Good Gig, Bad Gig.

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Originally Posted by shakermaker Promotions

I had a decent one actually. I provided the lighting for a Ska covers band that were playing in my local. They are awesome and the place was packed. I know them all really well and one of the things I am looking into is promoting them for functions if people want to have something a bit different. I fully recommend them if anyone is looking for Ska/Two Tone/Trojan covers.

Anyway...I wasn't booked friday or saturday so I used a bit of initiative (sp?) or cheekiness (whatever you want to call it) and asked one of the guys if they wanted some lighting. They said yes so I chucked 6 Colourbursts on a T-Bar, connected them all up and used the Lil' Mix with them along with some smoke. As I knew all the songs, I really enjoyed myself pressing the buttons and giving them a lightshow behind them, colour fading and strobing at the right time. It really did look great and with only one T-Bar too (lack of space as they are a 6-piece and the space that they had to play in wasn't great and the pub was packed).

I had a couple of beers, enjoyed the gig and was asked about doing it for another band too and also got a few quid in my pocket too which was cool as I wasn't earning this weekend.

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Whats the band called ?

The band are called One Step Too Late.
They are a local band with 5 guys and 1 girl and they are all in their 20's. They all take turns singing and are very good. They are just starting to get lots of gigs together and will be promoting themselves properly soon.

I had a word with them a while back and said that they should really go all out and do the whole look as they generally play in their civvies. If I had them booked for a wedding I would want them all in suits, trilbys etc and they are quite happy to do that too.

From Admin

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Originally Posted by Admin

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Apologies

Well, another one in Lincolnshire last night. Why is it that every time I go there, I get stuck behing something that won't travel at the regulation warp factor 9? :confused: Last night, it was a Morrisons lorry. And while we're at it, I'm sick of the world's biggest roller coaster, otherwise known as the A15 :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

( For those unfamiliar with the conversion factor, warp factopr 9 is approx 50 mph. Above that, a red light comes on, to warn me I'm going too fast! )

Arrived at the venue really early, and joy of joys, the caretaker was there as well. :D Yippee, so started unloading and setting up in plenty of time, cos it wasn't the best load in. :( In contrast to last week, because I had plenty of time, everything worked perfectly, and the intermittently missing sub channel wasn't missing. :D

Got all set up, the new Powerbar is perfect for lighting a venue when on DMX, so felt really happy. We tested the mics and they both worked fine, so off I wandered to get some tea. Cue phone call saying one mic was "Norman Collier". :( Instructed them to go to the backup one, and was told it was silent. :confused: :confused: When I got back there, I pressed the button, and it worked perfectly. Was I a happy bunny? It's not a phone a friend question. ;) All sorted without tears, and a great night followed. I was keen not to upset the caretaker by overunning, or being slow out, so warned the punters many times that we were due a midnight finish exactly, and a sharp exit. I finished at 12.01, with a particularly impressive goodbye, and switched off the playout. That was the cue for a punter to ask " Have you got any Adele? " . Give me strength. ;)

On a happier note, I have to say that I'm delighted with my recent purchases. The lasers are simple, but effective, the cut price Teutonic Powerbar is now doing almost everything I want, and the 12" plastic cabs over subs are the perfect compromise for a night where we need clear vocals for most of the night, yet need the low level oomph for the last hour of frenzied disco.

Out in about 35 minutes again, and amazingly, in a break with tradition, no roads were closed for the return journey. :eek: :D :D :D

Ive Just posted some photos in the gallery of my wedding from Saturday night at Bishop Auckland town hall, which i thoroughly enjoyed, from the outset the night went well, when i arrived, i politely enquired the easist route to the upstairs function room, the door staff not only showed me but helped me load the gear into the lift. I was on with a singer who was excellent but didn't get much appreciation from a the crowd (i was one of the few people clapping) - first dance, then buffet then a second spot from the singer, eventally i got to do my thing at around 10.30pm and filled the floor, from the first bars of the Black eyed peas ive got a feeling, i knew it was going to be a good night and they were up for it ! valerie, sex on fire, summer of 69, alright now, brown eyed girl, and a few more anthems.

The Place was jumping when the bar manager said he would like me to shout last orders at 11.15pm, and finish at 11.30 (i had been booked till 12). i went and spoke to the groom and he said this was agreed between them as they were tired and had booked a taxi for 11.15, so anyway i asked if he would like me to announce their departure, he said he would and would also say a few words of thanks, which he did.

I played new york-new york and strongly encouraged everyone to join in, and they did in droves, then Journey's don't stop believing, this made a big finish of it, and i went home very happy.

Well....what can I say about my gig last night?
It was a wedding that came to me privately but was at one of my hotel residencies. As you know, I was a bit apprehensive and nervous beforehand but I couldn't help it.

Anyway, it was one of those gigs where there were lots of kids and lots of people who wanted to just sit there and talk all night. There were moments where a few people got up and had a boogie for a few songs but that was it. It was just 'one of those nights'. I did a full range of music covering all of the decades etc to try and please everyone. I kept saying over the microphone that if people wanted to make requests then to go for it but I had 2 requests all night - 'Barbados' - One of the guests is going there today for 2 weeks, and 'Price Tag' by Jessie J.

If it wasn't for the kids, I'd have really struggled through the night. I played lots of up to date stuff for them and some cheesy stuff which got quite a few people up. It was the Macarena and 5,6,7,8 which did it....(that tells you what the night was like!).

One of those nights where you look at the clock and you still have 3 hours to go and they are the longest 3 hours of your life. It was also one of those gigs where people pounced on the buffet as soon as it started coming out and before I could announce that it was available. There was also a few people shouting to eachother across tables when the couple were cutting their cake which I thought was bad.

Bride and Groom went off to bed around 11.30pm without telling anyone and out of the 140 people, there were about 20 left. When it got to midnight I was relieved to be honest and then some donut who was very drunk shouted out "Come on mate, when's the party starting, it's still early!". I ignored him and started to break down the equipment as the lights came on. The Manager came over at the end, put his arm around me and said "Well, what can I say?". I think he was relieved just as much as I was.

He did say that the Bride and Groom told him to let me know that they loved it but they were both knackered and drunk after a long day - Fair enough I guess.

All the equipment was back in the van within 20 minutes and I was home before 12.30am. Couldn't sleep most of the night due to a bad cough and was at tonights venue out of town for 10.00am for tonights wedding which I have high hopes for....fingers crossed.

One of the things I always say is that a decent wedding is down to the guests. If you have good guests that are up for a party and you play a full range of music to try and please everyone, you shouldn't go wrong. Last nights wedding....well, in reality it should've just been the Bride and Groom and some of the kids.

Fridays (and weekdays) can be tougher (IMHO) to get people going as they are usually tired after working all day.

Hey ho, sat in a nice Hotel in Hull, waiting for the meal to finish at a Sportsman's evening. Comedy provided by
http://www.comedians.co.uk/JoshDaniels.htm
and the speaker is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Sharpe

When all that's done with, I'll take my three boxes,two cabs, two laptops and one case and one amp back to the van. Should be torn down in about twenty minutes tonight. I like these gigs. :D

Just did a wedding in a pub. Start time had been moved from 7 to 8pm when the contract was returned and on arriving at 6.30 I was told that I woudn't be setting up until at least 7.30. Managed to get in after the buffet meal at 7.45 and after taking the gear in through a couple of doorways, the second was 2 feet wide, and asking people to move from the doorways as they came out for a smoke, we, my son and I (yes I say it that way as well) started at 8.25. Very slow as most people had gone to the bar at the front of the pub.
By11.00 those left, about 25, were really enjoying classic 80's especially Motown. 12 o'clock finish and many people inc groom, best man and the pub manager said it had been a great night.
I happily drove home looking forward to a kids party today, Time for bed.