Johnny Charles
19 posts
Jan 26, 2011
7:35 PM
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Here are some in no special order...
1.When gigging, take care of the servers and waitre$$es well... as they will be the ones that persuade the club owner to book your band again.
2.When playing at one club, never promote your other gigs at other clubs. It's just not right. Promote your email list or website instead.
3.The good harp players never ask to sit in...they're always asked.
4.Don't take a break around midnight(especially a long break)as this the witching hour(oops can I say witch?)and the crowd will be more likely to up and go.
5.When the dance floor is happening...keep the music flowing and the dancing will continue. Stall between songs too much and Poof they're gone.
6.A full cash register is a happy club owner. Promote your band as well as the drink specials and the food ALL NIGHT LONG
7.Never "Gus" it's just not right.
8.Always get the most you can for the first gig at a new venue because it hardly ever goes up and most always goes down.
9.Play a "hook heavy" song for your closing number and the crowd leaves humming the hook and remembering that the band was awesome.
10.Smile a lot :)
...and the list goes on.
Any thoughts?
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nacoran
3739 posts
Jan 26, 2011
8:58 PM
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Looks like a good list.
-Dress appropriately for the image you want to project.
-Adjust your show according to the crowd. If you end up in a coffee house with kids in the front row don't get baudy. If everyone has a Vote Row A sticker don't stub for Vote Row B unless your politics are more important to you than going over well.
-Keep a non-sticky drink (a water or unsweetened tea or whatever) nearby for cleansing the pallet before you slobber on your harp. Avoid milk right before you sing because it makes you phlegmy.
-Never let the promoter leave without paying you.
-Play a couple covers, but even if you are playing the same place every day for a week work your songs in, and repeat them from show to show so people get to know them. I suppose that goes with #9.
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Jehosaphat
1 post
Jan 26, 2011
9:27 PM
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Hi long time lurker here had to say somethin' on this.I've played in bands but have also been one of the punters as well.
My pet peeve is bands that have been playing (say)rock /blues LOUD for a set then play the same or similar stuff LOUD during their break.You gotta give the punters chance to talk to each other at some time during the night and just give their (and yours)ears abreak.Plus if you play something just a couple of notches down,in volume and intensity during the break when you get back up it can have an 'its show time' effect.
Couple of weeks ago was a classic...a not too bad 'Chicagoish'(is that a word?)blues band was playing to an appreciative crowd and then in their break they played Muddys Electric Mud album at the same volume as their set.
The guys running a chat line with a girl headed out to the carpark and I noticed a lot of them didn't come back in..lucky bastards ;-)
It can get very tiring having to shout all night at your friends with nary a chance to catch up..
Bottom line is I suppose:when you have a break..give them a break too
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MrVerylongusername
1533 posts
Jan 27, 2011
1:50 AM
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Great list!
Add to that
- Buy the soundman a drink and talk to him about the sound you want.
- If it's OK with the venue, put a business card on every table.
- Get a vinyl backdrop with your name/logo and bands website on it.
- Always carry, as a minimum, spare preamp tubes and fuses for your amp and a backup microphone.
- Good lighting can be as important as good sound.
- Movement and onstage energy are crucial - if people just want music they'll be happier with a jukebox. They come to SEE you.
- You aren't Bono, don't be pretentious - you'll just make a tit of yourself.
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jbone
482 posts
Jan 27, 2011
3:56 AM
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@gene-
gussing is where a harp player or wannabe harp player sits in the audience or stands in the back of the room and plays harp along to the band. very rude. kind if goes along with being invited- or not- to sit in with the band. it's a curious to harp players phenomenon, since i've never seen a guitarist or horn player doing this. probably because a harp is so portable.
doing this distracts the audience close by and can piss off a band to no end.
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ncpacemaker
233 posts
Jan 27, 2011
5:08 AM
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Gussing ! That's what it's called. That's what I'm gonna do when Adam comes to Raleigh. (so tempted not to add "just kidding")
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ncpacemaker
234 posts
Jan 27, 2011
5:11 AM
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Oh yeah, was the term named such for a reason ? gussing - gussow ?? (again so tempted, but "just kidding")
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PaulM
99 posts
Jan 27, 2011
5:21 AM
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@ncpacemaker: Is the Brewery in Raleigh still operating? I spent a lot of time listening to live bands there in the early 80s.
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ncpacemaker
235 posts
Jan 27, 2011
5:23 AM
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Still alive and smell....
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My YouTube Channel
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PaulM
100 posts
Jan 27, 2011
5:26 AM
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Yeah; very loud, very smoky, and very crowded. Good memories.
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shbamac
80 posts
Jan 27, 2011
7:00 AM
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Never setup an acoustic set on the venue's back porch of another bands gig and promte your upcoming shows around town.
That happened to a friend of mine. It got very ugly...
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Barry C.
149 posts
Jan 27, 2011
12:35 PM
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Best 'hooked' last song to play (for blues)- Got My Mojo Working! Never fails to leave em with feet a-tapping!
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~Banned in Boston!
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