General Music Chat

Am I the only one whom finds it nearly impossible to get the full scoop on gigs?
I mean really, constantly showing up with little more than a time and an address.
That's like being in logistic hell for a guy like me.

The worst is when you get there and you need 300' of Extension Cords.

I simply don't or won't do it anymore. I don't see much point in scheduling a gig or show at a place where no one is prepared to have us play and most people do not understand the basic needs of a rock band performance. I have a clear understanding of what our band needs to perform and run a simple performance contract questionaire through every client who wants us to play. What? No electricity available? Would you like us to rent a generator at additional cost or do an unplugged acoustic show?

We have greatly simplified our rigs and only need about 15 amps to run most gigs where in the past we needed 40 amps. This helped to open a lot more doors.

Ha!!!

You guys ought to try it in foreign countries about 2 or 3 times a year!?

Played a small congregation in Norwich England this morning, had to use 1/2 of the PA (2 speakers) as a monitor. Playing a Methodist Church in London tomorrow for a Russian/Ukrainian/Romanian outreach ministry. Have no idea if there will be translation OR a PA system.

Don't get me started on Poland next week....

I simply don't or won't do it anymore. I don't see much point in scheduling a gig or show at a place where no one is prepared to have us play and most people do not understand the basic needs of a rock band performance. I have a clear understanding of what our band needs to perform and run a simple performance contract questionaire through every client who wants us to play. What? No electricity available? Would you like us to rent a generator at additional cost or do an unplugged acoustic show?

We have greatly simplified our rigs and only need about 15 amps to run most gigs where in the past we needed 40 amps. This helped to open a lot more doors.

and they had better have a bowl of red M&M's too, with all the yellow ones picked out..

Hell . . . I've got 300 foot of extension.
I just want to know what time we go on

What? You mean you don't like surprises? lol

I went to a "rehearsal" about a week ago now.

Next thing you know, we were a 4 piece with a pick up bass player and being introduced as "The WPOT House Band".
WE played a while and had a good time, but it started out rough as hell.

I got caught with my pants down and my mind empty. It quickly reverted to this thing some of my friends were doing about this fictitious show about a radio station called "WPOT".

"Join us all on Sunday nights at 11, for 96.3's infamous WPOT, serving it hot and smokey just the way you like it".

"Grillin and Chillin" with Clint and Jack, serving up some of the tastiest roadkill this side of the Mississippi". Cooked with a blow torch, don't forget your fire extinguisher..unless you just like the smoke.

And now for a message from our sponsor, "Maui Waui Lights".. etc.
And that degenerated into a reggae tune..

We'd play for a while, talk for 5 minutes and then play some more.

Reggae, a pseudo-dance tune and even more stupid crap was played, but the crowd liked it. A lot of it was semi-comedic and def tongue in cheek.

At the end, I got asked if WPOT was a real radio station. (ermmm sorry but no.)
And some guy was laughing in between asking me "if I wanted to go out in the parking lot and smoke some WPOT". (double take)

I was like "oh noo, I caaan't do THAAAT". lol Else I can't play anymore and I think we're going to play some more to-night. He laughed and walked away.

It was really good although I had to leave my vehicle behind cause I had too much Tequila + Beer.

Didn't make any money but I got drunk for free and didn't have to drive home. I got a call from the bar owner that wants to know when we can come back to do the same show again. (for free, I bet..ecch)

This chick Crystal made a recording of it. (She even gave me a "Crystal" to remind me of her".) ( I was like "she's far out".)

I don't have the recording yet, but I'm digging for her and it.

Point is that most or all of this is impromptu when the planets align and the moon is full in the sky. Sometimes you just gotta do what you think you should and forget the rest. Play what you wanna play, someone is out there that wants to hear what you play.

Don't stress the logistics, just do what comes naturally and enjoy it.
Sometimes knowing less is an advantage, but I am learning not to ask too many questions.

What? You mean you don't like surprises? lol

I went to a "rehearsal" about a week ago now.

Next thing you know, we were a 4 piece with a pick up bass player and being introduced as "The WPOT House Band".
WE played a while and had a good time, but it started out rough as hell.

I got caught with my pants down and my mind empty. It quickly reverted to this thing some of my friends were doing about this fictitious show about a radio station called "WPOT".

"Join us all on Sunday nights at 11, for 96.3's infamous WPOT, serving it hot and smokey just the way you like it".

"Grillin and Chillin" with Clint and Jack, serving up some of the tastiest roadkill this side of the Mississippi". Cooked with a blow torch, don't forget your fire extinguisher..unless you just like the smoke.

And now for a message from our sponsor, "Maui Waui Lights".. etc.
And that degenerated into a reggae tune..

We'd play for a while, talk for 5 minutes and then play some more.

Reggae, a pseudo-dance tune and even more stupid crap was played, but the crowd liked it. A lot of it was semi-comedic and def tongue in cheek.

At the end, I got asked if WPOT was a real radio station. (ermmm sorry but no.)
And some guy was laughing in between asking me "if I wanted to go out in the parking lot and smoke some WPOT". (double take)

I was like "oh noo, I caaan't do THAAAT". lol Else I can't play anymore and I think we're going to play some more to-night. He laughed and walked away.

It was really good although I had to leave my vehicle behind cause I had too much Tequila + Beer.

Didn't make any money but I got drunk for free and didn't have to drive home. I got a call from the bar owner that wants to know when we can come back to do the same show again. (for free, I bet..ecch)

This chick Crystal made a recording of it. (She even gave me a "Crystal" to remind me of her".) ( I was like "she's far out".)

I don't have the recording yet, but I'm digging for her and it.

Point is that most or all of this is impromptu when the planets align and the moon is full in the sky. Sometimes you just gotta do what you think you should and forget the rest. Play what you wanna play, someone is out there that wants to hear what you play.

Don't stress the logistics, just do what comes naturally and enjoy it.
Sometimes knowing less is an advantage, but I am learning not to ask too many questions.

I appreciate that Starfish Scott

But it's difficult advice for me to follow. Yeah I know how to adapt and overcome, but it may be only because I show up with my sh*t wired tight and twice as much gear as I'll likely need.
Seems it's always the same for me.
Getting there and getting set up I'm like oh this is horrible . . .
Once I'm set up I'm like . . . lets go! come on come on lets git it on !
Once it's done I'm like OH yeah man that was great!

LOL . . .

What? You mean you don't like surprises? lol

I went to a "rehearsal" about a week ago now.

Next thing you know, we were a 4 piece with a pick up bass player and being introduced as "The WPOT House Band".
WE played a while and had a good time, but it started out rough as hell.

I got caught with my pants down and my mind empty. It quickly reverted to this thing some of my friends were doing about this fictitious show about a radio station called "WPOT".

"Join us all on Sunday nights at 11, for 96.3's infamous WPOT, serving it hot and smokey just the way you like it".

"Grillin and Chillin" with Clint and Jack, serving up some of the tastiest roadkill this side of the Mississippi". Cooked with a blow torch, don't forget your fire extinguisher..unless you just like the smoke.

And now for a message from our sponsor, "Maui Waui Lights".. etc.
And that degenerated into a reggae tune..

We'd play for a while, talk for 5 minutes and then play some more.

Reggae, a pseudo-dance tune and even more stupid crap was played, but the crowd liked it. A lot of it was semi-comedic and def tongue in cheek.

At the end, I got asked if WPOT was a real radio station. (ermmm sorry but no.)
And some guy was laughing in between asking me "if I wanted to go out in the parking lot and smoke some WPOT". (double take)

I was like "oh noo, I caaan't do THAAAT". lol Else I can't play anymore and I think we're going to play some more to-night. He laughed and walked away.

It was really good although I had to leave my vehicle behind cause I had too much Tequila + Beer.

Didn't make any money but I got drunk for free and didn't have to drive home. I got a call from the bar owner that wants to know when we can come back to do the same show again. (for free, I bet..ecch)

This chick Crystal made a recording of it. (She even gave me a "Crystal" to remind me of her".) ( I was like "she's far out".)

I don't have the recording yet, but I'm digging for her and it.

Point is that most or all of this is impromptu when the planets align and the moon is full in the sky. Sometimes you just gotta do what you think you should and forget the rest. Play what you wanna play, someone is out there that wants to hear what you play.

Don't stress the logistics, just do what comes naturally and enjoy it.
Sometimes knowing less is an advantage, but I am learning not to ask too many questions.

and never forget (if I may? "Chief") when you played under that moonlit sky, you left a vibrational impression forever imprinted on the universe, and your vibrational dalliance is still wafting around Pluto and beyond by now, and the gods will be forever grateful for the contribution you imbued on society and Martians everywhere scattered throughout the heavens..

If you have a message to spread, I guess you go where you can, but if not... don't do gigs under 3ft in height.
Bigger gigs, and efficient gear.

Or you can produce your own show or shows, I guess.

Producing our own shows is the direction we are headed.

It certainly is . . .

The point is "do not be so tight".
Instead try to be flexible as possible.
You do this because it's a labor of love.
Remind yourself often as you can, it will save you some lost stress and/or sanity.
Prayer works really well also.



I had no idea I was playing that night, but once you're there, just do it.
It was more of a surprise to me than everyone else. (I hate surprises and I think perfect preparation prevents piss poor performance.)

Always keep something in reserve in case of disaster. (The WPOT thing was emergency materials but ended up working well enough.)(PS: I've been corrected, WPOT is 420 on the am dial. lol)

The worst part is always the beginning, once you get rolling it's easy to keep it going on..slow and steady wins the race.

Dane I hope you're joking.
That "vibrational dalliance" sounds like "a burp that went south".
(hold your nose) lol

I simply don't or won't do it anymore. I don't see much point in scheduling a gig or show at a place where no one is prepared to have us play and most people do not understand the basic needs of a rock band performance. I have a clear understanding of what our band needs to perform and run a simple performance contract questionaire through every client who wants us to play. What? No electricity available? Would you like us to rent a generator at additional cost or do an unplugged acoustic show?

We have greatly simplified our rigs and only need about 15 amps to run most gigs where in the past we needed 40 amps. This helped to open a lot more doors.

and they had better have a bowl of red M&M's too, with all the yellow ones picked out..

We like the red and yellow ones just fine, better not leave any brown ones in the bowl though.

Seriously though, we are talking about 2 different types of gigs. George (and I) are talking about scheduled performances for a sizable audience and lots of expectations including a significant paycheck at the end. Doing one of those gigs and having breakers blow out and take down the sound and lights every 10 minutes is just dumb and nobody has any fun. Been there, done that plenty. It's our job to make sure they are prepared to have us play so unforeseen dumb stuff doesn't spoil the show for their paid guests.

This is a very different gig than an impromtu jam or performance with low/no expectations. We have all done plenty of those with limited resources and had a great time. Everybody got more than they paid for. We did one of these back in May and the Saloon said we could use their house PA. Well... only the right side of the house PA worked that night. No matter. 30 musicians got together and had a great time anyways with no unmet expectations. The house made $1000 on food and drinks that night so they were very pleased. It is what it is.