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Post by Bill h on May 4, 2021 13:17:15 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 I still can’t wrap my head around the virtual thing, the disconnect with the audience must have been weird. You did it for a long time, must have been an awesome feeling to play in front of people again!!!!
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Post by Die Bullen on May 4, 2021 13:36:34 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 I still can’t wrap my head around the virtual thing, the disconnect with the audience must have been weird. You did it for a long time, must have been an awesome feeling to play in front of people again!!!! Yeah, virtual is certainly better than nothing but it is hardly as gratifying as playing in front of an audience. The honest truth is that I did whatever I possibly could to not allow the band to be idled. The only times we stopped rehearsal were when one of us (or more than one of us) had covid. But I run the band as a business, not as a hobby. Once you stop completely as a band it is much more difficult to restart completely from scratch, especially since a lot of our business is repeat customers who bring us in year after year. For example, if you played a Father's Day gig at the same place for 6 years and you are unavailable in the 7th year, you can almost guarantee that you won't be back in the 8th year. Music is a momentum business...
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Post by Bill h on May 4, 2021 13:42:20 GMT
I still can’t wrap my head around the virtual thing, the disconnect with the audience must have been weird. You did it for a long time, must have been an awesome feeling to play in front of people again!!!! Yeah, virtual is certainly better than nothing but it is hardly as gratifying as playing in front of an audience. The honest truth is that I did whatever I possibly could to not allow the band to be idled. The only times we stopped rehearsal were when one of us (or more than one of us) had covid. But I run the band as a business, not as a hobby. Once you stop completely as a band it is much more difficult to restart completely from scratch, especially since a lot of our business is repeat customers who bring us in year after year. For example, if you played a Father's Day gig at the same place for 6 years and you are unavailable in the 7th year, you can almost guarantee that you won't be back in the 8th year. Music is a momentum business... I experienced that feeling a little when my band played that open mic a few weeks ago. Although it wasn’t a paying gig and we only played a few songs it was great to be out there again. We’re hoping to get some real gigs soon and get out there this summer.
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Post by Die Bullen on May 4, 2021 15:16:58 GMT
Yeah, virtual is certainly better than nothing but it is hardly as gratifying as playing in front of an audience. The honest truth is that I did whatever I possibly could to not allow the band to be idled. The only times we stopped rehearsal were when one of us (or more than one of us) had covid. But I run the band as a business, not as a hobby. Once you stop completely as a band it is much more difficult to restart completely from scratch, especially since a lot of our business is repeat customers who bring us in year after year. For example, if you played a Father's Day gig at the same place for 6 years and you are unavailable in the 7th year, you can almost guarantee that you won't be back in the 8th year. Music is a momentum business... I experienced that feeling a little when my band played that open mic a few weeks ago. Although it wasn’t a paying gig and we only played a few songs it was great to be out there again. We’re hoping to get some real gigs soon and get out there this summer. I'm sure you guys will get out and play this summer- maybe even earlier...
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Post by Die Bullen on May 13, 2021 18:00:41 GMT
Well some signs of life on the gig front. Today 3 places booked us for concerts in June and July. So now May, June July are at fairly regular load levels for the band (6, 3, 6).
After that, things nose dive but it is still pretty early to worry about the Fall. September and October are usually our busiest months due to Oktoberfest.
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Post by infant on May 13, 2021 20:46:10 GMT
Well some signs of life on the gig front. Today 3 places booked us for concerts in June and July. So now May, June July are at fairly regular load levels for the band (6, 3, 6). After that, things nose dive but it is still pretty early to worry about the Fall. September and October are usually our busiest months due to Oktoberfest. Things are looking up for you guys. That’s great!
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Post by Bill h on May 13, 2021 23:21:27 GMT
Well some signs of life on the gig front. Today 3 places booked us for concerts in June and July. So now May, June July are at fairly regular load levels for the band (6, 3, 6). After that, things nose dive but it is still pretty early to worry about the Fall. September and October are usually our busiest months due to Oktoberfest. It great your going to be playing regularly during a good part of the summer. I would think things are still going to be up and down until some more normalcy sets in. Hopefully things just get better for you.
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Post by Die Bullen on May 14, 2021 11:00:25 GMT
Well some signs of life on the gig front. Today 3 places booked us for concerts in June and July. So now May, June July are at fairly regular load levels for the band (6, 3, 6). After that, things nose dive but it is still pretty early to worry about the Fall. September and October are usually our busiest months due to Oktoberfest. It great your going to be playing regularly during a good part of the summer. I would think things are still going to be up and down until some more normalcy sets in. Hopefully things just get better for you. Thanks guys- of course one big obstacle is that most of these gigs are supposed to be outside so the weather could wind up wreaking havoc- but let's hope not...
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Post by Die Bullen on Jun 14, 2021 16:37:27 GMT
Well a month has made a big difference by us. Bookings continue to roll in for our band and we already have more gigs booked through this year than last year and we're 64% of 2019, which was our best year ever. July is now extremely busy with 12 concerts planned- more than we've ever done in a single month.
My musician friends around here are telling me that the wedding scene is now exploding, making it difficult for me to find subs for some of our shows. After a lot of work I am finally covered with musicians through August.
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Post by johnreardon on Jun 14, 2021 16:49:16 GMT
Well a month has made a big difference by us. Bookings continue to roll in for our band and we already have more gigs booked through this year than last year and we're 64% of 2019, which was our best year ever. July is now extremely busy with 12 concerts planned- more than we've ever done in a single month. My musician friends around here are telling me that the wedding scene is now exploding, making it difficult for me to find subs for some of our shows. After a lot of work I am finally covered with musicians through August. It’s a bit far for me to come, but would do it if I could
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Post by Die Bullen on Jun 14, 2021 18:52:08 GMT
Well a month has made a big difference by us. Bookings continue to roll in for our band and we already have more gigs booked through this year than last year and we're 64% of 2019, which was our best year ever. July is now extremely busy with 12 concerts planned- more than we've ever done in a single month. My musician friends around here are telling me that the wedding scene is now exploding, making it difficult for me to find subs for some of our shows. After a lot of work I am finally covered with musicians through August. It’s a bit far for me to come, but would do it if I could Yeah a bit far for sure- and hardly worth the $1000 flight!
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 8, 2021 0:56:07 GMT
Gig activity is heavy now in NJ/NY. After the 6 gigs we had last weekend, we have gigs coming up on Thursday (tomorrow), Friday, Sunday and Monday.
Thank God because business was down massively last year so we're scrambling to grab what we can while we can.
After all the playing we've done recently my fingers feel GREAT. My callouses are solid and my fingers felt like vice grips on the fretboard when I practiced today.
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Post by Bill h on Jul 8, 2021 3:44:53 GMT
Gig activity is heavy now in NJ/NY. After the 6 gigs we had last weekend, we have gigs coming up on Thursday (tomorrow), Friday, Sunday and Monday. Thank God because business was down massively last year so we're scrambling to grab what we can while we can. After all the playing we've done recently my fingers feel GREAT. My callouses are solid and my fingers felt like vice grips on the fretboard when I practiced today. That’s a lot of gigs, are you working thru all this? You must be running around like your hair is on fire.
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Post by johnreardon on Jul 8, 2021 10:28:54 GMT
MY main band is unlikely to play again this year or maybe ever. Our singer lives in Spain and it's way too difficult at the moment to travel back. With our ages as well, things are not looking good.
I'm hoping to get a few gigs with another band I played with in the 60s. Three blokes I played with back then, plus another bloke I have never met. We should be able to play a gig with minimal or even no rehearsal, just waiting for venues to open up.
I am also getting back together with some folkies I played with a few years ago. Played mainly at jams, but did the odd gig. If weather hold, going to play a local jam next Wed
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 8, 2021 11:32:31 GMT
Gig activity is heavy now in NJ/NY. After the 6 gigs we had last weekend, we have gigs coming up on Thursday (tomorrow), Friday, Sunday and Monday. Thank God because business was down massively last year so we're scrambling to grab what we can while we can. After all the playing we've done recently my fingers feel GREAT. My callouses are solid and my fingers felt like vice grips on the fretboard when I practiced today. That’s a lot of gigs, are you working thru all this? You must be running around like your hair is on fire. Yeah, work is super busy so I am not really taking days off except the 7/4 holiday- although there are 2 gigs later in the month where I will definitely have to take days off.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 8, 2021 11:43:55 GMT
I am also getting back together with some folkies I played with a few years ago. Played mainly at jams, but did the odd gig. If weather hold, going to play a local jam next Wed I'm sure you will love that jam after all this time!
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Post by johnreardon on Jul 8, 2021 12:04:36 GMT
I am also getting back together with some folkies I played with a few years ago. Played mainly at jams, but did the odd gig. If weather hold, going to play a local jam next Wed I'm sure you will love that jam after all this time! Yes, I will. Just about to check whether I need to change strings on the LP I intend taking
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 8, 2021 12:13:33 GMT
I'm sure you will love that jam after all this time! Yes, I will. Just about to check whether I need to change strings on the LP I intend taking Maybe change them anyway for the special occasion?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2021 3:18:36 GMT
I'm really pleased to see the music biz making a bit of a comeback since Covid's closer to being under control. Here on Vancouver Island, the local promotion that's been going on for several years is called "The 39 Days of July". It's an outgrowth of the town's Summer Festival, which used to feature music throughout the downtown core over the week that the festival was on. It's been expanded and relocated to a park adjoining the downtown core, with daily entertainment, and now runs 39 consecutive days through July and early August with acts from Noon till 9:00 PM. Last year, because of Covid, it had to be done virtually, with acts performing in a downtown musical venue called the Duncan Showroom, and was streamed live. It was better than cancelling it altogether, as happened so many other places, but just didn't have the same impact. It's back to live performances outdoors, with portions also available streamed live online. Really feels like we're reclaiming our music again.....Now, all we need is to see the open mikes and blues jams that were so popular came back to life. Maybe one day, bands will even start gigging again.
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Post by infant on Jul 11, 2021 3:41:40 GMT
Ontario is moving to stage 3 this coming Friday. A lot of restrictions are easing but it doesn’t look like indoor gigs will be starting yet. I’ve noticed that some friends are playing some outdoor patios so that’s a good thing.
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Post by laristotle on Jul 11, 2021 10:27:03 GMT
We did a backyard b-day party last week Saturday. It was a little sloppy, but fun. No one seemed to notice. lol Felt nice entertaining people again.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 11, 2021 16:48:18 GMT
We did a backyard b-day party last week Saturday. It was a little sloppy, but fun. No one seemed to notice. lol Felt nice entertaining people again. I'll bet it did. I felt like a piece of me was cut out when we had to stop doing in person gigs, we were playing outside up until December last year
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 11, 2021 16:50:39 GMT
They will. We've been playing in person gigs since April. Canada is a little behind in that respect but it will come back faster than you think
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Post by allthumbs56 on Jul 17, 2021 20:32:33 GMT
Last night's gig went pretty good. Some wrinkles from being off for so long and doing our regular material with just a bass and acoustic but good enough for us to be offered 3 more gigs for the full band. So, ya-hoo!
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 18, 2021 0:52:20 GMT
Last night's gig went pretty good. Some wrinkles from being off for so long and doing our regular material with just a bass and acoustic but good enough for us to be offered 3 more gigs for the full band. So, ya-hoo! Congrats- it is a great feeling to be hired for more gigs right on the bandstand!
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Post by Bill h on Jul 19, 2021 22:07:58 GMT
Last night's gig went pretty good. Some wrinkles from being off for so long and doing our regular material with just a bass and acoustic but good enough for us to be offered 3 more gigs for the full band. So, ya-hoo! Nice!!!!!
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 20, 2021 1:59:11 GMT
With today's gig over we have 2 more this week before the band shuts down for several weeks as we go to Germany.
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Post by allthumbs56 on Jul 22, 2021 17:51:52 GMT
Have actually turned down a couple offers this week. One was at a greatly-reduced rate and the other was for free.
Geez - it's not like there's been a lot of money in gigging these past years but the idea that we've missed it so much we'll do it for nothing (or next-to) is just crazy. If anything, my time has become much more valuable to me.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 22, 2021 22:18:48 GMT
Have actually turned down a couple offers this week. One was at a greatly-reduced rate and the other was for free. Geez - it's not like there's been a lot of money in gigging these past years but the idea that we've missed it so much we'll do it for nothing (or next-to) is just crazy. If anything, my time has become much more valuable to me. Stick to your guns and don't race to the bottom. I won't even field the band if they can't hit a minimum rate and I will never ever play for free without a DARN good reason.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 22, 2021 22:20:19 GMT
We have one more gig tomorrow and then we're in Germany for 3 weeks. Sadly I can't really chase much business for September while I am overseas.
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