Craig, the drummer plays in one of my bands....dig their stuff, pretty original with an unmistakable central CA ring..
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- Tags
- club thunderbird
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,625
- 222,187
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
There's a bar in SF on Haight St and they book 5 bands a night on Wednesdays, Friday's and Saturdays - 15 bands a week. They post starting at 7pm and each band does a 45min set. (7-8-9-10-11) They don't pay unless you bring in at least 50 warm bodies that remember to tell the person at the door ($10 cover) they are there to see your band. (they tally up the numbers) No free drinks. Kicker is the sound-man (a competent and nice guy) works a day job and doesn't get there until 7:30. So no-one starts "on time" and the last band goes on after midnight. (with 3 people in the bar) On a Friday/Saturday night it's almost reasonable - on a Wednesday night? My band played a few times last year (a Wed, Fri and Sat) and after scoping out the details there, I organized the other 4 bands with equip sharing and prompt on-offs so everyone could go on close to their slated start-time. It took a certain amount of time and energy, the other bands appreciated it and it helped keep things moving that night. The band booker got offended that I did that. Possibly exposed her as doing very little (if anything) to help coordinate 5 bands a night once they were booked. (I dare say, doing her job) The bar probably doesn't pay her much either. Most likely won't play there again - it's an ok opportunity to break into the scene, but that's about all it's worth.
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For those interested in the Seattle area - Cash America in Redmond, Wa has a Kelly Bird listed at $200. I spotted it in the back of a pic of another bass they posted on OfferUp. I'm not driving to Redmond, so have at it. 
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I go back and forth about missing the Freebass, the Coral Wasp I had back when. It was had some great qualities to it. It wasn't like that one. We have had that conversation so I won't flog the Freebass story again unless provoked. it's great to see them still in use.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
To society, man. It's all society's fault. Arrest him, too.
I tend to like my action a little higher than I suspect others. On this I checked the angle from the sales to the first fret (no nut yet), the height at the heal was about 1 1/2 inches so sanding ensued. Now the neck pocket has no more mow spots like it had before, and is even from bass/treble side. I have some more checking to do before I drill the neck and join the two pieces. man-o-man this is nerve wracking but I try to get to the point I have a decent level of confidence before I drill or cut anything.
Good luck, have steady hands and be brave!
That sounds... So typically San Francisco.
1. The booker. Someone who doesn't do their job and gets annoyed when someone else does it for them. How do people like that keep their jobs? And why does a boss put up with it?
2. I'm guessing that the place is not huge - that is, if all 5 bands brought in 50 people, it would be over capacity. And realistically, can a band that would accept such working conditions really draw 50 people? But if each band brought in 49 people (and therefore not getting paid) the bar stand to make $24,995 just on the door.
I just could not fathom working under such conditions. But then, I am purely a hobbyist, so it doesn't matter to me.
Hopefully soon we don't have to imagine?
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Did my mother send you that picture? I thought she agreed not to send out my high school pictures any more.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,625
- 222,187
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
The bar is actually fairly large with high ceilings with booths and room for lots of drinking people (no food) - the performance space is at the far end and a fraction of the size of the bar area. Once in the performance space - it looks like you inadvertently ended up in the alley behind the bar, but maybe that is deliberate - a grungy industrial vibe. It has an awkward L shaped stage (floor risers) and no monitors on the dog-leg section. (?) So unless the band member standing there doesn't sing or wants to hear their fellow bandmates, it's ideal. (sarcasm) Sound is ok thanks to Paul the sound guy, who like I said is an ok guy. Clubs are closing in SF because of escalating real estate values so this particular club touts themselves as legendary, a 'surviver' and how all bands should feel lucky to play at their amazing facility.
Think about this for a second or two; you have a gig at 7:00 pm - on a Wednesday. You show up early and have all your kit on stage ready to go by no later than 6:45. Sound man shows at 7:30. It takes at least 10-15 mins to dial it in. (if it goes smoothly) So everyones start time is now off - and then one band stays on stage for an hr. (no joke - the same band that introduced every band members aunt & uncle and what they ate for breakfast) It is a sort of masochism that allows such... state of the union? Not all to this extreme, but yah.., that's what's goin' on in SF.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,625
- 222,187
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
The bar is actually fairly large with high ceilings with booths and room for lots of drinking people (no food) - the performance space is at the far end and a fraction of the size of the bar area. Once in the performance space - it looks like you inadvertently ended up in the alley behind the bar, but maybe that is deliberate - a grungy industrial vibe. It has an awkward L shaped stage (floor risers) and no monitors on the dog-leg section. (?) So unless the band member standing there doesn't sing or wants to hear their fellow bandmates, it's ideal. (sarcasm) Sound is ok thanks to Paul the sound guy, who like I said is an ok guy. Clubs are closing in SF because of escalating real estate values so this particular club touts themselves as legendary, a 'surviver' and how all bands should feel lucky to play at their amazing facility.
Think about this for a second or two; you have a gig at 7:00 pm - on a Wednesday. You show up early and have all your kit on stage ready to go by no later than 6:45. Sound man shows at 7:30. It takes at least 10-15 mins to dial it in. (if it goes smoothly) So everyones start time is now off - and then one band stays on stage for an hr. (no joke - the same band that introduced every band members aunt & uncle and what they ate for breakfast) It is a sort of masochism that allows such... state of the union? Not all to this extreme, but yah.., that's what's goin' on in SF.
There are 2 venues here owned by a woman who states in their performance agreement that if a band plays a gig at another club within a ten mile radius, within six weeks of a gig at her venue, that band will have ended their relationship with her venues.
We talked about it at rhrsl the other night, and I commented that if they want to try and damage a thriving live music scene, that would be one way to do it. My response was visceral and concise...
I think that what I/we have to offer is also worthy, and don't need to come under heel for the privilege of bringing it into her bar.
It's deemed a desirable gig by the locals, but I think it's silliness.
I see a lot of live music. I probably go to bars and music venues 2-3 times a month and some months more than that. That being said, I have never seen a tip jar which makes me think, it must not be a Michigan thing.
If there's a cover charge or an actual ticket involved, I can't see myself tipping the band. "Free music" would get a tip if I'm enjoying what they're doing though.
Using this math logic, that means that my spending 40% of the cost of my Classic Pro on Hipshot tuners and bridge makes my bass 240% better. That calculation is correct, right?
