leschirons Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) I really don't mind doing a free-bee gig if it's worthy, helps someone out and the audience is "UP" for it. However, a few tips for you all. 1) Be prepared. Find out who you're playing to. 2) Be aware that there are people out there who deem John Denver's "Take me home country road" to be far too "rock & roll" 3) Be very careful if you decide to revamp an Edith Piaf number with a little "Bossa" feel. It would appear to be the equivalent of burning the national flag. This was the largest collection of wheelchairs and zimmer frames I'd ever seen. Still, the ones that could clap did, bless 'em and one old chap even shouted "Bravo" at every opportunity despite facing in the wrong direction with his back to us. Edited December 30, 2015 by leschirons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Fantastic! Did it all kick off when they released the balloons..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) No security ? Edited December 30, 2015 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted December 30, 2015 Author Share Posted December 30, 2015 [quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1451506808' post='2941129'] No security ? [/quote] Of course. A lady in a white coat with some pill cups on a tray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted December 30, 2015 Author Share Posted December 30, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1451506755' post='2941127'] Fantastic! Did it all kick off when they released the balloons..? [/quote] No, but it did when we released our slightly updated versions of La vie en rose and Sous le ciel de Paris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 I trust you did the obligatory Lemmy tribute? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted December 30, 2015 Author Share Posted December 30, 2015 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1451507361' post='2941136'] I trust you did the obligatory Lemmy tribute? [/quote] Was always more of a Chris Squire fan TBH so I threw in the entire Fish out of water album (my acoustic version of course) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 [quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1451507143' post='2941132'] Of course. A lady in a white coat with some pill cups on a tray. [/quote] Liquid cosh ? That'll keep 'em in line. Joking aside, I'm sure they enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Brilliant ! Well done you for doing the gig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Did anyone complain that you were too loud? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbass Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Lol.... brilliant post! This is what being in a band is all about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Well done for doing something to brighten up the lives of people that probably don't get much excitement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 [quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1451517060' post='2941252'] Well done for doing something to brighten up the lives of people that probably don't get much excitement [/quote] +1 fantastic that you've made the effort to offer some entertainment - well played sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Did one along those lines many years ago. The worst bit was the raffle, where they made sure there was a prize for everyone - went on for hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 To be honest, it does bring a smile to my face when you give folk something else to think about other than just "what am I doing here, in this wheelchair?" We threw in loads of old French standards and of course, they all knew the words. A worthwhile exercise and despite my joking, I'd do it again. Happy new year everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 [quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1451507143' post='2941132'] A lady in a white coat with some pill cups on a tray. [/quote] That sounds like my perfect evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 When I was a kid my school's orchestra did a show at a church hall for an old peoples' chicken & chips and dance thing. I was roped into playing bass with a mate on drums and a couple of girls playing the piano and singing as a little extra "entertainment"... I think we learned three songs for it. One of which was The Locomotion, I can't remember the others. They went nuts! They absolutely loved it and wanted us to carry on. So we ended up playing all three songs again. I remember doing a Christmas disco for a boarding school for handicapped kids. They were all quite subdued to start with, but then a group of them approached me, because I had long hair, to ask if I would ask the DJ to play some heavy metal. Turned out that they were all metal heads! And they proper went for it! Everybody danced, wheelchairs and crutches be damned. They were absolutely the best people we ever did a disco for. They told me that, in the past, none of the discos they'd had would play anything rocky, but they got their hopes up when they saw my hair. Everyone was so grateful that you could feel it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 Good on you. I do these all the time singing solo with my acoustic. Believe me they may not show it but they are so grateful for musicians going in to do this sort of thing. I remember doing one a few years ago and the nurses wheeled out a man in his twenties in his bed and he watched me from the back of the room with his head propped up by pillows. He cried all the way through my singing and isn't wasn't until afterwards I found out he used to be a singer but had a motorbike accident which had left him paralysed. Really upset me but still makes me count my blessings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Nice one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzneck Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Good on you, well done! I trust you played "La Mer"? ..and just remember people, we may be there in them chairs one day and I hope someone comes in and plays Cream and Hendrix and Beatles and Stones and Muddy Waters songs for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Good for you matey! A corner of the entertainment business that most musos don't think about too often (if at all), and a great reminder that money isn't everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) Nice work. As someone said, they may not be very demonstrative, but I'm sure they were enthusiastic Edited January 2, 2016 by alyctes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnythenotes Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 Best post so far this year.... Some older folks haven't got a lot in life, and for you to give them a bit of your time is wonderful... Mucho respect amigo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 [quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1451640851' post='2941930'] Good on you, well done! I trust you played "La Mer"? ..and just remember people, we may be there in them chairs one day and I hope someone comes in and plays Cream and Hendrix and Beatles and Stones and Muddy Waters songs for me. [/quote] Yes we did, and it's my "Waterloo" a chord change every two beats (I count in 8s) and the singer sometimes forgets where to pitch the two key changes so I have to be careful it doesn't end up as our "comedy" number Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivansc Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 Mind you, the French are in general a VERY appreciative audience for live music. I split my time between East Anglia and the Morbihan & LOVE the french audiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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