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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
WORST Stages/Venues? Accommodations?
WORST Stages/Venues? Accommodations?
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jbone
1746 posts
Aug 30, 2014
7:05 PM
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Very early on, we played a farmers' market but actually we were outside on a wall, 30 feet from the dumpster enclosure. Pew.
We've played in 105 degree heat at a marina on the deck.
In high 20's winter, a venue which the heat had died and the oven was putting out burnt food smoke.
In joints where people were so cramped they knocked over our camera and p.a. tower.
Once played a joint in the delta where the a/c went out, there was no audience, the temp was near 100, and it did not pay.
Played a street gig with a band at a bike rally, across the street from the engine dyno trailer. The noise was drowning out my 40 watt Bassman easily!
A blues/bbq/beer, and classic car deal in a city park where it was 95 and then began to rain halfway into our set. We were in a pavilion but with lightning striking close by it was time to go.
Once at another bike rally in East Texas, july, 100 degrees. Stage was a 50 foot flat bed trailer with no cover. Some carpet samples laid out for flooring on bare metal. Red dirt flew every time a bike came by- all Harleys. We started at like noon. Played a set and took a long break and did it again. Third set the sun was going down and it was such a relief! We drank actual cases of water and beverages that day. That one came out good, we played until like 1 a.m. and the last 2 sets were for a hat pass and we made a ton of $$, more than our actual pay. I was worthless for 2 days afterward though, so fatigued that I laid out Sunday and Monday both.
We did a happy hour at a local joint for a few months, once a week. We had drunks fall onto stage, barely missing taking out guitars, and us. We had fights break out and get carried outside. This was very early in the duo career, and the pay was tips only, which sometimes was $2 or so, and a beer for Jolene. One guy would yell at us to turn down every week as he stood 15 feet away, trying to converse with people in a joint that was about 100 feet square. At the time we had the smallest of tube amps and just did not turn up past bare minimum.
I was working with a band in south Arkansas once that the gig paid good, but both times there was crazy stuff. Once it was a huge guy, just turned 21, drank the bar dry or tried to, and as we were coming back from a break half the people in there were trying to hold him back, tables were overturned, beer all over the floor in the broken glass, and our tips scattered all over. We took the stage and I stayed behind a solid base mic stand at the ready. Low stage, anything could happen.
Another time in South Dallas a guy had flashed a pistol while we were on break and we came back to a bartender and 2 patrons. Game over.
We once got hired south of Dallas to bring blues into a primarily goat roper country bar. One guy heckled us for 2 sets and as he got drunker he decided he owned the place and jumped up on stage to yell at us even closer. I slammed a mic stand into both shins and he suddenly fell down and rolled off the stage. His buddies came down and carried him to the back of the bar and the bouncers escorted him out once he could walk again. I was sure we were going to get shot after the gig but I guess he found another place to roost.
We played a dive not far from DFW airport once, and the p.a. head was left at home, so the leader had to drive 40 minutes each way to get it. Meanwhile the rest of us had to play a set and a half with no vocal setup. The owner kept coming by asking where the leader was and we kept telling him, any minute now. He finally showed and we had the p.a. and a full band for the rest of the night but had to clear off the "stage"- a 16 x 16 foot wood floor- so the dj could get everyone trash disco dancing like at 12 sharp. We got paid but 3 of the 4 cars we drove to the gig had flat tires mysteriously when we went to load out.
I played 2 nights once about 4 hours from home during a Halloween weekend, and the first night was both a costume party night and also a college ball night. We were all decked out and as we played, the bartender would signal us to shut down for "important plays" in the televised ball game. Finally the game was over. My gal and I won 2nd place for costumes which was nice, the joint had a great Italian chef who fed us free the next night before the gig. Supposedly this place was owned or run by a mobbed up guy. He was supposed to come by and meet us but I guess he had other things to do both nights. We were staying almost 2 hours away at the leader's place so we did a lot of driving that weekend, in the rain and fog. Since the leader got loaded my gal had to drive his little truck to his house one night, at 1-2 a.m. with him singing drunkenly all the way.
I once was booked with this same guy to play full band aty a fund raiser in Missouri, 4 hours from home. It was in August and it was stormy. Still we loaded up to play this daytime outdoor gig, and he had us set up in the rain on a flat bed trailer under some trees- the "covered stage" we were promised. As the storms kept coming we had all the gear covered in trash bags and cardboard boxes, waiting for the weather to break. Promoter came by after 2 hours and cut us loose, no pay, so sorry, blah blah. It was a Labor Day Saturday and guess what- the weather broke Sunday!
These tales all happened.
What you got folks??
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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JustFuya
433 posts
Aug 30, 2014
9:03 PM
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Wow. I'm having a difficult time with this one. Immediately my best venues come to mind and I have to work down from those. To be honest, I can overlook a lot of things if there is a stage and I'm on it.
BUT, there is a certain smell in some bars that twist my innards. I played in a bar that I managed in San Jose during the 70s. Mostly I tended bar but I tweaked the owner into allowing occasional shows while skirting cabaret laws. We called them private parties. One night, after closing, I walked into the head and came across a most unjustified defilement. I peed in the alley and apologized to the lady who was responsible for cleaning 'normal' messes the next day.
I had a discussion with the owner and he tracked down the repeat offender. I was also the bouncer and he left it to me to deal with. I have a boxing history but by the time I reached my 20s I knew punches hurt and are rarely justified outside of the ring and never appropriate for stupid drunks. So I marched him up a ladder with the threat of violence and expected him to sleep it off on the roof of the bar or jump after I put the ladder back on my truck and went home. I didn't care and we never saw him again. I wonder but not that much.
Such a strange subject. Some of my proudest moments grew from ugly messes. I have performed badly but the venue was never the factor.
I shared one of my two most horrible experiences on stage. I love those. It was all me and I earned and learned. I'll sleep on this one but I think I'm going to have a tough time remembering a venue that upset me.
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JustFuya
434 posts
Aug 30, 2014
9:38 PM
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OK. I remember a pretty good one. Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City. He beaned me with a beer bottle from 20 feet away. He was long gone by the time my standing knockout was fully counted and I did sit out for a few songs afterward. It took some time but I admire that shot. It was chicken shit and had nothing to do with my music but if he hadn't been bounced and pummeled I would have invited him to try that again. I would duck but if his next shot was as close as the first I would have discussed a management deal with him. And yes, it was over a woman I was simply being kind to. People can be so ridiculous.
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Moon Cat
451 posts
Aug 30, 2014
11:19 PM
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Any US road dog will agree the worst gig on the blues circuit here is: "The Hurricane" in Marathon Key, FLA. Almost all the national acts b level and a lot of A' levels have done this gas gig….Awful, tiny, corner stage, Mean employee's, volume nazi's, Crap pay and the band house has rat's, fleas,roaches and bed bugs and smells like sewage. Right of passage gig for sure. We all laugh about this one.
Last Edited by Moon Cat on Aug 31, 2014 3:25 AM
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JustFuya
437 posts
Aug 31, 2014
12:26 AM
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MC - that's my point. You have to laugh and when you do it's tough to put them on any 'Worst' list. But I just got an idea for a new thread.
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LSC
677 posts
Aug 31, 2014
8:41 AM
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Many years ago, and I doubt it has changed, The Last Waterhole, Amsterdam. Combination bar and hotel/shooting gallery run by Hells Angels in the heart of the red light district and next to the dealers bridge.
Arrived in the van and was met by "Bill" (The name has been changed to protect my health)who shook hands with one of those grips that forces the question, "Will I ever play the violin again," but not intentional. He just didn't know how strong he was. We were in a narrow alley and when we asked where to park the van Bill replied, "Leave it there. We own this alley."
We were not allowed to use any of our own backline including the drum kit. Everything was run through the desk including an electronic drum kit. The kid on the desk was whacked out of his mind.
We did two sets. During the break several bikers went flying past us running upstairs to the hotel. They cam back with bloody clothes and it wasn't their's. Someone had been stabbed.
Virtually ignored by the few patrons, all of whom were halfway to a coma, we finished the night and got guitars into the van, leaving two of our guys on guard while I waited for the pay. It was a weekday "gas money" gig.
Our bass players hands me on an envelope and says, "I think we have a problem." On the envelope was written "300". We were supposed to get 600 guilders. I go to "Bill" standing at the bar and in my best really polite manner.."Uh, Bill. We were supposed to get 300."
Now you know that phrase, "Killer eyes"? I found out what that really meant with the stare from the eyes of a cobra looking for lunch. "Bill" says to me in a voice hard as stone, and I quote, "We wouldn't pay the fucking Rolling Stones more than 300. Now fuck off." My macho reply was, "Right you are. Agent must have made a mistake." I then exited as quickly as decorum would allow and got the hell out of there.
Big argument with the booking agent next day which came exceedingly close to a knock down drag out fist fight but that's another story.
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LSC
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LSC
Last Edited by LSC on Aug 31, 2014 8:44 AM
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jbone
1748 posts
Aug 31, 2014
10:19 AM
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My intent was to share "war stories". Most times it's not the physical place but the people involved that make a difference for good or ill.
Take the owner or manager who let the stage out back of a steak house rot enough that our 330 lb bassist stepped through it one night and was lucky to come out with just a gash and some scratches.
Take the cafe owners who couldn't keep the air on in 100 plus heat, or the furnace on in high 30's at their house where they graciously let us stay.
Take the guest we opened for at a place who did serious damage to our p.a. head during his "performance".
There is more and some of you have much worse I know.
This is what makes mature musicians sometimes. We survive adversity, learn something, and carry on. The past 10 or 12 years have taught me much about my own outlook and expectations and how to spot a hustle or a bad deal. But it took those misadventures and the hit on my self image and my wallet to teach me.
I honestly doubt I could ever have been a full time musician even if I was "that good" or that fortunate. Some of the stories I've heard from guys just make me shudder.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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