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Gigs you like to play and why...
- Thread starter 1bassplayinfool
- Start date
Funny, but in my younger days, playing smokey bars and cheezy private parties, I always wanted to get in on some of the bigger events. Bigger crowds, bigger stages, more, more, more...
Now we book a lot of events - town dances, car clubs, big rent-a-room events, lots of outdoor gigs. But they seldom have the intimacy and rapport that was possible with the smaller rooms. I find that I enjoy playing more with a small crowd, dancing and really getting into it.
Sometimes those big stages remove you too far from the people. Too often, we are just entertainment, background noise for other stuff, and even with applause and appreciation from the crowd, I don't really feel a connection with the people. The money is better though.
We have a big stage rig with large PA and lights, but going out to a small private party for a birthday, reception or anniversary with a small PA and amps is still more fun.
Now we book a lot of events - town dances, car clubs, big rent-a-room events, lots of outdoor gigs. But they seldom have the intimacy and rapport that was possible with the smaller rooms. I find that I enjoy playing more with a small crowd, dancing and really getting into it.
Sometimes those big stages remove you too far from the people. Too often, we are just entertainment, background noise for other stuff, and even with applause and appreciation from the crowd, I don't really feel a connection with the people. The money is better though.
We have a big stage rig with large PA and lights, but going out to a small private party for a birthday, reception or anniversary with a small PA and amps is still more fun.
best gig is where you get payed well for just playing your instrument.
as opposed to the worst possible gig where you have to do all the organization, transport, bargaining , promoting, rehearsing etc etc and you don't get payed. and no other benefits.
as opposed to the worst possible gig where you have to do all the organization, transport, bargaining , promoting, rehearsing etc etc and you don't get payed. and no other benefits.
Best gig? Any where you're complimented by others and you know they mean it.
That or one where everyone who has turned up listens rather than wandering away to wherever. Hate that :scowl:
That or one where everyone who has turned up listens rather than wandering away to wherever. Hate that :scowl:
+1Wedding quartet gigs... They pay b the most by far. And you also get free food
They pay well, they're usually in a nice place, there's food, and you're done by 5:00 so you can come home and watch the football game (or play another gig).
Wedding quartet gigs... They pay b the most by far. And you also get free food
Good reasons. Plus....attractive ladies all dressed up. But.....
Weddings are my favorite gigs for another reason. When the music starts, the children instantly rush the dance floor. I love to watch the little kids dance. In a good way.
House parties... preferably a boomy-ass emptied out house with a few kegs in iced up garbage cans, a joint or two floating around and people who want to feel the energy and have fun. That is the best way to do modern metal... raw, honest, and slightly out of the typical social context.
For regular gigs with multiple bands... I tend to prefer the first slot in my old age. Headlining at midnight aint my thing anymore.
For regular gigs with multiple bands... I tend to prefer the first slot in my old age. Headlining at midnight aint my thing anymore.
college partys / diy college venues
always pepper a few of these into a tour. always a big turnout. always rowdy and fun. and people dance drunkenly no matter how bad you play. also merch sales. not to mention being the coolest people on a college campus for a night.
always pepper a few of these into a tour. always a big turnout. always rowdy and fun. and people dance drunkenly no matter how bad you play. also merch sales. not to mention being the coolest people on a college campus for a night.
I love playing almost any gigs, even ones on hollow boomy stages with terrible soundmen and no crowd. I almost always play for free as well.
The only gigs I don't like are the ones where my band sets up, plays for 45 minutes, and has to tear down.
The only gigs I don't like are the ones where my band sets up, plays for 45 minutes, and has to tear down.
- Jan 4, 2010
- 233
- 13
- 49
- Disclosures
- Band is sponsored by Trinity Amps and Sennheiser.
Weddings are cool. You're essentially helping two people celebrate loving each other so much they want to spend the rest of their lives together. I'm not making any divorce jokes cause, even though I love a good quip, I like to think that something like that can be meaningful.
Other than that there's this club called "the Merchant" in Kingston Ontario. The crowd is a mix of military, college kids, university kids, 20s, 30s, 40s and even some 50-60s and whoever else happens to be in town. Crowd reception is second to none. No matter what you play, they love it. There's an "A circuit" PA setup and good sound guy. Awesome venue.
Then there's the Atomic Rooster in Ottawa. This is a fairly new-ish venue (5-6 years I think) that is going strong while older establishments (from the 70s-80s-90s) are shutting down. They just installed a permanent PA system that serves the room well. The food is incredible and the crowd shows up to listen to music. We usually play there sundays for blues night about 3 times a year and every time the local swing-dance club shows up. Ever played a gig where there's about a dozen couples dancing? I mean full-on real dancing. It's something else. Seeing this place prosper gives me hope that conditions could still allow for the industry to thrive with enough elbow grease. I like that feeling.
How many do I get to mention? I have more.
Other than that there's this club called "the Merchant" in Kingston Ontario. The crowd is a mix of military, college kids, university kids, 20s, 30s, 40s and even some 50-60s and whoever else happens to be in town. Crowd reception is second to none. No matter what you play, they love it. There's an "A circuit" PA setup and good sound guy. Awesome venue.
Then there's the Atomic Rooster in Ottawa. This is a fairly new-ish venue (5-6 years I think) that is going strong while older establishments (from the 70s-80s-90s) are shutting down. They just installed a permanent PA system that serves the room well. The food is incredible and the crowd shows up to listen to music. We usually play there sundays for blues night about 3 times a year and every time the local swing-dance club shows up. Ever played a gig where there's about a dozen couples dancing? I mean full-on real dancing. It's something else. Seeing this place prosper gives me hope that conditions could still allow for the industry to thrive with enough elbow grease. I like that feeling.
How many do I get to mention? I have more.
- Sep 5, 2011
- 774
- 130
- Disclosures
- Uncompensated endorsing user: fEARful
I would like to hit the mainstage of eurosonic festival once... It's the biggest showcase festival in all europe and the mainstage is about a mile of my own house
I love to play gigs with kinda random good musicians and do cover-songs that people know the lyrics of. When the crowd is having fun, I am
I like doing parties and benefits. Yes, you can get paid to play a benefit. The ones I've done always have a lot of people in attendance, they tend to stay for a long time, and the focus is on having fun.
As far as places to play, my favorite so far has been the PACC (Polish American Citizen's Club) in Gardner, MA. Fairly large hall, good sized dance floor, good bar service, the room has good acoustics, and it's a very popular local watering hole. Easiest load in/out anywhere, very modern building.
And the bathrooms are clean.
As far as places to play, my favorite so far has been the PACC (Polish American Citizen's Club) in Gardner, MA. Fairly large hall, good sized dance floor, good bar service, the room has good acoustics, and it's a very popular local watering hole. Easiest load in/out anywhere, very modern building.
And the bathrooms are clean.
- Jan 4, 2010
- 233
- 13
- 49
- Disclosures
- Band is sponsored by Trinity Amps and Sennheiser.
When i lived in the states one of my favourite places to play was The Euro Gyro in Kent, Oh
Place was small and had no PA or Monitors but the atmosphere was excellent, the food was excellent, the owners and workers were excellent and the crowd was excellent.
Every time we played there we met new people and had such a great time.
Place was small and had no PA or Monitors but the atmosphere was excellent, the food was excellent, the owners and workers were excellent and the crowd was excellent.
Every time we played there we met new people and had such a great time.
The local Memorial Day weekend is my favorite. That one is my "get to be a rockstar" gig. Big stage, pro well run PA, large crowd on Main Street on a Friday Night and everything is backlined. Show up and play.
Another really fun one is an end of summer party at a private campground on a lake. About 40 campsites, and the area is set up like a bar, with booths and an actual bar in amongst the trees. The stage is a gazebo out over the water. The crowd really appreciates having us there and everyone has a good time. One of the neatest places I've ever played.
BnB
Another really fun one is an end of summer party at a private campground on a lake. About 40 campsites, and the area is set up like a bar, with booths and an actual bar in amongst the trees. The stage is a gazebo out over the water. The crowd really appreciates having us there and everyone has a good time. One of the neatest places I've ever played.
BnB
