Jazz gig at the state Mental Hospital....that was pretty interesting. We were in a courtyard with a bunch of residents.
Interesting.
Interesting.
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Strangest gigs?
- Thread starter bassman1185
- Start date
A 55th high school reunion. The mother of the singer in our band insisted we do the gig. Now we play mostly pretty tame music, but not tame enough. Luckily I brought some Glenn Miller with the PA and they LOVED that. The only time they danced was during our breaks when I played the swing.
my old band was playing a party gig about 3 years ago in a really small town of farmers. we were asked to set up in a barn with no stage and a dirt floore. so we did our best with some wood and other stuff to keep out amps and drums off the ground. so after we are all set up we waited around for the party to start when people started to get there thay were all in the 40's and 50's. so a jazz band opened for us and i tought that was weird because my old band was a metallica cover band. so our set started and about 2 songs in to it people started to some up and ask if we know how to play songs by people i have never hurd of at the time and we were like no. sorry ......so we played 1 more song befor out lead guitar played walked off "stage" leaving me and the drummer. so we played a few drum bass inprov songs befor the drumer had enough and walked too. ...that was the end of the night for us.....i geuss it was fun
jeff
jeff
Booked at a bar in a summer resort area in southern VA IIRC. Dead of winter. Didn't actually have room for the band so some gear was set up on a pool table. The audience consisted of the bartender and a waitress... both of whom clapped after every song. I never got around to asking the manager why we were there.
Ahh, show business.
Ahh, show business.
- Mar 1, 2005
- 3,101
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- Endorsing Artist: Crook Custom Guitars
Not sure why I just remembered this one, but 10 or 12 years ago, we played a gig INSIDE the local Sam's Club. They cleared out a space on the slick concrete floor, had a couple of basic risers for a stage, and away we went. Don't remember the occasion, maybe a grand opening or something like that, but it was a strange one!
My school's jazz band was asked to do a gig at the local farmer's market. This is a full-size, 16-member big band, and they provided us with a stage that I swear to you could not have exceeded 5'x5'. We would have barely had room to put the drummer up there.
Then there was the time we played for a whole bunch of drunk cops at the Policeman's Ball. I believe someone requested Freebird at one point...
Then there was the time we played for a whole bunch of drunk cops at the Policeman's Ball. I believe someone requested Freebird at one point...
My band played a gig in Japan - a kind of charity show for deaf and hearing impaired people. Most of the audience was hearing impaired! Good excuse to crank up the lows! At one point, our singer was speaking in English, which was getting translated to Japanese, then getting translated again to Japanese sign language....interesting. Unfortunately after we played we had to split, which was a bit of a shame because the headlining band were, themselves, all hearing impaired!
Ive got a few!
all with a modern kind of experimental jazz band
-at a german speaking retirement village who were expecting a christmas carol troupe
-on the ferry at midday on a week day
-at a council fashion show for children where we set up under a staircase
-At the opening of a hardware store
I think some of those put me in the running for strangest gig
all with a modern kind of experimental jazz band
-at a german speaking retirement village who were expecting a christmas carol troupe
-on the ferry at midday on a week day
-at a council fashion show for children where we set up under a staircase
-At the opening of a hardware store
I think some of those put me in the running for strangest gig
NYE party/dance/meeting for AA. It was funny when they did their sobriety role call, it worked down from 35 years down to 1 hour...not even the band could say they've gone that long.
In March we're doing a state convention for NARCANON!
I don't know why we keep getting these gigs playing for uptight people
In March we're doing a state convention for NARCANON!
I don't know why we keep getting these gigs playing for uptight people
Auburn Prison in NY State, (birthplace of the electric chair)
probably the scariest thing I have ever done. It was Easter visiting day for the non-violent/sex offenders. It was in the early 80's and there are 3 things that stand out very vividly.
1. While trying to be "friendly", I was told by a guard that I was being used to pass drugs around....I had no idea!
2. While we played, the inmates sat with their "loved ones" and no one moved and no-ones hands were above that table. It was later explained to me that they were all being "taken care of" so to speak.
3. This one guy followed me the entire time begging me for my boots (regular timberland work boots). He kept saying that he had 10 more years and that the boots they gave him there uncomfortable. He wanted to swap with me "no one will ever know"....when I was playing he just stood in front of me staring at me boots.
I would never play in a prison again, and I don't recommend it to anyone else.
probably the scariest thing I have ever done. It was Easter visiting day for the non-violent/sex offenders. It was in the early 80's and there are 3 things that stand out very vividly.
1. While trying to be "friendly", I was told by a guard that I was being used to pass drugs around....I had no idea!
2. While we played, the inmates sat with their "loved ones" and no one moved and no-ones hands were above that table. It was later explained to me that they were all being "taken care of" so to speak.
3. This one guy followed me the entire time begging me for my boots (regular timberland work boots). He kept saying that he had 10 more years and that the boots they gave him there uncomfortable. He wanted to swap with me "no one will ever know"....when I was playing he just stood in front of me staring at me boots.
I would never play in a prison again, and I don't recommend it to anyone else.
Ha! I hear that! We played Lorton pen in VA twice in 79-80. They got to have a family day sort of deal. You could smell herb being toked up right there. Most of the guys were great but some were bone-chillin scary and nobody went near those dudes. We had no problems.
We played at a school for the deaf in DC, Gallaudet University quite a few times back then. They were great gigs. Theyd say crank the bass & drums up so we can dance! Gotta luv that! So we did and they did! They seemed to dance MUCH better than hearing folks and were totally uninhibited. They were there to have fun! The only thing strange was between songs and during breaks the crowd (1,000+) would be gesticulating wildly (ASL) and making guttural & feral sounds as they sounded out words. Please do not be offended by my characterization. I have nothing but respect for these people. Having hundreds & hundreds of people make these noises at the same time was somewhat disconcerting. They could read lips like you would not believe. Simply amazing. Oh, reading the lips of someone across the room is considered VERY rude. We were treated like royalty and the aftershow parties are a whole nuther story
The drummer from my former classic rock band booked us to play his familys certain ethnic family reunion the 40 or 50 th can't remmber.After a one hour drive it was like 95 degree's out that day and we were to set up in an small stage with a 7 foot ceiling that looked like it was built back ito the wall. The place looked like Bob's country bunker from the blue's bro's complete with old out of tune piano and a can of dance floor grit for the country dancin there. There were wagon wheels and ropes, steer horns barrels everywhere. The place smelled like a backed up sewer and was 100 degrees inside.
The people there many elderly were like why the hell are you here? We set up and ate some good food had a few beers and hit the stage...we played classics while the people sat waiting for the big family raffle after our first set was thru. As soon as we finished it was like a sigh of relief from them let out...... on with the raffle! For over an hour we (band) sat outside at a picnic table drinking beer watching guest after guest walk out and to their cars with what they won from the raffle...by the end and when we were to go back on the crowd went from 150 to 25...the 25 were the people who set up and put it on.We played for them and they did dance a bit and acted like they had fun. We got paid $200.00 split 5 ways and drove an hour back..oh the fun!
The people there many elderly were like why the hell are you here? We set up and ate some good food had a few beers and hit the stage...we played classics while the people sat waiting for the big family raffle after our first set was thru. As soon as we finished it was like a sigh of relief from them let out...... on with the raffle! For over an hour we (band) sat outside at a picnic table drinking beer watching guest after guest walk out and to their cars with what they won from the raffle...by the end and when we were to go back on the crowd went from 150 to 25...the 25 were the people who set up and put it on.We played for them and they did dance a bit and acted like they had fun. We got paid $200.00 split 5 ways and drove an hour back..oh the fun!
jive1
Commercial User
Been there, done that. Our gig was at a medium security prison in Colorado.
- It took longer to load-in and load-out than it did to play. No load-in was as time consuming as this, since they had to inspect EVERYTHING that went in, as well as EVERYTHING that went out.
- Couldn't bring in chewing gum, since it is used to jam locks and hide stuff.
- I forgot my cigs in the car, and it was too much hassle to get them. I couldn't bum one from one of the inmates since we weren't allowed to take or give anything to them. Luckily one of the guards helped me get my fix.
- It was eerie to see the "prison b1tches". I thought that kinda stuff was just for the movies.
- Our cute lead singer couldn't wear her usual little black dress, so I didn't get to enjoy her nice legs.
I played at a friend's art show opening about a year ago. It was experimental improvisation to the maximum degree - there was no communication at all! It was planned so no one talked before we started, and we no one spoke between breaks. We tried not to give and visual clues either, or cheat by looking at other musicians hands. So we all got on stage and played along with a silent video installation, improving for exactly 10 minutes as it played, and then we didn't play for exactly 10 minutes while is was off. Rinse and repeat for 3 hours. So the first song everyone gets on stage and grabs whatever instrument they are closest to regardless of whether or not they normally play them. I played bass, drums, guitars and keys during the course of the evening, and even sang some "ambient harmonies."
A very different experience.
I kind of wish I could do it again!
A very different experience.
I kind of wish I could do it again!
Here's a quickie- I'll put in some crackers when I've more time. About 10 yrs ago one of the 3 female singers in our dance/funk band was getting married & asked if -another band I played in-guitar in this one,- could play at the wedding! All fine.... until- & this is straight outta the standard "OMG NO's" - the BRIDE's uncle came swaggering-drunk- up to the stage ripped the mic outta my wife's-lead singer- hand & regardless of what the band was ACTUALLY playing.......... Started "singing" for want of a better word....."t'was on the good ship venus....." in ALL its gory glory-amazing that his memory was SO good for getting ALL the lyrics of ALL the verses!!!! We didn't stop him- he was one of the BRIDAL FAMILY!!!!! besides we were all cracking up- the Bride was Hiding in embarrassment...& I think the rest of the family were ALL to scared of what might happen if they tried to stop him.......... ooooo eeeerrrrr!!!!!
Cheers,
Rod.
Cheers,
Rod.
My top redneck gigs of all time:
3) Dance hall in San Angelo, TX: played bass in classic country cover band. Buck-toothed 40-something women in zebra-striped pants getting their boot scoot on... shudder
2) Turkey Trot festival: conducted a high school band at a re-enactment of a town's annual turkey drive. (think cattle drive, but stupider) Yes, we played the chicken dance.
1) Wedding gig in a trailer park. Couple had to get married there because the groom had a parole ankle bracelet on. First and last time I played Skynyrd live.
3) Dance hall in San Angelo, TX: played bass in classic country cover band. Buck-toothed 40-something women in zebra-striped pants getting their boot scoot on... shudder
2) Turkey Trot festival: conducted a high school band at a re-enactment of a town's annual turkey drive. (think cattle drive, but stupider) Yes, we played the chicken dance.
1) Wedding gig in a trailer park. Couple had to get married there because the groom had a parole ankle bracelet on. First and last time I played Skynyrd live.
It was in Shawnee Town, IL on the Ohio river. American Legion club full of the earth's outcasts. When I say this, I mean the waitress wore an eye patch and various other patrons were missing limbs. It was a really freaky experience...like Hotel California or some kind of bad pirate movie. Anyway, we played "Bad to the Bone" and it was requested 6 more times that night. At the end of the show, they locked the doors, took up a collection and we played another hour. The collection was double what we played for the first 3 hours. The first song we did? Bad to the Bone of course as it was requested. The one-eyed waitress took special care of us that night and she turned out to be a very gracious person as she kept passing the collection hat around several times. It was still a strange gig with all of the amputees in attendance. A rough looking crowd but gentle in their appreciation.
db
db
When I was going to school at UF, we used to play for the 'Naked Relays' party. It was an outdoor gig in the courtyard for this group of duplexes.
The relay squad for the track team and most of the folks on the swimming team would party naked and then run relays down the streets naked.
The best was looking up and seeing some naked girl getting thrown upside to do a keg stand.
Worst was trying to keep playing while some drunk guys are dancing.:scowl:
After doing this once, these naked folks loved to have us play their parties. We did it for 3 years straight. We also played other various naked parties. All with clothes on.
The relay squad for the track team and most of the folks on the swimming team would party naked and then run relays down the streets naked.
The best was looking up and seeing some naked girl getting thrown upside to do a keg stand.
Worst was trying to keep playing while some drunk guys are dancing.:scowl: After doing this once, these naked folks loved to have us play their parties. We did it for 3 years straight. We also played other various naked parties. All with clothes on.
