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How was the NYE gig?

#21
Gig went well. It was in the ballroom of the local Elks lodge (great-sounding room, btw) and attendance was right around 100. They loved our setlist and danced when we expected and sat and listened when we expected. Even when they sat, you could tell they were enjoying the music. Everything went off without a hitch; made a good check and got a buffet breakfast thrown in after the gig for good measure. These are nice folks.
 
#23
Seacrets OCMD 405589_538615134335_54400386_30511979_1248156191_n.jpg

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#24
It went well. It was my first NYE gig, so I was feeling a bit bummed about not being able to see my girl when the ball dropped. But overall it went well, ended earlier than I expected, so I was able to meet up with my friends around 2 am and catch up to their level of intoxication.
 
#26
My band had a great gig. The place was packed and as usual, people love them some Joan Jett. We also had a pre-party and after-party, but that's out of scope for here (is it?).

During the "pre-party" I had this crazy idea that we should learn a punked up version of Ault Lang Syne. I'd written about one minute's worth of stuff for it and taught it to the band right there gathered around the pool table. However, when midnight struck, I think the guitar players might have forgotten what note to start on.....

Didn't matter, we beat it out anyway and everyone had a great time. Our "Joan" was hotter than ever and rocked it out.
 
#28
I had a pretty interesting evening. We were paid the equivalent of around $750 for an hour of music in Dublin, which is a lot by my standards.. It wasn't my regular band, and was in fact my first time playing with this drummer. My regular band plays exclusively original material, but NYE isn't when people want to hear that stuff, so it was a night of classic rock/old school metal covers, so it was bands like Iron Maiden, Rainbow, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Rush. Now it was my first covers gig in around 5 years and I had an absolute ball playing it.

We had a little fun with the set, playing two minutes to midnight just before the countdown, I had a few seconds to pop off stage to see in the new year with a kiss with my missus, and then back on stage to play Living After Midnight.

There was a crowd of around 400 there, and most of the night was filled by classic rock/metal dj-ing, just people requesting songs they wanted to hear, with one other band playing for 45minutes before us.

There was only one brief incident during the night, when a guy was trying it on with the missus, and wouldn't take no for an answer. It was very quickly resolved and he spent the rest of the night elsewhere.

All in all, I'm less skeptical about cover gigs, but still glad I don't do it regularly.
 
#30
We had a blast, it was the best New years gig I have ever done.

We actually played the same club Friday and Saturday to full capacity both nights which was close to 500 people ranging in age from 25 to 50. We got payed very well and the crowd was very receptive.

The only downside was our male lead singer who sings about 40% of the material came down with a bad throat infection on Saturday morning after the first show! Our female lead quickly downloaded some of the lyrics and we pulled it off.

After the gigs the manager booked us for 6 double weekends for 2012 so yea it was a great New Years show for us!
 
#32
Supposed to play from 8 to 12:30. Venue asked us to be low-key while the customers ate. Didn't have us start until 8:30. It was a multi-course event, so we couldn't do any dance music until 11:30. Supposed to be fed but were given leftover appetizers which were inadequate for the 9 of us. Last hour was indeed a blast.
 
#33
pkmoor said:
Supposed to play from 8 to 12:30. Venue asked us to be low-key while the customers ate. Didn't have us start until 8:30. It was a multi-course event, so we couldn't do any dance music until 11:30. Supposed to be fed but were given leftover appetizers which were inadequate for the 9 of us. Last hour was indeed a blast.
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Wow - that is lame and so unprofessional. Major fail for the owner.
 
#34
Mine went quite well. We shared the stage with a top notch classic rock band,alternating 1hr long sets from 9 until 3. Right after the ball drop,both bands played 5 songs together,which was VERY cool,with everybody rockin' the pocket!

The only bad part of the night was my guitarist setting his champagne on his rig,and then bumping his rig while taking his guitar off,sending it cascading down the side of MY rig. Didn't even get a drop on his! But I gotta admit,my cabs look newer now than when they were new,that kid can CLEAN!! :D
 
#35
I subbed for my old band, in a hole-in-the-wall that can hold maybe 90 people (and where I've played many times before). First time I've played with them in a year (subbed last NYE, too), had a week to re-learn songs and learn new material after I got the call. The missus played across town with her other project (she and I are in one that -- obviously -- didn't play NYE). She played to 400+ in a ballroom, and pocketed 5x what I did for the night. Whatever, it's all "our" money in the end...
 
#36
Pretty decent gig. The bar where we played was just taken over by the previous owners's sons so it was a weird mix of folks in their 50's and 21 year old kids. All of the stereotypes associated with both age groups came to be. The "kids" got too drunk and started fights with anyone that looked twice at their girlfriends. The "mature adults" got drunk, danced all up on the stage and spilled stuff.

Guitar player had way too much himself and was babbling incoherently on the mic during the last set. Lead singer got a little too excited by the dancin drunks and overshot his vocal ability a few times, just killing the songs in question. Didn't really matter because by that point very few people will have any recollection of what the band sounded like.

All that said, it was a fun night, pay was good and we all made it home without incident. My newly "expecting" wife even came out so we could be together at New Years. I'm very proud of her for braving the drunkedness while having to remain stone sober herself. Not an easy task. I'm a lucky guy.:D
 
#37
Sounds like there were good gigs to be had by most! We actually had to boot people for not paying cover! One chick kept coming up to the stage to request crazy train and I kind of lost my cool with her:

Me: It costs five dollars.
Her: uh, no it doesn't!
Me: uh, yeah it does, you don't have a stamp on your hand, so you didn't pay cover.
Her: Oh well my friend works here....he let us in
Me: I don't give a **** who your friend is! You're asking for a song but you didn't even pay!
Her: *mouth open*
Me: Yeah, it's like that.

definitely not my proudest moment on stage. we made less than we did halloween, and we played the same venue both times.
 
#38
armywalaby said:
Sounds like there were good gigs to be had by most! We actually had to boot people for not paying cover! One chick kept coming up to the stage to request crazy train and I kind of lost my cool with her:

Me: It costs five dollars.
Her: uh, no it doesn't!
Me: uh, yeah it does, you don't have a stamp on your hand, so you didn't pay cover.
Her: Oh well my friend works here....he let us in
Me: I don't give a **** who your friend is! You're asking for a song but you didn't even pay!
Her: *mouth open*
Me: Yeah, it's like that.

definitely not my proudest moment on stage. we made less than we did halloween, and we played the same venue both times.
Click to expand...

Sounds like something my ex would do, but she's over the line in MI near Elkhart now.

We decided to stay home and listen to the sirens go by all night.
 
#40
We drove from Nashville down to Tampa FL, the day before...nearly 800 miles...played the gig, got up early the next morning and drove home...great pay, which is the only reason to play NYE in my book.

The place we played was a 250 capacity restaurant...normally we'd play bigger venues in Tampa, but the ticket price was $45 and it was packed, so we were able to make really good money.

Great food, the fans were awesome and mostly respectful...unusual amount of hot girls dancing in the front...I'd do it again :)
 

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