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Post by Bill h on Mar 20, 2021 18:42:26 GMT
So we went out played the open mike at a bar in big lake and for the most part it went really well. Only 2 playing mistakes were made and they were both mine. I went to kick my overdrive pedal for a solo and kicked my tuner instead.....bad, and then I went into a break early on another song, outside of that it was a flawless night. We were playing hard rock and as we found out, we were the first ones to go in there and play that style and we got a huge response. I’ve never played an open mike before so we quit after 6 or 7 songs so the other musicians could play but nobody wanted us to stop. We hung out after to support the other musicians and had a great night.
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Post by zontar on Mar 20, 2021 19:30:17 GMT
Not too bad for a long layoff...
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Post by Bill h on Mar 20, 2021 22:20:48 GMT
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Post by Bill h on Mar 20, 2021 22:22:31 GMT
The above photo was las night, yep, if your wondering if I’m wearing carhartt overalls, I am.......Alaska!
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Post by Die Bullen on Mar 20, 2021 23:31:00 GMT
So we went out played the open mike at a bar in big lake and for the most part it went really well. Only 2 playing mistakes were made and they were both mine. I went to kick my overdrive pedal for a solo and kicked my tuner instead.....bad, and then I went into a break early on another song, outside of that it was a flawless night. We were playing hard rock and as we found out, we were the first ones to go in there and play that style and we got a huge response. I’ve never played an open mike before so we quit after 6 or 7 songs so the other musicians could play but nobody wanted us to stop. We hung out after to support the other musicians and had a great night. So glad to hear it all worked out well for you- i knew it would! |
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Post by infant on Mar 21, 2021 1:50:02 GMT
It's like riding a bike Bill! Glad it went well.
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Post by Die Bullen on Mar 21, 2021 3:13:20 GMT
We put in another virtual gig in Friday too. I basically finished the gig and rushed out the door to get to PA.
Had some trouble with the vocal mic for announcements because the cable had failed. I didn't realize it until halfway through the set when I noticed the gain on the Scarlett seemed way too low. That's irritating because i can't really know these things once we start playing. I'm have to figure out a way to monitor the band while playing. This isn't the first time an XLR cable shorted during a virtual concert.
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Post by johnreardon on Mar 21, 2021 8:20:28 GMT
So we went out played the open mike at a bar in big lake and for the most part it went really well. Only 2 playing mistakes were made and they were both mine. I went to kick my overdrive pedal for a solo and kicked my tuner instead.....bad, and then I went into a break early on another song, outside of that it was a flawless night. We were playing hard rock and as we found out, we were the first ones to go in there and play that style and we got a huge response. I’ve never played an open mike before so we quit after 6 or 7 songs so the other musicians could play but nobody wanted us to stop. We hung out after to support the other musicians and had a great night. Sounds great. 6 or 7 songs at an open Mic? We usually only get 2 or 3. |
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Post by Die Bullen on Mar 21, 2021 11:37:10 GMT
So we went out played the open mike at a bar in big lake and for the most part it went really well. Only 2 playing mistakes were made and they were both mine. I went to kick my overdrive pedal for a solo and kicked my tuner instead.....bad, and then I went into a break early on another song, outside of that it was a flawless night. We were playing hard rock and as we found out, we were the first ones to go in there and play that style and we got a huge response. I’ve never played an open mike before so we quit after 6 or 7 songs so the other musicians could play but nobody wanted us to stop. We hung out after to support the other musicians and had a great night. Sounds great. 6 or 7 songs at an open Mic? We usually only get 2 or 3. Yeah that's almost a half hour or playing! |
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Post by Bill h on Mar 22, 2021 4:20:05 GMT
Sounds great. 6 or 7 songs at an open Mic? We usually only get 2 or 3. Yeah that's almost a half hour or playing! Your right, it was just a little over 30 minutes and it felt like a few seconds. The feeling you get just before you hit that first note at a gig, my favorite part. It was nice to have the opportunity after such a long layoff. That is my wife on the bass in the pic. |
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Post by Die Bullen on Mar 22, 2021 11:44:49 GMT
Yeah that's almost a half hour or playing! Your right, it was just a little over 30 minutes and it felt like a few seconds. The feeling you get just before you hit that first note at a gig, my favorite part. It was nice to have the opportunity after such a long layoff. That is my wife on the bass in the pic. Now that's really convenient having your wife play bass. I wish mine played an instrument. |
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Post by zontar on Mar 23, 2021 5:07:33 GMT
Your right, it was just a little over 30 minutes and it felt like a few seconds. The feeling you get just before you hit that first note at a gig, my favorite part. It was nice to have the opportunity after such a long layoff. That is my wife on the bass in the pic. Now that's really convenient having your wife play bass. I wish mine played an instrument. Not for lack of trying? |
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Post by Die Bullen on Mar 23, 2021 11:40:24 GMT
Now that's really convenient having your wife play bass. I wish mine played an instrument. Not for lack of trying? Well sort of. She tried to learn guitar with my daughter years ago with disastrous effects. They refused to let me help in any way, which I do respect. However over time my wife became very frustrated and had to walk away from it. She did learn to play Streets of Laredo, which she played so much back then that it is almost scarring to hear the song now.  |
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 2, 2021 22:18:01 GMT
A few more signs of life on the gig side with 4 new gigs coming in over the past week. Let's hope this trend continues...
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Post by zontar on Apr 3, 2021 7:44:44 GMT
A few more signs of life on the gig side with 4 new gigs coming in over the past week. Let's hope this trend continues... And for a number of reasons |
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 3, 2021 16:26:52 GMT
April is usually one of our slowest months anyway because there are no real catalysts. May should be a lot better, as long as the weather holds...
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 9, 2021 23:38:09 GMT
Slowly I'm getting more band enquiries for in person gigs. Everything is outdoors which is no surprise so let's hope may is a dry month weatherwise...
I'm tempted to take a day off work to spend the entire day cold calling, but I know I won't do that
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Post by johnreardon on Apr 10, 2021 7:55:20 GMT
My friends in Wales have been putting out feelers for the band we are reforming and we already have a potential of 3-4 from July/August. All depends on when pubs/clubs fully reopen. 2 of those 4 could be outside as the pubs have big gardens.
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 10, 2021 14:23:52 GMT
My friends in Wales have been putting out feelers for the band we are reforming and we already have a potential of 3-4 from July/August. All depends on when pubs/clubs fully reopen. 2 of those 4 could be outside as the pubs have big gardens. There is definitely appetite for live music, hopefully even pent up demand. I'm really hoping that we can recover from our disastrous numbers from last year. Up until then we'd been seeing at least 10% year over year growth in gigs. Last year's massive drop of 50% of the business took us back to levels not seen since 2014. What concerns me is usually in the 4th quarter we see a lot of advance bookings for the following year up to 25% of the year's gigs. We went into this year with virtually nothing booked. We've been scratching by with a couple virtual gigs per month and now I am scrambling to try to save the late spring through fall seasons. |
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Post by johnreardon on Apr 10, 2021 15:10:30 GMT
My friends in Wales have been putting out feelers for the band we are reforming and we already have a potential of 3-4 from July/August. All depends on when pubs/clubs fully reopen. 2 of those 4 could be outside as the pubs have big gardens. There is definitely appetite for live music, hopefully even pent up demand. I'm really hoping that we can recover from our disastrous numbers from last year. Up until then we'd been seeing at least 10% year over year growth in gigs. Last year's massive drop of 50% of the business took us back to levels not seen since 2014. What concerns me is usually in the 4th quarter we see a lot of advance bookings for the following year up to 25% of the year's gigs. We went into this year with virtually nothing booked. We've been scratching by with a couple virtual gigs per month and now I am scrambling to try to save the late spring through fall seasons. I can well understand concern, especially if the income is important. With us at our ages, the concern is more whether we can ever play again rather than financial considerations. |
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 10, 2021 15:44:46 GMT
There is definitely appetite for live music, hopefully even pent up demand. I'm really hoping that we can recover from our disastrous numbers from last year. Up until then we'd been seeing at least 10% year over year growth in gigs. Last year's massive drop of 50% of the business took us back to levels not seen since 2014. What concerns me is usually in the 4th quarter we see a lot of advance bookings for the following year up to 25% of the year's gigs. We went into this year with virtually nothing booked. We've been scratching by with a couple virtual gigs per month and now I am scrambling to try to save the late spring through fall seasons. I can well understand concern, especially if the income is important. With us at our ages, the concern is more whether we can ever play again rather than financial considerations. Well in my personal case, the income isn't important for myself, but these gigs have provided income for my kids through high school and college. They get no handouts from me- they have to earn their money. It has allowed my 2 oldest kids to contribute respectable amounts to their retirement accounts and give them some spending money. My son had been contributing to his retirement account since he was 10 and in those 8 years or so he has a surprising amount invested because almost all his gig money has been put away. My daughter also has a good amount invested but nowhere close to him because she hasn't socked it all away. |
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Post by johnreardon on Apr 10, 2021 15:52:22 GMT
I can well understand concern, especially if the income is important. With us at our ages, the concern is more whether we can ever play again rather than financial considerations. Well in my personal case, the income isn't important for myself, but these gigs have provided income for my kids through high school and college. They get no handouts from me- they have to earn their money. It has allowed my 2 oldest kids to contribute respectable amounts to their retirement accounts and give them some spending money. My son had been contributing to his retirement account since he was 10 and in those 8 years or so he has a surprising amount invested because almost all his gig money has been put away. My daughter also has a good amount invested but nowhere close to him because she hasn't socked it all away. Good for them. I meant to mention in whichever thread was talking about retirement. It's never to early to start saving/planning for retirement.
As well as clearing my mortgage quite a few years ago, I have managed to put some savings aside and live on the 4 pensions I have accrued over the years. The wife also has 3, albeit smaller pensions.
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 10, 2021 17:11:31 GMT
Well in my personal case, the income isn't important for myself, but these gigs have provided income for my kids through high school and college. They get no handouts from me- they have to earn their money. It has allowed my 2 oldest kids to contribute respectable amounts to their retirement accounts and give them some spending money. My son had been contributing to his retirement account since he was 10 and in those 8 years or so he has a surprising amount invested because almost all his gig money has been put away. My daughter also has a good amount invested but nowhere close to him because she hasn't socked it all away. Good for them. I meant to mention in whichever thread was talking about retirement. It's never to early to start saving/planning for retirement.
As well as clearing my mortgage quite a few years ago, I have managed to put some savings aside and live on the 4 pensions I have accrued over the years. The wife also has 3, albeit smaller pensions.
That's what happens when dad is a finance guy... I have aggressive plans for him. If he can hit $100k in investments by the time he is 25, it sets him up to retire a millionaire at age 65, assuming his investments double every 10 years, even if he doesn't put another dime into his accounts. The secret to compounding is time. |
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 23, 2021 0:34:03 GMT
Very slow week or two for band bookings, basically nothing coming in. I'm surprised that we haven't "sold" mothers day.
Our first in person gig this year is next Friday...
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Post by infant on Apr 23, 2021 2:45:47 GMT
We’ve got nuthin’ up here in Canukistan. As long as Ontario is closed for business, no one is booking.
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 23, 2021 11:40:46 GMT
We’ve got nuthin’ up here in Canukistan. As long as Ontario is closed for business, no one is booking. Yeah that stinks- hopefully the numbers up there will start flattening soon. I'm itching to make a trip across the border myself! |
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Post by Die Bullen on Apr 30, 2021 20:58:51 GMT
Our first return to the bandstand at a venue today! My goodness did it feel good to see the audience and talk to them. All the members have really missed this as virtual simply is not the same.
Luckily they moved the event inside so we didn't have to contend with the crazy wind and intermittent showers.
Yay!
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Post by Bill h on May 4, 2021 1:28:43 GMT
Our first return to the bandstand at a venue today! My goodness did it feel good to see the audience and talk to them. All the members have really missed this as virtual simply is not the same. Luckily they moved the event inside so we didn't have to contend with the crazy wind and intermittent showers. Yay! That’s great!!!!! Nothing beats a live audience.....nothing!! |
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Post by infant on May 4, 2021 3:18:18 GMT
Our first return to the bandstand at a venue today! My goodness did it feel good to see the audience and talk to them. All the members have really missed this as virtual simply is not the same. Luckily they moved the event inside so we didn't have to contend with the crazy wind and intermittent showers. Yay! That’s great!!!!! Nothing beats a live audience.....nothing!! Nothing beats a live band either! But you are right, a live audience is great too! Geez, I really miss playing with my band mates |
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Post by Die Bullen on May 4, 2021 11:04:09 GMT
Seriozsly after such a long hiatus, it was simply unbelievable to be able to see the audience and talk to them after the show
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