Gig Tomorrow Night!

[Kenster]

If anyone is in the area and interested....

Nicky-Rottens_Flyer.jpg

K ;-)

[perceval]

Have a good night and enjoy!

[Intruder]

Knock em out dude!
Have a blast.

[KennyinDundee]

Have a cracking gig and give it 'waldy' (Scottish word for give it your best)

[fulrmr(Daniel)]

Have Fun!!!!!

[jonm42]

So how did it go?

[Kenster]

Gig went well. There were some complications, not really band related. I only write about it all because others may run into similar situations and for those just getting onto gigging these are some good points to put onto your gig checklist.

1. Music is an afterthought. This place is a sports bar/restaurant FIRST. There is no dedicated stage, or lighting or dance floor. The owner is very cool, owns two other locations that DO have live music, and regularly books live music at this venue. He does plan on putting in some lighting and some kinda riser/stage. Because of this, the place is NOT set up for a full 5 man kick ass hard rock dance party band with all the trimmings. And what I mean by that is just that. We are a band designed to entertain and ROCK IT HARD. We are not a small 3 piece band with no PA and everyone playing right out of their amps, and used to playing in the small corner of a bar that was never meant to have a band. There is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, just for the record. Its just our band is NOT that kinda band nor are we looking to do any gigs like that. Here's a pic of what I mean. This was not our gig nor will ever be.

SmallGig.jpg

Our band is meant for larger corporate gigs and bigger stages, and venues designed to handle us with CROWDS who WANT to come to these places to party and dance. Because this isn't one of those places we had issues.
1. Set up....we had to wait for the wait staff almost an hour to move tables and chairs out of the way for us, meanwhile we brought in gear and shoved it everywhere we could.
2. No other way to bring in gear except a long way thru the parking area and thru the restaurant, no back entrance
3. no lighting for the band
4. most importantly, NO CONVENIENT POWER OUTLETS. I spent about 20 minutes doing recon and actually running extension cords to wherever else I could find power. Three out of the 4 taps I used were in the ceiling/high on the wall for the 57 TVs they have in this place.


2. The power issue ended up pissing me the eff-off badly because as usual, with EVERY FLIPPIN BAND I've ever been in, NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO DO EFFING ANYTHING! So I had bass and guitar players who simply set their amp down, plug in, and say "I'm ready", and then whine about the lack of a power outlet and then when they see me standing on a barstool trying to plug in power they're all panicked they have no power and REFUSE to listen to me when I yell at them over the bar noise repeatedly at least 3 times that I AM BRINGING POWER TO YOU!!!! EFFING RELAX!!!!! But I digress. This issue will be handled at our next meeting lol. I just love being dramatic

3. We brought our own lighting but one of them was a brand new rig that had to be assembled and of course, yours truly did most of the work all the while I angrily reminded everyone that I have the most gear to set up, and NOT a 3 to 4 piece club kit for drums, but rather a full on rock drum God stage kit that takes a bit to set up, as well as my vocal mic rig and my SPDS and storing all the drum cases and helping the sound guy mic and check my kit.. I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO DO ALL THE OTHER JOBS THAT SHOULD BE SHARED (like power and lights and cables)

4. Our sound was a little overkill but we would rather have that than be underpowered. Everything mic'd up and mixed well.

5. Frickin sports event! The Charger football game was on and of course went into Overtime, so consequently, we went on 2 hours late but got paid for the full 4. That bad part....hanging out in a bar yelling to be heard while at the table and losing part of my vocal ability by the end of the gig. Shoulda kept my mouth shut at the table. One band member partied too much with friends and family while there and seemed to be a little off in the last few songs as far as playing ability. If you bring friends and family to a PAID gig, then resist the urge to party with them between sets. YOU'RE PAID TO PLAY, party with them on your own time. It's great to encourage them to come party at your gigs tho so keep THAT going.

We crushed the audience and they and the owner were blown away to the point we got asked to do 2 more gigs. All the above mentioned stuff is just food for thought for you would be giggers out there. Have a plan, make sure EVERYONE in the band has more than one job, and recon/site survey the venue before you play there, and MAKE A CHECKLIST of all things that your band will require before committing to ANY gig, make sure ALL band members have a laminated copy of said list on them and make them responsible if they book the band and commit them to a gig before checking with the rest of the band, and make them wholly responsible for everything on that checklist. Or else, from my perspective, I will refuse to play or make that person do everything including haul my kit, set it up, and perform all sorts of other deviant acts on my behalf.

You get the point!

K ;-)

p.s. sarcasm button off now.

[Intruder]

When I was younger and the kids were still home we searched for ever and never did find a babysitter as good as you!
Hahahahahahaha.LOL

[angr77]

Kenster - a real nice story - I do feel I recognize myself here in your story. Preparation is the secret and a plan who in the band - will do what. We made a list of work items and set a band member as responsible for each item. Our very blond singer is responsible for all microphones, stands and cabling...and after a couple of gigs she started to really perform. Adapt to the place you arrive to...would you have got less money if you showed up with 2 full range speakers...2 led par lights...forced the band to connect through line in...and yourself playing on a Zendrums?

Angr77

[fulrmr(Daniel)]

I feel ya brother. That was the story of my life while I was gigging. Monotonous and stressful. Just because I was the vocalist I ended up doing everything except for one gig where I set up the console and set my vocal processors and sat down. The rest of the band quickly got a clear picture of the rigors of having to actually set up for the show with out me. Lights/PA/power/sound check etc. It was a giant cluster until I stepped back in and "saved the day" so to speak. Needless to say I got a bit more help after that ...but not much.

[cure1973]

Ha ha great pic...certainly reminds me of some gigs I used to do in my old band... Being the drummer is hard enough mate setting all our gear up , trying to get it to fit and feel comfortable....but set everything else up too?? F@#K that!!

[sycle1]

Ouch that looks cramped and certainly not quite a worthy place for a ROCK GOD DRUMMER like yourself Kenster.
Must say yep been there and done that!
It really pays to check out the gig venue before the date of the gig as some of em are really hard on your patience, power, cleanliness and access can be a big problem.
Glad you made it through.
Why are most band members always such lazy douchebags when it comes to helping set up and tear down???? been the story of my life.
My current band members are pretty good at it but still not perfect.
Cheers good post.

[jammin777]

ive been in the situation venue wise. years ago one of that band members booked us a heavy rock cover band at a redneck bar for new years eve! they hated us at first... then they got drunk! lol!
we were they're hero's by the end of the night. funny thing is, one of the last original bands i was in had roadies and i had a drum tech. these guys just volunteered for free knowing that if we ever made it, so would they. way cool. my tech would drive my drums to the venue and set them up perfectly! the good ole days.

[mkok]

Now that rings a lot of bells. Isn't it strange that as drummers we usually play an all acoustic instrument but are usually the most technically able. I used to sort out desk, Sequencer, PA. Guitarists do exactly as you say. Dump the amp and moan if there is no power within a couple of feet as they never bring an extension. It's just not there job lol.