Rough gigs

Danny1969

Sound engineer can at least buy the desk - cos effectively that's their instrument. I get paid to mix but I bring the desk & iPad 

I also patch in the mic leads, IEMs  \ monitors \ wire up the stacks \ router etc. 

koneguitarist

Too many rough gigs growing up in the Valleys to count. Luckily I was given some good advice by my old man whose band I was playing in. "When a fight starts, keep playing, you are not in fight, stop playing and you will get clobbered". 

Remember playing a wedding where brides father was strangling groom on the stage, literally trying to kill him, until someone hit him with a chair. 

Another, where all the miners kicked off a free for all, tables, chairs, bottles everything was going on when someone shouted stop, and everyone had to look for some blokes ear that got ripped off. 

As a 16-17 year old playing in a country band it was quite scary. 

robinbowes

I've done more gigs as an engineer than as a musician, and have been fortunate to never have any really bad experiences.

Had one guy get on stage while we were doing a changeover and grapple with my assistant while I was FoH. He damaged the drum git, as I recall. He ran away when I approached, and I chased him out of the club.

The most physical anything has ever got was at a council-organised event for "the kids". A few of them had one too many shandies and got a bit boisterous on stage. I asked them politely to get off but they didn't so I physically picked one up and threw him over the monitors. The rest left fairly quickly after that.

R.

ICBM

thomasross20 said:

Update... 

Sound didn't really need to be manned.... but despite that bassist's girlfriend got the same cut as the rest of us, despite us doing all the hard work practising every week. Going to hit the nail on the head this Wednesday about that.

Also, rhythm guitarist bought the PA and bassist put us on the spot last night to pay for some of it. I already spent £8k on gear! It wasn't a band decision to buy but it's a band decision to pay? Also, do we all now own a bit of it or is that a lifetime rental cost? I'm going to hit the nail on the head there, too.

It sounds like the bass player is the cause of both problems. 

Paying his girlfriend a share if she didn't really do anything is not on. Either she's a full member of the crew and does her share of the work, including set-up/take-down etc, and works the desk properly, or she's just a hanger-on and shouldn't be paid.

I would also say that if you weren't party to the decision to buy the PA and they went and did it without consulting you, it's their PA and you shouldn't contribute to it. This will also mean they don't have to pay back your share when you find a less difficult band to work with...

If refusing to roll over on either count precipitates you leaving the band, so be it.

thomasross20

It's going to end up me leaving at some point but I'm really trying to make it work. 

I mailed the bassist about the PA and he said:

"Yeah we were all put on the spot. You'll make your £8k up soon"

What sort of answer is that? He is the one that put me on the spot, and he's as much said I can pay for my own gear!! Totally not on! It's a principle thing.

Cabicular

Mad rockett deflection is usually my job
They seem to think they can stare their way into our singers knickers which is fine but when the get within pawing distance I tend to make my presence known
I had one Welsh guy shoving his hand down the front of his trousers ... Had the bouncers remove him but generally they step back or fuck off

thomasross20

Are you a big guy, @Cabicular? ;

Pretty creepy seeing the leering guys....

Cabicular

Big enough for these twats

thomasross20

Lol  

Seriously - if your gear gets damaged in a situation like that - I wonder if insurance covers it... doubt it...

Cabicular

Perspective helps
https://www.dropbox.com/s/w5sa3w8rg61ccox/photo 04-10-2015, 18 36 26.jpg?dl=0

thomasross20

Wow lol!! 

(Just watching your promo vid again - very cool)

Handsome_Chris

The first gig I played, my nose got post-gig punched . I didn't even do anything thing wrong. It was to front man who could not sing. Also it wasn't as if it was the girlfriend of the bloke who punched me. That's High Wycombe for you!

FFS, the blood was everywhere. It drowned my ciggy.

I would like to point out that it was someone's girlfriend, but he was away at uni. I'm not a complete idiot.

thomasross20

From last night: 

Us at practice the week before: 

Roland

We generally avoid the really rough venues because we can get as many gigs as we want without them. However I've still had a few violent gigs, including a fight between bride and groom at an expensive wedding location. On Friday we are at the Paddock in Derby, which is usually pretty safe, but last time there was a girl on girl stabbing.

Phil_aka_Pip

viz said:

Used to play in a lesbian pick-up joint in Durban and often saw seedy antics taking place on the bar top, other women cheering them on.

Pix!

John_P

thomasross20 said:

From last night: 

Us at practice the week before: 

why are there a couple of extra girls stood reading a novel while you're gigging?    They look to be a bit in the way while people are watching the band ;-)       

thomasross20

!! Serious - do the song sheets detract or not? I'm not a fan but have said that before... 

Lol...

PolarityMan

thomasross20 said:

!! Serious - do the song sheets detract or not? I'm not a fan but have said that before... 

Lol...

I'd say it looks a bit crap.

thomasross20

Exactly what I thought... and one of the points I made when I had that big tiff... too much of a crutch!

Moe_Zambeek

They could always colour the lyric book pink and suspend it just below head height to make it more inconspicuous.