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How do you buy time on stage?

#101
interp said:
Never, never, never, never, ever (x1000) give a mic to a heckler.
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True story: A couple of years ago I was down the front at a solo gig by Jim Bob, one half of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine. I don't know if they're known in the US, they were pretty big in the UK in the 90s and headlined Glastonbury. Anyway a bunch of us had been singing along as loud as possible all night (this is normal procedure for his gigs). There's a song called Falling on a Bruise which has a long spoken word section at the end. Jim Bob forgot the words and handed me the mic. Sorry to say I went into full rabbit in the headlights mode, completely froze and clammed up.
 
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#102
For stuff like that I like to cut up with the drummer and whoever else is still free- I don’t mean noodle, I mean really do something for a minute. Now this is in context of most of my projects being in the jazz, funk, groove, and otherwise stink face style of course..

I have a couple groups where the break to cut up is kind of a crowd favorite that gets mentioned a lot by fans . Make it a treat yknow?

The more universal answer is to do whatever verbal housekeeping and announcements you need to make, crack a joke or two about the guitarist tuning, yada yada yada. Depends on how casual the gig is too, of course.
 
#103
I went to a show in LA back in the early 90s.
It was Los Lobos, The Blasters, and X.
About half way through X's set, Billy Zoom's
Guitar broke a string.
Now I've seen X many time's, and never seen Billy play anything other than his vintage silver sparkle Gretch. It must be the only one he has, because instead of a roadie running in with a replacement guitar, he reached behind his amp, grabbed a string and started replacing it mid show.
Now a hopped up punkrock crowd, including a mosh pit, isn't gonna wait patiently while you re-string a guitar soooo....
John Doe steps up to the mike and launches into a fierce version of " Black Betty".
Just bass, drums, and vocals. It was badass!
The crowd didn't blink, maybe didn't even notice. When the song was finished, Billy was re-strung, tuned up, and ready to rock.
That's how pros do it.
 
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#104
Pull out a wad of singles, announce that you’re “buying time”. Have the people form a line in front of one of the band members. Anyone from the audience can come up, give their name, a favorite quote or life experience and in return, the get a single. Once you’re done, say “thank you, we are now continuing “. Never actually did this, but it seems like a good idea to me.
 
#105
First I'd like to thank all the "Fire him!" commenters, sarcastic or serious, for reminding me how glad I am to have left the last toxic situation I was in, and for no longer ever playing with that kind of musician again.

Anyway, we always get the bar staff and servers names, if they're OK with it, and thank them for taking good care of us and the crowd, remind folks to likewise take care of them. Mention the facility and maybe the owners or such. Plan on this. Do NOT mention your upcoming shows except for the ones at that venue, or possibly charity/community events with the venue's permission.

If it's a great song, put it at the end of a set.

If it takes him longer than that, well, then you can fire him. :roflmao::laugh::D
 
#106
Pdaddy1978 said:
About half way through X's set, Billy Zoom's
Guitar broke a string.
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Cool anecdote: In '75 I saw Mark Farner (GFR) break a string mid-song at the old Cobo Hall in Detroit. He looked back quickly, then yelled "D" through the mic while continuing to play. A tech ran out, while Farner played, pulled the old ends, put on the new string and cranked it up a bit and ran off. Mid-solo Farner hit and held that string open for about one second, while turning the tuner until it was at the right note, and continued on. Never sounded like he missed one damned note the whole time! Now that's how you do it!!!
 
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#107
When I saw the thread title, I thought it was about “pay to play”! Boy, I’m a dummy! :) (And, the only thing I can offer the OP is our guitarist ALWAYS had at least 3 guitars tuned and onstage with him, so minimal delays. And if the BL called a “quick pitch”, he made do with what he was wearing.)
 
#113
681px-BlueParkingMeter.jpg
 
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#116
hi Anthony :)

Anthony Lap said:
techniques that you guys use it to fill up time with bass only while waiting for the rest of the band.
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Firing someone is not a good option! :D Fist fights can be entertaining!

mooore.jpg


But they are bad for your hands! Maybe let the drummer start the fight! :D


Anthony Lap said:
Do you have any examples of songs with long bass intros?
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3 minutes of fun with your drummer. It works!



When the guitar isn't in tune after that? (see above :smug:)


greetings

Wise(b)ass
 
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#117
To "buy" time on stage: I personally hate when people talk about the song and how it came up but it's another way you can "buy" time. Your time on stage is meant for the band and the crowd. So the band would need to connect with them. My old band would connect with the crowd and it would just be fun up there. So long as you are having fun and the crowd is enjoying themselves, that's all that matters. Learn to read them; you aren't playing music for yourself at this point, you are playing for the crowd who want to have a connection with the band. That's what will bring them back.
 
#118
Anthony Lap said:
Do you have any examples of songs with long bass intros?
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Ever listen to Rush?

I'm surprised you guys actually have paying gigs if this is the hardest issue you face.

1. How long can it take to tune? If it's more than a minute or two = Problems. I have to retune every now and then. I can get it done in less than a minute.
2. While he's using a minute or two to tune, that's when your singer does the "How's everyone doing tonight?" do a little crowd pumping.
3. Schedule the tune at the end or the beginning of the set so you are only dealing with tuning once.
4. Second guitar already tuned. Guitardists usually own more than one.
5. Publicly humiliate him and tell the crowd they have to wait until he retunes.
6. Don'y play it.
 
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