General Music Chat

There is no shame in any kind of gig. Name of the game is working. Who cares what a non-working person thinks?

I realize that the "food music" gigs can be lucrative, but frankly I hate those. It's a hard gig to do when you can't really get a feel for the audience because they are too busy eating to give an accurate response. You think they hate you but no, they just were too busy with their steak to clap for the last few songs.

Give me a room full of drunks over that any day.

how dare they claim to be making money doing food music.. no pay stub no proof..LOL

ever try strawberry juice w/ a bit of vodka?

huh....no, i haven't but it sounds great!

Somewhere along the way, I lost my taste for alcohol...but not for strawberries. Plant City--a 15-min. drive from Tampa--is the epicenter for strawberries 'round here, and at the Strawberry Fest a couple years ago, some fellow got me to try this. True, vodka doesn't have a lot of taste (not like bourbon or scotch, anyway), and mixed w/ strawberry juice, it's surprisingly good: light and very refreshing. Amazing what folks will come up with, eh?

I'll trade a bar tab for free food any day.

yikes...tough call. don't make me decide! but i s'pose if it came down to it and had to pick just one, i'd have to go w (good) grub as well ....i DO like to eat!

Restaurant owners/managers love this trade, for an obvious reason. It's tough to gauge how much someone can drink--for all they know, you could be a real sot, something many musicians are known for--and free booze has inherent risks (why most places put a limit on it). But you can take a quick look at someone and get a good idea of how much they can eat. And they aren't likely to be incapacitated, no matter how much they eat. Altho there have been a couple times I came close.

Give me a room full of drunks over that any day.

Dunno 'bout that. At Festival gigs, it's a non-issue; folks hit the food stalls, then hit the grandstand for the music. I used to get a good response at restaurant gigs, prob. 'cause I went on after everyone had pretty much finished eating. At the same time, for the old geezer set, there is something appealing 'bout going on @ 5:00 and finishing @ 9:00. We can be home in time for the 11:00 news and get a good night's sleep. After a couple strawberry juice-and-vodka cocktails.

"food music" as how I perceive it to be, it is improvisational somewhat listless music to relax people while they are eating food, the audience is generally conversing at their dinner tables with each other, so the music is a background "noise" but still serves a purpose if performed correctly.. it can be nothing more than beautiful improvised chords made up on the spot

https://youtu.be/YIH-_WPcUos

"food music" as how I perceive it to be, it is improvisational somewhat listless music to relax people while they are eating food, the audience is generally conversing at their dinner tables with each other, so the music is a background "noise" but still serves a purpose if performed correctly.. it can be nothing more than beautiful improvised chords made up on the spot

https://youtu.be/YIH-_WPcUos

I've played for dinners several times and generally do a much tamer set than ordinarily. Lots of mellow, soft piano stuff that doesn't call for audience participation (because that would be a fail!). It took many years for me to understand that people were actually listening and genuinely appreciative because of the low-key response you'd get during "food gigs".

Look, I can make a Baptist church dance and do so regularly. People tell me after almost every gig that they've never experienced such joy in a praise/worship event in their lives, but for me it's the norm. Happens every time, nothing special.

So anytime my audience remains sitting, or quiet, or not clapping along, I consider it a bad gig. But with "food" gigs I just had to learn to accept that they like it....as long as they aren't vomiting.

lol

music is music, once again I reiterate I was not badmouthing anything .. a gig is a gig, and I have to decide if I am a sining guitarist or not, before I go audition for this song set :

Hi Dane,

Here is a short list. We have literally talked about doing everything from Buck Owens to Metallica to Herbie Hancock. This isn't everything but it will give you a general idea of what we are doing. We also have some original tunes. Also, if there is anything that you really enjoy doing or do well, please let us know and we will make it happen. Please look this over and let me know if it is something that you think you would be interested in doing. Thank you!!


Bob Marley-No Woman No Cry
Pink Floyd-Have A Cigar
Willie Nelson-Whiskey River
Prince-Purple Rain
Atlanta Rhythm Section-Spooky
BB King-The Thrill is Gone
The Beatles-Come Together
The Allman Brothers-One Way Out
David Bowie-Starman
Buck Owens-Act Naturally
REM-Superman
Graham Central Station-Hair
Sting-I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
East Bound And Down-Jerry Reed
Do It Again-Steely Dan

I am pretty sure I won't be a strong enough singer, although they onlt said they require backup vocals..

"food music" as how I perceive it to be, it is improvisational somewhat listless music to relax people

Nope, we'll just do our more-mellow tunes for the first set.
Here's the songs we've got so far:
Hey Jealousy
Maggie Mae
I Feel Fine
In Your Eyes
Take It Easy
Southern Cross
Amanda
Melissa
If You Could Only See
Take It On the Run
Don't Follow
Paint It Black
Pinball Wizard
Signs
Beginnings
You Wear It Well
Paper In Fire
The following are with me on bass:
Take the Money and Run
Last Kiss
Rain King
Saw Her Standing There
Where the Streets Have No Name
Hungry Like the Wolf
You May Be Right
Rocking in the USA
Hold My Hand
Slide
Blister In the Sun
Give Me One Reason
3am
Here Without You
Margaritaville
Sweet Home Alabama

Right now we're just trying to fill out the set list to about 42 songs, to ensure we've got enough for the upcoming gigs. Then we can start dropping the 'groaners' as we add better songs.

Congrats on the band Mike and I hope you guys groove together well. We have been pretty busy lately too with a wave of good gigs. Street fair events, landmark birthday parties, a school district party, and a couple of our regular roadhouse type gigs. The band is sounding pretty tight right now and everyone is having fun. That is a win.

One gentle suggestion: Don't lean too heavily on the band leader to "do everything". Find a niche whether it is setting up the PA, running the lights, getting good photos or video, or handling the social media site. Be the goto guy in this area so you spread the load around. Any time there is a band leader who "does everything" he is probably feeling overwhelmed sometimes booking all the gigs, handling all the money, bringing the PA, managing the calendar, website, set list etc. Find a way to spread the load around. This keeps it fun for everyone.

The upcoming (and possible) gigs are being set up by both of the other guys.
Once we have settled on a band name, I'll volunteer to set up the social media, and will take of videoing gigs. We all set up our gear/move stuff.

congrats Mike, you deserve it.. as far as my quest came , was that I answered their last email about which 5 songs I would like best out of the set list and I answered, I would like to audition with:
1.Come Together,
2. The Thrill Is Gone
3. Whiskey River
4. Act Naturally
5. Spooky

might as well pick out 5 I am sort of acquainted with, but the sad thing I never heard back from them ever again.. no audition date, time, no nuthin'.. seems like people could be kind enough to let you know why never given at least a chance.. they did not know my name yet, and besides I'm not blacklisted anyhow.

If you don't hear back from a contact (whether you initiated it or they did), one more follow-up is called for. then forget about it if nothing happens.

Our FB page is now set up: https://www.facebook.com/TriilogyBandNewEngland, with our opening event July 28 as well.
Had to move one of the September dates at the same venue (I'm busy that night, a Thursday anyway) and have our first gig booked at the pizza-bar place in October.
Added songs:
Ring of Fire (me singing lead, on guitar_
I'm A Believer (me singing lead, on guitar)
Can't You See (guitar)
Drops of Jupiter (me on keyboards)
Calling All Angels (keyboards)

I've been looking for their ad to pop up again on cl.. have not seen it re-appear so they must have found somebody they thought good enough the 1st audition, without the need to audition guitarists/singers any further..

Yesterday we started going down our sets list, song by song, moving an occasional song as needed (I don't want to constantly be switching instruments every song). I'm making notes on the set list with keys, or endings as reminders - considering half the songs are ones I had never played before (and some I had never even heard). It's funny to listen to some of the songs (original ones) that I'm playing bass on and realize how simple and unadorned the bass parts are. Then we hit an older song (like LZ's 'Ramble On') and I have to work my ass off to play it half-decently!

We've got 4 more rehearsals set before our first gig, a week from Friday. After that gig, we can take easy with just 1 rehearsal a week to work on some new songs.

well, at least one musician digs my "style" of guitar playing..LOL

Hi Im____the one that hosts the open jam on tuesdays 7pm at Murphys pub in humansville ... be great to jam with ya .. i like your guitar style. my number is _____ ,, i live in bolivar ,,, not too far from halfway
http://springfield.craigslist.org/muc/6195318531.html

I sound like Jeff Beck..LOL!