This past weekend was the first gig with the new band, Tempest. This is the first time I've ever been paid for playing music. I've performed many times in my life, in front of thousands of people on the field at halftime at college football games, but never have I left with more money than I came with.
Our guitar player came early and setup the PA and everything. I got there at 7:30 and started toting my stuff in. Ten minutes later, I had my head and 4x10 thumpin' and had a line run to the PA. At ten 'til eight we did a sound check and got everyone levelled out. Good thing, too. Everything was pretty good, I got the bass just right, then the guitarist swapped over to his lead channel and nearly busted everyone's ear drums!
We weren't due to start until 9:00, so we sat down and had a few drinks. The deal we worked out with this place was free drinks Friday night, full pay Saturday. We agreed because the drummer is good friends with the owner and we wanted to get started playing out.
Nine rolled around and we took the stage. No stage fright issues at all. Just a little antsy to get started is all.
We had a good reaction from the crowd. Probably 30 or 40 people there Friday night. Got people dancing. Good time had by all. I made some mistakes, but nothing noticeable to anyone but a musician. And nothing anywhere near a train wreck.
We knocked off at 1:00 am after 4 sets full of songs. We actually didn't play everything we knew, ran out of time. That's a good thing!
We were able to leave everything setup over night, so no PA setup the next night. I left my head and cabinet, but no way was I leaving anything that was easily stolen. Both basses and all the pedals came home with me. But, Saturday's setup was even easier. Plug in and go!
Saturday was a little more subdued. Not near the crowd. Both U of Alabama and Auburn U had night football games, so I think that had a lot to do with it. We still had a great time. With less people around, we broke out those songs that musicians love to play but the crowds don't get out and dance to. We totally jammed out on "All Along the Watchtower" and our version of "California Dreaming" was tight! Really great bluesy feel, the guitarist changed up the lead, mellowed it out. Sounded really good.
After we were done, it was time to tear everything down. Of course, as the bass player, I was done in all of 10 minutes! But of course I stayed around to help out the drummer and the guitarist with the PA. We still had everything loaded up by 1:30.
All-in-all, was very successful. I wish the crowd would have been better Saturday, but I had a great time anyway. I am playing in a band for ME to have a good time anyway! So, with that in mind, most definitely mission accomplished!
Oh, and a pic from the night.
The guy in front is our guitarist Mark. I'm behind, with my leg cocked up on the monitor.
Sounds like a fun gig.
What did the bar owner have to say about your show? Got another date scheduled yet?
By the way, good placement of your amp on the stage. It makes a good monitor shooting across the stage, and it won't fight with the PA.
I wrapped a newspaper ’round my head
So I looked like I was deep
busy weekend by the sounds of it, but great fun too i bet :D
"I like to play that guitar. I have to stare at it while I'm playing it because I'm not very good at playing it."
Noel Gallagher (who took the words right out of my mouth)
Congrats! 8)
"The only way I know that guarantees no mistakes is not to play and that's simply not an option". David Hodge
ah, rock guitars and bar decor. nothing better.
happy you had a good time.
Sounds like a great time. Hopefully I'll be playing a gig like that in a few months. We're just getting our first set down now.
Thanks for the kind words everyone. We really had a great time and it sounds like we will be invited back in the near future.
By the way, good placement of your amp on the stage. It makes a good monitor shooting across the stage, and it won't fight with the PA.
Yeah, I have been looking at a lot of pro setups and this seemed to be pretty common. Saw Better than Ezra a few months ago and they had it setup this way as well. Even the guitar amps were pointed in towards the band. I had a direct line out to the PA for house support anyway. The bar was small enough that I could have done it all with my amp, but there was really no need.
