Yeah. It's kind of like the Dodge Viper with the 450-horse V-10. Most of the time you don't need all that juice but when you do (i.e., big outdoor street dances)... it's nice to have it there.
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Gigs - Re:Punctuality
- Thread starter MatticusMania
- Start date
Yeah. It's kind of like the Dodge Viper with the 450-horse V-10. Most of the time you don't need all that juice but when you do (i.e., big outdoor street dances)... it's nice to have it there.
I can only speak for my own band. If you are not there about four hours before start time, you are most likely working for free that night.
You will help do set-up, and you will participate in soundcheck, and we will be long done, and ready to relax and turn from roadies to rock stars with time for dinner, more than an hour before performance time.
Also, I don't like the bulk of the audience to hear sound check.
Also, I like to have plenty of time in case of problems.
Also, you are not paying for a sound man.
You will help do set-up, and you will participate in soundcheck, and we will be long done, and ready to relax and turn from roadies to rock stars with time for dinner, more than an hour before performance time.
Also, I don't like the bulk of the audience to hear sound check.
Also, I like to have plenty of time in case of problems.
Also, you are not paying for a sound man.
We do a lot of outdoor shows, and we don't hire production.
Also our BL likes lots of kick and bass guitar in the mix. Those big subs gotta be fed...
I am the process of courting/being courted by an established cover band whose bassist is moving soon. Been together 8 years, gig decent rooms regularly a few times a month, well paid. They invited me to come see them at a nearby bar last week. Website lists start time at 9pm.
Delays kept me from showing up until just before 10. Figured I'd catch the second set. Nope, when I got there the room was packed and they were still soundchecking and setting up lights. Opening song around 1030. And right after that they had to take a 5-minute break while the drummer moved his illegally-parked car.
Big red flag for me. I mean, the proof is in the pudding and they're filling rooms and collecting cash, but still.....I'm a very organized guy and I don't know if I'll go nuts dealing with a band that can't get onstage within an hour of posted start time.
Delays kept me from showing up until just before 10. Figured I'd catch the second set. Nope, when I got there the room was packed and they were still soundchecking and setting up lights. Opening song around 1030. And right after that they had to take a 5-minute break while the drummer moved his illegally-parked car.
Big red flag for me. I mean, the proof is in the pudding and they're filling rooms and collecting cash, but still.....I'm a very organized guy and I don't know if I'll go nuts dealing with a band that can't get onstage within an hour of posted start time.
None of my bands would be comfortable cutting things so close. You did the right thing IMHO.
+1
We work with a production company who are cool to work with and do a great job...except we're usually getting drum levels 10 minutes before show time. My drummer and I have discussed this as being an issue. Perhaps it's time to approach the production company. I like the band to have a little bit of mystique, especially in a new venue, and sound check kills some of that mystique. Also, you definitely don't want an audience around if you have to pink the room to adjust a Driverack or something.
Punctuality is something I'm big on. Everyone's late once in a while, but some people really seem to never be on time. My time's valuable, and by being late, you're wasting my time, which often pisses me off if you're late for no good reason. Even in college, the kids who habitually strolled into class five minutes late everyday always annoyed the hell out of me. Showing up later for a gig isn't as big of a deal if you don't have to setup your own PA and lights, but I still like some promptness there. I like to be calm before a gig; if it's 15 minutes before the first downbeat and you're not there yet, it's definitely harshing my mellow.
They started an hour and a half late?!? That would be a big red flag for me as well. Maybe that particular band is getting slack with club owners right now cause they're drawing well... but at some point they will wear out their welcome with that kind of unprofessional behavior and will suddenly start finding it very hard to get gigs. Clients do not appreciate getting less than they paid for and especially in today's economy.
I would advise you take a pass on that crew and find yourself a more professional outfit because although they are busy now, if that's their SOP they may not be busy much longer.
Also, we used to play this place where the owner couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to have a bar with live entertainment or a hotel. We'd often show up at our normal setup time with a planned 10 or 10:30 start, just like every band in our area does at just about every club venue. He'd be curious if we could have started playing at 7:30 or some other asinine time because he had guests staying in the rooms up stairs. Yeeeeaaaaah, because there's always a really hopping nightlife crowd at 7:30. I said, we have no problem starting early if he wants us to (but expect us to play to mostly chairs and tables), but he needs to let us know before hand - not wait until some guests show up to stay in the hotel part of the business and then wonder if we could have started earlier in the night before we even arrive so as not to disturb the guests too much.
The dude was a grade A douche. Last I heard, he was up on charges for money laundering as part of a drug ring. Good riddance.
The dude was a grade A douche. Last I heard, he was up on charges for money laundering as part of a drug ring. Good riddance.
Yeah, I find it unprofessional. Im going to have a talk about what making a comittment means to me, and how our band should honor that comittment in a professional manner, by arriving no later than 30 minutes before set time. If he is as serious about his band as he says he is then, IMO, its on him to be more professional in every manner if he wants to make something of this band.
Otherwise, I see no real reason to be responsible myself and will begin showing up late/last minute just like everybody else.
I did that once. A particularly unlikeable sax player asked me to sit in with him and a bunch of other picked-up guys for a Christmas party. I was to play keyboards on that gig.
About 10 minutes before the gig I asked him, "Where's (bass player's name.)"
He said, "Oh, he can't make the first set, but he'll be here for the second one."
Unbelieveable.
I never played with that bandleader again.
About 10 minutes before the gig I asked him, "Where's (bass player's name.)"
He said, "Oh, he can't make the first set, but he'll be here for the second one."
Unbelieveable.
I never played with that bandleader again.
