ideas for warm up sets/gigs

[nickp]

after a singist and guitarist change our band has its first outing - three songs at a local open mike night tomorrow.

why don't you do it - stretch
london calling
2-4-6-8

we have about 45 minutes worth of material - maybe an hour at a push

Does anyone have any bright ideas of how we can do more short sets/gigs to keep the interest up (no need for money) while we learn enough songs for proper pub gigs. We are already pursuing one possible event which might be coupled with a quiz night.

cheers

Nick
(oh and we have a band name!!! Vinyl Generation)

[zenzeypher]

I'd speak to local promoters who run the gigs for the local pubs etc and ask them..Our drummer is a promoter also with a few pubs and he sticks on short acts here and there...albeit acoustic...setting up and breaking and sound checked for 3 songs might be a bit of a ballache tho.

in bands ive been in and the one cover band we make sure have about 6 minimum .

..if you have 45 minutes of material you have plenty for gigging already...most of our gigs easily run around 45 minute - to 25 minute mark, we have one in Oxford on Saturday and that's about the 25 minute mark...Banjam is about half an hour depending.. when we headlined at the mill was about 45 minutes, Middleton was 30...

..sounds like you've got plenty already, don't have to keep doing the same 3 - rotate them.

[nickp]

cheers zenzeypher. I'm new to this (well as in haven't gigged since I was 18 which was probably about 30 years ago).

I thought a typical pub gig, for example, is about 90 minutes with two 45 minute sets - or 30 mins first set to a half empty pub and then a longer second set.

we are the middle of the road rock covers sort of outfit - so I don't expect anyone with playing originals would want us.

in terms of the current songs in addition to the three above to give you some idea we've got valerie (zutons), boys are back, pulling mussels from the shell, i love rock n roll, caroline, won't be fooled again (not 100% sorted yet!), Dani California - etc etc

so are you saying that there are a lot of short set opportunities floating around? presumably we'll need a demo tape for a promoter won't we? Feck - lots of questions, sorry

We are bristol/bath if anyone has anything specific (Oxford is long way!)

ta

Nick

[markslade07]

Take a look at The Victoria in Old Town, Swindon. They also do open mic nights where you get 15 mins/ 3 songs and provide the backline for you. Not sure if it's once a month or what, but the next one is 27th Nov so just missed this months one.

[zenzeypher]

In Banbury oxford there seems to be, I've gigged with a short set before. We're lucky as our drummer promotes and we get put on with a few acts, we tend for new areas to sen out EPs or YouTube videos but you don't have to, we just started off with a few smalls gigs, get invited back two or three times then other people contact us through FB or phone. There's a wide vairity of set times depending on the setup but typically if we headline we get 45-hour if we support we'll play our fave songs and the lesser ones for an encore. I'm not gonna pretend do be super experienced and I've seen plenty of 1-2 hour long sets but we've never had one where we've been worried about runnin out of songs, we've got 10 with 1 or 2 covers.

Places I've played with mix bands also had a cover band in the mix, especially at bloxfest.

Seems you have plenty enough to start filling your boots, ask about find a boozer and speak to who promotes the music, let them ask the questions and you'll be in business, best way is to GF as often as you can and be relentless about, you'll name will eventually get out.

[erictheweary]

yeh, typical pub gig is 45 + 45 minutes, although you can always repeat 2 or 3 numbers from the start of set 1 to the end of set 2 if need be.

Open mics are a good way to get started. Other short sets will be supports, maybe try a local venue that has headliners plus supports ( although be wary of being asked to pay to play), possibly chaity gigs/festivals or double headliners with a band in a similar situation. You might find a venue that does a regular genre night that you could slot into. So, for us we have played a couple of places that do ska nights once a month with a disco and a short set from a band or short sets from two bands.Maybe slot into an 80's night based on the songs you mentioned?

You can always hire a function room and do completely DIY but if you pay £50 for the room/bar staff then you'll need to sell tickets or just be out of pocket.

[zenzeypher]

GF meant to say gig lol. You'll find plenty of 30 - 40 minute slots .

[zenzeypher]

Yeah the Vic in old town is a great one , there's also the 12 bar and swish chalet in gorse hill.. Open mice is a great idea,

[erictheweary]

presumably we'll need a demo tape for a promoter won't we?

Possibly. I don't think there is much interest in them these days having a good clip on youtube is better. Venues like bums on seats more than they like music so having a lot of friends/family members/being head of a religious cult ( one that allows alcohol anyway) is helpfull.

[nickp]

demo tape...silly bugger - should have said at least CD - but your you tube point is well made - we could fake a gig by paying a crowd to dance and look well pissed in one of the local rehearsal rooms.