The best party/function band I have seen

[No lust in Jazz]

The only sensible way of sorting this out seems to be to have a 'straightner' between 'Get Funked' and 'The White Keys' to see which is the "best"...Winner takes London.

On another note - lots of people having fun and a band playing live - even I have difficulty seeing a negative in this.

Edited December 16, 2014 by No lust in Jazz

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='No lust in Jazz' timestamp='1418743994' post='2632888']
The only sensible way of sorting this out seems to be to have a 'straightner' between 'Get Funked' and 'The White Keys' to see which is the "best"...Winner takes London.
[/quote]

I certainly wouldn't limit it to those two line ups. There are some scarily good bands on the function scene... Especially when you get into London.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1418742155' post='2632863']
And it [i]is[/i] one very achievable way of becoming a pro bass player too, if that's what you're looking for.
[/quote]

Very much so.

[GILLY]

The blonde singer looks very much like one of the singers in Clean Bandit. You can tell by the length of her legs!!

[taunton-hobbit]

Talking of mass stage work - anyone remember Freddy Mack & the Boss Sounds? Freddy actually had that whole band on wages..?

[blue]

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1418724506' post='2632616']
More like a glee theatre set up than a "band", one from the cabaret market, they will do well on the corporate scene thats for sure.
Personally I would only stay if I was expected to stay at the event.
Give me 4 guys knocking out stuff a bit less X factor style any time.
Horses for courses.
[/quote]

That's fine, but I'll take the 12K side with a Glee theatre set up. I've been doing the 4 guys knocking out stuff for years and at the local level for years and it will never pay 12K.

For those that don't like money this type of top notch function band would not be for you.

Blue

Edited December 16, 2014 by blue

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1418759965' post='2633088']
That's fine, but I'll take the 12K side with a Glee theatre set up. I've been doing the 4 guys knocking out stuff for years and at the local level for years and it will never pay 12K.

For those that don't like money this type of top notch function band would not be for you.
[/quote]

And 12k is a lowball figure for a member of a busy function band.

The thing with function bands, is that the large lineups rarely get all the gigs. Pitch yourself in the midrange price wise and you'll be working all year. You'll find that the members of the larger bands are usually players called up for the gig and will actually get the majority of the work from smaller function bands. Certainly, I have found my bands to be unique in the fact the lineup is very static... for a lot of bands, you are hiring a bunch of talented deps that are grouped for the show.

The big bands are for the Christmas gigs and the wealthy who judge a band on their price. I'm not complaining - I've had some of my most fun gigs at Christmas!

As my grandpa told me, cater for masses, dine with the classes.

I seem to both cater for and dine in the same company it would seem...

[discreet]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1418765777' post='2633199']
...for a lot of bands, you are hiring a bunch of talented deps that are grouped for the show.
[/quote]

We would do this if we needed extra brass for a big gig. It always annoyed me that a trumpet player could just turn up and get paid the same as me without having put in all that time rehearsing the set! AND he used a music stand - WITH BLOODY MUSIC ON IT!!

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1418767356' post='2633231']
We would do this if we needed extra brass for a big gig. It always annoyed me that a trumpet player could just turn up and get paid the same as me without having put in all that time rehearsing the set! AND he used a music stand - WITH BLOODY MUSIC ON IT!!
[/quote]

They don't always have a busy diary - so if you pay well, you hopefully will get some loyalty so when they do (e.g. Christmas when everybody is rolling out the bands with all the extras) you know who they'll play for, even if you aren't necessarily offering the most money. Players like the consistent work and dates in their diary - if you can offer them that, you find you make friends very quickly.

[discreet]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1418767752' post='2633240']
They don't always have a busy diary - so if you pay well, you hopefully will get some loyalty so when they do (e.g. Christmas when everybody is rolling out the bands with all the extras) you know who they'll play for, even if you aren't necessarily offering the most money. Players like the consistent work and dates in their diary - if you can offer them that, you find you make friends very quickly.
[/quote]

Well this is true, I wasn't being entirely serious as usual. I actually didn't begrudge them their money at all, because they were good.

[JTUK]

I thought they meant £12k for a gig... which the band in question must be in line for at times...
not £12k P.A.

There do seem to be certain levels of gig fees that you can plug into ..and once in there, they all come in at that sort of
level...but it isn't easy to actually get the first one.

Around here, a very good wedding band will go out for £1400-2000. and as it is hard to get to £1400 for a wedding and do that
thru out the year, it is also hard to get beyond the £2k mark as well.
I find the easiet way to raise your fees is to get invited into London... but you still have to actually get 'invited'.
It isn't that easy to target it... .
I think it is all about the pool you swim in and who you know to help that along..

[JTUK]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1418768145' post='2633249']
Well this is true, I wasn't being entirely serious as usual. I actually didn't begrudge them their money at all, because they were good.
[/quote]

It is more about what they can get... and if you want a horn section on a friday you will likely get them for half what you'd pay for their saturday..
Nearer the date, if they are free, they'll have to take what is offered, but you have no chance of a cheap deal from quite a few weeks out...
as they'll think they will get it elsewhere...
We gave up using a horn section as found them too expensive for what they brought along. No dount they were good, but the whole thing
was too much work for what they added. Far better money spent getting a pretty and decent female vox... and if they could tottle a decent sax as
well. bomus..

Oh and yes... putting deps on more money that the regular band never ends well...

[molan]

Here's a little taster of Paul Turner's function band Groovesonix:

http://youtu.be/RzuafQYZLyA

My wife used them recently and apparently they were fantastic live.

She often books high level London based function bands for large corporate events.

I get to see all the proposed bands, their promotional materials and costs etc. fascinating stuff really

The other band is seriously rate are the Sway Orchestra. They are Richard Branson's favourite band and he flies them all over the place to play at Virgin corporate events.

They've played with Smokey Robinson, Robbie Williams etc and for private parties for Samuel L Jackson and other movie & showbiz celebs.

Oh, and my daughter's wedding where I got to sit in on two numbers

Nick Owen is their regular bass player, top guy and one of the nicest people in the industry!

[discreet]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1418770444' post='2633294']
[media]http://youtu.be/RzuafQYZLyA[/media]
[/quote]

Now that's a 'function band' I wouldn't mind being in. Very nice playing and singing by all. Which is the problem I have with covers bands... finding people who can play at that level! That's what I'd call 'pro playing'... and not a music stand in sight!!

[chris_b]

I couldn't dance to it. They keep changing the beat every 10 seconds!

[molan]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1418770771' post='2633298']


Now that's a 'function band' I wouldn't mind being in. Very nice playing and singing by all. Which is the problem I have with covers bands... finding people who can play at that level! That's what I'd call 'pro playing'... and not a music stand in sight!!
[/quote]

Lots of the Groovesonix songs are mashed up with funky little twists to add things to the original arrangements

Paul was in for a few hours today testing some new gear. Part of the test was setting something up alongside some music tracks.

We put a Jamiroquai hits album on shuffle and he played along without ever looking at his fretboard whilst chatting away telling us that many of the versions were not how they now played them live, some were funked up, some longer, shorter, slower etc.

He literally did not miss a single note on about 5 different songs back to back and some of them were pretty complex arrangements and he was comfortably nattering to us at the same time!

Awesome stuff

[discreet]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1418771548' post='2633309']
He literally did not miss a single note on about 5 different songs back to back and some of them were pretty complex arrangements and he was comfortably nattering to us at the same time! Awesome stuff
[/quote]

He's good, there's no doubt - but with all due respect... he [i]should[/i] know the material, really!

Edited December 16, 2014 by discreet

[No lust in Jazz]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1418771907' post='2633312']
He's good, there's no doubt - but with all due respect... he [i]should[/i] know the material, really!
[/quote]

Well discreet, you beat me to it....

That said, Groovesonix come across to these ears as Jamiroquai 'lite'... I wish them well.

Edited December 16, 2014 by No lust in Jazz

[molan]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1418771907' post='2633312']


He's good, there's no doubt - but with all due respect... he [i]should[/i] know the material, really!
[/quote]

Each one is played differently live and the versions we had were all edited from the originals plus he held a detailed coherent conversation simultaneously whilst a third person was continually adjusting a complex pre-amp to demonstrate some fairly massive tonal variation.

We were also winding him up about not making mistakes and trying to bluff his way through songs at the same time as well

Seriously - you had to be there to appreciate just how impressive this was.

[blue]

I haven't read all of the reply's so sorry if this is redundant.

I know some of you guys say,[i] " Oh, it's too smooth and polished for me "[/i]. Well I would bet there are some $100.00 a man bar band guys like me that would like a shot at this type of opportunity. You know, see how the other side lives, make some real money with better hours and working conditions. And were willing to play the game. Am I right?

Thing is if your not networked, how do you get a chance at this type of opportunity.I would love the challenge. The function bands over here rarely announce openings to the public. Then for some of us, we have to expect that [i]"look"[/i] and age will come into play here. Much more than in the bar band world.

Blue

Edited December 17, 2014 by blue

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1418775352' post='2633357']
Well I would bet there are some $100.00 a man bar band guys like me that would like a shot at this type of opportunity. You know, see how the other side lives, make some real money with better hours and working conditions. And were willing to play the game. Am I right?

Thing is if your not networked, how do you get a chance at this type of opportunity.I would love the challenge. The function bands over here rarely announce openings to the public. Then for some of us, we have to expect that [i]"look"[/i] and age will come into play here. Much more than in the bar band world.
[/quote]

Get your band tight. Get all the gear you need. Get the right image. Get the right promo (basically a sh*t hot vid, a few snippets of pro audio tracks and a few great promo pics) Approach the agents. There's your in.

[blue]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1418776129' post='2633367']
Get your band tight. Get all the gear you need. Get the right image. Get the right promo (basically a sh*t hot vid, a few snippets of pro audio tracks and a few great promo pics) Approach the agents. There's your in.
[/quote]

I was speaking about me and my interests not my bands interests. So,that wouldn't work, we are not that type of band and we don't play that type of music and none of my band mates are interested in going in that direction.

Personally, I would love the opportunity to audition for a band playing at that level.

Blue

Edited December 17, 2014 by blue

[ubit]

I admire these guys but feel that I'd rather be top of division one than bottom of the premier league if you know what I mean?

We know our limitations. We are a pub band that occasionally does weddings, parties etc. I think we are pretty good, but in the past , people have saId why don't you go professional and do this all the time? I thought, nah, I enjoy it as a hobby, but to do it all the time, I would grow to hate it as we would have to travel all over and play every night of the week to make ends meet. It's hard to get to the level where you could just do weekend gigs and still make a living.

Good luck to these very talented guys, but for me, I'm happy to stick to what we are doing

[ern500evo]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1418750630' post='2632960']


I certainly wouldn't limit it to those two line ups. There are some scarily good bands on the function scene... Especially when you get into London.
[/quote]
Your own band are none too shabby either!! Jo's playing in that clip is excellent, great tone too. Isn't The White Keys bassist a member here too, Huw Foster? Another great player.

Edited December 17, 2014 by ern500evo

[TimR]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1418775352' post='2633357']
I haven't read all of the reply's so sorry if this is redundant.

I know some of you guys say,[i] " Oh, it's too smooth and polished for me "[/i]. Well I would bet there are some $100.00 a man bar band guys like me that would like a shot at this type of opportunity. You know, see how the other side lives, make some real money with better hours and working conditions. And were willing to play the game. Am I right?

Thing is if your not networked, how do you get a chance at this type of opportunity.I would love the challenge. The function bands over here rarely announce openings to the public. Then for some of us, we have to expect that [i]"look"[/i] and age will come into play here. Much more than in the bar band world.

Blue
[/quote]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1418775352' post='2633357']
I haven't read all of the reply's so sorry if this is redundant.

I know some of you guys say,[i] " Oh, it's too smooth and polished for me "[/i]. Well I would bet there are some $100.00 a man bar band guys like me that would like a shot at this type of opportunity. You know, see how the other side lives, make some real money with better hours and working conditions. And were willing to play the game. Am I right?

...
[/quote]

I'll try to clarify my comments.

I suspect that bands like this rehearse a show. There's probably not a lot of shuffling the songs around, even the patter between songs will be rehearsed and the same each gig. You're effectively getting a West End (Broadway) show at your venue.

There will be lighting cues and keyboard triggers and samples and some click track sequenced parts.

You must have second call players. If the bass players granny dies you can't cancel a £10k gig.

Maybe not in this particular band but in many others you have musicians who are playing Bob Marley reggae one minute and then Guns and Roses the next. Very few players can transcend styles convincingly. Most session musicians specialise.

These bands are the next level up from function band.