I Hate Gigging!

[leroydiamond]

3 hours ago, ezbass said:

This is important, you’re rehearsing for a gig, the same mindset needs to be used for both, otherwise it is a waste and lacking in respect for your band colleagues too.

Agreed. I often think of the top class acts that I have seen over the years. The vast majority of those gigs were note perfect from start to finish. Zero mistakes and that for me is what separates the great from the good. This can only be achieved by proper focused rehearsals, where any cracks are ironed out and dealt with, rather than covered over when performing.

[Lozz196]

4 hours ago, ezbass said:

This is important, you’re rehearsing for a gig, the same mindset needs to be used for both, otherwise it is a waste and lacking in respect for your band colleagues too.

 

31 minutes ago, leroydiamond said:

Agreed. I often think of the top class acts that I have seen over the years. The vast majority of those gigs were note perfect from start to finish. Zero mistakes and that for me is what separates the great from the good. This can only be achieved by proper focused rehearsals, where any cracks are ironed out and dealt with, rather than covered over when performing.

Definitely, in my last band we gigged pretty much every weekend, sometimes twice, yet still rehearsed weekly pretty much to cover as above. OK it was “only” Punk/Oi music, but to us people paying their hard-earned deserved the best we could deliver. Too many variables at gigs to rely on those as the only playing experience, rehearsals needed.
 

[JapanAxe]

I can’t remember whether I’ve weighed in on this thread before but in general I love gigging, it’s what I get out of bed for. Having said that, there are gigs that I avoid - not necessarily awful places, but some that just aren’t worth it e.g. a pub that isn’t too far away but takes me 3 hours to get to on a Friday night.

[Rich]

The Soul Destroyers rehearse on the Wednesday before a gig, a quick zip through the set or parts thereof to blow out the cobwebs -- if we’ve got a dep, we’ll do the whole set. We also get together on the 3rd Weds of the month if there are new or resurrected songs to work on.
The ska band gigs often enough that we don’t need to get together to rehearse unless we’ve got something new to work on, or something is being dug up from the ‘resting’ song pile. Although if we’re gigging for the first time in a while, we have a quick rehearsal on the Tuesday before the gig, much like with the Destroyers. 

 

[dmccombe7]

Steely Dan were in the studios when i was there rehearsing for an up-coming gig the following week. They had it booked for a full week altho much of that was guitar set ups and PA testing. A lot of techy stuff going on but the band were in there playing at one point during a Sun afternoon.

Also seen Beyonce, Michael Schenker, Justin Currie and Amy McDonald all doing similar. Think the Michael Schenker thing was with Chris Glen's band tho.

May well be this was their rehearsal before the tour start in Glasgow.

Justin Currie was there over a 3-4 week period and Amy McDonald almost lives in the studios according to the studio engineers but i've never actually seen or heard her in there. ?

Some of the older Pro rock bands used to say they hired a large venue or warehouse for a month before a tour and are in there every day. I guess its a good way to rehearse for a major tour.

Dave

 

[ezbass]

15 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

 

Some of the older Pro rock bands used to say they hired a large venue or warehouse for a month before a tour and are in there every day. I guess it’s a good way to rehearse for a major tour.

Dave

 

I can’t remember who it was, but I remember reading that a top rock band did this in order to get their stamina up to be able to deliver a 3 hour performance. Might’ve been Zeppelin.

[dmccombe7]

8 minutes ago, ezbass said:

I can’t remember who it was, but I remember reading that a top rock band did this in order to get their stamina up to be able to deliver a 3 hour performance. Might’ve been Zeppelin.

I'm sure Rush did something similar, might have been Zep but i have Deep Purple in my head but it was a long time ago i read it.

Dave

[Newfoundfreedom]

9 hours ago, Al Krow said:

 

As someone who's been following this thread since it started 3 1/2 years ago when you were in a covers band, I wonder if it's maybe time to update the title to - "I used to hate gigging...but I've seen the light and actually mostly enjoy gigging now, provided I don't have to do it too often."

or, more simply, just:

 

"I used to hate gigging."

 

😊

 

What's even worse is that I have recently developed a taste for Fender style basses. 

 

I honestly never saw that one coming in a million years. 😆

[Al Krow]

4 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

 

What's even worse is that I have recently developed a taste for Fender style basses. 

 

I honestly never saw that one coming in a million years. 😆

 

Nah, rekindling a love of gigging (whilst continuing to use your Bugera Veyron amp) and developing a taste for Fender (style) basses is not the worst thing you could be doing by a long way, haha!

 

Hmmm, what might "worse" really look like? Let's maybe start with deciding that you actually prefer playing a triangle, solo, on street corners, and have given up being in a band to do so...

[paul_5]

These days, with long covid I'm not gigging at all. I miss it.

Like most memories though, I suspect I'm not remembering the load-ins, waiting around, whizzed punters, ultra late nights and motorway service station meals.

 

[dmccombe7]

58 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

 

What's even worse is that I have recently developed a taste for Fender style basses. 

 

I honestly never saw that one coming in a million years. 😆

on the road to the Dark Side you are. 

Dave

[MacDaddy]

Regarding rehearsals, what about fun? Meeting your mates having a play, then going for a beer?

[ezbass]

9 minutes ago, MacDaddy said:

Regarding rehearsals, what about fun? Meeting your mates having a play, then going for a beer?

We did a gig in France, just one night, but 3 days in total, including travel. The gig was OK, but we had an absolute blast, I don’t think I’ve spent a more pleasant bank holiday weekend. Our rehearsals were mini versions of that trip.

[Bluewine]

I love gigging. I need the money and the attention.

 

A friend asked me why I still gig at 69 years old? 

 

My response,

" The gardner doesn't applaud " 

 

Blue

[gjones]

On 07/05/2022 at 23:05, Lowend soldier said:

Very overated. Most soundman are absolute bass hating ladyboys. Only one step up the evolutional ladder from wedding dj,s 😉😂😂😂

https://cdn.basschat.co.uk/monthly_2022_10/10000000_8108811425827229_1745709608052968495_n.mp4.615cfd15d6e872ec8f6a229dc79c0bb8.mp4

[gjones]

On 07/05/2022 at 23:05, Lowend soldier said:

Very overated. Most soundman are absolute bass hating ladyboys. Only one step up the evolutional ladder from wedding dj,s 😉😂😂😂

https://cdn.basschat.co.uk/monthly_2022_10/10000000_8108811425827229_1745709608052968495_n.mp4.615cfd15d6e872ec8f6a229dc79c0bb8.mp4

[Bluewine]

7 hours ago, MacDaddy said:

Regarding rehearsals, what about fun? Meeting your mates having a play, then going for a beer?

 

I think the reason my band has stayed together for over 15 years is because we distance ourselves from each other. We rarely see each other outside of gigs.

 

I also think it's the reason all our gigs are fun.

 

Blue

[dmccombe7]

2 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

I think the reason my band has stayed together for over 15 years is because we distance ourselves from each other. We rarely see each other outside of gigs.

 

I also think it's the reason all our gigs are fun.

 

Blue

I think that's probably the reason my Glam band has remained together for 4-5 yrs is because we dont see each other outside of the band with maybe an occasional once a year coffee meet. Only been with the punk band about a year but its same singer and drummer in both bands.

When i was younger it was mostly my mates in the bands and it did cause some friction.

Dave

[Doddy]

19 hours ago, Kiwi said:

 

There are many bands full of professionals that do rehearse between gigs.  The backing band for the Academy Awards for example.   Maybe your brothers band is more accomplished perhaps?  Or maybe the Academy Awards band is more accomplished than your brother's band? 

I doubt that the band that plays the Academy Awards rehearse every week.

I'm guessing that most of the players see the charts either at band call (or maybe a week or 2 beforehand at most), then have a couple of rehersals including a full dress rehearsal, followed by 'see you next year'.  They won't be going to a rehearsal room every week to work out songs and arrangements- that's the job of the arranger and MD.

[chris_b]

I rehearsed last Monday for a gig on Thursday. That was my first rehearsal for many, many years.

 

We didn't need it but the band leader is a worrier, so we had to humor him.

 

If a regular rehearsal is a social event then fine, have fun, but you are living in a different musical world to me.

[Kiwi]

3 hours ago, Doddy said:

I doubt that the band that plays the Academy Awards rehearse every week.

I'm guessing that most of the players see the charts either at band call (or maybe a week or 2 beforehand at most), then have a couple of rehersals including a full dress rehearsal, followed by 'see you next year'.  They won't be going to a rehearsal room every week to work out songs and arrangements- that's the job of the arranger and MD.

You're right but my point was they rehearse even though they're all top drawer musicians.

[Leonard Smalls]

4 hours ago, Doddy said:

I'm guessing that most of the players see the charts either at band call (or maybe a week or 2 beforehand at most), then have a couple of rehersals including a full dress rehearsal, followed by 'see you next year'.  They won't be going to a rehearsal room every week to work out songs and arrangements- that's the job of the arranger and MD.

 

When I worked for the Beeb I used to go to the incidental music recordings at TVCentre music studio for a couple of progs I worked on - Lovejoy and Hetty Wainthropp.

In both cases the composer and MD would get together beforehand, send out music to the "band", there'd be one rehearsal then everything would be recorded live - mostly in 1 take.

30 cues would be recorded perfectly in 3 or 4 hours...

 

[dmccombe7]

Pretty sure pro bands all learn their parts before they turn up for that week or month of rehearsals before a tour. If its your job you need to be on your game and show up prepared.

Unfortunately for most bands its a hobby or part time and they dont have the option of concentrated rehearsals before gigging so i get the rehearsal thing. 

I personally dont see a rehearsal as a social event but more a work event. I do enjoy the rehearsals tho and we do 6hr rehearsals when we can to cut down on travel times but we'll have 2-3 coffee breaks during it and that's when we have a blether and a chat about band type things.

Our band are a bit scattered across Scotland from Wanlockhead, Lanark, Bathgate, Boness and Perth which would make for difficult socialising.

 

No matter how you view rehearsals, if you enjoy what you do then its working for you and each to their own. Everyone's happy.

 

Dave  

[dmccombe7]

3 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said:

 

When I worked for the Beeb I used to go to the incidental music recordings at TVCentre music studio for a couple of progs I worked on - Lovejoy and Hetty Wainthropp.

In both cases the composer and MD would get together beforehand, send out music to the "band", there'd be one rehearsal then everything would be recorded live - mostly in 1 take.

30 cues would be recorded perfectly in 3 or 4 hours...

 

Ah Lovejoy. Now that was another great programme. Why dont they show that on TV again instead of constant repeats of Frasier, Big Bang and all those other shows that have been running continuously for god knows how many years now.

Dave

[jimmyb625]

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

Ah Lovejoy. Now that was another great programme. Why dont they show that on TV again instead of constant repeats of Frasier, Big Bang and all those other shows that have been running continuously for god knows how many years now.

Dave

It's probably on permanent loop somewhere, maybe UKTV (g)Old