I'd like a thread where mebers post their amusing stories from being out on the road. It'll be an interesting read and I thought it might be fun to share all those things that can happen to a gigging guitarist. It might turn out to be a "heads up" for members who are thinking of starting bands and going out to play live.
I've got a couple I can get the ball rolling with....
I played a gig at Trillians in Newcastle one Saturday night back in about 96. The owner told us the support band had to pull out and we'd be supported by a comedian instead. "Fair enough" we said. The venue was packed so we sat down and had a couple of beers while the comedian did his act.
This guy was so racist and offensive that he completely cleared the venue and we ended up playing to only the bar staff.
Another occasion our manager went on holiday to the US for three weeks. He had bookings for the first two weeks for us but not for the third. The band was set to have the 3rd week off when our lead singer told us he'd got us a Thursday night spot at a place called The Con Club way out in Ulverston. Our singer had gotten himself and gave us the impression that it was some kind of Rock club with a prison/ex convicts type theme (some of you guys can see what's coming eh? ).
It turned out to be The Conservative Club which is basicly a club for old people with the same political views (or at least it was in this case). Picture the scene, a long haired rock band turn up with mountains of gear and set up on a stage in a club decorated like your Grans front room. At seven o'clock the punters arrive and the average age of the crowd is around 65....DOH!
We had to end our gig early because there was complaints that we were too loud and before that we had to pause so some guy could read out the prize draw numbers.
It's not all rock and roll as we know it out on the road.
I've got a couple I can get the ball rolling with....
I played a gig at Trillians in Newcastle one Saturday night back in about 96. The owner told us the support band had to pull out and we'd be supported by a comedian instead. "Fair enough" we said. The venue was packed so we sat down and had a couple of beers while the comedian did his act.
This guy was so racist and offensive that he completely cleared the venue and we ended up playing to only the bar staff.
Another occasion our manager went on holiday to the US for three weeks. He had bookings for the first two weeks for us but not for the third. The band was set to have the 3rd week off when our lead singer told us he'd got us a Thursday night spot at a place called The Con Club way out in Ulverston. Our singer had gotten himself and gave us the impression that it was some kind of Rock club with a prison/ex convicts type theme (some of you guys can see what's coming eh? ).
It turned out to be The Conservative Club which is basicly a club for old people with the same political views (or at least it was in this case). Picture the scene, a long haired rock band turn up with mountains of gear and set up on a stage in a club decorated like your Grans front room. At seven o'clock the punters arrive and the average age of the crowd is around 65....DOH!
We had to end our gig early because there was complaints that we were too loud and before that we had to pause so some guy could read out the prize draw numbers.
It's not all rock and roll as we know it out on the road.