Blue_floyd20 Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 A lot of the places I play are not on a raised stage so you're set up at one end of a dancefloor. Come the end of the night and the crowd's inhibitions have been lubricated away, they tend to get too close. I've been hit many times with my microphone, people walking into the band space to request a song (while you're playing!), drinks spilt near pedals and monitors etc. etc. etc. It can be irritating and unsafe. It's difficult in one of my bands as we are a 3-piece so tends to be more space for people to walk into. Is there a passive way anyone has discovered of keeping people out of the band's space without being OTT and unapproachable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 "Do Not Cross" or "Do Not Enter" tape, taped across the front of stage between PA stands. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 When we don't have a stage or a barrier provided by the pub, we combine two uses and place some of these (this is just an example, we have slightly beefier models) at the front of the stage, with our leads inside. They have proved surprisingly effective. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Protector-Channels-Fastening-Organizer-Flexible-Warehouse-Black/dp/B09NVHKP87/ Whenever we play a new pub or place without a dedicated stage with our rock 'n' roll band, we tend to pack as little equipment as possible and bring the Kolstein Busetto as opposed to a full size double bass, so @Happy Jack doesn't have to place it on the floor - it has its own stand that can be positioned at the back of the stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 Some pubs that do that here have a couple of big footed steel pipe railings strung with banners that can push back to the wall and put out more tables for food service. Yours could be non welded so the feet and rails come apart for throwing in the van. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madshadows Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 An electric cattle prod !! 😛 John 😎 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 Strategic positioning of wedge monitors on the floor in front of us seems to work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diskwave Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 Play with an AK-47 over ur shoulder!..but seriously. Back in the early 80's when I was playing a lot I dont remember any of this type of behaviour, and I played in a few dives to say the least.... Worlds gone nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 Brings me back to me being positioned outside the toilet door in certain venues . Thankfully no bum notes were mentioned . Then we often had punters putting their drinks on my amp despite being politely asked not to . All part and and parcel etc . back in the day .. chicken wire perhaps ? 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue_floyd20 Posted September 30 Author Share Posted September 30 Thanks for all suggestions so far. There is of course a safety element but I have to admit that I'm getting sick of people trying to request songs while we're mid-song, if it stops just one of them it'll be worth it. Nothing will stop the coked-up steroid-taking blokes though except the cattle prod. I'm considering sticking warning tape to the PA speaker covers, fill them with drum bags and stick in gaps as appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackroadkill Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 Some hazard tape or a rope light (suitable fastened down) can be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 I'd go with a string of colourful LEDs, add to the show and only the actually blind can claim to have missed them. Drape over the monitors or guirlande from the micstands? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 I find the best solution is to play music that only a handful of chin-stroking goatee- and black polo neck-wearing pseuds will want to watch, if you're lucky. That way no-one is likely to ask for Wonderwall or any of that cack, though you may get embroiled in a heated discussion on whether James Carter's sax-playing actually counts as chord play or, in extreme circumstances, on the relative merits of the BR Standard Class 9F compared to the Deltic. 2 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 6 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said: on the relative merits of the BR Standard Class 9F compared to the Deltic. Oh, now there’s huge can of worms! Incidentally, do you know ‘sex on fire’? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 3 hours ago, Len_derby said: Strategic positioning of wedge monitors on the floor in front of us seems to work. This is a very good call. The last band I was in that did these types of gigs we had a line of monitors in front of the band, kept the irritants out of the way and we could hear things better, win win I`d say. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 8 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: This is a very good call. The last band I was in that did these types of gigs we had a line of monitors in front of the band, kept the irritants out of the way and we could hear things better, win win I`d say. A good call, but I thought most people on here used IEM’s? 🤣 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 My perpetual scowl seems to work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 9 minutes ago, tauzero said: My perpetual scowl seems to work. I was once in a band where just the singer was enough to stop any audience encroachment. On one occasion when someone was foolish enough to attempt it, he waited until a suitable instrumental break in the song to drag the idiot away to a corner and make sure he wouldn’t try it again, and was still back for the last verse right on cue. 😆 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 Don't play venues without a proper stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue_floyd20 Posted September 30 Author Share Posted September 30 Wonderwall/Sex On Fire, or more generically, anything by Foo Fighters cover 95% of the requests. I've been threatened by a group of stabby little chavs for refusing to play Wonderwall, hung around while we packed up telling me they were going to kill me, the pub has since shut down thankfully. It's always a marvel to me that people think you know every song ever written though. We do have a reserve song for this occasion where we announce we are going to play a special song just requested by [drunk person], then proceed to play 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley. Live audience Rick Rolling, sometimes, but often not, well received. It's also hilarious that they think you can hear or can comprehend a word they are saying mid-song or haven't got anything else to concentrate on. Then they come back having typed the request into their phone, haven't got my glasses on, it's why the set list is in 26pt type! Like the rope light idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue_floyd20 Posted September 30 Author Share Posted September 30 12 minutes ago, Supernaut said: Don't play venues without a proper stage. Not ready to retire just yet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 26 minutes ago, casapete said: still back for the last verse right on cue Reminds me of a holiday job I had when about 18 or 19 as a boat driver at Chester Zoo.. Folks would be charged about 30p each to be driven around the canal in the zoo on an old lifeboat so they could get a different view of the animals. However, there were a number of bridges en route where occasionally little scrotes would wait and drop things or spit on the passengers. A couple of us, being young and fit, discovered we could put the boat into reverse just before the bridge. Then we'd leap up and over the fence, little scrotes would scatter and then we'd jump back on the boat as it emerged on the other side to (hopefully!) cheers and tips from un-spat-on punters. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 ULTECHNOVO 20 Sheets Luminous Tape Anti skid Tread Pads https://amzn.eu/d/6wjAMb7 Gives a notional line, in the absence of monitors etc. Stick them to some thickish rubber, don't stick them to the ground, then they won't slide and they should just sit in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 1 hour ago, casapete said: A good call, but I thought most people on here used IEM’s? 🤣 Dummy cabs as monitors/barricade? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonK Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 Get a headless and leave your string ends like this 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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