Long gig. Would you do it?

[Bassic_desires]

On Saturday, can you repeat the 80 songs from the Friday set? If not, that's 245 songs for the whole band to learn in a few weeks. Either way, my best wishes to you all on that challenge.

 

[lbbc]

Good luck with whatever decision you make. I would say "no" to the gig. July heat, outside, marathon playing gig, many hours from home are too many red flags for me.

 

[bigswifty1]

I'm 63. I could physically do that gig but I would not under the terms described by the OP.

I would take it under the following conditions:

1. Minimal traveling required
2. A super easy/convenient venue for load, parking, access and so on
3. Meals + generous rider
4. PA + operator supplied

A failure on any of those and I'd decline for sure, so, as described by the OP, a big nope for me.

I might also decline if my calendar had anything the day before or after. If I took the gig I'd probably block out the day after in my calendar.

 

[marchone]

The band has been doing this show for 10 years this is my first year.

At first I thought an agent was messing with you. Then I caught this nugget. Ask your band members what's up.

 

[6Bass101]

That would be a definite nope from me. I’m 42 and I don’t think I could hack that long of an event, especially combined with long travel. I just wouldn’t want to do it.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

the length, the heat, im assuming humidity as well.... thats too much for any age.

 

[Amano]

12 hours gig is outrageous. Imagine bartending tables 12 hours.

 

[JRA]

the money ain't right! for what the OP described = too much work, not enough compensation.

 

[friskinator]

Somebody, somewhere would sadly do this for $100/man.

 

[Turnaround]

If you do it, be very careful. I played a 3.5 hr. show with no break about 4 years ago. My left hand hurt after the second hour. I thought to myself as I played through the pain - I'll pay for this tomorrow, but it'll be OK in a day or two. Four years later and it still hurts. Physio hasn't helped. Nor has any other treatment.

 

[HolmeBass]

11 hours without breaks? No way!

11 hours with 45min sets and 15 min breaks for $750? Maybe, but it will be tough. The hotel had better be close to the stage!

 

[portpc]

Putting the bass aside are you singing also? I Are your vocalist(s) willing to blow out their voice at such a marathon gig?.. This sounds more like a sentence rather than an enjoyable gig. I'd punt...

 

[getrhythm]

Other than the Elvis music, nothing about this gig sounds attractive to me. Drive, duration, pay.

 

[BassBrass]

Being potentially fatal this would be against child labor laws (or any labor laws since slavery) so how low on the totem pole are musicians? The very bottom apparently. Lower than human. It's even contrary to business interests of retaining staff, so they'd only do this to people they'd never see again, never hear their complaints for years afterwards

 

[ga_edwards]

No way. That's just not healthy regardless of your age. I'm sure there's many "hero's" who reckon they could do it, but I think in reality any of us would be suffering for days after playing 165 songs in a 12 hour set, at least not without a serious fitness regime for a weeks beforehand to get into peak condition. (FWIW, assuming 15 songs per hour, that's around 11 hours straight - how on earth are you supposed to eat, drink and wee in that time?). Either they need a couple of other bands to rotate with or do an hour on, hour off etc with background music. And as someone else mentioned, I highly doubt any singer, even backing vocals, would be able to sing for that long. I don't think it's humanly possible, not without physical damage.

Do they expect you to provide PA and backline as well? The last think I would want to do before and after a ridiculous stint like that is lug a load of heavy gear around.

As I said to a bandmate a couple of days ago, I think many people get the words "band" and "jukebox" confused. We're not robots (or Duracell bunnies) who can just keep churning tunes about ad infinum. Either negotiate a more sensible stint or give it swerve.

 

[rtslinger]

That is a joke right?

 

[buldog5151bass]

When I was younger, yes. But at 57, as much as I love gigging, I have a life.

 

[BigJohnAZ]

Doing the math, that's about 8 hours of music, give or take. Maybe they are splitting it up 1 hour on, half hour off, something like that.

 

[thunesBARROW]

I would not accept the gig. It’s insane to expect this from anyone, even young people. It’s unrealistic and abusive, even at a much higher rate.

 

[Scarysharkface]

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 probably take the gig, just to play. I'd bring a stool and use it. I did a gig on Middle Bass Island once, at the Lonz Winery, that probably paid a couple hundred bucks and we played 14 hours of music over a 24 hour period and didn't repeat any songs. I was subbing and my brother Pete was on keyboards, so it was definitely work. Also, I only had one bass at the time, my 12 lb. Alembic, so that was fun. It was worth it just to say I'd done it. By the way, I'd guess possibly my brother, Pete, will likely be at the Elvis fest thing you're talking about, on keys? I think he's done it in the past.

John