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Kill a whole day playing a bar gig?
- Thread starter two fingers
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[QUOTE="Kun2112, post: 20404997, member: 252193" I usually get there 1.5 hours before to "mark my territory" so I actually have enought room for me and my gear. My last few gigs have usually been with me facing the rest of the band instead of the audence because of lack of space and my desire to not knock my headstock on the wall all night.[/QUOTE]
Wow, if a band can't have the collective mind to set up to perform together I wonder how the playing must be? I feel for you, that sucks. Must pay decent to put up with....
Wow, if a band can't have the collective mind to set up to perform together I wonder how the playing must be? I feel for you, that sucks. Must pay decent to put up with....
We have a gig tonight, 9-1. Leave time is 5pm, set up and eat from 6-9. Play from 9-1. Bust ass and maybe get packed up by 2, if we yell at the drummer to get a move on. Head out and get home around 3am. Unload, get to bed and decompress for how ever long it takes. Maybe get to sleep by 4am. 11 hours for $100. *** am I doing to myself?
I love playing, but gigging is another job. I don't show up to my day-job several hours early to hang out and eat breakfast with my friends before doing work.
Even when I'm on the road, most venues don't typically have us show up more than 2hr before the show. In that case, we'll show up, set up, eat (sometimes meals provided by the venue, sometimes we wander till we find something), then get changed and play the gig.
Even when I'm on the road, most venues don't typically have us show up more than 2hr before the show. In that case, we'll show up, set up, eat (sometimes meals provided by the venue, sometimes we wander till we find something), then get changed and play the gig.
Hah, I can top that. My high school held a reunion a couple of years ago and a jam session was organized. Some of the participants wanted to rehearse for the jam session.
Haha....rehearse for a jam session?! Doesn't everybody do that? LolHah, I can top that. My high school held a reunion a couple of years ago and a jam session was organized. Some of the participants wanted to rehearse for the jam session.
I'm on my way out after a few things that have just been plain inconsiderate. I realized that I'm basically a sub that plays every gig. I told them to start looking and I'll do the gigs in the next 60 days that aren't day gigs during the week, and will help find a sub for those days.
I play bass with a group where the co-leader is fairly "obsessive-compulsive" with sound stuff (which does not equate to "good sound," BTW!); although they tell the band to get to gigs an hour before show time, he's there two hours before, and he stresses out when people are "late" for the soundcheck. [I am never "late."] I have a simple rig, so I set up, go "boom, boom," and then I sit down while everyone else is scrambling [I do not practice loud slapping, for example, while others are tuning]. When the dude yells, "OK, we need the bass!" I calmly get up, go "boom, boom" again, adjust if needed, and sit back down. We play the gig - which is usually fun - I pack up my rig, and I'm gone in 15 minutes.
Seems to me reducing load in/load out time should be a priority.
For 9pm gig, eat before you go, arrive at 8 for set up, 1/2 hour to pack up. Someone assist drummer. Maybe some light weight carts might help.
It was a "late start" last night, we didn't need to arrive until 19:30, I left home at 18:15.
I arrived first, loaded in my gear and was setting it up when the guitarist arrived. I gave him a hand (he has terminal bone cancer and according to his doctors isn't supposed to lift anything heavier than a kettle).
The drummer arrived a little later and even though he had to park way down the street was still finished setting his kit up before I finished the PA and lights (and then started his ritual of checking that his kit still worked). Fortunately his wife had accompanied him and told him to stop annoying the patrons!
We played our 3 sets plus encores and wasted no time loading out and it was still 02:40 before I got to bed, all that for 80GPB.
I do wonder sometimes why I do it, then I think back to how much we enjoyed it (that and the girls* dancing) and I know why I keep on dragging my sorry ass out every weekend for a fraction of my hourly rate of my (former) day job. If I had enjoyed my day job a tenth as much I would probably still be doing it!
*Yes (KBD) they are refereed to as girls in the UK and it is not the slightest bit derogatory - different country, different use of words!.
I arrived first, loaded in my gear and was setting it up when the guitarist arrived. I gave him a hand (he has terminal bone cancer and according to his doctors isn't supposed to lift anything heavier than a kettle).
The drummer arrived a little later and even though he had to park way down the street was still finished setting his kit up before I finished the PA and lights (and then started his ritual of checking that his kit still worked). Fortunately his wife had accompanied him and told him to stop annoying the patrons!
We played our 3 sets plus encores and wasted no time loading out and it was still 02:40 before I got to bed, all that for 80GPB.
I do wonder sometimes why I do it, then I think back to how much we enjoyed it (that and the girls* dancing) and I know why I keep on dragging my sorry ass out every weekend for a fraction of my hourly rate of my (former) day job. If I had enjoyed my day job a tenth as much I would probably still be doing it!
*Yes (KBD) they are refereed to as girls in the UK and it is not the slightest bit derogatory - different country, different use of words!.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
It's remarkable that the going rate for a FOUR HOUR bar gig is $100 from Southern California all the way to Northern Canada, and that not including all the other time spent and the exchange rate! Well, like I always say, if nobody liked playing music we would all be making 3 - 4 times the money!
Thankfully those days are history for me. When we were doing the bar gigs we would turn away one night bookings. We had a large following that drank lots of beer so we had that luxury I guess. Club owners knew they would have a full house. Had to be both Friday and Saturday nights. Five sets 8pm till last call. Set up on Thursday. Tear down on Sunday. Being young and filled with testosterone, we lugged a LOT of big cabinets. As regimented as I am I would go bonkers doing limited gigs I think.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Bar gig last night, played 9-1. Arrived just before 8. While the drummer set up his kit, we set up the PA, then our amps when he was ready. Sound check at 8:45. Load out by 1:30, got paid and went home.
My other band has lights and close mics everything through the PA. Sound guy is there about 3 hours early )likes to set up alone). I arrive 90 minutes before show. After gigs, everybody helps break down, so it takes about 80-90 minutes.
My other band has lights and close mics everything through the PA. Sound guy is there about 3 hours early )likes to set up alone). I arrive 90 minutes before show. After gigs, everybody helps break down, so it takes about 80-90 minutes.
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I've posted in this thread before but as there's been specific examples, I'll add one:
10PM to 2AM gig - an hour from home.
19:00 - load up vehicle, depart form home, fill up the gas tank and grab some drive-thru grub
20:30 - arrive venue, realize I need batteries
20:45 - arrive back at venue with batteries; drummer on site, unloaded and setting up
20:45-21:30 - load in and set up (PA), plug everything in, level checks.
21:00 - guitarist arrives; plugs in amp, hooks up guitar and noodles away
21:20 - lead singer arrives; plugs in acoustic into DI box
21:30-21:45 - wrangle the kittens for a sound check.
21:45-22:30 - sit around waiting for peeps to arrive; have a couple of drinks, chill with some of the fans
22:30 - start first set
23:45 - start second set
01:00 - start third set + encores
02:00 - tear down and load out
02:20 - pull out of the parking lot
03:30 - arrive home
Total time: 8.5 hours. Hourly rate for me: $29.41/hr. Not bad considering it was cash pay!
10PM to 2AM gig - an hour from home.
19:00 - load up vehicle, depart form home, fill up the gas tank and grab some drive-thru grub
20:30 - arrive venue, realize I need batteries
20:45 - arrive back at venue with batteries; drummer on site, unloaded and setting up
20:45-21:30 - load in and set up (PA), plug everything in, level checks.
21:00 - guitarist arrives; plugs in amp, hooks up guitar and noodles away
21:20 - lead singer arrives; plugs in acoustic into DI box
21:30-21:45 - wrangle the kittens for a sound check.
21:45-22:30 - sit around waiting for peeps to arrive; have a couple of drinks, chill with some of the fans
22:30 - start first set
23:45 - start second set
01:00 - start third set + encores
02:00 - tear down and load out
02:20 - pull out of the parking lot
03:30 - arrive home
Total time: 8.5 hours. Hourly rate for me: $29.41/hr. Not bad considering it was cash pay!
I think the problem is the amount of stuff we have. I call it the Whitesnake set up because it is a typical giant 80's stage setup. A lot of unneeded gear
jive1
Commercial User
I would never take all day for a bar gig because it's neither necessary or worth it. I would do it for a wedding gig because it's often necessary, and I'm paid for the extra time. For 95% of bar gigs, an hour is plenty of time to set up
For a bar gig, I show up an hour early if I'm not bringing the PA. Even though it only takes me 15 minutes to set up, I like to be early to help out in case of emergency and chill before the gig. I hate hitting the stage after being rushed or stressed. If I'm bringing the PA, I might show up earlier, but max 2 hours early if I have the time. I can usually set up the PA and my rig in well under an hour, but the extra time lets me take it slow and easy.
For a bar gig, I show up an hour early if I'm not bringing the PA. Even though it only takes me 15 minutes to set up, I like to be early to help out in case of emergency and chill before the gig. I hate hitting the stage after being rushed or stressed. If I'm bringing the PA, I might show up earlier, but max 2 hours early if I have the time. I can usually set up the PA and my rig in well under an hour, but the extra time lets me take it slow and easy.
How about killing a bar gig playing a whole day? That'll show those bar gigs who's boss! nyuknyuknyuk
Usual gig is 9-1, arrive 6 pm. Like to be set and sound checked by 8:30 and have the chill time.
We are continually refining set up to get easier/lighter/faster, etc. I think the biggest time consumer is the lights...I hate setting up lights. The cords are all grimy and sticky and there is always some nut/bolt/piece of hardware that fell off and is floating around in the bags. Plus the drummer is always setting up his kit at the same time so it always falls on me and the guitar player to do it. (rant done).
We are wireless on the board with Ipad mixing, so nice. Board and IEM transmitters in a small rack. Big time saver.
We are continually refining set up to get easier/lighter/faster, etc. I think the biggest time consumer is the lights...I hate setting up lights. The cords are all grimy and sticky and there is always some nut/bolt/piece of hardware that fell off and is floating around in the bags. Plus the drummer is always setting up his kit at the same time so it always falls on me and the guitar player to do it. (rant done).
We are wireless on the board with Ipad mixing, so nice. Board and IEM transmitters in a small rack. Big time saver.
