Long gig. Would you do it?

[jeffb28451]

20 years ago, I was 45. 2 hour gig on steel barge at 96 degrees. 90%+ humidity on Cape Fear River in Wilmington NC. Decent pay, great exposure. 2 fairly healthy guys affected by heat…stomach cramps, nearing heat stroke. 2 others did okay, but swore “never again”.

At 66, there is no outside summer gig more than 2 hours that I would play, ( at least, in the southeast) and then only under very well controlled conditions, ( which promoters often promise and rarely deliver) for any money.

Love music, love showing off…ain’t dying for the privilege, though.


Good luck and if you do it, please tell me when, so I can put it on my calendar to pray for you. Seriously.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Hopefully that Elvis Presley energy will keep your spirits up.

 

[jimmydean]

I played a two hour outdoor gig yesterday in muggy heat and I couldn't wait to get off that stage . The thought of playing 12 hours is insane and even $750.00 while nice , all I can say is......no way !

 

[FryFunk]

I played a two hour outdoor gig yesterday in muggy heat and I couldn't wait to get off that stage . The thought of playing 12 hours is insane and even $750.00 while nice , all I can say is......no way !

what's muggy heat? I'm not sure if people realize we all don't live in the same country, and last I checked texas is hotter than Portland.

 

[pepj]

Most I've ever done is 6x 45mins in a 12 hr period.
And that was mostly repeats and it was grouped at 3 lots of 2x45mins with around 1hr plus in between.
That became pretty wearing..not so much playingwise at the time..just as boring as hell.
If you start dreading gigs, what is the point.

I'd also be thinking what sort of jokers, organisers and band.. think this is a good idea.

And it doesnt serve the industry well for these sort of things to become a 'norm" imo.

 

[Acoop]

Not at 60, no. ... And, from what you've said in post, I think you already agree.

 

[Pulverizor]

WWED?*


*What would Elvis do?

 

[Lowandfat]

what's muggy heat? I'm not sure if people realize we all don't live in the same country, and last I checked texas is hotter than Portland.

Think of it as the difference between dry desert heat, and Darby UK at 35c in August.
Our bodies cool themselves by sweat evaporating, and the higher the humidity, the harder it is for sweat to evaporate. We are our own radiators, and sweat is the fluid. It can feel like you are walking through hot water. Also, the higher the moisture content in the air, the better all those hot molecules swirling about transfer their heat to you. Kinda the same way "fat = flavor".



EDIT: Wait, you're in Ontario, and your humidity in some areas was 88% recently. I just looked it up, and your average is 81%. When I started typing the query, google auto-filled "why is it so humid in Ontario?" You should know all about muggy heat, I was assuming you were in Madrid or something.

 

[Pilgrim]

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'm late to this thread, but I find the request for 165 tunes ridiculous. 80 is at least 4 hours, and that's the outside of any gig I would ever consider, but for a hot, humid summer day?? No way I'd play for four hours. I'm a bit older than the OP and that influences my response, but I especially find the 165 songs in a day idea to be far beyond absurd.

 

[KeithPas]

I would have wanted to have been involved with the discussion and the booking of this with the event manager. The people that set this up don’t even realize how unreasonable this is. All that having been said I would probably pass on this. At my age my hands would be okay but my legs, back, shoulders and neck definitely would not be okay.