TimR

Blue is getting $400 a gig in a 5 piece band playing rock covers; there is nothing in the UK that compares. To get that kind of money you're looking at weddings and they are seriously hard work if you're in a £2k+ band. It's certainly not rock band territory and it's certainly not 4 hours in a bar. Boys night out would be happy with $40. .

That interesting. I had a similar problem with Wake Me Up by Wham. It turned out to be the drummer who was playing straight across a certain vocal line that should have had a triplet feel. The singer just couldn't get the words out right because the rhythm was wrong. We spent ages trying to get the right tempo, until I went and listened to the original.

I'm sure the band always has more fun than everyone else. Even with a score and having practiced your part the MD will always make adjustments on the fly, and there's always a bit of comping to do when the 'talent' goes off script or miss an entrance.

Have you done any rehearsals yet? Score or charts?

Excellent. Pantomime is a law unto its own. Enjoy.

[quote name='Maude' timestamp='1450903838' post='2936946'] Will she mind being stored beside the wardrobe? [/quote] It would only be for a few hours each day.

I might make one of those for my misses.

A middle C is a middle C - doesn't matter who plays it.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1450799294' post='2935988'] It's not just the questions you ask, it's how much you believe the answers. [/quote] Exactly. The questions are unimportant as the replies won't match any real world outcomes. Just turn on your radar and get involved. If it gets strange; bail before you become bitter.

[quote name='Behlmene' timestamp='1450726674' post='2935310'] I should have been more clear...it's nearly impossible to come up with an original song name that doesn't suck! Apologies to anyone I offended [/quote] Just use the first line of the chorus. Of the last line of the chorus. Or the first line of the first verse. Or the last line of the last verse. .

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1450777731' post='2935676'] I think the OP was (light-heartedly) wondering what those 'other' questions might be. We all have different priorities and newbies might not consider some questions relevant... well not till they've been in the band a few months and invested time/effort/money and THEN they realise 'If only I'd asked...' [/quote] Of course. Maybe I should have answered more cynically and said; Questions tend to be a bit pointless as quite often you'll be told what they think you want to hear, or what they think they do. It's unusual for the answers to bear any relation to the real world. So, you'll soon find out the answers and more. 3. When was the last time you had a blazing argument over song choices because the singer will only agree to sing songs from some obscure artist no one has heard of since the 70s and the Rolling Stones. .

1. Can you send me a setlist with the keys on it. 2. When is the next practice. That's about it, I'm sure any other answers to any other questions are not pressing and will be answered in time. I'm not entering into a lifetime legally binding contract with massive penalties for disolving the partnership.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1449658685' post='2925589'] When we were young and couldn't get gigs...pub work was unheard of, iirc..and it just didn't enter our head as an option, we always put on our own shows. Don't remember making a LOT out of it, but we learnt a lot. The one thing I do recall...is we had no security, and te village halls were rammed. We invited a pub into the do the bar and keep the business. We made 'enough' on the tickets to do it again. What I do that now... NOT IN A MILLION... and pubs are easier ways to turn-over money. Nowadays, you have health and safety and security as extra costs..and the chances are that the security heavies would make more per head than the band. But...as regards the OP... if someone is doing the major legwork and it is just £40 to you guys, then why not..?? If you haven't done this before, you'll learn loads and that in itself is worth a lot, IMO. [/quote] If it's a village hall, ticketed event to 'friends' and family, bring your own beer, then H&S and security aren't required on a full scale professional level. It's effectively a private party. I ran a few like that in the 80s as an 18 year old, the age for hiring halls is probably a bit older and the deposit might be a lot higher now. It's not impossible. If you're hiring a social club the bar and security should come with it.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1449583406' post='2924838'] I get that....or rather I think it is another example of the U.S working cheap... just like waitressing and tips.. and how they need the latter to make up their wage. If I had to play 4 hrs so the bar could come and go as they pleased and you had 2 or 3 versions of an audience, I'd think I wasn't doing enough to keep them... However, 4 hrs of music is just not practical in a bar and a 2 hr attention span is tops for an attentive audience. Also, that period would dictate you'd need 2-3 lead vocals and it is hard enough getting one decent one.. let alone 3. I don't think I'd be doing bar gigs in the U.S... it just wouldn't be my idea of fun... [/quote] We're digressing a bit here but in the UK we are used to a pretty set format. Pubs stop serving food at 9pm and that's when the band's start. People go out, eat, watch a band, go home. When I was in Detroit, the bars tended to serve food all night and the bands would easily be playing from 9 until 1 while people ate and came in and out. It's a different culture. It's also pretty rare to hear any light and shade from a pub band doing two 45min sets. They'll put on a high energy too loud intensive show. Compare that to a wedding band where your first half an hour would be easing the audience into it after they'd had a meal and the evening guests arrive. Then you might have 10mins in the middle of the last set for slow numbers. Etc.

Yes. Each radio station has its own 'signature' eq/compression added to all the programs before broadcast. Was listening to Stand by Me on Absolute radio last night and thinking how different the bass seemed to sound. A very upfront and punchy modern sound.

Yes but it's a different environment. I've played for 4 hours, a matinee and an evening show. That's pretty close to what Blue does, the audience don't stay for the whole four hours.

Moving Pictures Exit Stage Left Farewell to Kings Power Windows Clockwork Angels. Then pick any at random.

@mike You're right as I posted earlier - "Pay to Play" is a specific business model employed by certain promoters. Saying someone who puts up finances ahead of a gig is paying to play is ridiculous. That's what all bands do.

[quote name='Dropzone' timestamp='1449484191' post='2923830'] IMO there should be a nominal charge for the ticket so people mentally "commit" to going. [/quote] Yes. Also gives you an idea of how many people are likely to be there and will also get people talking about the gig in the lead up. Slightly more expensive tickets on the door. It's not a pub gig, it's a show with several bands. People will pay.

We have 4 led par cans 2x64s and 2x56 they're DMX compatible but I don't have them linked. Together with a laser/pattern thing. I hang them all off two T-bars. Works ok. Pretty cheap solution. I prefer them to the bar type lights as they're more flexible, giving more options with positioning depending on size and shape of pub.

Just to clarify "Pay to Play" is a specific setup that promotors used to do and may still do. The band would pay a set fee and would be promised that they'd get a return of the door money dependant on how many of their fans came to watch. There was usually a sting as the person on the door wouldn't ask which band the guest was going to see and would then not tick your sheet. Sometimes they'd be told but not tick the sheet anyway. Often you could bring 100 people to the gig, which was enough to guarantee that you should have been paid some money back. But would be left at the end arguing with the promoter who would have maybe 15 people on your list. It was a scam of the highest order. Putting on your own show and controlling the door yourself isn't "Pay to Play", it's financing a gig upfront and hopefully making money, it's how most proper gigs should be run. If you're an originals band and want to create a buzz, charging form the door shouldn't turn people away, especially not your friends if you explain to them you have to pay to put on the gig and you price it right and sell tickets beforehand.

Charge £3 on the door. It's nothing. People will think they're getting a deal.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1449178329' post='2921400'] 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]r No room for something in between? I know bands that have taken breaks Jan-March and October/November and not gigged every weekend between.

I think it's more about how seriously you take being in a band, or any other hobby where other people are affected by your choices. Being in a band means everyone should be on the same page. There's nothing wrong with treating it as a 'boys night out', as long as the whole band are in agreement.

[quote name='2 left thumbs' timestamp='1449128509' post='2920896'] practice every other week, we only do the gigs we want to do. none of that "can you turn down they can't hear coronation street in the back room" bullshit for me gig count way down this year, due to unfortunate circumstances 4 months of nothing only 11 gigs this year, lowest payers £50 biggest £250 averages out at about £77 per gig according to google the average uk salary is £26,500 per year. to make that at £77 per gig i would have to do 344 gigs per year to make an average living in the uk to make the same money doing 75 gigs a year, the gigs would have to pay an average of £353.33 seeing as thats not going to happen any time soon, think i'll stick to the day job have a decent standard of living, and enjoy my boys nights out. is it any wonder that bands are so keen to make it in america [/quote] You're not comparing like to like though. How many of those gigs are 11 hours door to door? If you took an 8 hour day with an hour for lunch and an hour each way travel gives you £9.26 an hour pro-rata or £12.75 an hour if you just count the actual hours. Even if you play solid for 3 hours that's an average of £25.66 an hour. So it depends on how you value your time. Also £26,500 is average. The median (what most people get paid) is quite a bit lower.