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Post by andyhowell on Sept 29, 2017 7:44:13 GMT
I was chatting about giving with lavaman at Halifax about the frequency of gigging. Now I am talking about us irregulars here rather than proper performers like PistolPete or Amit. We both reckoned that a couple of gigs a month was both nice and kicked things along nicely. I'm wondering about the rest of you? I'm this suffering a bit this morning. On Saturday I was up until 4.00 playing music with some of the Halifax reprobates. On Sunday evening I did 45 minutes back home. Last night I did another 45 minutes and I've a gig on Sunday. (And of course, there was the singing for the 007 song). It all feels a bit too much and my voice is a bit battered this morning. Sessions like this make me appreciate the efforts of those who are out on the road for long lengths of time.
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Post by lavaman on Sept 29, 2017 9:18:18 GMT
I find gigs are like buses; they all come at once. I was really busy during February / March and July / August / September but did nothing in between.
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Post by ianlp59 on Sept 29, 2017 9:42:37 GMT
I do gigs very rarely as I do not have an overwhelming urge to inflict my modest abilities on others and am, frankly, not really a natural performer. The last time I played in "public" was at the HB8 weekend when Rosie very touchingly asked me to demo the guitar she'd made for Terry and with Andy during the plucky dip performance slots.
I have been fortunate in the past to be asked by Roy Bailey to accompany him on a number of occasions. But those instances were Roy's gigs, not mine.
Cheers,
Ian
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Post by scorpiodog on Sept 29, 2017 9:45:58 GMT
I find gigs are like buses; they all come at once. I was really busy during February / March and July / August / September but did nothing in between. Iain, I couldn't agree with you more. We aim to do a dozen or so a year as a duo, and I do perhaps another 3 solo. Our gigs are quite long (2 to 3 hours), so when you get 5 together as we did one weekend in June, it's really punishing. In fact I couldn't talk for several days after, let alone sing. One a month would be lovely, but it just doesn't happen like that. I'll be interested to know what everybody does. Good thread, Andy.
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Post by Martin on Sept 29, 2017 10:09:57 GMT
0.01 per month on average over the past 30 years. Not that many really.
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 29, 2017 10:22:58 GMT
Setting aside leading worship band every Sunday, which isn't a gig in the usually accepted sense, I do v little playing out nowadays. Maybe three times a year with Glyn's band (gigs which we put on ourselves and are thus in total control re times, space to set up etc))and a v occasional solo slot - got one coming up in Nov supporting jackorion. When I did play out more it was intended to be max of once a month (ceilidh band for 12 years or so) but was often twice, plus fiddle/guitar duo gigs every couple of months for several years and helping to run a fortnightly tune session for I dunno how long. It was mostly fun at the time, but palled after a while - esp as I did all the booking/co-ordinating etc, which really got me down. I never really liked Fri/Sat nights being booked up for months ahead - too much like commitment! I was sad when it all fizzled out due to divorce/death/potential prison sentence/pissed offness/moving away from area etc. I hasten to add that none of those reasons applied to me - I was the Billy no-mates left high and dry with no-one to play with! I'm happy just pottering about now - anything more is a bonus - in fact I played more with Paul and Charles in one weekend at Wimborne Folk Fest that I'd done in the year up to then. Loved it! Keith
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Post by 007 on Sept 29, 2017 12:43:36 GMT
I Liked Keith's post very true, I play about 1 a week at various places, what is very interesting that a song that goes down well at one gig will go down "like a pork chop at a a bar mitzvah" at another gig does anyone else have the same experience.
I played Leo's" frisky in the bar" (as I call it ) at one gig they loved it 2 days later played it again, deathly applause and a woman came up to me afterwards and said it made her, as a woman feel uncomfortable. Strange
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Post by davewhite on Sept 29, 2017 13:25:36 GMT
I played Leo's" frisky in the bar" (as I call it ) at one gig they loved it 2 days later played it again, deathly applause and a woman came up to me afterwards and said it made her, as a woman feel uncomfortable. Strange Was she dressed as a nun perchance?
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Post by 007 on Sept 29, 2017 14:00:33 GMT
She is a bit gody yes
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Post by stringdriventhing on Sept 30, 2017 6:55:59 GMT
We have a monthly residency, so we always do at least one gig a month. Other than that it depends... we can go for months not doing any additional ones, then have a spate of doing loads. We probably average 2 a month over a year. That suits us all fine... we all have jobs, families and other stuff we like doing and any money we generate from gigs goes into the band "war chest", so we ain't relying on gigging for income.
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 30, 2017 8:13:47 GMT
That’s audiences for you. Very different reactions to songs in what seem to be similar settings. As a solo performer it is useful to have enough in your repertoire to change tak if you can!
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Post by PistolPete on Sept 30, 2017 9:00:08 GMT
A "proper performer" eh, andyhowell? That may go on the next round of press quotes I played Leo's" frisky in the bar" (as I call it ) at one gig they loved it 2 days later played it again, deathly applause and a woman came up to me afterwards and said it made her, as a woman feel uncomfortable. Strange I often find my more humorous songs will play well with one audience & then whizz over the heads of the next one. Just make sure the music is good enough to make it fly even if no one realises there's a joke. I don't ever recall any actual complaints though, unless you count the local radio station that edited out the line 'won't you squeeze my lemon until the juice runs down my leg' from my version of travelling riverside blues, thereby ruining the metre.
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 30, 2017 9:29:14 GMT
A "proper performer" eh, andyhowell? That may go on the next round of press quotes I played Leo's" frisky in the bar" (as I call it ) at one gig they loved it 2 days later played it again, deathly applause and a woman came up to me afterwards and said it made her, as a woman feel uncomfortable. Strange I often find my more humorous songs will play well with one audience & then whizz over the heads of the next one. Just make sure the music is good enough to make it fly even if no one realises there's a joke. I don't ever recall any actual complaints though, unless you count the local radio station that edited out the line 'won't you squeeze my lemon until the juice runs down my leg' from my version of travelling riverside blues, thereby ruining the metre. Feel free Pete!
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Post by Wild Violet on Oct 17, 2017 23:49:15 GMT
Are you talking about paid gigs? If so, I’m only getting 4-6 a month which is nowhere near enough and far too irregular for me! If you mean free gigs, I get asked to play an awful lot of these but am so tired of playing for nowt that I only accept very few. I suspect that once I’m back at work, gigging once or twice a week will be plenty.
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Post by dobro on Oct 19, 2017 21:03:21 GMT
The last two months have seen almost thirty gigs, mostly because of our trip from Norway to Lancashire and Cumbria, playing Norwegian folk music in all sorts of (nice and crazy)venues. I did get the chance to sneak in Homeward Bound and Cathy's Song, though, because of the English link. :-) Having passed sixty, gigging extensively is still fun, but it takes it's toll..
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