Bluewine

I was in the big time Saturday night at The Bend Theatre with the full Maple Road band.. Sunday we had an acoustic gig and back in reality.

It was an okay acoustic gig. We were background music for an event sponsored by wine makers and vendors. 

Daryl

8 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Superb Daryl. Love those kind of venues and a decent crowd too. 

And using a proper bass rig this time too.

Happy days sir.

Dave

Thanks again Dave.

I was in the " big time" last night. Today we have an outside gig at a produce stand. Lol

Daryl

7 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Superb Daryl. Love those kind of venues and a decent crowd too. 

And using a proper bass rig this time too.

Happy days sir.

Dave

Thanks Dave,

We didn't do so well last time we played The Bend . We had something to prove last night .

Daryl

On 09/09/2025 at 19:21, Bluewine said:

We're back at The Bend Theatre this Saturday night, opening for Reverend Raven. Catered dressing room and we play a 45 minute set. My type of gig.

 

Maple Road

By presenting an eclectic blend of blues, rock, and folk jams, Maple Road is a band that does not fall short of keeping an audience entertained and intrigued.  While honoring musical heroes and legends, the group also strives to craft original and memorable tunes that allow each band member and the audience to interpret the music.

Reverend Raven + Maple Road Blues Band - The Bend Theater | West Bend, WI https://share.google/vkEznZyOQe7dRBx7y

 

Daryl

We had a great night with a great crowd at The Bend Theatre opening for Reverend Raven. We sold 230 tickets $18.00-$20.00.

The place only holds 300. We played from 7:30- 8:30.

I could tell from the sound check that were clicking on all 6 cylinders. 

I got mobbed in the lobby as I was leaving.lol

Daryl

19 hours ago, Cat Burrito said:

We opened the Swindon Shuffle’s Friday Night at The Castle in Old Town last night. Arriving in good time to see the headliner’s soundcheck, I was immediately taken by the bassists sound. Very dubby. He had his back to me and when he turned around, he was playing with a pick, right up by the bridge! It was a Genz Benz amp and every time I hear one of those, they sound fantastic. 
 

We were the first of five bands and I think were given this slot as we’re just a duo. I would be too polite to argue but a few people suggested we should have been higher up the bill. In many respects though, it was one of the better slots. I had my 2008 USA Fender Jazz that was going through my board. Doing as the soundman wanted, he had me go through the Genz Benz amp and it sounded great. 
 

 

We did an all original set with the keys / drums on the iPad. Some soundmen struggle, with this set up but the guy last night clearly knew his way around the desk and the sound both on and off stage was glorious. 
 

We let the music do the talking but still had a bit of banter with the audience. We held the audience throughout our 30 minute set, something some of the other acts didn’t manage. Introducing two new songs and a few favourites, the time flew. At the end, I thanked everyone, only for the track to loop and start up again. I quickly stopped it and said “So sorry, you didn’t ask for an encore!” which I think endeared us further. 
 

 

I thought we played well. My lead vocals (I am not the main singer) are definitely gaining confidence and I am falling in love with my Jazz bass all over. A great night. 

Cool pics and love that pick.

Daryl

10 hours ago, basexperience said:

Bredon Cider Fest 2025, Jagged Little Alanis (www.jaggedlittlealanis.co.uk) headlining Friday night - this is a wonderful small festival with a big feel when you're onstage. The crowd are great, no lairiness, everybody happy as anything. Cider selection (and beers) was outstanding, food was good, and neither was extortionately priced. A great example of a well run fest, getting in and out was easy and seamless. They ran like clockwork and the sound guys were excellent, even though they'd come on board late in the game and didn't get the spec sheet (which is extensive for the band).

 

The wig was a £10 TEMU job, it's surprisingly good haha

 

Video is of the crowd singing the first verse. Ends abruptly as I suddenly realised I had to get my arse in gear on bass!

 

Tribute acts aplenty (really good ones!) over the 2 days, such a great little fest.

IMG_3761.mov

Love that dressing room.

Daryl

We're back at The Bend Theatre this Saturday night, opening for Reverend Raven. Catered dressing room and we play a 45 minute set. My type of gig.

Maple Road

By presenting an eclectic blend of blues, rock, and folk jams, Maple Road is a band that does not fall short of keeping an audience entertained and intrigued.  While honoring musical heroes and legends, the group also strives to craft original and memorable tunes that allow each band member and the audience to interpret the music.

Reverend Raven + Maple Road Blues Band - The Bend Theater | West Bend, WI https://share.google/vkEznZyOQe7dRBx7y

Daryl

13 hours ago, mcnach said:

 

 

Maybe consider some basic IEM solution?

 

Even if you don't have your own mix, you can typically get AT LEAST a feed from one fo the wedge monitors or the PA speakers themselves. Most are active these days and will have a 'thru' output. You can use a cheap Behringer P1 personal headphone amp, and plug into it whatever mix you can get in one XLR, and your bass on the other. With good sealing earphones (no need to spend hundreds, a KZ with the right tips would be fine) you can get a very reasonable balance. The main thing is that the earphones have a good seal. No need to go wireless, but that would be an improvement if the solution works for you.

 

I wish we could invest in a good IEM solution.  Unfortunately we recently investted in new floor wedges.

Daryl

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

Problem with many phones is they focus on vocals and everything else fades slightly quiet during singing and come back up when vocals stop so always very wary of phone recordings.

I've usually got the opposite that i cant hear myself on certain stages but on phone recordings the bass is there.

Dave

 

I always hear a little more bass with earbuds. 

Daryl

2 hours ago, kiat said:

I feel for you, that's cramped! And people eating at table not usually going to want loud music. Am surprised they took an extra £2.5k, that's massive.

I hate when that happens. I really think some of these folks that are involved in booking should be required to pass a state exam. What Do You Know About Bands And Booking?

Daryl

3 hours ago, EssexBuccaneer said:

Just home from a paid rehearsal, a quite well paid rehearsal, as it happens. Played to our wives and the bar staff, essentially. 
 

However, we have a few regular folk who come and see us every time we play, and they were absent tonight. When I asked the guitarist where they were - apparently last time we played this pub, the landlady made a comment about one of the chaps ethnicity. This floored me, and since we have a rebooking in December (already arranged) we’re in a quandary 
 

I think we’ll cancel the gig, and if we have to explain why then I’ll happily tell the landlady to her face.

We canceled a pub we use to play on a regular basis for something similar. 

We'll never play there again.

Daryl

On 27/08/2025 at 03:36, Greg Edwards69 said:

We've played a number of weddings over the years - often for family members or friends of friends, so we've rarely charged big bucks.  But yes, they're usually a long day, typically around 12 hours from leaving and getting back home (even longer if we're invited as guests as well) - certainly longer than a regular day at work. I think the longest we did was 22 hours after leaving home at 6 in the morning for a wedding in Cambridgeshire for a morning set up. Didn't get home until 4 in the morning because the soundman's vehicle broke down on the motorway.

 

This does mean there's often a bit of to-and-fro when negotiating for weddings, as they don't understand that they're paying for more than just 2 hours of music.

Weddings have always been  disastrous for us. We're about as far from a wedding band as you can get. We've played a few as a favor to friends and family. Always small budget weddings in the basement of legion hall with card tables and folding chairs.

Our wedding gigs can be described with one word, " embarassing ".

Daryl

3 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Yep that's what we generally do Daryl. 

We recently added 48 Crash by Suzie Quatro, Mamma Mia by ABBA and reintroduced Jeepster by T.Rex and Cum on Feel the Noise by Slade which we dropped 4 or 5 yrs back but decided to give them another go. Lynn now sings the Slade song and the ABBA songs we do.

48 Crash turned out to be the more difficult one to get right because of the mid section but we eventually got it right on the 2nd gig 😂.

We generally try to make a rehearsal a Sun afternoon for 6hrs and bring sandwiches, coffee and of course cake and just feels more like a get together with mates. We normally finish at 5hr mark but studios are almost always 3hr slots but it makes everything a lot less hectic trying to fit a full song list into 3 hrs. With 6hrs we know we can easily slot in new songs and every song we have in our repertoire as some don't get played regularly as we change the sets to suit type of venues. Clubs prefer dancing songs while music venues prefer the rockier type songs or ones like Ziggy Stardust that isn't a very dancing song.

I practice the full song list at least once a week at home anyways sometimes twice.

Was hard work when i was doing the punk band and the 80's rock band at same time.

At 65 i decided it was all too much and dropped it back to our Glam band and its been a good decision.

Dave 

I think there's two issues I'm dealing with Dave. Other than gig announcements we have practically no communication.  2nd, I'm in retirement mode, everyone else in the band is working and will be working for another 30 years.

Daryl

2 minutes ago, Jackroadkill said:

A 1.5hr covers set on a stage with enough room, good monitoring and an engineer who knows their apples.  A hundred or so enthusiastic punters and some nice comments afterwards.  I don't need a backline provided (I'd rather play on my own gear; old fashioned, I know....) or anything flashy.  Payment is nice but not essential.

 

That's about it, really.

Adequate pay is essential for me. I use to always prefer using my own rig. However at 71 years old I'll use whatever they provide.

Daryl

6 hours ago, gjones said:

 

 

I think the best gigs are the ones were the crowd is great.

That seems to be the consensus Gjones.

Daryl

6 hours ago, Mrbigstuff said:

Playing a 30 min set with jamiroquai at a French Riviera or Amalfi Coast private pool party with unlimited food and drink included, and unlimited dips in the pool. I would probably do it for free but a hefty cheque would also be nice.

Opening for celebrity level bands is always fun. I only have two under my belt, Charlie Daniel's (RIP) and Peter Frampton. The one with Frampton probably doesn't count. We just happened to be the band that played before him on a multi band festival stage.

Daryl

3 hours ago, Franticsmurf said:

The main thing that makes a gig ideal for me is a good response from the crowd. I find that I, and bands I've been in, respond well to an enthusiastic crowd. Usually the performance benefits and in turn my level of enjoyment increases knowing that we're on top form. Icing on the cake is genuine compliments from the punters.

 

Pre-gig, I like to know that there's somewhere convenient to park, that there's a proper stage separated from the audience, that the landlord/venue owner understands live bands. There should be fair recompense and ideally soft drinks on the house. A changing room and back stage toilet is good from a convenience point of view. 

 

Post-gig, I like that buzz from knowing we've played well, a swift breakdown of kit and an easy load out. 

Parking, a bathroom dedicated to the band and comped food and drink are important to me. Even if I don't eat any food it's  still the right thing for the owners to do.

Daryl

7 hours ago, christhammer666 said:

great topic

 

for me, an indoor all day doom/stoner/sludge festival type thing. set around halfway through the day so i have time to have a few (lots) of beers and catch up with some friends and bands.

play a set and sway around like a drunken tramp without missing a note and then see the rest of the day out watching the others bands,selling merch while people comment on our band and ask about what gear used etc.

 

this comment have made me realise how much i miss it

The opportunity to talk with other musicians and friends in a festival setting can be tough.

Our old drummers band just happened to be the band that played before us at Wisconsin State Fair. We only had time to shake hands.

Daryl

10 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

I get that Daryl. When we are playing every weekend or every 2 weeks regularly we don't bother rehearsing but sometimes we can go 4-6wks without a gig and always throw in a 3hr rehearsal the week before the next gig just to refresh things in our head.

I can understand that if playing regularly you don't really need to rehearse unless adding new songs.

Dave

Dave, While we play regularly which keeps us from getting rusty I would love to rehearse and add a few new songs and maybe change a few intros and song endings. 

Daryl

19 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Ideal gig for me is:

A 45 minute set, as main support to a bigger band

Guaranteed parking at the venue

Some form of backstage/dressing room (not so I can be a pop-star, but just somewhere I can sit down, due to back issues)

Provided back-line (again, not so I can be a star, just so that I have as little to carry as possible cos of said back issues)

Venue has at least a 3 feet high stage (so moshers don`t end up on-stage/knocking me over when they get over- excited)

Two monitors for each band member

Proper sound-check

Bottled water for on stage

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have one of those coming up in September.  I'm not sure I'll get two monitors. 

Daryl

This one has probably already been mentioned. You've been told the band is breaking up. Then you find out the band is still together only your no longer a member.

Daryl

3 hours ago, Elfrasho said:

No matter the size of venue or what music im playing, if the crowd is into it then it's a top gig. 

Agreed. When the crowd is into it a lot of other things don't seem to matter.

Daryl

3 hours ago, kiat said:

A big festival that goes brilliantly for the whole band, organisers and punters!

Back to reality, for the pub and function gigs I'm doing...

* a crowd, that nearly fills the place, that dance and with fun banter 

* no gear issues, operational or transport

* bandmates can hear themselves and everyone else without going out ears ringing at the end too much

* we all play really well, we entertain, we sound very good and get compliments

* a few punters effusively  enthusiastically book us for their function and others take our details

* we get paid a bonus (very rare)

 

I think the enthusiastic and engaged crowd is a big one for most of us. For me there's nothing worse than playing to a disinterested crowd.

Daryl

3 hours ago, Rosie C said:

For the last few years I've played in a church band and it really was ideal for me:

* 10am rehearsal, before the gig at 11am, home in time for lunch, no loading in the dark 

* large car park close to the back door for unloading 

* nice people, no drunks

* free coffee and biscuits 

* fabulous acoustics 

 

🙂

 

I would love a gig like that. Unfortunately I need the supplemental income from gigs 

Daryl

1 minute ago, Norris said:

In the UK there are hardly any pubs or bars that charge on the door, especially for cover bands. People just won't pay for it. They will (to an extent) happily pay inflated bar prices though. I guess it's a psychological thing: paying for "nothing" vs. buying a slightly more expensive beer. That's my view playing in a covers band anyway.

Over here it was never clear to me how much of the take on the cover the bands actually saw, unless the bar gave complete control of the door to the band.

Daryl