estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
|
Posted on May 26 2008 02:27 PM
oestmann
Hey estreet - have you ever done the maths of how many times you carried your amp???
I did a quick computation - compensating for the years when I did less ('74- 1978), The years I did more ('83-86) and the last 22 years at appprox 3 gigs a week. If you count it as 4 times per gig (to car, from car to gig, from gig to car, from car to house) I think it's in the region of 20,000 times ... lol
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
|
seamoor
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 122
|
Posted on May 26 2008 02:35 PM
ReddTyde_
Playing live is the sole purpose of our band. Granted we only look to book 2-3 shows a month. Practicing twice a week gets monotonous, but we are writing new material. So that is a love/Hate scenario.
Well, there is playing live, and then there is playing 'live'. Back in the day when I still consented to doing such things, I was willing to play someplace like festivals where the folks that showed up were probably fans, and appreciative, and generally respectful and into the music. Chances are you would get good applause and maybe even an encore or 3. And playing for private parties where you know the people is the best--2nd best is private parties where they know who you are when they book you, so there are no surprises, and then you make friends with a bunch of folks you never knew before and the whole thing is very chummy.
Rivals for the WORST are going out on a work night to a bar where there's maybe 10 people who came out of curiosity or by accident and leave in the middle of numbers cause they got to get up and go to work. The number of times I have had to say thank you very much to an empty bar, except for the bartender...and maybe even worse is get booked on a Sat night in a place that you don't really belong, and they people don't like your type of music and want you to play something different, that you don't know, and keep shouting that you suck. I guess this is the classic Blues Brothers Good Ole Boys Bob's Country Bunker scenario. I gotta say: it totally blows.
And with surf music, which is such a niche phenomenon outside of CA(and even in CA) unless the gig is properly promoted to attract a demographic who LIKES surf music, it is generally a waste of time. Of course, this is MY mileage. I am totally over the whole performance thing. I'm sure age and experience have a lot to do with it. When you're 16 you have a lot of illusions, and you are willing to do a lot of schlepping when you believe that chicks are going to think you are awesome.
Seamoor Glas
The Iterators
|
estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
|
Posted on May 26 2008 03:05 PM
From the very limited time I've spent there, and the bands I've seen in the USA, gigging is quite different there to what it's like in the UK.
I'm sure things like weddings and functions are much the same, but apart from that I didn't really see any equivalent there to the Pub Gig scene here. I have only visited around Chiago and Winsconsin so I don't claim to have any broad experience to base that on.
Certainly we don't attempt to take the Pashuns to a 'Surf' audience - as quite a sizeable proportion (though not all) of the people here would say the predictable 'Is that like the Beach Boys?' line if you mentioned Surf music. Instead we try to take it to a normal (alt-ish) Rock audience and they seem to like it - fortunately.
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
|
Pyronauts
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1129
Northern CA
|
Posted on May 26 2008 03:34 PM
I live to play live. When I don't play a gig on a weekend I feel very strange.
Next weekend could be iffy, no gig yet!
Paul
|
Mustard_Man
Joined: Jan 16, 2007
Posts: 100
England
|
Posted on May 26 2008 04:40 PM
oestmann
Hey estreet - have you ever done the maths of how many times you carried your amp???
Sometimes I do an approximate calculation and realise that the amount I am paid for the evening is probably substantially less than a removals firm would get paid for moving all the kit up and downstairs..
|
oestmann
Joined: Mar 06, 2008
Posts: 584
Adelaide
|
Posted on May 26 2008 07:18 PM
I did two tours as a roadie (and countless one night shows big and small) before I got to be a real guitarist and tour in a real obscure band myself. Can't say 'enjoyable' is the word I'm looking for to describe it...hmmm, I can't think of the word?
My experience of Australian audiences is that they don't suffer fools easily...
— Tim O
oestmann guitar
tunes
clips
|