Willy waving/Good Gig/Advice for young 'uns

[Excalibur]

Really this should be in Good gig/Bad Gig, but it crosses so many categories, so here goes. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. ( Under 40's will be unaware of the witty post there)

As some of you will know, I'm doing a few Store Launches, thanks to a Forum Member on here. The work required for them is right up my street, so I'm very happy doing them. I've even put together a micro PA for them which I've used to good effect on occasion.

So 6.00 am saw me pointing the Astra up the A1 towards Blaydon!!!! 8.00am, and I'm in the Car Park. 8.30 and I've got the kit set up and I'm under the store canopy playing music. What a day. :D Where I was set up was a prime place to intercept shoppers entering the complex, and the rider on my contract urges us to interact heavily with punters, and "talking is more important than playing music"

The set up and placement was perfect, and it was one of those days when everything just fell into place. Stall next door was manned by some lovely lads selling fruit and veg, and the banter all day was lovely. Great great lads. Mid afternoon, store manager comes out and says

" Well done mate, great job. I've got to admire folk like you who can talk all day, it must be a gift". Cue self blushing a lot. Praise came through the day from other quarters, so as Darren has said more than once, being able to have the confidence on the mic can at times be an invaluable tool. I know it wasn't a disco, so the music is obviously of lesser importance, but being able to beat mix seamlessly would in this situation be absolutely :Censored: useless. One case where you can't let the music do the talking. ;)

For those of you who don't use the mic a lot, yes I know where you're coming from, but like many of us have said more than once, sometimes it can be your most valuable asset. Those of us who cut our teeth when you might end the night with only one playout channel working had to be able to speak long enough to change records on one deck. ;)

So, one gig over, and back into the Astra to see Andy ( Deltic) in Cumbria, and pick up some cabs. Cue a tour of every goat tack across the moors!!I was using the Sat Nav, and I wasn't convinced it was actually sticking to real roads. eek: :eek: :bang: :bang: :bang: If anyone thinks I live in a rural area, they should visit Andy. From bright sunshine to low cloud and torrential rain in no time at all.

Seriously, the lad's an absolute gent, Old School in many ways, and a mine of information ( and equipment. ;) Ta mate, I've yet to try that amp. )

Into Penrith for a meal, and then still a two hour drive home, ending a seventeen hour day. Wew!!

To sum up, I want to reiterate to the Young 'uns and strong silent types just how important the mic and mic technique can be on occasion.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Really this should be in Good gig/Bad Gig, but it crosses so many categories, so here goes. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. ( Under 40's will be unaware of the witty post there)

As some of you will know, I'm doing a few Store Launches, thanks to a Forum Member on here. The work required for them is right up my street, so I'm very happy doing them. I've even put together a micro PA for them which I've used to good effect on occasion.

So 6.00 am saw me pointing the Astra up the A1 towards Blaydon!!!! 8.00am, and I'm in the Car Park. 8.30 and I've got the kit set up and I'm under the store canopy playing music. What a day. :D Where I was set up was a prime place to intercept shoppers entering the complex, and the rider on my contract urges us to interact heavily with punters, and "talking is more important than playing music"

The set up and placement was perfect, and it was one of those days when everything just fell into place. Stall next door was manned by some lovely lads selling fruit and veg, and the banter all day was lovely. Great great lads. Mid afternoon, store manager comes out and says

" Well done mate, great job. I've got to admire folk like you who can talk all day, it must be a gift". Cue self blushing a lot. Praise came through the day from other quarters, so as Darren has said more than once, being able to have the confidence on the mic can at times be an invaluable tool. I know it wasn't a disco, so the music is obviously of lesser importance, but being able to beat mix seamlessly would in this situation be absolutely :Censored: useless. One case where you can't let the music do the talking. ;)

For those of you who don't use the mic a lot, yes I know where you're coming from, but like many of us have said more than once, sometimes it can be your most valuable asset. Those of us who cut our teeth when you might end the night with only one playout channel working had to be able to speak long enough to change records on one deck. ;)

So, one gig over, and back into the Astra to see Andy ( Deltic) in Cumbria, and pick up some cabs. Cue a tour of every goat tack across the moors!!I was using the Sat Nav, and I wasn't convinced it was actually sticking to real roads. eek: :eek: :bang: :bang: :bang: If anyone thinks I live in a rural area, they should visit Andy. From bright sunshine to low cloud and torrential rain in no time at all.

Seriously, the lad's an absolute gent, Old School in many ways, and a mine of information ( and equipment. ;) Ta mate, I've yet to try that amp. )

Into Penrith for a meal, and then still a two hour drive home, ending a seventeen hour day. Wew!!

To sum up, I want to reiterate to the Young 'uns and strong silent types just how important the mic and mic technique can be on occasion.


here here! and the only way to improve is to get on the mic bite the bullet and go for it!

[Twinspin]

Well done Peter sounds like you had fun. It just goes to show money cant buy experience.

Certainly very confident on the mic as well which is a good thing.

Ill see you next saturday night anyway. Shouldnt be too bad. They have an acoustic indie band booked so should be a good night.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Being versatile is so important in this industry.

Well done for talking a lot Peter....:sj:

[CRAZY K]

Really this should be in Good gig/Bad Gig, but it crosses so many categories, so here goes. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. ( Under 40's will be unaware of the witty post there)

As some of you will know, I'm doing a few Store Launches, thanks to a Forum Member on here. The work required for them is right up my street, so I'm very happy doing them. I've even put together a micro PA for them which I've used to good effect on occasion.

So 6.00 am saw me pointing the Astra up the A1 towards Blaydon!!!! 8.00am, and I'm in the Car Park. 8.30 and I've got the kit set up and I'm under the store canopy playing music. What a day. :D Where I was set up was a prime place to intercept shoppers entering the complex, and the rider on my contract urges us to interact heavily with punters, and "talking is more important than playing music"

The set up and placement was perfect, and it was one of those days when everything just fell into place. Stall next door was manned by some lovely lads selling fruit and veg, and the banter all day was lovely. Great great lads. Mid afternoon, store manager comes out and says

" Well done mate, great job. I've got to admire folk like you who can talk all day, it must be a gift". Cue self blushing a lot. Praise came through the day from other quarters, so as Darren has said more than once, being able to have the confidence on the mic can at times be an invaluable tool. I know it wasn't a disco, so the music is obviously of lesser importance, but being able to beat mix seamlessly would in this situation be absolutely :Censored: useless. One case where you can't let the music do the talking. ;)

For those of you who don't use the mic a lot, yes I know where you're coming from, but like many of us have said more than once, sometimes it can be your most valuable asset. Those of us who cut our teeth when you might end the night with only one playout channel working had to be able to speak long enough to change records on one deck. ;)

So, one gig over, and back into the Astra to see Andy ( Deltic) in Cumbria, and pick up some cabs. Cue a tour of every goat tack across the moors!!I was using the Sat Nav, and I wasn't convinced it was actually sticking to real roads. eek: :eek: :bang: :bang: :bang: If anyone thinks I live in a rural area, they should visit Andy. From bright sunshine to low cloud and torrential rain in no time at all.

Seriously, the lad's an absolute gent, Old School in many ways, and a mine of information ( and equipment. ;) Ta mate, I've yet to try that amp. )

Into Penrith for a meal, and then still a two hour drive home, ending a seventeen hour day. Wew!!

To sum up, I want to reiterate to the Young 'uns and strong silent types just how important the mic and mic technique can be on occasion.

And then sometimes Peter you have to work without any PA at all.:eek:

I did a Barn Dance last night and it was so stuffy indoors that I told the organiser that the best bet was to go outside on the grass get 3 Musicians from the Teachers at the School I was working at and give me some music to work with.

So they agreed they could manage to knock out Comin round the mountain and a few other 32 bar tunes to back me LIVE.

Ended up a big success for an hour with me and my foghorn voice giving the instructions as a sort of combination between a fairground busker and a Barn Dance Caller--the people there couldnt quite believe it:D

Talk about Entertainment unplugged--yes I have a sore throat now--all those years bawlling the Captains instructions out on the Football fields of Hertfordshire paid dividends.

Mind you it has advantages like you can get near someone and give them the hairdryer treatment--no right arm idiot --with devastating effect:)

[Mark Wild]

Well done Mr. Selleck, those store openings aren't the easiest gigs in the world if done properly ;)

[Mayhem 1]

Excalibur: Well done buddy.

Maybe if it is takling and interaction needed for your store openings I must look into it!!!

Congrats again mate :beer1:

[STEVE HANLEY]

Hi Peter

Saw your original post yesterday mate but unfortunatley was grafting, Otherwise would have definatley came to see you. Next time your up mate let me know:beer1: :beer1:

[Excalibur]

Being versatile is so important in this industry.

Well done for talking a lot Peter....:sj:
I'll take that as a gracious compliment, even though I have no doubt it wasn't. ;) :D :D :D

And then sometimes Peter you have to work without any PA at all.:eek:

Talk about Entertainment unplugged--yes I have a sore throat now--all those years bawlling the Captains instructions out on the Football fields of Hertfordshire paid dividends.


What?!!! Oh no mate, without a mic, I'm still mild mannered Clark Kent. :o :o I'm not Superman till the PA starts humming. :D :D

Well done Mr. Selleck, those store openings aren't the easiest gigs in the world if done properly ;)
From someone who knows whereof I speak, I take that as a compliment. :Embarassed:
For anyone who doesn't know, Mark has done his share of these gigs North of the Border, and we shared notes on approach and attitude early on in the game. We were told that a few folk simply left the laptop running on autopilot, and went off to chat up the prettier members of staff. In our opinion, that wasn't what we were being paid to do, and both of us said how much effort we had put into our gigs.

I've had some gruellers due to various things, location, staff, and parking, can sometimes be against us, but this was the one which paid it all back, and left me with a warm glow.

Excalibur: Well done buddy.

Maybe if it is takling and interaction needed for your store openings I must look into it!!!

Congrats again mate :beer1:
Ta for the compliment mate, it's appreciated. I think you'd be a natural for them, as long as you stayed well South of Watford. ;)
Get orrrrffffff mooooiiii laaaaand. :p :D :D :D :D :D

[Mayhem 1]

Ta for the compliment mate, it's appreciated. I think you'd be a natural for them, as long as you stayed well South of Watford.
Get orrrrffffff mooooiiii laaaaand.


No worries with that mate

[womble]

That was a long post, you can type as much as you can talk! :D

Are you a big talker at your disco gigs too? I think I used the mic maybe 4 or 5 times last night at the most (welcome, buffet, cake, last orders, last song(s) and there was a bit of banter about trying to make the birthday girl cry at the end). I'd like to get a bit more 'patter' into my arsenal though.

[JamesXP]

I still think the rayyyyyyyyyyyvon would've worked well, she stuck to her guns, she said she definitely wasn't going to cry, haha.

[Excalibur]

That was a long post, you can type as much as you can talk! :D
Yeah, but I can talk better than I can type. :o :o :D :D


Are you a big talker at your disco gigs too? I think I used the mic maybe 4 or 5 times last night at the most (welcome, buffet, cake, last orders, last song(s) and there was a bit of banter about trying to make the birthday girl cry at the end). I'd like to get a bit more 'patter' into my arsenal though.

Is the Pope Catholic? Do Bears live in the woods? :D :D :D :D

Does the fact that I take three Radio mics, and five cabled ones to each gig give you a clue? :D :D :D

In many ways, I try to move forward, but in other things, I remain resolutely Old School.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

And if the client doesn't want someone waffling on?

[Excalibur]

And if the client doesn't want someone waffling on?

Waffling on? Waffling on? :eek: :eek: How very dare you!!! :eek: :eek:
Apposite and erudite information, witty ripostes and sparkling banter, and all the requisite announcements, if you don't mind. ;) ;) ;)


Daren, as you well know, I'm indulging in my customary whimsy. :D :D
If the customer wanted me to :zip: it, I can cheerfully unplug the mic. :D :D Thankfully, my customers have taste and discernment, so allow me full use of the mic. :D :D ( I'm joking again, I try to always tailor my use of the mic to the audience,venue, and situation. Don't we all? :whistle: )