I'm exposition-ing like a mad thing, going into some deeeeep detail about the most ridiculous minutiae . . . all to avoid the first gig my band is playing.
How to describe a music gig? I don't know the lingo! How to encapsulate the energy?
Oh well, at least my word count is spiralling upwards while my main character describes spirals in the eternal beer garden of purgatory.
\m/ Kat
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26,472 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 03 01
go to a gig!! :)
Im sure there are some bands playing this weekend, or Friday night, or Thursday night.
Doesnt have to be big, but check out the Leedy, or Rosemount or somewhere.. even places in Vic Park. Get there early, grab a chair and a drink and write down the description of set up, sound check, crowd coming in (is it large, small, dribs and drabs?), the clinking of glasses, does the crowd get louder as the band starts up, or do they go silent? Are people paying attention, or not interested? are sexy suggestive glances thrown at the band members, or are they looked at as something to ridicule? Are there fans there? or other musos? or are they playing to completely the wrong crowd? whats the sound like? does it screech, too much bass? can you hear all the instruments and singers?
What about the lighting? too much red and purple? no colours, just a few single white lights? is there a smoke machine?
is the stage up on a podium? or level ground?
does that help? :)
----------~~
Im a photographer, not a novelist... what have I let myself in for?!
~~
81,295 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 03 10
Geezus, does it! That's brilliant, thanks! I might get up the gumption to go . . . ooh, a scary thought - crowds! Maybe there's a band in Northam this weekend, I could visit my best mate . . . nah, too much on Saturday. I'll check what's on at the Belmont and Rivervale, and I think you're right - some pretty decent rock band are playing at the ?Amplifier? so I might get along to that.
I don't like crowds . . . *she whimpered*
Pathetic, aren't I? LOL
\m/ Kat
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36,120 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 04 39
Music gigs I have roadied for run like this:
----------First find the gig, then advertise the gig then negotiate the pay an hours then rehearse then pack the van then unpack the van and set up ...20 hours work or more. Do your sound check, fiddle with wires and sound mixer ad nauseum, Play your 1/2 to 2 hours then roll up wires unplug stuff pack up talk to groupies(you hope), get your pay (if the cheque is not in the mail) have a beer, pack the van drive home, unpack the van find you left a cord (or mike etc) back at the venue, go to the venue next day find it was nicked, lose all your profit on buying a replacement. Do it all again next week for the love of the applause.
Regards
Lois Clare
First Timer Novelling
52,107 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 05 38
Friday night there's this amazing band called Fools of April playing at the rocket room - you should go see them
(not biased at all)
----------- Ness -
81,295 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 14 22
First find the gig, then advertise the gig then negotiate the pay an hours then rehearse then pack the van then unpack the van and set up ...20 hours work or more. Do your sound check, fiddle with wires and sound mixer ad nauseum, Play your 1/2 to 2 hours then roll up wires unplug stuff pack up talk to groupies(you hope), get your pay (if the cheque is not in the mail) have a beer, pack the van drive home, unpack the van find you left a cord (or mike etc) back at the venue, go to the venue next day find it was nicked, lose all your profit on buying a replacement. Do it all again next week for the love of the applause.
Regards
What sort of $$ do these things pay?
\m/ Kat
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81,295 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 14 23
(not biased at all)
\m/ Kat
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52,107 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 16 10
What sort of $$ do these things pay?
\m/ Kat
Generally the band gets a cut of what's on the door, if there's more then one band they figure out how to divide it up, but headliners gets the larger chunk and then the rest usually split the remaining between them. how much they get depends on the ppl there - ones i got to are $5 or $10 door entry usually - but if this is their last tour they might have had something else sorted out . how huge are your band?
- Ness -
----------- Ness -
81,295 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 16 30
- Ness -
\m/ Kat
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52,107 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 17 54
Ha, you could have it so some people are already in the pub before they set up the door, and they're asked to pay the entry and they get pissed off and refuse to. I've seen that happen before - hilarious results! they way they could be playing to a possibly full/ near full pub but still get no/ little money. hahaha the poor guys.
----------- Ness -
81,295 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 17 58
Gawd, that woud be awful! How annoying!
Nah, at this stage I'm just gonna go with an easy figure and sort of gloss over it in the text - I mean it's hardly crucial to my plot and I certainly don't want to derail the whole scene just for a few bucks! That's so not the focus of the story!
But I will probably go to the gig you mentioned, thankyou :) It will be good to get out and hear some new tunes, and I might try and bail up the band members for a chat. I shall drop your name :D ROFL
\m/ Kat
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81,295 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 01 28
So I'm going, Ness! If you're out there LOL I may see you :-)
I'm looking forward to this, though I'm a little apprehensive about the whole crowd thing. And just looking like a total newb. Or loser, or something. But oh well, I'll just look vague and say, "Oh, I'm a writer . . ." and look vague again ROFL
Literally, I am laughing at myself just now :D
But then, I've been doing that all day. It's been a weird day.
\m/ Kat
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52,107 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 01 51
\m/ Kat
No freaking kidding!!!
I'm sure you'll do fine, they're really nice people! I'll try and get there and say hi, if not catch ya tomorrow yeah?
- Ness -
----------- Ness -
81,295 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 02 30
\m/ Kat
No freaking kidding!!!
*looks around in confusion* :D
Yep, I'll be at the write in, with bells on!
\m/ Kat
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36,120 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 04 22
When I roadied for an established bush band for a 5 hour gig they charged $400 to $600 depending on the venue, so each band member would get $60 to $80 per gig and the "6th" invisible band member was paid the rest to cover tax and overheads. That band worked 2 to 3 gigs a week when busy and everyone had day jobs. The bass player ran the mixer. I worked for free. That was in the 1995's so I think it would now look more like $900+ a gig.
----------Enjoy your writing
:-)
Lois Clare
First Timer Novelling
81,295 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 06 24
Enjoy your writing
:-)
You really are a wealth of information, aren't you?
I went to Ness' mates' gig, and luckily I got there for the opening band, too - they were really good! I was impressed, and might hunt to see if they've got an album :) They're called Foul Play, sort of heavy but not very.
I got a few valuable notes that will help me to flesh out my gig scenes - so thanks to all who've helped me, and to Erinna for the suggestion and Ness for the final kick in the pants :D
\m/ Kat
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