mingsta Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 To me, it's everything. More important than the money, the job or the music. But on a serious note, I've yet to play that type of gig where the hosts haven't invited us to mingle and tuck in to some grub in between sets. It's a nice surprise and not something we'd ever take as a given. A stacked plate at half time makes us feel like part of the occasion rather than hookers with musical instruments. It gives us hope in humanity and raises our game to new heights in the second set. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 It's not the be all and end all, but as you say, it can make you feel a part of the occasion.... Well, at least a bit. I haven't played one yet, where the band were not allowed anywhere near the food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Depends whether they cater for vegans. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 1 minute ago, ambient said: Depends whether they cater for vegans. And Diabetics, Lactose Intolerants, Gluten Intolerants and whatever else my band suffers from! We are difficult to cater for! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 Don't forget to include 'food poisoning' on your risk assessment. Our keys player was out of the game for a week after sampling some prawns at s function earlier this year! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 @Gareth Hughes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 Many years ago I played for a showband that played quite a few posh black tie events. We used to have to spend most of the night in the kitchen with a plate of curled up sandwiches. The band leader would always be out there schmoozing with the guests, while we had to stay out of sight. These days, on the rare occasion we play at an event with a buffet, we tend to get first dibs because we'll be playing straight afterwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 8 hours ago, ambient said: Depends whether they cater for vegans. Why do vegans and vegetarians feel the need to make themselves sound special? I dont like fish or gammon for example so I'd just avoid it at a buffet, it's a buffet so you just take things you like, aren't allergic to or have moral issues eating. If there's nothing you like get a McDonald's on the way home! 😋 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicbassman Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 I used to do a lot of high end function work and the general rule seemed to be - the posher the function, the less likely you were to be allowed anywhere NEAR the buffet. You were merely 'staff' and got a plate of sandwiches in the kitchen. Admittedly, I also remember doing some gigs where we were offered first dibs at the buffet - and this was clearly to the great annoyance of some of the guests. I remember a Hooray Henry at one do being particularly offended. He told us in no uncertain terms that we needed to 'learn our place' and threatened to 'sort us out' later.... but I suspect the shampoo may have been doing most of the talking here... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 6 minutes ago, stingrayPete1977 said: Why do vegans and vegetarians feel the need to make themselves sound special? I dont like fish or gammon for example so I'd just avoid it at a buffet, it's a buffet so you just take things you like, aren't allergic to or have moral issues eating. If there's nothing you like get a McDonald's on the way home! 😋 Pete, you are absolutely incorrigible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 (edited) 10 hours ago, mingsta said: To me, it's everything. More important than the money, the job or the music. But on a serious note, I've yet to play that type of gig where the hosts haven't invited us to mingle and tuck in to some grub in between sets. It's a nice surprise and not something we'd ever take as a given. A stacked plate at half time makes us feel like part of the occasion rather than hookers with musical instruments. It gives us hope in humanity and raises our game to new heights in the second set. Too right - however I've also payed events where it's a plate of sandwiches in the kitchen - I remember one in a v posh place (Thame) where it was a huge tray piled high with scampi, pizza and chips - but it was a long time ago......you can tell - not only scampi but rumbabas as desert!! Edited November 28, 2018 by drTStingray 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 19 minutes ago, musicbassman said: I used to do a lot of high end function work and the general rule seemed to be - the posher the function, the less likely you were to be allowed anywhere NEAR the buffet. Admittedly, I also remember doing some gigs where we were offered first dibs at the buffet - and this was clearly to the great annoyance of some of the guests. I remember a Hooray Henry at one do being particularly offended. He told us in no uncertain terms that we needed to 'learn our place' and threatened to 'sort us out' later.... but I suspect the shampoo may have been doing most of the talking here... I think if I'd paid out £30 k or whatever the average wedding costs I'd be a bit miffed if the band, cleaners, waitors and heaven forbid - DJ went to the buffet first - even if the organisers said to (and I've played at ones where they have - host's delusions of booking rock stars syndrome I think...) id refrain until after the guests. Just seems wrong to me!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 (edited) It's a dealbreaker IMO. I wouldn't wanna play in any band that's just a background muzak machine in human form. The band would need to be central to the evening's merriment and treated accordingly with a couple of glasses of the old sparkling and an all you can eat buffet with chicken hot wings, spicy spare ribs, those spicy cajun potato wedges, a few tubs of guacamole and salsa dips plus a basket of homemade tortilla chips. Owt less and it'd be a no-show from me😋 Edited November 28, 2018 by Barking Spiders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 27 minutes ago, stingrayPete1977 said: Why do vegans and vegetarians feel the need to make themselves sound special? I dont like fish or gammon for example so I'd just avoid it at a buffet, it's a buffet so you just take things you like, aren't allergic to or have moral issues eating. If there's nothing you like get a McDonald's on the way home! 😋 Having tried once to find a venue to entertain a nice young lady (also a vegan) it wasn't long before I realised the frustration with so many restaurants offering what appears to be a token item on the menu to tick a box. Too right about allergies (especially shellfish) - having recently attended an expensive wedding as a guest, where an undefined soup was served as a starter and it turned out not to be a posh light coloured tomato soup but crab soup I was amazed no one keeled over - makes you wonder what some organisers and venues are on, especially with such high profile court cases involving people dying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJE Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 Buffet is the best bit of the night for me normally 😄. Always wait until everyone else has been though, unless the organisers/venue lay out a selection of trays just for the band (which has happened a few times). We ate before we started playing once, massive trays of nibbles, scewers, sandwiches etc and massive plate of mixed cakes and tray bakes. That with the three bottles of champagne they gave us made for a very lethargic and bloated first set 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 If you have dietary requirements it is always best to bring your own food. I've been a guest at functions where the "vegan" option was a plate of limp undressed salad leaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 The problem with the vegetarian/vegan option I've found from my own circle of friends is that they are also the most picky and awkward, a bbq with my 'normal' friends can be a few burgers, sausages and buns, ketchup and beers. The veggie version always turns into a feast of half eaten stuff on the kitchen table! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 We played for the Freemasons last Saturday. We had a table in the main hall with the guests and the same three course meal. Couldn't have been better looked after. Happy daze. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 I tend not to even bother anyway tbh. I'd rather sit somewhere quiet, have a cup of coffee and read my book. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 4 hours ago, King Tut said: Don't forget to include 'food poisoning' on your risk assessment. Our keys player was out of the game for a week after sampling some prawns at s function earlier this year! Maybe that's all part of the plan.....feed the band first, wait 10 mins or so and see if there's any adverse effects, before the main guests tuck in? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, King Tut said: We played for the Freemasons last Saturday. We had a table in the main hall with the guests and the same three course meal. Couldn't have been better looked after. Happy daze. Excellent - can be very civilised - I see its a specialised ladies night - last time I played at one of them they had male strippers on the bill as well 🤔😂 Its to be hoped they didn't have ironing boards set up in an adjoining room for their normally allocated ladies' activities...... 😬 Edited November 28, 2018 by drTStingray 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 3 hours ago, King Tut said: We played for the Freemasons last Saturday. We had a table in the main hall with the guests and the same three course meal. Couldn't have been better looked after. Happy daze. Hope no-one got any food lodged in their throat...? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 I love tucking into the buffet at functions (provided I'm invited, natch), but you have to watch out. If you overdo it, you can be nodding off in the second set - like those films of the lions of the Serengeti, where they kill and eat something and go to sleep under a tree for two days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 We have a picky eater in our function band - the drummer is Italian, and has very forthright opinions about English food. Like all picky eaters, we just shrug and ignore him... 🙂 For a wedding gig, we have it in our contract that we are fed and have one drink, and I don't recall any client who has objected. As for the order of buffet access, if the client wants us to go on immediately after the buffet, we politely request we get an early run at the buffet so we're done in time. Again, we've never been refused. The hardest part is maintaining a facial expression of delight when the fifth client in a row announces proudly "We've got a hog roast!" Oh goody... 😕🙂 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 Any function bands I've played in and there have been many, the perceived success of the evening is generally directly related to the quality of the buffet! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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