The Horn - St Albans

[flyfisher]

Has anyone played The Horn in St Albans?

I've never been there but it bills itself as 'Hertfordshire's largest live music venue'.

It looks like we may be playing there next month so I'm wondering what to expect. Might be a big step-up for us TBH - hope it's not too big a step!

[Fat Rich]

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1365862' date='Sep 7 2011, 10:30 PM']Has anyone played The Horn in St Albans?

I've never been there but it bills itself as 'Hertfordshire's largest live music venue'.

It looks like we may be playing there next month so I'm wondering what to expect. Might be a big step-up for us TBH - hope it's not too big a step![/quote]

Played there a couple of times but probably about 5 years ago or more.

It was a pretty good venue with a good crowd but not what I'd call large unless I'm confusing it with somewhere else. I'm not sure I'd call it the mediumest live music venue although I've not played many gigs in Herts to compare it to.

[leonshelley01]

Played there last month. The Horn has a proper stage with lighting, decent PA and a good engineer. The venue isn't huge, but gets a decent crowd.

[chris_b]

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1365862' date='Sep 7 2011, 10:30 PM']....Might be a big step-up for us TBH - hope it's not too big a step!....[/quote]
It's just a gig. A stage, sound engineer and audience. It's not the "big time" but it's a pretty good gig.

It's a friendly place. You shouldn't be worried about playing there.

Edited September 7, 2011 by chris_b

[sticker]

what chris_b said ^^^^

Perhaps a more accurate decription would be ' probably Hertfordshire's largest live music pub , perhaps because the Horns in Watford is a similar size " .....

It's a good gig though .

[Lozz196]

Played there many times, nice enough stage, good sound-man, nice pa. But don`t think you`ll earn anything there.

Scenario, a local band are supporting a tribute band of an 80s hard rock band. The local band take along some 50 people, who wouldn`t have been going otherwise. The charge is £8 on the door. So instantly, the local band have made the venue £400. This 50 people also drink rather like George Best & Oliver Reed, spending at the least, £20 each, on booze (I`m really minimising here). So in total, over the night, that local band have earned the venue upwards of £1400.

Again, I stress that those people would not have gone to the gig, were it not for the local band.

The local band were paid £50 - between them.

The reasoning was that if any more money was given to them, it would come out of the tribute bands purse, and that would not be fair.

So play there by all means, enjoy the gig, but do it with your eyes open, don`t expect anything other than "see ya" from the venue, once you`ve finished.

[DaveB]

^^^^^
What the other guys have said. The urinals are quite amusing if anything.

What date are you playing, I live near by so will come along if i'm not already playing or teaching

[Moos3h]

If you're doing it for money, don't

There are worse venues, but I wouldn't really bother with it!

[flyfisher]

Thanks for the insight guys. When I said a big step-up I meant for us really. We're used to not being paid but we're not used to be playing to audiences that have paid to see us - well, get into the venue anyway. So some added pressure there.

It's a big step for us in terms of getting our own stuff out there - we've done a fair bit of songwriting this year and I think we should be able to play about 45 minutes of originals, which we might as well if we're not getting paid.

Not sure of the precise details yet but it's looking like an early October wednesday night (probably when they give some unknow quantities a chance ). If I'm feeling brave enough I'll post the date when it's confirmed!

Thanks again.

[Cat Burrito]

I played there a bunch of times between 2004-7. I can only echo what has already been said. It's a good venue & a nice show but I doubt you'll be collecting stories to share with grandchildren from the night

[flyfisher]

Gulp! We're confirmed for 28th Sept . . . we'd better get rehearsing!

Not sure about the set list yet but we're going for 100% originals.

[fender73]

can you get me a gig there too?

[flyfisher]

One of our guitarists just emailed them and asked.

I'd like to think they're a highly discerning venue and that they only take the best of the best . . . but they said yes to us.

[TimR]

I'll probably come over.

No pressure.

Just rehearse harder.

Edited September 9, 2011 by TimR

[flyfisher]

Don't introduce yourself until after we've played - gives you the opportunity to slip away quietly without embarrasment.

[TimR]

What's the name of your band and when are you on?

[Cat Burrito]

Oh & bizarrely my picture is on the wall above the bar - during my Glam / Sleaze days, a casual shot of my guitarist and I outside the Marquee Club. Very strange. I remember someone taking it at the time - just a random stranger!

[Lozz196]

And you do definately look Glam/Sleaze in that one, Tim

[flyfisher]

[quote name='TimR' post='1371465' date='Sep 13 2011, 09:39 AM']What's the name of your band and when are you on?[/quote]

Baracas . . . . don't yet know the timings for the evening.

[MacDaddy]

Played there a few times in the noughties. Was told by a mate who used to see the band that the best sound we ever had was at The Horn.

Not sure what the parking is like these days, but you had to get there early to get one of the spaces next to the venue.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Am I the only one who saw the thread title & thought of this: (NSFW!)

[TimR]

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='1371873' date='Sep 13 2011, 02:41 PM']Played there a few times in the noughties. Was told by a mate who used to see the band that the best sound we ever had was at The Horn.

Not sure what the parking is like these days, but you had to get there early to get one of the spaces next to the venue.[/quote]

I think it's pretty safe on a yellow line after 6/7pm.

[phil.i.stein]

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='1372020' date='Sep 13 2011, 03:59 PM']Am I the only one who saw the thread title & thought of this: (NSFW!)
[/quote]
no... i was going to chime in with the glib comment that i've had 'the horn' in St.albans..

..very sad, i am.

[flyfisher]

Arrgh - our drummer can't make the gig. Seems it might not be his fault as our guitarist booked the gig without his confirmation. But none of that really matters - we're short of drummer with about a week to go before the gig.

Our singer has found another drummer but we'll only have time for one short rehearsal. I guess we'll have to decide then, but my instinct is to tell the venue we can't make it, so they have the most time possible to find a replacement band. I'm really not happy playing under-rehearsed gigs, but the others seem less bothered and think 'we can muddle though', which I think is a bit unprofessional. What's the point in not playing at your best?

Anyway, probably an impossible question to answer, but any thoughts on how long a new drummer would likely take to get up to speed? Will a single 2-hour rehearsal be sufficient for a 30 minute set?

Also, should we just do our best to 'muddle through' and keep the booking commitment or cancel and let the venue know as soon as possible? Or should we wait and see how the rehearsal works out?

It's not a paid gig.

[chris_b]

[i]I'd get a dep. As long as they can listen to the numbers before the rehearsal 2 hrs for a 30 min set seems like 90 mins longer than you need![/i]