How was your gig last night?

[Bluewine]

12 hours ago, cheddatom said:

We played the Woodland Stage at Bearded Theory on Friday. I'd read a load of horror stories online about the weather and mud. Apparently they were towing people on to the site! Anyway, we got there at 1:30 for our set at 4pm. I'd forgotten my boots so was stuck hanging around back stage in my converse, trying to avoid getting stuck in the mud before our set. I got to set up my kit to the side of the stage so the changeover was only about 5 minutes. The sound was fantastic, as you'd expect at a proper festival like this. The field in front of us was packed, and it sounded like every one of them was singing along. Only a 30 minute set which makes it super easy on the drums as I don't have to hold back at all. Ace gig

 

 

 

That looks like my kind of event. Very nice photos.

 

30 minutes is really cool and easy to manage material. I've done a few 40 minute shows, I love them.

 

I always get jealous when I see photos like this. Do you get to play a lot of these upscale type gigs?

 

Daryl

Edited May 28 by Bluewine

[Bluewine]

On 25/05/2024 at 23:15, Bluewine said:

Ok, no sugar coating the gig.

 

We played outside on the patio. We really don't have a draw in Milwaukee and it shows. I'd say we had a poor turn out.

 

Seems like we only have nice crowds at festivals and fairs where there's an embedded crowd.

 

A little sad.

 

Daryl

 

I think I complain too much.

 

I just received this update.

 

"Hey everyone, acoustic @Motor Sat 8/17, patio again if it's nice 👍🏻 "

 

I'll take it.

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

This Saturday! Take a lil’ road trip with us, we promise you won’t be disappointed!!
She's Right - I'm Left
Hubbleton Brewing Taproom & Grill

 

 

Daryl

[cheddatom]

8 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

That looks like my kind of event. Very nice photos.

 

30 minutes is really cool and easy to manage material. I've done a few 40 minute shows, I love them.

 

I always get jealous when I see photos like this. Do you get to play a lot of these upscale type gigs?

 

Daryl

 

Not many of that size, although we do a few festivals through the summer that'd be playing to around 1000. I'd love to do more of them. The other guys would prefer 45 or 60 minutes. Most of our headline shows are 90 minutes or more. I personally love the short sets as it feels "full on" all the way through

[dmccombe7]

We average 1hr 10-15mins first set and 1hr 20-25mins second set but its great when we get two 1hr sets.

Think the most enjoyable was with the punk band where we were 2nd support band at a local rock venue with PA and backline supplied. By the time the 1st band got off stage and we got started our 30mins was down to 20 mins and we still got paid £200. I could cope with more 20min £200 gigs. 

Dave

[Lozz196]

7 minutes ago, cheddatom said:

 

Not many of that size, although we do a few festivals through the summer that'd be playing to around 1000. I'd love to do more of them. The other guys would prefer 45 or 60 minutes. Most of our headline shows are 90 minutes or more. I personally love the short sets as it feels "full on" all the way through

Was the same for me when I was in Knock Off, I always thought that a 30 - 40 min set was best, full-on and unrelenting.

[dmccombe7]

Its annoying when we learn a new song we just add it to the set rather than drop one out and keeping the sets approx 1hr each.

Both my bands suffer from this issue. In a few yrs i'll be doing 4hr sets if things don't change.

I've always thought 2 off 1hr sets is ideal. It leaves an audience wanting more. Too long they get bored.

Dave

Edited May 29 by dmccombe7

[MichaelDean]

2 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Its annoying when we learn a new song we just add it to the set rather than drop one out and keeping the sets approx 1hr each.

Both my bands suffer from this issue. In a few yrs i'll be doing 4hr sets if things don't change.

Dave

That is annoying. It can be useful to have some songs ready to go if an extra song or two is needed, or just to vary the set a bit so you don't get bored.

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, MichaelDean said:

That is annoying. It can be useful to have some songs ready to go if an extra song or two is needed, or just to vary the set a bit so you don't get bored.

That was the original selling point, to vary the set but now they just include them and you are back where you started with "we need to learn some new songs as a back up"

Annoys me a lot.

Dave

[martthebass]

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

We average 1hr 10-15mins first set and 1hr 20-25mins second set but its great when we get two 1hr sets.

Think the most enjoyable was with the punk band where we were 2nd support band at a local rock venue with PA and backline supplied. By the time the 1st band got off stage and we got started our 30mins was down to 20 mins and we still got paid £200. I could cope with more 20min £200 gigs. 

Dave

Standard clubland this side of the border tends to be first set 45m followed by second 45m +15m.  You'd be shot if you eat into bingo time lol 

[taunton-hobbit]

When I was promoting, bands used to do 2x45 + encores (if any). Big names (think Ben E King, Jimmy Ruffin, Desmond Dekker) used to do a contracted 60min, up to them if they went on past this - I think Jimmy Ruffin finished at about 2hrs!).

 

😎

[msb]

We recently lost a great friend and piano player , unexpectedly. He had played a gig the night he died. We’re doing a memorial for him Saturday night. His regular band had the gig booked and decided to keep the night and pay tribute. We’re expecting quite the crowd of characters. Here’s the poster.

 

And a link showing some of the characters.

 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

We've got a first festival gig coming uo for Bendricks Rock. 1hr spot. Bike weekend in support of blood bikes Wales, supposedly 100,000 over two days but I doubt our audience will be that big!

 

Next day we close one of the local venues for Caerleon festy, pub marquee so much smaller. Played early last year (after the morris dancers) to 40 odd people in the rain.

[dmccombe7]

2 hours ago, martthebass said:

Standard clubland this side of the border tends to be first set 45m followed by second 45m +15m.  You'd be shot if you eat into bingo time lol 

We still do the bingo break or raffle as well in most clubs we do. Normally the club wants between 9:30 and 10pm for their functions

Dave

[StingRayBoy42]

2 minutes ago, msb said:

We recently lost a great friend and piano player , unexpectedly. He had played a gig the night he died. We’re doing a memorial for him Saturday night. His regular band had the gig booked and decided to keep the night and pay tribute. We’re expecting quite the crowd of characters.

Sorry for your loss and that's a lovely way to pay tribute.

[dmccombe7]

2 hours ago, taunton-hobbit said:

When I was promoting, bands used to do 2x45 + encores (if any). Big names (think Ben E King, Jimmy Ruffin, Desmond Dekker) used to do a contracted 60min, up to them if they went on past this - I think Jimmy Ruffin finished at about 2hrs!).

 

😎

I always did 2 x 45min sets back in 80's with encores of course. 

I've given up trying to convince both bands that two 1hr sets is perfect. 

Dave

[JPJ]

Tonight’s gig, social club, lounge, typical social club crowd. But tonight I finally had a tone I was happy with both on stage and FOH with both the fretless and the EUB. Spent a bit of time last night tuning my FOH tone and it paid off. Lots of compliments on the mix too so I’m off to my bed a happy lad. Obligatory rig shot 😎

[Kiwi]

On 29/05/2024 at 19:57, msb said:

We’re expecting quite the crowd of characters. 

Would you happen to know a Nova Scotian bass player called Jamie Gatti per chance?  Or Bruce Dixon?

[leschirons]

Tonight's gig cancelled, in a sports pub full of pi**heads, next to the big screen, starting at 8.30, 30 mins after the champions league final starts. That was going to work wasn't it?

 

We bailed out. Venue said "Oh yeah, see your point"🙄

[msb]

9 hours ago, Kiwi said:

Would you happen to know a Nova Scotian bass player called Jamie Gatti per chance?  Or Bruce Dixon?

Yes. Both are great players , legends. Jamie is more of a Jazz guy despite touring with the Barra McNeils. Was trying to help Bruce track down a part for a Steinberger bridge yesterday. 

[Lozz196]

27 minutes ago, leschirons said:

Tonight's gig cancelled, in a sports pub full of pi**heads, next to the big screen, starting at 8.30, 30 mins after the champions league final starts. That was going to work wasn't it?

 

We bailed out. Venue said "Oh yeah, see your point"🙄

Some venues really just don’t have a clue

[taunton-hobbit]

4 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Most venues really just don’t have a clue

 

FTFY

 

😎

[casapete]

On 29/05/2024 at 09:17, dmccombe7 said:

Its annoying when we learn a new song we just add it to the set rather than drop one out and keeping the sets approx 1hr each.

Both my bands suffer from this issue. In a few yrs i'll be doing 4hr sets if things don't change.

I've always thought 2 off 1hr sets is ideal. It leaves an audience wanting more. Too long they get bored.

 

On 29/05/2024 at 09:17, dmccombe7 said:

've always thought 2 off 1hr sets is ideal. It leaves an audience wanting more. Too long they get bored.

 

You're right Dave. From my experience (unless you're a big name act with 40/50 years of material to work

with and millions of adoring fans) audiences do have a limited attention span and it's best for everyone to

acknowledge this when planning setlists. I think for a covers / tribute band 2x60 min sets are more than 

adequate. I honestly don't see the point in adding songs to the sets and making them so much longer,

other than satisfying the ego of some band members who don't know when enough is enough!

Also bear in mind that venues like plenty of time to sell more drinks which is probably when the

band is having a break / interval. Older audiences like to stretch their legs / go to the loo / grab another

beer etc without feeling they're being a nuisance or missing out on some of the band's set.

 

Personally I've always preferred one longer set from a playing point of view - easier to maintain the 

audience's attention and choose the songs to make the whole thing more cohesive. When my old band

played some festivals we found the one set thing a revelation after being used to doing 2x60 minute

sets in theatres. ( Unfortunately if we tried to opt for one set, with no support act, in theatres then we would

be charged more by the venue to offset their loss on bar takings. ) 

 

Edited June 1 by casapete

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, casapete said:

 

 

You're right Dave. From my experience (unless you're a big name act with 40/50 years of material to work

with and millions of adoring fans) audiences do have a limited attention span and it's best for everyone to

acknowledge this when planning setlists. I think for a covers / tribute band 2x60 min sets are more than 

adequate. I honestly don't see the point in adding songs to the sets and making them so much longer,

other than satisfying some the ego of some band members who don't know when enough is enough!

Also bear in mind that venues like plenty of time to sell more drinks which is probably when the

band is having a break / interval. Older audiences like to stretch their legs / go to the loo / grab another

beer etc without feeling they're being a nuisance or missing out on some of the band's set.

 

Personally I've always preferred one longer set from a playing point of view - easier to maintain the 

audience's attention and choose the songs to make the whole thing more cohesive. When my old band

played some festivals we found the one set thing a revelation after being used to doing 2x60 minute

sets in theatres. ( Unfortunately if we tried to opt for one set, with no support act, in theatres then we would

be charged more by the venue to offset their loss on bar takings. ) 

 

TBH i hadn't considered the bar side of it but yep that all makes a lot of sense.

What i have found is that when doing long sets and 2 or 3 nights in a row my fingers struggle. Not so much mobility but more blisters and fingertips. When we do get told by the venue that they want 2 x 60min sets its a revelation and i have no issues at all. 

The more i gig tho the less my fingers notice any aches or pains but it only takes a month OFF for peoples hols and i'm back to square one again (maybe not quite LOL)

Dave

Dave

[Boodang]

1 hour ago, casapete said:

 

 

You're right Dave. From my experience (unless you're a big name act with 40/50 years of material to work

with and millions of adoring fans) audiences do have a limited attention span and it's best for everyone to

acknowledge this when planning setlists. I think for a covers / tribute band 2x60 min sets are more than 

adequate. I honestly don't see the point in adding songs to the sets and making them so much longer,

other than satisfying some the ego of some band members who don't know when enough is enough!

Also bear in mind that venues like plenty of time to sell more drinks which is probably when the

band is having a break / interval. Older audiences like to stretch their legs / go to the loo / grab another

beer etc without feeling they're being a nuisance or missing out on some of the band's set.

 

Personally I've always preferred one longer set from a playing point of view - easier to maintain the 

audience's attention and choose the songs to make the whole thing more cohesive. When my old band

played some festivals we found the one set thing a revelation after being used to doing 2x60 minute

sets in theatres. ( Unfortunately if we tried to opt for one set, with no support act, in theatres then we would

be charged more by the venue to offset their loss on bar takings. ) 

 

Yep, in order to keep the audience attention we now do gigs with three bands... a Hendrix tribute, a Jimmy Smith tribute and a soul/blues cover band. The fact all three bands have the same musicians in them is just a coincidence.  If we put on different wigs for each set I reckon we could charge management 3 times!