We got some killer exposure from doing a couple of charity gigs at the beginning (just don't do too many or you won't ever get paid). We got a few gigs from playing places just getting back to "putting bands on" who were happy to take a punt... we still do a couple of things a year at the place we played our first gig. There's always somebody in the area who puts bands on who's looking for something different... how many pub gigs have you been to and said: "not them again!".... there are too many shit bands having it all their own way!
well I think I have got our first proper gig booked - for 27 April so we have a while to rehearse like mad. I need to firm up the details but it is pencilled in an everyone from the band can make it! yeehah. just asked at the local wine bar/pub who don't do a lot of live music and the landlady was right up for it.
Just where is this gig? Being localish to you might wander over. Also come and say hi at Pittfest
The Wine Bar in Keynsham - so not too far at all. Are you doing the sound at the Pittfest?Originally Posted by maltingsaudio
Yes and have done for the last 4 or 5 years. Have a look at the Riverside and Ststion pubs in MSN
A word of advice - if you've only ever played at rehearsals so far - take a "sound engineer", otherwise known as a friend who knows their way around what music is supposed to sound like out front - not necessarily know how to operate a PA - and will do it for the price of a pint or two.
It's really important to listen to, and act on, whatever they say about the sound - you can't hear it clearly yourselves from on-stage, and it's easy to get a bad balance that sounds good on stage but dreadful from out front. If the "sound engineer" says someone is too loud, or too bright, or too muddy, or whatever, don't get offended and stick to your guns... they're right. It's no good having a "great guitar tone" from where you're standing if it's overpoweringly loud and bright out front and detracts from the sound of the band, especially the vocals. To the punters, vocals are the most important part of the music.
Quality is far more important than volume. Get the best sound you can and then make it as loud as necessary, not the loudest sound you can and then try to deal with feedback or mix problems. Sometimes it can be difficult to achieve relative to the drum volume, but it's still better to leave the drums slightly too loud than make everything else so. (Which will probably just encourage the drummer to get louder anyway.)
Make sure the bass amp is firmly on the floor, not one of those tilt-back ones (unless it's also going through the PA, which I'm assuming it won't be), the guitar amps are *not* on the floor - they should be up at least the height of a beer crate, preferably two, unless they're 4x12"s in which case castor height is (just) enough, and that the vocal PA cabs are *above* head height for the audience. You will get a far better mix with those positions before you even start adjusting anything.
Apologies if you know all this already... but it's entirely obvious from experience that most bands don't, including a lot that should, given how long they've been playing.
Last edited by ICBM; 17th January 2013 at 07:14 PM.
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Thanks!! Sort of knew it but v useful to have pointed out as I'll make sure that it happens!A word of advice - if you've only ever played at rehearsals so far - take a "sound engineer", otherwise known as a friend who knows their way around what music is supposed to sound like out front - not necessarily know how to operate a PA - and will do it for the price of a pint or two
It's really important to listen to, and act on, whatever they say about the sound - you can't hear it clearly yourselves from on-stage, and it's easy to get a bad balance that sounds good on stage but dreadful from out front. If the "sound engineer" says someone is too loud, or too bright, or too muddy, or whatever, don't get offended and stick to your guns... they're right. It's no good having a "great guitar tone" from where you're standing if it's overpoweringly loud and bright out front and detracts from the sound of the band, especially the vocals. To the punters, vocals are the most important part of the music.
Quality is far more important than volume. Get the best sound you can and then make it as loud as necessary, not the loudest sound you can and then try to deal with feedback or mix problems. Sometimes it can be difficult to achieve relative to the drum volume, but it's still better to leave the drums slightly too loud than make everything else so. (Which will probably just encourage the drummer to get louder anyway
Make sure the bass amp is firmly on the floor, not one of those tilt-back ones (unless it's also going through the PA, which I'm assuming it won't be), the guitar amps are *not* on the floor - they should be up at least the height of a beer crate, preferably two, unless they're 4x12"s in which case castor height is (just) enough, and that the vocal PA cabs are *above* head height for the audience. You will get a far better mix with those positions before you even start adjusting anything.
Apologies if you know all this already... but it's entirely obvious from experience that most bands don't, including a lot that should, given how long they've been playing.
like buses - nothing and then two come along at once!!
got another gig - an hour only at a charitable do on 7 March! It is a freebie for the Addiction and Recovery Agency in Bristol - people in recovery don't get out often to watch live music as the venues tend to be rather boozy. This will be two half hour sets; so a nice warm up for the April; although the pressure is on to be excellent as it is the first event of its kind that the agency has held so we are very much a trial run.
will have to scrounge a decent PA and an experienced sound engineer just to ensure quality and the venue is underneath a church so the sound might be interesting
good cause tho.
nick
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