Long gig. Would you do it?

[magic8161]

I play a lot of Casino Gigs and Theaters with my Current band doing a hour and forty five min. Shows. But, Maybe 3 times a year we do a Elvis fest. Which is more hours over 2 or 3 days. Well this particular one in July in Michigan Is crazy. I just got the set list and they want us to do 80 songs on Friday and 165 songs on Saturday. Its a day long event Saturday from 11am to 11 pm. At 60 I'm not sure I can do that long of a day Anymore. Would any of you do a show that long? Plus its outside in the heat in July!!! Pay if $750 but its 6 hours from my home so at least $250 gas. But they give us each a room in a nice hotel and food. But That price is way low compared to other gigs we do. And we always get rooms and transportation costs and 20 to 25 songs per show. The band has been doing this show for 10 years this is my first year. Not sure on this one.

 

[godofthunder59]

That long outside in the heat I would say no thanks. I'm 63 and can easily play 3-4 hours a night if called for. But 165 songs straight while out in the heat no way. The more I think about this the more bizarre the terms of the gig sound, it's like the organizers have absolutely no idea about what's involved. Good grief makes you wonder if the stage will even be covered. Definitely a hard NO!

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

Geez!
That's along tome to be playing.
I'm pretty sure I couldn't hold up to it.

 

[tofnbad]

Personally I would do it but I would not do it if there were a question about it affecting my health (i.e. heat).

 

[Lesfunk]

$750 per man, right?
Depends on how broke I am.
Normally I wouldn’t drive that far for less than a grand, and still that’s only for a single standard length show. 1.5 to 3 hours
I wouldn’t be happy about doing it . That’s a ridiculously long day

 

[Bass Man Dan]

I'm 46 and I know my hands ain't doing 12 hours of playing in one day in any conditions, much less outside in July. I just physically couldn't, my hands are usually about done after 3 sets.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

That's a long time, even playing in optimum conditions. Outside, in the summer heat? Hmm.

Sounds like you'll be lucky to be clearing $2 a song. That may not be a good way to look at it, but if you get paid a lot more to play 20-odd, it starts to look very much not worth it, to me personally.

 

[Oddly]

Have you talked with the band about this?
If you refuse, do they have a replacement they can call in, or will they lose the gig?
Would that be a big deal?

For me, that'd be a no...it's way too long a show to be expected to pay, it'll be too damn hot, it's too far away, and too expensive to get there and back...assuming you haven't collapsed from exhaustion or heatstroke.
I've no idea how fit you are, but even at my best, about 35-odd years ago in my early twenties, when I was playing out almost every night, I couldn't do that show. I know folks who could, but that would involve some serious pharmaceutical help.

 

[joelns]

That's a big giant no for me. 12 hours outside in July for $750? Not a chance. What about rain? Don't you get thunderstorms that time of year? I ain't risking my gear for that, or my health. I'm prone to heat exhaustion, not caused by dehydration.

 

[Killing Floor]

Maybe. Would be fun for a while but that is an insanely long gig. Personally I would end it all if I had to watch a set that long.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Don't be a sucker for that nonsense.

 

[ELG60]

You'd best be mindful of hydration and electrolytes.
At my age and where i live, outside in the summer is verboten.

 

[Carl Hillman]

Add another thousand to that...at a minimum.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

What we would do is irrelevant. It's what the rest of your band is doing and the implications of you doing or not doing it. $750 is going to be taxed so that's a factor. Gas is high, but I assume you can carpool with one or two other members

 

[tmw]

I’d be a solid No.

 

[two fingers]

I play a lot of Casino Gigs and Theaters with my Current band doing a hour and forty five min. Shows. But, Maybe 3 times a year we do a Elvis fest. Which is more hours over 2 or 3 days. Well this particular one in July in Michigan Is crazy. I just got the set list and they want us to do 80 songs on Friday and 165 songs on Saturday. Its a day long event Saturday from 11am to 11 pm. At 60 I'm not sure I can do that long of a day Anymore. Would any of you do a show that long? Plus its outside in the heat in July!!! Pay if $750 but its 6 hours from my home so at least $250 gas. But they give us each a room in a nice hotel and food. But That price is way low compared to other gigs we do. And we always get rooms and transportation costs and 20 to 25 songs per show. The band has been doing this show for 10 years this is my first year. Not sure on this one.

I would not. No way. No how. I'm only 50 but my traveling days (like that anyway) are over. I've turned down great paying weddings 4 hours away because I just don't feel like the hassle of overnight travel anymore.

Not to mention, that is HORRIBLE planning on the part of the people who throw the even to have ONE BAND play the whole thing. Silly. They're just being cheap by not hiring multiple bands for a teo-day event.

Again, this would be a HARD no for me.

 

[MrLenny1]

Yup,too long, way too long.

 

[bassicmike]

165 songs in one all-day marathon. Nope. My left hand could not do that. And mentally, I check out at about the 3-hour mark.

never mind the heat and the 6-hour drive.

 

[lokikallas]

That’s too much for one band

 

[Dust2Dust]

Nope