because being in an originals act generally entails sharing the stage with 2-4 other bands a night. Because of that I also know to have my stuff setup in under 10 minutes and how to tear down in less than 5, and that's including an upright and a slab. I'm also aware that being an ass to the venue owner/employees and/or promoter will generally mean no more shows at that venue and possibly even the local area in the case of a promoter.

Again I will ask, what's with the attitude? We're discussing the things that beginners should know. It's important to draw certain distinctions between the path they may take, without taking those distinctions as some perceived insult.

I didn't point out differences between cover and original bands. I can't find the post at the moment, but someone said "It's different for original bands" and basically said original bands didn't have to do those things. That is totally incorrect and certainly a bad thing to be telling a beginner.

It seems you and some other here think being in an original band is somehow superior to playing covers. Sorry, but that is also incorrect. Personally, I would not want to be in an original band. I would get tired of one style all the time. There is a lot of good music out there to play.

 

[groovatron]

It seems you and some other here think being in an original band is somehow superior to playing covers. Sorry, but that is also incorrect. Personally, I would not want to be in an original band. I would get tired of one style all the time. There is a lot of good music out there to play.

Try me. I have written songs combing every genre possible and then some. Original music has no boundaries and is not always genre specific. In fact, I would argue that the whole reason I write music is too genre jump because I get bored sticking to one thing. Rock, funk, classical, metal, punk, R&B, Klezmer, jazz, reggae , Dixieland, blues, folk, hip-hop, psychedelic, EDM, country, bluegrass...........and the list goes on. All of these elements exist in one composition or another, and most in several combos.

So I suppose we agree.....there is a lot of god music to play out there. In fact, I don't really dislike any genre per se, just certain interpretations

 

[groovatron]

So why aren't you still playing? I am.

My 2 beautiful children took me off the road for the last few years. I entered the corporate production world in order to provide I actually just played with my old group after a 4 year hiatus on New Years Eve in Indy. It was epic and we will likely book a dozen or so shows for next year . It's different now as there is no pressure to "make it." Felt like I never left though. You know how it goes, you can leave the music, but it will never leave you.

I still do other projects and produce, but my output should continue to increase as my children get older.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Try me. I have written songs combing every genre possible and then some. Original music has no boundaries and is not always genre specific. In fact, I would argue that the whole reason I write music is too genre jump because I get bored sticking to one thing. Rock, funk, classical, metal, punk, R&B, Klezmer, jazz, reggae , Dixieland, blues, folk, hip-hop, psychedelic, EDM, country, bluegrass...........and the list goes on. All of these elements exist in one composition or another, and most in several combos.

So I suppose we agree.....there is a lot of god music to play out there. In fact, I don't really dislike any genre per se, just certain interpretations

I understand. But when you listen to a group, it sounds like thatn group. If you listen to a song it sound like that song writer. I have yet to see an original group that can jump from something like George Jones to AC/DC and make both sound good. Even when you take a group as prolific as The Beatles, whether is Love Me Do or I am the Walrus, it still sounds like The Beatles.

 

[Skarekrough]

On load in, and especially on load out, someone needs to keep an eye on the gear at both ends, or you need to lock the vehicle every trip and still have an eye on the inside stuff. Takes practically no time at all to swoop in, grab some stuff, and swoop out - or helpfully carry it out to the parking lot and into your car and leave quickly.

One of the great things about a stage is that it gives a potential thief the ability to view the full breadth of gear from which they can choose from.

 

[Gaolee]

One of the great things about a stage is that it gives a potential thief the ability to view the full breadth of gear from which they can choose from.

Thieves are opportunists. Don't make it easy and the chances are that they won't steal much.

One more thing. Always demand green M&Ms. If you don't demand green M&Ms, then you aren't serious.

 

[NWB]

Make sure to turn off the sexy before you go on stage.