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What's the SMALLEST "crowd" you ever played to?
- Thread starter LedBelli Bass
- Start date
i did a gig at Sullivan hall, NYC, to 4 people. it was when there was a hurricane not far off the coast, and there was a horrible storm in the city that night. we played great, and i caught the set on my handheld recorder, so it wasent a total loss. we lost money on the commute though.
i got a gig about 4 hours away from the home town tomorrow, i can see there not being more then 10 people there, cant wait.
2(bartender sound/booking person), 5 hour drive in a snowstorm. Came home the same night. In the same snowstorm.
edit: "uphill! Both ways!!"
edit: "uphill! Both ways!!"
- Jul 30, 2006
- 2,315
- 453
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist:Regenerate Guitar Works Carvin, Micheal Kelly Guitars
Once in Hawaii a guy called & wanted to book my band for 2 weeks in the same club. A mob club, but still a club. They paid well so I took the gig. We show up & there's us & a bartender & 1 waitress in this huge club. We ask what's up & they say that two people(the previous bartender & bouncer) had been shot & killed by an angry patron the weekend before. In Hawaii you MUST keep your venue open or you'll lose your club license. The boss called & asked if we'd do it "as a personal favor to him". These are not the kind of people you say no to. So, for two weeks we played to virtually no one & got paid handsomely.
I was in a band once that played for the club owner and the one server that they left on duty. It was an out of town gig and too far for our crowd to go. The bar assured us there would be a crowd. We finally took a pay cut so we could quit and go home. The bar went out of business shortly after.
Three illegal Mexican construction workers and their foreman. It was cold at this outdoor venue, so they were wayyyyyyyy in the back at the fire pit. Next to the food and the beer.
We got 35 cents.
Cherie
We got 35 cents.
Cherie
Wow. Did they at least let you in on the food and the beer?
My philosophy is, if I ain't gettin paid I damn sure better at least be gettin fed.
I think it was around 13. The club neglected to inform me I was the promoter for the gig. Had I known we would have had flyers up well before the day of the show.
More than once, I played for just the bartender.
I've had a lot more fun playing to a couple of enthusiastic fans, than I have playing to 150 indifferent people who were waiting for us to finish, so they could hear the headliner.
I've had a lot more fun playing to a couple of enthusiastic fans, than I have playing to 150 indifferent people who were waiting for us to finish, so they could hear the headliner.
Well; if you count the countless times I've played penny Jazz on the street with a few friends, I would say 1-20. People sometimes stand by, clap after a song or two, then walk away.
Oh, the joys of Sarasota.
Oh, the joys of Sarasota.
...wow, this is a depressing thread. I can honestly say that I have never played to fewer than 20 people... although, as soon as I run out of fingers and toes to count the gigs on, I'm sure the supply of friends who pity me will start drying up.
A couple of years ago, we started a gig with literally nobody watching. The Bartender, Owner and Waitress went outside to smoke, so the place was completely empty. Shortly after the employees returned, a guy wandered in, took a quick look around and left. That was awesome.
By the end of the night there were probably about 40 people there, but the first few songs were just for us.
By the end of the night there were probably about 40 people there, but the first few songs were just for us.
I'm pretty sure - I've played a gig to an empty house.
I say I'm pretty sure because there is NO WAY you play to an empty house in NYC and finish the set sober.
I say I'm pretty sure because there is NO WAY you play to an empty house in NYC and finish the set sober.
Several times, I've played to under five. The bigger the venue, the worse it feels. I like small places as a result-- if "10" were a sold out show, success is within my grasp! 
We were supposed to get paid, but the venue owner got messed up on crack and went home.
My hand to God, that's what happened.
Thankfully, the cooks that night were girls I knew...one is an old bandmate...and they are AWESOME cooks! So they fed us. Meatball Bowls...big slab of crusty, warm French bread, with Italian meatballs, home-made, large, spicy, covered in sauce and cheese. $2.50 for civilians, free for musicians, warm, wonderful...ahhhh. I miss those! They kept Blue Moon ale just for me, too.
Cherie
