Howdy I was just asked to book for a biker club annual party.
Have you guys done it.... Any tips or advice?
Have you guys done it.... Any tips or advice?
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Playing a motor cycle meeting/party
- Thread starter MNAirHead
- Start date
Play well.
Oh GOD I wish I had this gig.
I would play some blues, and I would definitely play some heavier stuff.
Oh GOD I wish I had this gig.
I would play some blues, and I would definitely play some heavier stuff.
Best crowd you'll ever play for.
2 things:
Don't be an A-hole.
Don't go looking to get laid.
Follow those two simple rules and you have nothing to worry about. IMO, bikers look out for you. No one messes with your stuff, and if they offer to pitch in with carrying PA and such, they are a very conscientious group.
2 things:
Don't be an A-hole.
Don't go looking to get laid.
Follow those two simple rules and you have nothing to worry about. IMO, bikers look out for you. No one messes with your stuff, and if they offer to pitch in with carrying PA and such, they are a very conscientious group.
I think you should take the time to explain the benefits of helmet laws. I would end with "The only people who don't want to wear a helmet are those without anything to protect."
One of my bands is playing a bike rally known as "The Nut Run" which is named as such due to the vast quantity of Rocky Mountain oysters consumed. I also have played in the Black Hills quite a bit which is biker territory.
The harder-edged older rock tunes work well for this crowd. (AC-DC, etc) Do not play disco for this crowd as they may throw things. ...and hitting on a biker's girlfriend is a VERY bad idea as they tend to work in groups.
The harder-edged older rock tunes work well for this crowd. (AC-DC, etc) Do not play disco for this crowd as they may throw things. ...and hitting on a biker's girlfriend is a VERY bad idea as they tend to work in groups.
Make absolutely, positively sure that all the other members of the band understand this.
Agree!! I have played rallies and such and they make for good times and good crowds. I had three that recalled my band from a past show watch us at a club somewhere else. The manager was a royal jerk that "forgot" the pay and complained about everything (which is a trick so they don't have to pay full amount). They stepped in and got our money and helped carry our gear. Good peeps!!
I take it you mean Skynyd. LOL
My band plays for lots of biker events and there really is no specific style for many of them. Some of the things mentioned so far such as ZZ Top, Skynyrd, CCR, etc. are cool but we play a wide variety that goes over well. Born To Be Wild has been played to death at these things but if you know it, play it. If you play any surf tunes ala The Ventures, Dick Dale, etc. they work as well as Classic rock, Southern rock, Hard rock, and Blues rock stuff.
We even played Happy Together by The Turtles at one of these events and they all started singing along.
in my motorbike club we don't discriminate. we do like to have a little fun at hd's expense sometimes though.
Hey Timmy,
PM me with who you are playing for or at.
I can let you know what they may want, heck I'll probably be there.
PM me with who you are playing for or at.
I can let you know what they may want, heck I'll probably be there.
"Born To Be Wild" "Bad Motor Scooter" et. al.
As stated above, classic hard rock of the ZZ Top AC/DC Skynyrd variety. Sneak some broham ballads in there so they can do that leather chaps dry hump thang with their saddle bag queens once in awhile.
And yes, bikers are not all gangster thugs, in fact most have a really strong sense of fairness. Shake hands and be nice. Respect is a two-way street, get these folks in your corner and you're set.
As stated above, classic hard rock of the ZZ Top AC/DC Skynyrd variety. Sneak some broham ballads in there so they can do that leather chaps dry hump thang with their saddle bag queens once in awhile.
And yes, bikers are not all gangster thugs, in fact most have a really strong sense of fairness. Shake hands and be nice. Respect is a two-way street, get these folks in your corner and you're set.
I'll echo what Phalex started.
Be nice. To everyone. Very important.
Bikers are great people. Like it has been said, they'll help you load in and out without you even asking.
Not to mention the stories. Find the old grumpy guy and make friends. You'll get enough entertainment for weeks!!
Do NOT hit on their women. No matter what. This includes if one of them hits on you. Last thing you want is to be involved in a biker love triangle. You won't come out on top.
Again, make sure EVERYONE in your band, and your crew, knows these rules.
And go have fun. You'll be talking about this gig for awhile. Enjoy.
Be nice. To everyone. Very important.
Bikers are great people. Like it has been said, they'll help you load in and out without you even asking.
Not to mention the stories. Find the old grumpy guy and make friends. You'll get enough entertainment for weeks!!
Do NOT hit on their women. No matter what. This includes if one of them hits on you. Last thing you want is to be involved in a biker love triangle. You won't come out on top.
Again, make sure EVERYONE in your band, and your crew, knows these rules.
And go have fun. You'll be talking about this gig for awhile. Enjoy.
The OP didn't say if it was a "Patch" party... If it's just a riding club, it's just another gig.
If you're playing for an MC (there's a difference), then just be respectful. Don't try to pick anyone up, don't start any disagreements, shake hands like you mean it, and have a good time.
Even at the rowdy ones, generally they never touch the bands. If they do, they know they'll never get another one.
If you're playing for an MC (there's a difference), then just be respectful. Don't try to pick anyone up, don't start any disagreements, shake hands like you mean it, and have a good time.
Even at the rowdy ones, generally they never touch the bands. If they do, they know they'll never get another one.
jive1
Commercial User
I've done a bunch of biker gigs. Some of them seemed like a scene from Sons of Anarchy. Some of them weren't any different than playing for a bunch of accountants, except that they wore leather on the weekends. Biker clubs/gangs can be pretty unique in that people of similar personality tend to congregate with each other to create the identity of the group. A northern gang might boo you off the stage for playing Country, while a southern one expects you to. Some guys may dance, while others will dig your music while standing their arms crossed in front of you.
But they are some of the most loyal fans you can have. They care more about the band, than the songs they play. While a gang of dancing cougars will forget your band as soon as another band plays 'Don't Stop Believing', bikers usually don't.
IME, you need to have 2 songs in your set list. 1 is Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers by ZZ Top. I have played that song in biker bars out West and on the East Coast, and it never failed. The other is a heavier, slow tune like 'Rough Boy', 'Still Got the Blues for You', etc.. Tough guys may never ever get off their stool for a dancey, but they may for a slow song they can do with their old lady. Slow songs are easier to dance to with less potential for looking ridiculous.
Aside from what others said, gauging your audience may be different than playing in some dance club. We are inclined to believe that the more people dance, the more they get into their music, but it may not always be the case in this setting. I played a gig in Colorado where someone came up to the band, and told me "Gang XXX would really appreciate it if you played Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers", so we did. We had a group of big biker dudes stand in front of the stage with their arms crossed all night. I thought they hated us and were watching us to see how bad were messing up so they could give us some choice words plus some afterwards. Turned out they loved us, and were totally digging us by actually paying attention to what we were playing. They bought us drinks, invited us to party with them after the show, and even offered to take us to Sturgis with them as their "house band". In hindsight, them paying attention to our playing was more of a compliment than if we were just background music they danced to.
But they are some of the most loyal fans you can have. They care more about the band, than the songs they play. While a gang of dancing cougars will forget your band as soon as another band plays 'Don't Stop Believing', bikers usually don't.
IME, you need to have 2 songs in your set list. 1 is Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers by ZZ Top. I have played that song in biker bars out West and on the East Coast, and it never failed. The other is a heavier, slow tune like 'Rough Boy', 'Still Got the Blues for You', etc.. Tough guys may never ever get off their stool for a dancey, but they may for a slow song they can do with their old lady. Slow songs are easier to dance to with less potential for looking ridiculous.
Aside from what others said, gauging your audience may be different than playing in some dance club. We are inclined to believe that the more people dance, the more they get into their music, but it may not always be the case in this setting. I played a gig in Colorado where someone came up to the band, and told me "Gang XXX would really appreciate it if you played Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers", so we did. We had a group of big biker dudes stand in front of the stage with their arms crossed all night. I thought they hated us and were watching us to see how bad were messing up so they could give us some choice words plus some afterwards. Turned out they loved us, and were totally digging us by actually paying attention to what we were playing. They bought us drinks, invited us to party with them after the show, and even offered to take us to Sturgis with them as their "house band". In hindsight, them paying attention to our playing was more of a compliment than if we were just background music they danced to.
Biden is breaking rule number 2 (and most likely number 1 too). Check the look on those dude's faces.. priceless!
