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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2019 7:41:20 GMT
I did a gig last night, 8:30 - 11:00. Full to start with, still full until about 1/3 way into my second set, then people started to leave, and the place was virtually empty by 11:00. I don't think it's me, but wondering whether 'blues' fans like to get home early for an ovaltine these days? What times would you prefer to see an act, and could you stomach 2 hours of blues in a pub? (BTW I play other stuff too). TT
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Post by bonzo on May 17, 2019 8:25:01 GMT
Hi TT, I don't think 2 hours of music spread over an evening is to much to bear! Thing is pubs and music can be a difficult mix. Have people come to see a band or come out for a drink? Are they heading on somewhere, is it good on telly? Same goes about people talking. At a gig where you have come specifically to se the band I would say something, in a pub people are there for many reasons so I grin and bear it! Don't take it personally, at the next gig they might rush the stage and pull bits off you for souvenirs! Lol!
Best wishes to you all, John
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Post by Pickers Ditch on May 17, 2019 9:10:14 GMT
I can't speak for anyone but myself but I'm one of those who has left the last three gigs I've been to early.
The reason was the same at two different well respected venues.
CRAP LOUD BASS HEAVY SOUND WITH WOOFY VOCALS!!!
Last nights gig in Chelmsford was the final straw and I will only be going to carefully selected gigs and venues from now on.
The common denominator here in Essex / Suffolk seems to be that the bands have to use the venues own or hired in PA systems come supplied with so called house "engineers".
A quick PD survey of these last three gigs has led to the following findings:
1) The "engineers" are all excitable young men with funny haircuts, beards and wear checked shirts and skin tight jeans. 2) They have been on sound engineering courses and have "qualifications". 3) They all, without exception, spend their time looking at the numbers and the dials on the mixer desk. 4) They all, without exception, take no notice of signals or requests from the performing artists for adjustments to levels and volumes - they make nodding signs and feign a knob/slider twiddle without actually doing anything on the desk! 5) They all raise the master volume during the second number of the second set - probably thinking that they are adding to the excitement??? 6) If one instrument is too loud they bring up the volume of the rest of the band to get "balance" - they don't understand that it is better to bring down the volume of the offender to the lower level of the rest of the band!
Those that have met me will know that I'm a grumpy old git but I don't demand perfection only enjoyment from a performance.
As of today, prior to purchasing tickets for future gigs, I will be asking if the artiste is doing their own sound or bringing their own "engineer". If the answer is no, then I will not be going to see them.
Over and out - I will enjoy my Ovaltine and protect what little hearing I have left......
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Post by tallsailor on May 17, 2019 9:12:41 GMT
What bonzo said. My OH gigs a lot in pubs as a Tina Turner tribute and they can be full one minute, empty the next (unlike social clubs, where everyone stays till the bar closes). And this is usually on a Saturday, when people don't have to get up for work in the morning. She has her followers, but for most punters live music is just an atmosphere enhancer, a welcome bonus, not a reason to be there.
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Post by Michael Messer on May 17, 2019 9:26:33 GMT
Home entertainment is, or has destroyed live entertainment. People no longer realise that it is a two way thing, that it is as much to do with the audience as the performers. This happens in all forms of live entertainment. People are too used to TV and similar gadgets where you can watch a performance and no matter what you do, it doesn't affect the performance.
I could write a chapter on this but don't have time this morning!
Shine On Michael
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Post by ken1953clark on May 17, 2019 9:35:43 GMT
Public transport can be an issue, people coming to a pub gig usually drink and often don’t want to drive. So if it’s a question of catching the end of your set or catching the last bus you might lose. In a city like Leeds last buses/trains are ridiculously early (something I had to adjust to when I moved up from Essex) so who knows what it’s like in smaller towns? Maybe 10:30 would be a better curfew.
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Post by calvoi on May 17, 2019 9:45:27 GMT
I may be old before my time but I get up early in the morning and pretty much need to be in bed by 11pm on a weeknight to function the next day. I would happily listen to two hours of blues (and other music) but except Friday and Saturday would prefer music 7-10pm. Just me though!
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Post by Michael Messer on May 17, 2019 10:11:06 GMT
Interesting....
I think the opposite. I think music is put on too early in the evening in this country. In Europe and and other parts of the world performances start later.
I agree about public transport too.
I could also blame the artists and the live music industry. There are very low standards on both sides. Dirty venues with bad facilities and bands that can't hold a tune together, also adds to the lack of interest in live entertainment, especially with an older more discerning audience.
Also the cost of going out in this country has got out of hand...a drink, a meal, car parking etc... it is often not a cheap or comfortable experience. Or you can stay home with good wine and food and watch the world's top artists on your home cinema and still keep talking to your "friends" on social media.
Happy days! :-)
Shine On Michael
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Post by bonzo on May 17, 2019 11:06:24 GMT
All round to yours is it Michael? Lol!
Best wishes to you all, John
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Post by Stevie on May 17, 2019 12:54:18 GMT
Doctor Hippy prescribes a walk up and down Bourbon Street. The trouble is that then the lightweights might be even more unenthusiastic about staying out late for music in this country...
e&oe...
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Post by washboardchris on May 17, 2019 15:05:38 GMT
I once turned up for a evening gig way in the middle of nowhere well befor all day & all night drinking (it had been passed on to me by another musician.Got there at 7.30 to set up only to be greeted by the landlord with "what are you doing we start at 11.30 & go on till 2.30.if its a small town or village you never know if there is anything else going on.IO have had a pub empty half way through because in one instance a wake for one of the older customers & once because there was a stripper on at the football club!
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Post by creolian on May 17, 2019 16:34:55 GMT
Doctor Hippy prescribes a walk up and down Bourbon Street. The trouble is that then the lightweights might be even more unenthusiastic about staying out late for music in this country... e&oe...Back in the days of "Rick James" I worked occasionally on bourbon st. at the A bar ( absinthe house )... An after show, after party, after show gig... the band started at 2 am and regularly went until 8 in the morning, sometimes later. There was also Gino's which had all nighters... There were a lot of muscians passing through after work and there was no telling who might pop in. Tom Waits was busking on the streets with Ricki Lee Jones and some of there first gigs were at ginos. Lots of incredible music, unfortunately no one was there to listen to music. Club owners in the Quarter have regularly salted their establishments with off duty exotic dancers, dope dealers etc. Many of these all night shows were packed. As the " sound guy" these were small clubs and my job consisted of mostly placing microphones and then just babysitting. Mostly sober, it was surreal watching the audience perform... I got to hear some purty darned good music as well. many mornings Ive stumbled out on Bourbon st into dawns purple light... not anymore, the A bar is now a daiquiri take away shop and the music on Bourbon st is mostly canned crap. What used to be elegantly sleazy decadence has become a garishly contrived tee shirt. Bourbon st and the french quarter in general have become violent late at night. Still a night owl, Ive become a gig curmudgeon... Ive not been out later that midnight more than a few times in the last ten years.
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Post by gingernut on May 17, 2019 16:58:29 GMT
Here’s a different perspective - as I was part of TT’s audience last night....
I came to see you because I’d seen you play before (Upton blues festival) and subsequently worked out that you were a regular contributor on this forum. I’m starting to learn about playing resonator guitars so thought i’d Enjoy the music and probably learn something.
I saw the ‘ad’ for the evening that you had posted on here a week or so ago.
I then talked my other half and two friends into coming with me as they like this sort of music. We had also all been to the venue before and so knew that the beer and food was decent.
We turned up at 730 (a 40 minute drive) in time to have a drink and organise some food prior to the scheduled 8pm start.
We had already decided that we needed to leave by 1015 pm as 2 of the party had very early starts today. If i’d come alone, it would have been by train and that would have meant leaving the pub at 950 - in time to walk to the station and catch the last train home ! So you got an extra 25 minutes out of us !
There was no entrance charge, so we had nothing ‘invested’ in the evening - it was simply a chance for friends to share some time together and enjoy the music. On a fri/sat night, with no work the next day we would have happily stayed till the end.
Had your ‘show’ started closer to the advertised time, we would have been able to see a greater proportion of it as we had to leave at a set time.
We had a fun evening and heard some good music, but we had to leave at a realistic time - simple as that. Thank you for an entertaining evening.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2019 17:02:53 GMT
I once turned up for a evening gig way in the middle of nowhere well befor all day & all night drinking (it had been passed on to me by another musician.Got there at 7.30 to set up only to be greeted by the landlord with "what are you doing we start at 11.30 & go on till 2.30.if its a small town or village you never know if there is anything else going on.IO have had a pub empty half way through because in one instance a wake for one of the older customers & once because there was a stripper on at the football club! Reminds me of one of the gigs I regularly did in Scotland in the 70's as a drummer--Robb Caledon Welders and Riveters Social club or some such. Anyway just as we were getting into the swing of things a large gentleman came on stage,grabbed the mike and announced in a pronounced Dundonian accent 'Ladies and gentlemen,the hot pies are ready' Within seconds we were playing to an empty room. There's a few more where that came from.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2019 17:55:05 GMT
Hi Gingernut - many thanks for coming! Were you with the guy who I spoke to who was a guitar player? Did you take a pic by any chance?? As for the timings, the event was created by the owner who wasn't there on the night. I asked the bar staff what time to start and they suggested 8:30, which was ok with me (I had it as 8:30 on my promo). I admit I was 10 minutes late starting though... TT
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