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Post by jonnymosco on Feb 19, 2015 16:07:14 GMT
Played for a private birthday/dinner party on Valentine's Day - meant to be background music, ended up being a concert! That was fine, but had to play the Greek National Anthem, I'd prepared it as a sing-a-long, not a performance piece; in F, so not much fun (only played two of the 128 verses). They also requested some celtic pieces, thankfully I had a few of Mark T's arrangements under my belt - so, thanks markthomson, you saved me. The worse bit though was being treated like the hired help, as soon as I'd finished they showed me the door - we'd agreed food as well as payment, so I was a bit miffed; thankfully Mrs M. had prepared a special Valentine's meal for me on my return home. Got a restaurant gig coming up soon, hopefully it will be less annoying. Jonny
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Feb 19, 2015 16:18:57 GMT
Sounds typically dreadful but, frankly, it's your own fault.... If I was a guest at something and heard you playing, I'd stop and listen. So would everyone else, I'm sure - you're simply too good not to appreciate... thus making it a concert. The lesson to be learned here, jonnymosco, is 'always be mediocre at best'... A lesson wot I have tooked to heart Hope the Restaurant gig goes better - and the food is provided this time
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Post by Martin on Feb 19, 2015 16:45:20 GMT
Sorry to hear about the lack of food! At least you got to share your Valentine's Day meal with yer missus Sounds like the 'audience' were treated to a much better performance than they were expecting!!
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Post by andyhowell on Feb 19, 2015 16:53:15 GMT
Hmm, sadly the occasional venture into this kind of territory comes with playing live!
My particular favourite was a few years ago now. A mate (who shall remain nameless as Google gets around a bit) asked me to come and help him provide music for the Stratford on Avon Round Table's celebration of some big Stratford anniversary.
We arrived at a big house and grounds to find a large marquee. The highlight of the evening was a performance of 500 years (or 1000 or something) of Stratford. We were to provide background music.
There was a PA and in charge of it was a lighting engineer from the RSC. Lighting not sound. He was a bit nervous and forbade me from plugging my pickup into the system. He preferred to use dynamic mics — cue evening problems with feedback.
I had already had some intuition of trouble and made it clear under no circumstances was I to dress in period costume.
Just like Jonny's experience we were asked could we perform a set. What kind of songs did we have? Mine were mostly country blues which seems a tad inappropriate. We played a few folk songs, and a load of Incredible String Band songs (my mates preferred obsession) and pretended they were really old.
There was a terrible sense of disappointment. On a spur I started to wheel out a load of celtic finger style pieces. I told the organisers this was medieval music and they seemed appreciative.
After the 1000 years of Stratford performance everybody was well-oiled. I chanced my luck and opened up a barrage of country blues.
They loved it!
However, I have added the Round Table to Lions International and other organisationsI shall never go near to again.
They even tried not to pay us, in — they just forgot they had agreed to. Why did we want paying? We'd had free food!
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 19, 2015 17:28:52 GMT
"The music machine in the corner" or "valued guest"?
Depends on the situation and who did the hiring I suppose, and I've certainly encoutered both, and all shades in between. All part of the deal really - but to rob you of your agreed food was downright rude Jonny - commiserations!
Keith
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Post by keithambridge on Feb 19, 2015 17:46:45 GMT
The Greek National Anthem, hmm! Was it for Greeks Jonny? If so, that was a very unusual way to treat you! Me and my bouzouki buddy Spiros always get fed (we did have to eat in the restaurant kitchen once though)! We did have a plonker ask why Spiros didn't have a Greek guitar player one time, that's probably the most uncomfortable I've ever been made to feel (so far) whilst playing.
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Post by jonnymosco on Feb 20, 2015 10:14:53 GMT
Yes, Keith, the birthday girl was Greek and some of the guests. But the majority were probably British! Of course, it's a bit of a stereotype, but I was expecting a little excitement like smashing plates! But I didn't get any feedback, neither verbal nor violent!
Jonny
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Post by scorpiodog on Feb 20, 2015 12:14:49 GMT
They're a bugger, aren't they, gigs? Particularly solo gigs. I think one problem stems from the fact that people engaging you may not engage musicians often. They don't really know what they want, and forget what they have agreed when the time comes. It's always got to be worth putting terms in writing (something I confess I'm very bad at!). The rudeness of treating you as hired help is the norm in this country I'm afraid. I guess they think they're engaging caterers, hiring a marquee etc, so the musician is employed on the same terms and in the same relationship. I know it's different in France. A very good friend of mine lives there, and he says his worst gigs are the ones organised by or for the ex pat Brits. Another problem seems to be that lots of Brits (and, it seems, these Greek customers of yours) are almost embarrassed by being in close proximity with people who are trying to entertain them. Trying to maintain eye contact with an audience is a hit and miss affair at best. I think one way of dealing with this is to engage your audience in conversation before you start to play either individually, or all at once through the mic. That's not so easy when you are being introduced/announced on stage at a gig, but I don't do too many of those! The food situation you describe is unforgiveable. It's part of your pay, and you should, at least, have been paid something in lieu. I had a conversation with a chap who played the piano in a band that specialised in weddings. He told me that their written terms and conditions said something like "It's not part of this contract for you to feed the band, but it would be polite and sensible for you to do so. The problem is the drummer. We don't know if you have met any drummers, but they are difficult to tame and will become feral if not fed." Apparently they used it as a means of establishing whether their customers actually read their contract. Andy's story about the Stratford gig and the fact that the audience enjoyed his country blues is familiar. When Men In Black play, we are often surprised at the song that brings the audience to engage with us. It's always one, and we find ourselves changing our set list around once we find out what it is. At the last gig we played, we'd done everything we could bar jumping backward somersaults to try to engage the audience. Then we played "Born To Be Wild" and everyone went ballistic. Sadly that was only 20 minutes away from our finish time. But we did, at least, keep their attention for all that time (and a bit more! - After all, when you're on a roll it's hard not to keep going!) At different gigs, the song that gets the audience's attention has been anything from I Wanna Be Like You (that often works) to Folsom Prison Blues to I'm a Believer to Cousin Jack to You Do Something To Me. Strangely, it's rarely Sad Old Bastards With Guitars, which we think is our best song. But it must be awful to have a gig go bad when you're solo. At least as a duo or larger ensemble you have someone to laugh with/ moan with/ cry with. I bet you wowed them, though, Jonny. Even if they didn't tell you so. Don't take Leo's advice! Stay brilliant.
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Post by slasher on Feb 20, 2015 13:08:25 GMT
Quite some years ago I used to dance with, and play for, the local morris side. We took a booking to appear at a town-centre all day event, starting !0 am. We were booked to do four spots. The organiser told us to be ready to appear at !0 am when the event started. We were, and we did. He then put two more spots in before mid-day and advised that our final spot was at 4.15 pm. Just after mid-day rain started. So what does a morris side do when there is a four hour wait. We found a cosy pub played, drank, performed many a song. By 4 pm the rain had stopped, we poured out of the pub and performed our final spot magically, honest we were brilliant. At least we thought so....
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Post by Wild Violet on Feb 20, 2015 14:41:02 GMT
I was asked to play a 45 min set in Lincoln last year for a charity event. It was at a well-known pub/music venue, and I thought it would be great experience. The woman organizing it didn't turn up. A drummer from a band that was playing later rushed around trying to set up the house PA for me. I was on first and played to a completely disinterested crowd, while members from yet another band set their stuff up behind me, including soundchecking it. No one introduced me, no one in the pub paid attention, no one thanked me, I never had any contact from the organizer until recently when she asked if I would be willing to play at another charity event. I left feeling extremely disheartened. On the long, dark drive home I was able to realize just how much I had learned that night, which had made it well worth my while. I did not, however, agree to do it again.
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Post by dennis on Feb 20, 2015 16:29:22 GMT
The worst gig that I ever played at was in a pub on St George's Day about 6 years ago. There was a very large crowd of very rowdy young lads who had all had far too much to drink. As the evening wore on a scuffle broke out among some of them but it was soon resolved and several of them left. About an half hour later these guys returned for a fight and one of them came in with a CHAIN SAW!!! Fortunately the police arrived fairly promptly and the situation was calmed down. It could have turned out quite nasty. Dennis
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Post by Andy P on Feb 20, 2015 17:33:32 GMT
At different gigs, the song that gets the audience's attention has been anything from I Wanna Be Like You (that often works) to Folsom Prison Blues to I'm a Believer to Cousin Jack to You Do Something To Me. Strangely, it's rarely Sad Old Bastards With Guitars, which we think is our best song. We find Ring of Fire works every time!
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Post by Andy P on Feb 20, 2015 17:35:00 GMT
The worse bit though was being treated like the hired help, as soon as I'd finished they showed me the door - we'd agreed food as well as payment, so I was a bit miffed; thankfully Mrs M. had prepared a special Valentine's meal for me on my return home. That's appalling. I would have insisted on a doggy bag at least.
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Post by andyhowell on Feb 21, 2015 10:02:22 GMT
Lynn raises the fundraiser, a particularly fine institution that is designed to drive musicians mad! Some of you may not (as yet) have experienced these. So I shall share this story so that you know !!!!
About 18 months ago I was taken out for a drink by one of my local Councillors. Would I organise some music for a Party fundraiser. Now this was for the Labour Party but I've done a lot of these over the years for charities and much the same problems occur. Back in the 90's they had lots of fundraisers and musicians were keen to take part. I had to start by explaining it was not like that anymore. The general cynicism about politics is everywhere and musicians tend to be an awkward bunch who often sit somewhere on the more extreme ends of principle. For example, it is not a good idea to mention Blair much in musician's circles!
I explained to him that the most important thing for musicians — if they are not going to get paid — is to have an audience. If they wanted musicians they should let me structure the running order of the evening. Musicians will bring people with them but only if they think there is a proper performance spot. I could tell he didn't understand. I said I needed some things:
The event was a Friday night. I wanted to be able to set up during the afternoon. No problem I was told. The venue was a large legion club (which I knew well).
I wanted to be able to soundcheck well before the audience arrived.
If possible, I wanted to room locked at the end of the night so that I could collect the gear the next morning. The club was open for lunch and so if I arrived about 11 there would be no problem. Perfect.
I found a friend to play as well. Two days before the gig she came down with a virus and so I was on my own. I realised this made it less of a musical event so I ploughed on,
Fundraising organisers think when they have got you to agree they can completely forget about the organisation of the music. I had to borrow a PA (not too bad a problem as I live in a street of musicians and my immediate neighbour has two), find a mate to help me cart it up to the venue, carry it in and so on.
I turned up at the end of their lunchtime session. We were not in the room I anticipated. I had to scout around and work out the best and safest place to set up. I had to commandeer power points. Then I had to set up the system as best I could with a mate who had no idea what he was doing. Just when I got to the point of sounchecking myself the bar steward came in and told me he was locking up and going for his afternoon nap. He wanted me out. I could come back at 6.
Back I came. The steward had opened the venue but not my room. I hung around for another half an hour. Others arrived to set up food tables, raffle spots and so on. I started to sort out the sound with all kinds of people milling about.
Then we came to the evening. They had not taken my advice about structuring the evening. I started playing at the time people were settling in. They hadn't seen each other for a while and so had a lot of catching up to do. Nobody was interested in me — a lot of them knew me and just took it all for granted. From the little stage all I could hear was the sound of raucous chatter and laughter. I had difficulty hearing myself even though I was using a monitor. Still, I knew it was going to be like this and so I ploughed on.
As my set progressed I realised that at the back of the room were a couple of tables of people who were really into the music. So, I had a bunch of people at the back wanting to listen and who were quite appreciative but between me and them were a group who weren't interested at all. Communicating to the audience was something of a challenge.
By the time I had finished playing I was quite dispirited. I was cheered by the guys at the back who came forward to chat about country music, ask what tunings I was using and so on. I asked them why they hadn't come to the front. They didn't want to disturb the evening.
As it was a fundraiser — and the assumption was that I was happy to support them — I had to pay for my own food. Nobody bought me a drink after.
At the end of the evening the steward told me I had to clear everything out. I told him I'd been told I could leave the stuff behind. Nope he said. I had to organise a large taxi to take the stuff away. I dismantled the gear without any help at all.
My thanks was simply a name check for the MC at the end of the evening. I was still clearing up long after everyone had gone home.
A few months ago — about the same time of the year — I got wind of another one of these events. The organiser tried to contact me about week before. I am afraid I simply didn't answer the phone!
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Post by Andy P on Feb 21, 2015 11:56:30 GMT
A salutary tale Andy and similar to ones I expect a few of us have experienced, although probably not quite as extreme as this. The saddest bit for me was that nobody bought you a drink at the end.
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