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Post by bonzo on May 17, 2019 18:15:52 GMT
Graeme, hot pies mmmmmmmmmm......
Best wishes to you all, John
RJ would have been first in the queue for hot pies!
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Post by pete1951 on May 17, 2019 19:20:56 GMT
What do I want from a gig? 1)I want to have a good time 2)I would like the audience to have had a good time 3) I would like the audience to outnumber the band 4)some money or just a free drink would be nice
My needs are few.......
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2019 9:33:24 GMT
Graeme, hot pies mmmmmmmmmm...... Best wishes to you all, John RJ would have been first in the queue for hot pies! Not in Dundee he wouldn't.
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Post by Michael Messer on May 18, 2019 9:41:24 GMT
I know of a few venues that make food to give to the audience after the show. It is a great touch and it makes everyone feel so welcome. I don't have time this morning, but I will write about that soon.
Shine On Michael
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Post by washboardchris on May 18, 2019 10:37:25 GMT
I hate to say this but unless its a charity I want to be paid for the skill,I have had venus phone me and say theydont pay money but you can pass the hat round & then I have pointed out that if they get someone to build them a wall they dont expect the bricklayer to stand by his wall with a bucket hoping that passers by will throw money into it if they think he has done a good job.
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Post by Michael Messer on May 18, 2019 10:49:14 GMT
Chris, your point is a valid one, but because there are so many people desperate to get gigs, no matter what the circumstances, it is an impossible fight. In addition, there are many promoters that would say "you are worth what audience you bring. No audience, no fee"
In addition to your comment and others on this thread; this is the reason I do not play FREE ENTRY venues under my own name. It is the reason I play with the Earl Trio and Ronnie Smith/National Debt, because I can have a play in a pub and not affect my business in a negative way. I do not consider those gigs to be "work", they are just fun going out with friends to play music. There is one proviso when I do these gigs.... that my name is not used to promote the event. I earn my living from performing and making records and for that reason I have to only play in ticketed venues. This also affects the audiences attitude to the performance. If it is a free entry venue the audience can wander in and out and talk and do what they like, but if they have paid to see a show it is a whole different thing.
I am not trying to play a 'superior" card here, I am just explaining it from my point of view. I have been doing this for 40+ years.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on May 18, 2019 10:51:41 GMT
Social media has magnified this problem because now the promoters rely on the artist and their following on social media to fill venues! And this happens at all levels.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on May 18, 2019 11:02:15 GMT
I could write post after post about this subject from both sides of the fence.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2019 12:01:10 GMT
I was paid, and generally I only do paid gigs now. The main reason for my OP was whether I should adjust what I do to cater for people most likely to come and see me. TT
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Post by washboardchris on May 18, 2019 12:12:08 GMT
It comes to this I have made a living out of music for over 40years ,never been famous and never wanted to be . I worked on the principle of doing something that no one seemed to do ie some country blues some jazz things like Fats Wallers your feets to big or Harry the hipster Gibson's Who put the Benzedrine in Mrs Murphys Ovaltine plus a of off the wall intros & being quick enough to find answers to hecklers without being to insulting( having at onetime worked as a stand up comedian( not that i disrespected the music in any way)all this helped and at my peak I was working more than 300 gigs a year.I all ways had a feeling of triumph playing a venue were no one was into blues but being able to have them hanging on your every word. I was told by a fellow performer who played a venue I had played two weeks before of a request he had had made by an 80 year old country boy.Do you do anything by Vera Lynn of if not something by that Robert Johnson. I didnt play in london as half the time they wanted you to pay to play.
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Post by leeophonic on May 18, 2019 13:04:35 GMT
Another approach guaranteeing an attentive audience is to follow the Hawkwind model....
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Post by Michael Messer on May 18, 2019 13:07:09 GMT
I was paid, and generally I only do paid gigs now. The main reason for my OP was whether I should adjust what I do to cater for people most likely to come and see me. TT TT, in my opinion you should only adjust what you do if you are happy going out as a human jukebox. As a creative artist that is passionate about your work and does not do gigs to feed your family, my advice is to keep doing what you do. I have always maintained that stance, otherwise I may as well go and get a job. Shine On Michael
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Post by creolian on May 18, 2019 15:39:14 GMT
I was paid, and generally I only do paid gigs now. The main reason for my OP was whether I should adjust what I do to cater for people most likely to come and see me. TT Its an odd world in which people earn enough spendoolies to go out and then expect their entertainers to work for free. Find me a doctor, lawyer, or plumber who works for free. One thing about a free show. Its at least worth what you pay for it. The self marketing required to rise above the pack and gather a following is an interesting challenge. The obvious manipulation of social media is one way, salting the audience with strippers another... in the 80,s I worked a tobacco company tour that was essentially a cigarette advertisement... they gave away a semi trailer load of smokes every show. Its rare to see a popular muscian that relies solely on musicianship, always has been. One of the coolest self promoters Ive seen is Kermit Ruffins. His band was/ is the Barbecue Swingers. He regularly showed up with a barbecue pit on which before the first set he would cook a mess of Turkey necks, sausages, rabbit what have you... all relatively inexpensive items. After the first set, Kermit held court over the grill and serves his audience... turning his shows into a big fun party. Hes not the greatest trumpet player Ive heard but his Barbecue shows have gotten some world wide press coverage and his regular thursday night gig at Vaughns was always packed. Now retired from his regular barbecue gig, Kermit still rides around with a grill in the back of his truck, ready to cook. The pic below is his grill smoking in front of his club... the mother in law lounge. It was the talk of " pies " that reminded me ;-) www.nola.com/music/2013/09/kermit_ruffins_has_retired_fro.htmlTT, you may want to consider adding some spice to your set... you could just tweeter about Sir Paul being expected to show up, play live music Karaoke, pyrotechnics even... Im ok with anything but glitter, strobe lights and spandex... lol Mmmmm... pies.
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Post by davetracey on May 18, 2019 18:32:30 GMT
Possibly not a vey popular opinion-but pubs are a bore in themselves. The worst thing about live gigs in this country are people who you can hear talking when the music gets quiet. When I stare at them, I notice they often have a pint in their hands. I would imagine pubs are full of people like this by virtue of their primary function. A really good venue in London is the Union Chapel in Islington. I don't know or care what type of faith is practised there, but its got a great vibe. I think you can buy alcohol in there, too, but it isn't defined by drinking in the way that pubs are.
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2019 22:08:44 GMT
I think if you're of a certain age your opinion on pub music nowadays will be jaundiced by memories of the pub rock scene of the seventies. I've dropped all the names and venues in a previous post.* It would probably take someone like Buddy Guy or TT to get me into a pub these days and even then it would need to be within walking distance with no risk of being accosted by footpads.A bottle of wine and youtube/telly is such a comfortable option. Lazy sod--it's a wonder I get out of bed of a morning.
* Found it.
Sunday: Finchley:The Torrington- Meal Ticket Monday: Kensington: The Kensington-Graham Parker & the Rumour (With special guest Nick Lowe) Tuesday: Islington:The Hope & Anchor-Squeeze Wednesday: Paddington:The Windsor Castle-Dire Straits Thursday: Hammersmith:The Red Cow:Ian Dury & the Blockheads Friday: Fulham:The Greyhound-Elvis Costello & the Attractions Saturday: Twickenham:The Winning Post-The Clash
Yes,these were the days.
Graeme (fully paid up member,The Old Git's club) PS forgot Iron Maiden at the Bridgehouse in Canning Town if you like that sort of thing.
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