blue

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1449149604' post='2921094'] I though it would be good to resurrect this thread and just give an update of our actual experiences at festivals this year: Firstly my initial views on the suitability of the weather in the UK for festivals has not changed a bit. It rained at all but one of the events we played this year. So on to the actual gigs themselves: [b]PuzzleFest: [/b]Heavy rain all day, put rather a damper on this. The outdoor stage was adequately covered as was the majority of the audience area except for the bit just in front of the stage, which meant that most of the bands played to an empty space while the audience huddled around the bar area trying to keep dry and warm. We were the last band on outside (the final band of the evening played in the pub where it was warm and dry) and luckily the rain had stopped during the band before ours' set. However, late running of the previous bands and an outdoor curfew time meant that there wasn't enough time to remove the house bass rig from the stage to make room for mine, and a miscommunication between Mr Venom and the organisers meant that I wan't able to use my amp rack with the supplied cabs, so I had to go without my effects and tuner. It was bitterly cold on stage - our guitarist played with gloves on and I didn't even begin to sweat despite wearing my full leather Terrortone outfit. Despite all of this we had a good turnout and reception. Unfortunately merchandise sales were poor as unsurprisingly everyone disappeared in doors to catch the last band to moment we finished. Cold, wet and rather disappointed. [b]Strummercamp[/b]: Again more rain. However because we were playing the pre-festival party we were indoors in the hall next to the bar where it was dry and relatively warm. We arrived a little later than we were supposed to, but found that the PA was only just being set up. It seemed to take for ever to as the engineer appeared to be completely stoned. Everything was running massively late, but in the end it didn't really matter. The rain had driven everyone inside so we played to a packed hall and went down really well. Sold loads of merchandise including a whole box of CDs that we'd brought, but no-one wanted to buy any vinyl! [b]Alice's Wicked Tea Party:[/b] It was off and then it was on, then off again and then back on. By this time most of the decent headlining bands were no longer on the bill. I was going to be out of the country at a wedding and we'd organised a replacement bassist so that the band could do the gig. However because of the uncertainty of it actually happening, coupled with the Terrortone van not being well we decided to cancel. Still don't know if the event went ahead. If it did, I bet it rained! ;-) [b]Deerstock[/b]: More rain (can you see a pattern forming here?) and a rather serious leak over the stage that the crew were trying to fix as we set our gear up. Overlapping stages and delays while the leaky stage roof was being attended to meant no soundcheck and only the briefest of line-checks before we played. Sound on-stage was fairly poor, but we played through it. The audience looked cold and miserable huddling under their umbrellas or sheltering by the stalls that circled the stage area. By the time we'd loaded the gear back into the van it had all acquired a sheen of rain and mud… Hung about for a bit trying to sell some merch, before cutting our loses and heading for home. [b]OutCider[/b]: Rain and some sunny intervals. However the sterling organisation of this event coupled with the friendliness of the organisers and crew meant that despite the rain this event was a joy to play. The stage and audience areas were under cover and there was plenty of backstage storage for all the gear so no humping it across wet muddy fields. Excellent on-stage and FoH sound and an appreciative audience. Made a lot of new fans and got a couple of good reviews. IMO it just goes to show what can be done when a festival is properly run and takes into account the fact that much of the time the British weather is simply not going to be very nice. If they will have us we'd love to come back and play again. [b]Degeneration[/b]: For once the weather was nice and sunny - dare I say it almost hot! Except that this time the concert venue was indoors and as we were playing during the day a lot of the potential audience stayed outside in the sun. Still those that did venture inside were enthusiastic, if sometimes a little scared of Mr Venom's on and off-stage antics. Got another couple of excellent reviews and a bunch of new fans. Overall? It is possible to organise a great festival in the UK that takes account of the unpredictability of the British Weather - OutCider is a prime example! However IME too many festival organisers simply stick their heads in the mud and hope that it will be bright and sunny on the day(s) that they have chosen, and other than ensuring that there is some sort of roof over the stage area have made little provision for the inevitability of rain. It doesn't matter how dry the stage area is, if your gear is all wet and muddy by the time you've got it there because there is no adequate back-stage parking. Also there seems to be an assumption that the audience won't mind getting a bit wet in order to watch the bands. Maybe if it was Download or Glastonbury and the performers in question were massively famous, but most of the bands playing the sorts of events we are doing at the moment have at best a cult following and much of time the audience's priority is to keep dry, especially if they are staying in a tent for the weekend. No matter how awesome your band's performance is, it can be difficult to connect with your audience when they are concentrating on keeping dry rather than down at the front of the stage. As may be obvious from previous posts, I'm not a massive fan of festivals, but as OutCider and a few others have shown they can be made enjoyable even for a grumpy old cynic like me. Unfortunately unless you are playing one of the very big events, they appear to be the exception rather than the rule. [/quote] Thanks for resurrecting the thread. Wow, I didn't realize it was so raining in your region in the UK. You know it wouldn't be fair to compare my fair and festival experience. For one Milwaukee is known as The City Of Festivals and we are the home of The World's largest music fest, SummerFest. Most of the fairs and festivals we played last year were top notch. Top Notch, meaning festivals that are established with a history of success. Top Notch also meaning above average pay and only play 1.5 hours instead of 4 hours (the standard for a bar gig). However in years past we have experience the scams and the poorly planned, poorly organized festival. For those new to festival and fairs, Getting good detail on the event and the sponsor is a must. How these event's treat the bands is a good benchmark. Things like what accommodations they make for getting the band on stage, a good stage manager, is there a green or hospitality room with food and drink for the band, family and friends? Beware of festivals where it seems like they are going out of their way to make things difficult for the band. Blue

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1449179179' post='2921411'] Do we have to look down on anyone? [/quote] Only on those that don't have a life outside of playing, like me. LOL Blue

Nice! Lots of cool gigs. I hope you all have a blast on NYE whether your at home or out gigging. Blue

[quote name='CHW' timestamp='1449168060' post='2921293'] Getting 2.5x the normal fee at our most regular pub. Is a definite "working" night but for probably the first time ever, my hourly rate as a musician, will out perform my hourly rate from my day job [/quote] That must be a good feeling. Enjoy that gig! Blue

[quote name='acidbass' timestamp='1449137576' post='2920974'] I much prefer gigging on New Years Eve than going out as a punter myself. Inevitably, the most comfortable place in a manic bar or club is on the stage. That, plus the fees are usually 1.5x or 2x the standard! Looking forward to it. [/quote] Agreed, it's not a night I would be out an about if it weren't for work. Blue

[quote name='mingsta' timestamp='1449170525' post='2921314'] Blue, I enjoy your posts and this has been an interesting thread. But the way your OP read it had the air of asking "how much do you gig, and why?" then bigging yourself up on account of your 75 gigs a year, while looking down on those who aren't living that life. I'm sure that's not what you meant, but its certainly how you came across. You probably could have done the first two things, but skipped the last 8o)[/quote] I play in a bar band, and that is no basis to look down on anyone for any reason. If anything, I say, look down on me because I don't have a family, I don't have a girl friend, I don't have a straight career that I love and I don't have any other interests. Blue

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1449172769' post='2921346'] I played in a 'boys' night out' band a couple of years ago (except that one of them was a girl). lasted 2 'rehearsals' and left. The 'singer' wasn't there for the first, and I had a good time jamming with the other band members, but when the singer turned up with a sextet of ales, and proceeded to consume them during the rehearsal, I knew that the band wasn't for me. Nothing against the others though, they were good players and we had a laugh, but I'm not into that sort of band. [/quote] I've see that sort of thing myself. I joined a band and I think I went to around 3 rehearsals until I realized it was front for the guitarist to get drunk and get out of the house. I sent the band leader an e-mail and gave notice, well I quit, there was no need for notice. Blue

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1449155345' post='2921159'] Blue, I think your perception on this is obviously swayed by the fact that what you do for a living - i.e. pay your way by playing in a band - is the [i]exception[/i], rather than rule, for the majority of people who own bass guitars. Just as being a professional sportsperson is the exception for someone who owns a football, or a bicycle, or a set of golf clubs. Only a minority of people choose - and succeed - in making careers out of such things. The different between “a boys night out” and “being in a band”? You seem to define this based on whether the musicians are earning their crust from playing music (and so need to play frequently); whereas I think most people would more simply define a “band” as being a bunch of people playing music, period. Other than that, I’m not sure what question is being asked here. Is being a professional musician better than not being one? Too many variables for that to have any kind of sensible answer: not least how much money you want (or need) to earn and where music sits in your list of life’s priorities, especially when measured against family. The only distinction to be made here is that some musicians are full time; other are part-time; others still are purely hobbyists. All are musicians. Still... an interesting thread! [/quote] Well the thread as usual went all over the place and that's fine. I really just wanted to hear people's overall thoughts. I am not sure If I had a specific question, other than are musicians moving more toward the rehearse once a week and gig once a month model as opposed to maybe the few bands with the let's gig as much as possible model. The guys that want to play Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I don't think one model is any better than the other, depends on what or where we think we fit as a musician. Blue

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1449153372' post='2921145'] So could you still live at the same standard of living you have purely from the gigging irrespective of having done a day job for years or is the gigging effectively topping up the pension or savings you accumulated from doing that day job for years? [/quote] I wouldn't say I have a great standard of living. I can pay my mortgage and I really don't have many big bills. And it is on top of a tiny pension. So tiny that I am comfortable saying I play for a living. Without the gig money I'd be done. Blue

If your looking for a fuller sound you should buy a good Bass Octave Pedal. Learn all the songs playing in the upper fret positions, playing in closed strings. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1449100679' post='2920842'] I joined a 'Boys night out band' after leaving a 'Boys night out band' because the new band had gigs lined up and the old band were being more and more selective over which gigs they wanted to do. It was also becoming obvious that the old band was also pretty much made up of people who just wanted to be able to say to their mates that they were in a band. The gigs for the new band dried up pretty quickly and after many conversations about getting out at least once a month it became pretty obvious that they weren't interested in even one a month. Meeting once a week to run over old tunes away from home was pretty much all they wanted to do. I'm more careful about which bands I play with now.[/quote] This is a good lesson for all, especially those new to bands and gigging. You should know what type of band your looking for from genre, gigs to money. You should also make sure the band is actually what they say they are. Beware of verbiage like; [list] [*]We have industry connections [*]We have gigs on the books [*]We want to be gig ready by by March 2016 [*]We're all veteran players [/list] More times than not it's pure rubbish. I say OK, prove it! Blue

We play the same 2 gigs every NYE. We do a 3-7 at one bar, pack up and play a 9-12 at another. Always a fun night. Double work, double pay. Blue

Who has a cool NYE gigs lined up to close the year out? Share your story. It's usually a fun and lucrative night. Blue

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1449065084' post='2920484'] The Finsbury is a reasonable small venue near me, with a proper stage, PA and dedicated sound guy. They have live music most nights from a varity of generes to a decent standard. The music area is cordoned off from the rest of the pub by a sliding door which is kept closed to stop the music getting into the actual pub and annoying people. Average friday night, ten people or so watching the bands and a good hundred or so in the bar having a chat... [/quote] That separate room for the band in some cases really shows you what many punters think of live music. It can be the kiss of death anytime there is distance between the band and the bar. Blue

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1449063481' post='2920456'] I use a pedaltrain mini. Aside from a tuner I have compression, overdrive, octaver and eq.I use them sparingly but the board keeps the setup quick and simple. Are they worth it. No - they are far too expensive considering what they actually are - I was just too lazy to make my own.. [/quote] While I support the use of pedals,I still say be careful. Pay close attention to your chain path and what has true by pass what doesn't. Also don't expect the pedal to work the same way as the YouTube demo in your environment. Price, good compression can be pricy. All other pedals can be had for around $69.00 if you shop around. Boutique stuff, maybe they are better. I don't own any boutique pedals so I'm not sure if they are of superior value. Blue

[quote name='Jonnyboy Rotten' timestamp='1449065650' post='2920495'] No - and neither do most of us here who have partners. You say it like you think we are some kind of prisoners in our own home? When we are choosing how to spend our time we have to consider other people and their arrangements. The difference is for most us - that is our partners and family. For you it is your band members. [/quote] Good point, as a matter of fact except for me all the band members travel with us. And 2 work for the band. They all seem happy and get along well. Me, I guess I never caught on to the whole relationship thing. I've been divorced for over 20 years. However, I'd be hard to convince that a young guy with a family is going to have free reigns to bar gig all weekend. Blue

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1449007180' post='2920096'] Like the rest of the guys I make my living in my day job. Like the rest of the guys I live for the playing. [/quote] That's cool, and you guys have families and other interests. Me, this all I have in life and really all I ever wanted. I play bass guitar and sing for people that pay me money. Blue

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1448999505' post='2919994'] My gigs are more jobs for the boys rather than boys night out. [/quote] I'm proud to say my band is a business and I look at it as a job. Funny, when I'm at the gas station filling up ($1.89 a gallon) on a gig night, the folks that work there will say: [i]"Hi Blue, what are you up to tonight?"[/i] And I'll say, [i]"I'm going to work." [/i]And they say, "[i]Yeah, where are you playing tonight?"[/i] I love it! Blue Blue

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1448967809' post='2919602'] Hasn't there always been an element of 'boys night out' with bands? My first couple of bands were definitely like that, a group of mates playing music together, partially because we enjoyed making music but also because we enjoyed socialising together. Trying to impress girls (with the emphasis on 'trying') was a pretty big motivator as well. I probably wouldn't want to join a band that mentioned beers and chuckles in the ad these days but then I'm no longer a drinker, as long as the band isn't awful I don't think there's any harm in taking that approach. It's probably more healthy than the guys who get stressed because they take it far too seriously. [/quote] I am stressed, I barely make enough to cover my monthly bills. However, this type of stress I love because I'm in control of it. This is way less stressful then the stress I had when I was in the "rat race", the corporate 9-5 push push world. Blue

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1448967556' post='2919598'] I've seen ads like the one Blue refers to, only it takes it further by adding a drinking element to the deal - something along the lines of "rehearse once a week, have a laugh and a few beers". Great having a laugh with your bandmates (which I certainly do) but to me this type of ad does make it very much part of a Boys Nigh Out culture. [/quote] Exactly, guys not taking themselves that seriously and want to have some fun. I think we are going to see more and more of this type ad and culture. Blue

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1448963370' post='2919546'] Cheddatom: Nail on the head. I am in my seventies and still gig, although these days it is about 50/50 bass in a band and working on my own or with a pickup rhythm sections singing and guitaring. Live gigs are getting like jazz gigs became in the early sixties. Poorly attended by the faithful few - most of whom are over that Certain Age. I quit playing full time pro in 2006 & by then the audiences in my particular niche style were either no longer able to get out at night or were already dead. Chastening thought. [/quote] Agreed, festivals and fairs can still be very cool however bars and clubs are a different story. We play a few venues when those grey haired loyal rock lovers still come out. We love them, they love talking about the old days trading concert stories. They love that we are still presenting that 70s style harder rock and blues. By the way, I was talking to Vance Brescia, Peter Noones & Herman's Hermits Guitarist and Musical Director. He told me the Happy Together Tour is making money hand over fists. So Pete is right, there are still some niches for 60s and 70s rock music. Blue

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1448960602' post='2919503'] I like to hang out with my bands but I don't think I've ever seen them outside of a gig/rehearsal/studio time [/quote] I think it depends on the band, a guys personality and where he's at in life. Me, I did the band hang thing when I was a young guy, It was fun , it was great. But it's nothing I want to do at age 62. Blue

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1448958040' post='2919482'] You can see why you were misunderstood, I think describing another's band as "boy's night out" sounds dismissive even if it isn't meant to be. It may be something lost in translation, in the UK almost all our most cutting insults are understatements and it was you who introduced the term. To my British eyes it did look like you were looking down on people who gig less than you.[/quote] It was not meant to be insulting or looking down at people that enjoy a "Boy's Night Out". It's merely what some people want to do. Just because it's not how I chose to use my skill and training does not mean i have or take issue with it. That would be silly. For me, It took years to acquire these skills and understanding how to be in a band. I have a skill and a product and I'm damn sure going to get paid for providing and delivering it just like any other product or service. Blue

[quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1448973585' post='2919669'] This is an important factor, if I didn't have a day job then I'd be happy to gig 3-4 times week so long as it brought in sufficient cash. As it is, with work commitments (and an aging body) I limit gigging days to Fridays/Saturdays but don't care if they pay well or not. [/quote] And that's fine,most guys I know that work a straight gig don't care about the money. It's just not an issue for them. It's not why they do it. However, while they say they don't care about the money, I've yet to see one of them turn the money down. Another point, and I'm sure most of you will agree. it depends on the type of gigs your doing. I don't think anyone that is playing club and bar gigs for 4 hours, hauling and setting up lights and full PA is or willing to do that without caring about the money. Why would anyone take time away from their family to do all that for free.? Blue

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1448956107' post='2919463'] I'm sure we've done this thread before. Some people like doing lots of gigs - others don't... ... life goes on. [/quote] Agreed, we all come into music differently and want different things. I came into this at the age of 12. It's all I've really ever thought about and put a lot of effort into it. It's never been a fun and games" let's rock " thing for me. It's one of the few things in life that makes sense to me. Blue