TimR

If you read it fully, he lost his house when one tour collapsed.

Although none of it is guaranteed at the start!

That's a fair amount of wages there for 4weeks work. Consider they have no personal travel to pay over that time, no accommodation, the Best Western hotel will include a huge breakfast then they have another $20 a day for food on top. That's another $480 (after tax). When I worked away from 'home' I always came back with pockets full of money. I was able to give my UK landlords enough notice that I was moving out so I actually had no 'home' in the uk so no outgoings. When you're on the road there is very little to spend money on. It's a strange existence, not recommended for huge amounts of time. Especially if you have a family. Most of the guys I knew who had been doing it for a long time were alcoholics on their second or third marriages. I guess the point is they're not making millions but reduce the gig schedule to 4-5 days a week and lengthen the your to 9 months and that's a decent wage.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1417086806' post='2616888'] Shawshank redemption is all I'm saying about the shoe thing, if you have seen it you will get it, if you haven't why haven't you?! [/quote] That whole shoe thing is very deep and clever.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1417083139' post='2616843'] Of course you need to take into account the gig but if you are doing a posh date in LOndon for good money, then you make sure you wear proper shoes... even if you have to change into them. Shoes tell you a lot ... [/quote] They do and they don't. On my random sample of two ladies. One said she looks at shoes and if they're polished well you know the guy has a bit of pride in his appearance. The other one said no one looks at men's shoes. It's all about knowing your audience or even potential audience. For every punter who tells you you're a bit overdressed for a pub gig there'll be another one commenting on how smart you look compared to the regular bands who've not made an effort. Which of these groups, if any, you are trying to impress depends on you. If it's a posh gig and you dress as Blur then you don't turn up as Blur, you get changed into Blur costumes back stage, you do the gig, then you change out afterwards. Push hotels in the West End are slightly different because they have separate entrances for staff and it's unlikely you'll ever be front of house. .

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1417034022' post='2616515'] And unless you are in a fucntion band and can't come up with anything better, don't ALL wear black or black trousers with a white shirt unless you want to be getting the drinks all night. Our brief for a function is smart casual with a fitted shirt, we've not needed to say anymore than that.. Oh and FFS..no trainers. [/quote] This was the main theme of the many long discussion nights we used to have. I eventually managed to convince them that was the way forward. We never looked back. Individual, smart, casual, uniform. Simple.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1417033144' post='2616496'] Respectfully disagree, the baggy T Shirt band happens to be a very good classic rock band and I would say that look is unacceptable. I'd never play with a local band with that look. The second pic with T Shirts that fit, well were a blues / rock band and I'd say we far from great when it comes what we wear. Also, at 61, I'm lucky that I can still wear fitted T-Shirts. Blue [/quote] It has nothing to do with luck. I find it disappointing when people use being over 50 an excuse for being out of shape.

[quote name='M@23' timestamp='1417027416' post='2616365'] This is pretty much all there is to it, right?! Or am I missing something? [/quote] Yes. Why isn't it important to them? As outlined in most of the posts it's fairly important to the audience.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1417025068' post='2616322'] [size=4][/size] [size=4]"[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I give you prog rock, disco, 2tone, punk, new romanticism, goth, rave, heavy metal, hip hop etc etc etc etc. All styles that have emerged since the sixties and all with a strong visual image."[/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]These are not stereotypes..?[/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I was suggesting that the fixation about appearance (Can't judge a book by its cover etc...) was debunked in the '60s or so; not only in music but in real life, too. One no longer had to conform to a clean-cut image, one could be oneself.[/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]If you say bands need an image, it must be true. An image of being ordinary has suited me for over 40 years. Not very exciting; just ordinary. It's an image as good as any other, isn't it..?[/font][/color][/size] [/quote] How ironic.

One thing to be aware of is that many people don't have much imagination. If you are doing pub gigs people will see you and base their descision whether to ask you to do their wedding or big party a lot on how you look, perform, behave and sound. Can get pick you up and put you down into their function. They often don't have the ability, to imagine you in vastly different clothing. Play in scruffy trainers, tshirt and jeans and you won't bet asked. Play in a shirt and they might be able to make that leap.

If you look shapeless, wearing a shapeless t-shirt won't make it any better. You have to add some interest. At least iron it.

Comparing the two photos it's fairly clear to see what the difference is. In the first picture the guys are wearing shapeless tshirts with no logos and nothing to break up the image. The band disappears into the background. In Blue's band they're still wearing tshirts but they have slogans/images on, they're lighter colours and Blue and fellow musician have accessorised with jewelry. It's more about thinking what kind of image are you trying to portray and have you made an effort to portray that image. Then getting some feedback as to whether you achieved that. Looking at photos etc. Above all you have to be open to critisicm of your chosen look. I've been in bands where we've spent ages discussing what to wear. I've found that if you have to discuss it, generally it's not going to work. The best looks are where one band member makes a descision and you all go off and wear something based on that theme. Some people will then need a bit of guidance to achieve that theme but in general if someone has thought about what to wear, maybe gone out and bought something, and doesn't just turn up in what he's been wandering about in all day, it's a start.

[quote name='HengistPod' timestamp='1417006740' post='2615966'] ... Perhaps they all die in freak accidents on the way to that first rehearsal. [/quote] Or on their way home from the previous one.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1416964817' post='2615645'] ... You would think that guy would have a wife, girlfriend that would say, ... [/quote] There's the answer right there.

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1416871348' post='2614671'] Fair enough - I am assuming that you are happy that the cause is worthwhile as well the event is legit and not just an excuse for someone to make money for themselves. The point is that doing the odd freebie is not going to hurt the majority of people here... [/quote] No. You're right, however I played in a 7 piece band a few years back. You do a free gig for one member's chosen charity and you start to be obligated to play for other's. Then you've set a precedent and start playing for family member parties etc. It all gets a bit messy in my experience.

The thing is, charity is a very individual thing. While some of us might be very happy playing at a benefit gig for a new roof for the mosque or a fundraiser for cats suffering from Feline AIDS, others may not.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1416857491' post='2614404'] There was nothing wrong with Norm's bass mix when I saw The Blockheads last week [/quote] You were about 10ft from his bass rig though. I think we're talking about sound from PA after the front of house mix. Most small gigs <300 people seem to be spot on. .

It's not what the engineers what to hear though. They have to provide what the artist, audience or label want don't they? Doesn't everyone now want that sub going on with thumping kick drum? Just listen to the kids in their hot hatchs. I agree it's pretty poor.

At the first ever gig I did when I was 15 the rhythm guitarist was 'too' quiet. For him anyway - the lead guitarist unplugged his amp just before we started. He didn't do a second gig with us

I've not seen the hologram thing. I do feel a bit uneasy about tracks released after people's death of unheard/unreleased material. The latest Queen song and the Micheal Jackson song. They personally don't have any input to the final production and why didn't they release it in the first place? Was it not good enough or did they just run out of time? I think there is some Jimi Hendrix material recently found as well. So hologram wise it would depend on whether the artists would have been happy to use their recordings in this way. Wasn't there a Les Dawson show on recently. I don't think it should be billed as live and specifically a tour it shouldn't be exclusive like it would be if there was only one artist and command high prices as a result. The performance isn't going to be live and individual on each performance. Similar to a lot of artists who mime. I wouldn't go to watch an artist who mimes and wouldn't be happy if they did at a gig that was promoted as live. Anyway - some steam of conscience thoughts from me. Hope they're useful. .

But you're talking about a completely different standard and circle of players to someone answering an advert. The audition is all about the fit. Eventually you can make the audition ONLY about the fit by asking the right questions and getting demos. Questions like how long have you been playing, what gear do you own, what gigs have you done? What do expect to be paid? Send us a demo of your playing and a photo. A lot of people won't even get through that initial process. Then there's recommendations and having seen them play. .

I used to play charity events for a reduced fee. Until I did a gig that charged £50 a ticket and they made £10k in the charity auction. I figured our band fee didn't even touch the sides.

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1416835217' post='2614005'] But an audition is about much more than just being able to play the parts or liking the band's music, it's also about finding out whether the band like you as a person and can work with you and conversely, whether you can work with the band members. ... [/quote] I totally agree but once you've done a few auditions you learn what questions to ask early on and develop a 6th sense for these things. Phone calls and emails etc are all good indicators. It's not foolproof but can save a lot of time and heartache.

Depends how you ask. The problem stems from you having done the gig several times before with no question. You could have just said you'd had problems recently following another gig and just said as a result you're now asking to see accounts before you agree to any future charity gigs to protect everyone involved. It's his problem if he is offended.

I know from when I last auditioned, good bass players are rare. I know of three local bands who are using guitarists as bass players. The band I'm in, auditioned three guys before I came along and they had been dismissed fairly quickly. It's quite a tough job to find and audition new players so when one comes along and then, after all the work, decides they're not interested, it can be a pain. There are loads of obvious steps to take before the auditionee has even started to learn parts for the audition (on both sides) so if someone has actually turned up for the audition they, and you, must be reasonably happy that they're going to be considered/consider the band. People not communicating after the fact may seem rude but I'd say that a lot of musicians are flakey at best and this is just the way they behave. Unless they're actually rude to you, I wouldn't worry too much.