I used to play a lot of solo gtr gigs playing instrumental jazz and classical at wineries, restaurants, and of course the big money weddings and affairs that those would lead to.
and i mean a LOT.....a while back i was a regular at this one winery and playing 70 gigs a yr there in addition to other solo gigs elsewhere. solo gigs are easy enough for me....good money w no split, and i just show up w a FENDER Deluxe, my GODIN nylon string, and an archtop jazzbox. i can walk in to a solo gig fifteen min before I need to drop a downbeat and be ready to go.
that said.....solo gigs have always been my least favorite and i got quite burnt out on them. i'm a band guy and always prefer working w other musicians.
now, i do a handful of those solo gigs....really to keep my chops up and because they're easy money. last night i played a three hr solo gig for Valentines Day at a winery (different place than above). it's a place that i've been playing at for about five yrs w Planet Jazz and have recently begun playing there w the new rockabilly band...The Spincasters.
They just wanted some low key/low volume bkgrnd music and asked me to do my solo bit. I gave them a quote for two hrs.....they agreed but wanted me for three hrs (ugh). i upped the price and asked them to throw in the special dinner they were serving up. yep....we're good to go.
so, i'm doing my bit in this small, awful sounding room (we usually play outside in warmer weather)...it's just a friggin din in there! but i'm actually enjoying it and people are being very complimentary and being very generous w contributions to the tip jar.
i do my three hrs....and start putting my gtrs away and this guy who had recently sat down w his lady asks "we were really enjoying your music, are you packing up?"....."yeah, been here since 7:30 this morning!" i joked. (laughs all around) "so, what's it gonna take to get you to play some more?"......"how much money ya got?"......"would a hundred get us another hr?".... "yeah, sure thing".
and now, the gig that i was counting on being two hrs when first considering it, became a FOUR HR solo gig. damn.....and this when i've pretty much bored myself shitless w my playing after 15 min!
it was a long one...but i did enjoy it.
and i mean a LOT.....a while back i was a regular at this one winery and playing 70 gigs a yr there in addition to other solo gigs elsewhere. solo gigs are easy enough for me....good money w no split, and i just show up w a FENDER Deluxe, my GODIN nylon string, and an archtop jazzbox. i can walk in to a solo gig fifteen min before I need to drop a downbeat and be ready to go.
that said.....solo gigs have always been my least favorite and i got quite burnt out on them. i'm a band guy and always prefer working w other musicians.
now, i do a handful of those solo gigs....really to keep my chops up and because they're easy money. last night i played a three hr solo gig for Valentines Day at a winery (different place than above). it's a place that i've been playing at for about five yrs w Planet Jazz and have recently begun playing there w the new rockabilly band...The Spincasters.
They just wanted some low key/low volume bkgrnd music and asked me to do my solo bit. I gave them a quote for two hrs.....they agreed but wanted me for three hrs (ugh). i upped the price and asked them to throw in the special dinner they were serving up. yep....we're good to go.
so, i'm doing my bit in this small, awful sounding room (we usually play outside in warmer weather)...it's just a friggin din in there! but i'm actually enjoying it and people are being very complimentary and being very generous w contributions to the tip jar.
i do my three hrs....and start putting my gtrs away and this guy who had recently sat down w his lady asks "we were really enjoying your music, are you packing up?"....."yeah, been here since 7:30 this morning!" i joked. (laughs all around) "so, what's it gonna take to get you to play some more?"......"how much money ya got?"......"would a hundred get us another hr?".... "yeah, sure thing".
and now, the gig that i was counting on being two hrs when first considering it, became a FOUR HR solo gig. damn.....and this when i've pretty much bored myself shitless w my playing after 15 min!
it was a long one...but i did enjoy it.
BREAD IS GREAT!
PRAISE CHALLAH!!!!
PRAISE CHALLAH!!!!