Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

I know it seems you have to play the clubs and late night events to establish yourself, but I'm an old guy, and I always dread the getting home at 3am, hell that's when I usually get up to run.

Anyway down here in SWMO we have these little country jam barns all over, my favorite one is on Wednesday nights starts at 5pm, no smoking or drinking, old country players doing old country tunes I never heard, and I thought I was country. They play Weds and Fri, at that barn, there is atleast 8 or 9 more in the area, but the Weds nite one is just a 12 mile ride thru the country. You never know who will show up, fiddlers, banjo pickers, piano players, usually at least 9 or 10 acoustic guitar player/singers. I love to set in and play my Les Paul (turned down) against them, practicing some of those licks I'm stealing from Doc Watson.

It's my favorite place to play, no money, I usually pay, good crowd, early start early finish. I do hate drinking wine thru a straw in there, but I'll put up with it.

Where do you like to play?

Any and every place I can . . .
I prefer outdoor events when the weather is good.
Our venues are pretty varied. W do have a few we repeat at but mostly it's a new group of faces as we travel around the area.

In all honestly as far as just playing and knowing my sound, I like playing at my house. Its even better if I can get my band over, but if not just playing by myself.

It just sounds better to my ears there than anywhere.


As far as playing out, I think Ive shared a few videos of this Moose Lodge we play around once a year, we set the drums out front with us, on the dance floor and as far as a live gig its my favorite, cause I can look over and see our drummer and our bass player. Plus we can just hear everything so clear, that room just works for us.

I used to like open mics and jamming with people, but the last few jams Ive been too, I got bored real quick playing the same old things over and over in different keys. But occasionally Ive gone to a jam and had an aggressive bass player and drummer and I love it, if they can follow me and I them.

I like playing to a crowd that is responsive and enjoys the genre we play. Last night we played at a regular bar we play. The people at this venue are very young and in to their little clicks. We basically are back ground music there. By the 3rd set they were VERY responsive. We very possibly played the last gig for MI last night. I can't tell you how patient I have been with these guys. I also can't describe my frustration with these guys. They are awesome players, and I fear expecting too much from me!

J-HALEY wrote:I like playing to a crowd that is responsive and enjoys the genre we play. Last night we played at a regular bar we play. The people at this venue are very young and in to their little clicks. We basically are back ground music there. By the 3rd set they were VERY responsive. We very possibly played the last gig for MI last night. I can't tell you how patient I have been with these guys. I also can't describe my frustration with these guys. They are awesome players, and I fear expecting too much from me!

That is a shame Jeff.
Don't despair though.
You have two things going for you.
1) You are truly skilled in your craft.
2) Your driven.
These are not qualities the world ignores . . . for long.

Just keep on, keeping on, Jeff.

One slow step at a time wins the race..just chin up, head up, eyes down and walk.

The frustrating thing for me is I am playing with AWESOME players. One of which has always worried about getting too busy, another feels the same way and has been holding up bookings with his on call schedule (from work) for 3 months. Last but not least we went up to start the 2cd set and the lead singer was chatting with the guitar player in his other band and we stood up there waiting for 10 minutes while he talked. The place we played paid $750.00 for the band. This guy basically blew us off while talking with his other band, while the whole time I tried not to be the bad guy (pissed) finally after coming up to play he whispered to me sorry I had something I had to deal with. The Whole night he drank heavily when we FINALLY started the 2cd set he didn't pee before, then he left the stage in the middle of the set to pee, on the way back he stopped to chat while we waited! I basically have to tell a 50 year old man to go pee before we take the stage so he won't leave to do it in the middle of the set!

J-HALEY wrote:The frustrating thing for me is I am playing with AWESOME players. One of which has always worried about getting too busy, another feels the same way and has been holding up bookings with his on call schedule (from work) for 3 months. Last but not least we went up to start the 2cd set and the lead singer was chatting with the guitar player in his other band and we stood up there waiting for 10 minutes while he talked. The place we played paid $750.00 for the band. This guy basically blew us off while talking with his other band, while the whole time I tried not to be the bad guy (pissed) finally after coming up to play he whispered to me sorry I had something I had to deal with. The Whole night he drank heavily when we FINALLY started the 2cd set he didn't pee before, then he left the stage in the middle of the set to pee, on the way back he stopped to chat while we waited! I basically have to tell a 50 year old man to go pee before we take the stage so he won't leave to do it in the middle of the set!

the part about him having to pee in the middle of the set really cracked me up

HALEY, as great a singer as you seem to be on some of your recordings you have up on your BM page, you should not have to put up with that.. you could probably front any band of your choosing.. I wish I had a strong singing voice.. I don't sing out of key but it's weak sauce (for the most part) I can do Karen Carpenter songs fairly well though, I can sing syrupy stuff..

Dane Ellis Allen wrote:HALEY, as great a singer as you seem to be on some of your recordings you have up on your BM page, you should not have to put up with that.. you could probably front any band of your choosing.. I wish I had a strong singing voice.. I don't sing out of key but it's weak sauce (for the most part) I can do Karen Carpenter songs fairly well though, I can sing syrupy stuff..

Well thanks Dane. I have never considered myself a great singer, adequate but that's all. Karen Carpenter is one of my favs now that is great. Jerry is my vocal hero but VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!

I have decided I am going to pull out of Mission Imposter. I just feel we are in different places. I am going to let them know that our gig on 3-1-14 will be my last.

Sorry Lynard didn't mean to hi-jack your thread!

Wherever there is a groove I can fall into. When the other guys are tearing it up my "can I grab my axe and play too" kicks in. When musicians are simply "playing different songs together" at a jam or in a club have no desire to play whatsoever.

Several times I sat in with road bands and ended up with them on a circuit for a week or two. Sometimes you are just clicking so well it would be a crime to let it stop after just one gig. When I would end up a state or two away from home with no way back I would have to call a friend to pick me up on a Sunday. They usually thought it was pretty funny. I always had to arrange for another guitar player to sit in for me but I always managed to get someone as good as or better that I was, so I never got fired.

Bad judgment on my part perhaps but I still had a lot of fun.

When the crowd is into it, they're listening/dancing/singing along, it doesn't matter where/what the place is.
If you're playing with others and everything settles into a groove and falls together perfectly, it doesn't matter if you're playing in your living room or in front of a crowd.

On the other hand, if you're playing songs you don't like or the audience is in a different place .... time to move on.

Proper focus and dedication can make an individual with average skill and awesome bandsmen.
Lack thereof can make an expert technician useless as tits on a boar hog.

J-HALEY wrote:I have decided I am going to pull out of Mission Imposter. I just feel we are in different places. I am going to let them know that our gig on 3-1-14 will be my last.

Sorry Lynard didn't mean to hi-jack your thread!

Too bad but nothing good comes witj playing with drunks. I wonder if he drinks during his day job too.