JTUK

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1430339726' post='2760535'] Your not alone. We had a couple of fairs that we have played annually ignore us this year. I understand 1 of them is going the route of looking for bands that will perform for free, Good luck with that. Blue [/quote] We've a lost a good one... part of it was our fault, but they changed booker and they wanted to reduce the money for bands. I expect to get back there next year but I hope it is not picking up the pieces and I hope they realise what they pay for... Headliners tend to have to be booked by now, but some bills firm up by the next month or so.

Deps are a fact fo life, IMO and good players are invaribly busy so sometimes it can be a case of if you want that player, you have to accept he'll have other commitments and if they are full time, more important payers or 'clients'.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1430317602' post='2760222'] I don't think any of us can go wrong putting playing first. However, even some good bands are not good at the audition process or making a decision. I lost an opportunity to a guy that came to the audition unprepared. He didn't know the material. He was a friend of the guitarist. Blue [/quote] I pick who I want based on whether I think they play in the style we are looking for, For example, I wanted a SRV type gtr..as I really liked the guys playing, but he isn't as available as I wanted ...so I've gone for a Steve Lukather type, which on the face of it, is no hardship. It helps me to know their style as then I can choose the material direction. Funniliy enough the SRV type looks the part as well... too rock n roll for us ..as it stands. For me, it is all about how you put a team together and whilst these guys are all highly regarded in a local-ish scene... the evening is still an audition and about musical chemistry. I only have doubts about 2 of them...and that is all about musical fit in this context. For example... I'm not fussed about ahead drummers ..I don't want a hammer and tap gtr etc etc So we'll see.... Sometimes when you invite people to a get together, the surprise element isn't there which is a shame.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1430317097' post='2760215'] I would say "low key" is an image. It may be subtle but it sounds like your doing it right. Blue [/quote] Yes... we look ok The act looks and sounds professional but one one stresses about image. You can either carry it all off or you can't. I'm 'auditioning' tonight, and I'll be concentrating on how well the band gels... and that will determine whether the line-up has legs or not. Being able to play well is a given, IMHO.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1430320560' post='2760259'] Just found out yesterday we are booked for Summerfest ( 4th year for me). We will play the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage on Friday June 26 at 2:00. That's a good time slot especially since it's a Friday. As soon as we finish were off to Oconomowoc to play The Stone Bank Rock Fest with a 6:00 start time. A busy day for the band. [font=Arial][b]*Summerfest[/b] (also known as "The Big Gig") is a yearly music festival held at the 75-acre (30-hectare) [/font][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Maier_Festival_Park"][font=Arial]Henry Maier Festival Park[/font][/url][font=Arial] along the [/font][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Michigan"][font=Arial]lakefront[/font][/url][font=Arial] in [/font][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milwaukee"][font=Arial]Milwaukee[/font][/url][font=Arial], [/font][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin"][font=Arial]Wisconsin[/font][/url][font=Arial], in the [/font][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States"][font=Arial]United States[/font][/url][font=Arial]. The festival lasts for 11 days, is made up of 11 stages with performances from over 700 bands, and since the mid-1970s has run from late June through early July, usually including the [/font][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28United_States%29"][font=Arial]4th of July[/font][/url][font=Arial] holiday.[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerfest#cite_note-1"][1][/url][/sup] Summerfest attracts between 800,000 and 1,000,000 people each year, promoting itself as "The World's Largest [/font][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_Festival"][font=Arial]Music Festival[/font][/url][font=Arial]", a title certified by the [/font][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness_World_Records"][font=Arial]Guinness World Records[/font][/url][font=Arial] since 1999.[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerfest#cite_note-2"][2][/url][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerfest#cite_note-3"][3][/url][/sup][/font] Performing and Recording Artists make personal appearances on 11 sponsor-themed stages throughout the grounds from noon to midnight, including the 23,000-capacity [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Amphitheater"]Marcus Amphitheater[/url]. All shows are free with an admission ticket, with the exception of headlining acts at the Marcus Amphitheater. Admission is between US$11 and US$18, depending on the time of day. There are numerous promotions for discounted or free admission.[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerfest#cite_note-4"][4][/url][/sup] [sup]Blue[/sup] [/quote] Where is that like button..

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1430306057' post='2760009'] But style is part of the substance. It's far easier to do well as a band if you have an image. If you don't have the confidence to look good on stage then IME you don't have the confidence to be a decent live performer from a musical PoV either. Those musicians who think they can get away with "letting the music do the talking" are deluding themselves. [/quote] I'd rather have it that way than have a show that is dependent on an image. We know we are a decent band and we'll live or die on that. We don't struggle for money for gigs and we don't have to travel far either. Our 'image' is low key, and it doesn't come first. We can sell 350 tickets...if we really really have to ..so we know our model works. No delusion on our part and we aren't trying to make it either... it is just a viable band.

How are you splitting the signal...? Ideally, you should have a cross-over point and then into a stereo amp and then you run those two separated signals into 2 cabs... You'll have control of volume into those cabs from the amp... If you have 200w per side, you still only have 200w of power. FWIW, I think bi-amping and sub for bass monitoring are a waste of time. and it is simpler to run a straight signal into 2 different cab types. If you have infinitable time for set-up then maybe... but if time isn't on your side for sound checks, then keep it simply as more variations means you go hunting for a basic sound, IMO and you don't have the time for that.

If you don't know what you want, then start with what you like. That, in no way,.. gets you a good sound but it is a place to start and you'll build a reference. You only really know you sound good when enough people tell you and you learn to trust certain references. After a while, you'll then know. That reminds me of a funny story I heard of someone trying to tell a room full of players his rig was great and better than anything else... when he was the only one who thought that... It would have been helpful if they'd told him there and then to his face.. but the feeling was that he wouldn't have listened anyway...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1430273291' post='2759738'] Nice, and I know what you mean. It will be nice get away from the bar gigs and playing outside to festival crowds and for me it's going from 4 hours to 1.5. Blue [/quote] Assume these are paid...?

Normally I do...but a change of band has left me at the starting gate somewhat, so I've just told my usual 'promoters/bookers' that I'll have a band ready. I'm still in the game for all of them as they are waiting for promo/sound clips, but my favourite one has gone with a new show.. on the basis of costs and I think they've missed a trick. All the ground work of the last 5-6 yrs is likely to be wasted as the booker has no real experience of this sort of thing and has basically booked most of last years bands. Plus they have booked what they like rather than giving the bill any sort of thought at all. So, in that respect, I'm kind of glad I'm out of it. So, I'm concentrating on other events later in the summer. Over here, there are many Beer Festivals but not enough of them pay decent money. There are also town festivals and they can be ok...depending on who holds the purse strings. Of course, 'charity' bills are they way most go which means they are inundated with bands... but lets not go there.

I think you'll have to find a promoter in your genre and get them to sponsor/put together a plan. First time out is going to be very low key which means you'll be lucky to make your exes. You should have contact with social media outlets for your type of music and try to hook up from there. As always, someone knows someone, knows someone..

I'm not sure what people are after and what they offer in return so I'd put the playing first, and then decide if they are heading to a place where you want to go... If we are talking about an income of £400 per month, then that would be easy to get close to with many bands ... So I think the final arbiter is how well you play their stuff. If you were generally personable then you'd have a shot, Any band that goes to image before anything else, I wouldn't be bothered with, tbh.. Style over substance ..?? no..!!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1430243395' post='2759452'] Yes, for some bands dress code is a big part of their offering. Blue [/quote] But it isn't me so unless we were talking fab money, status, Great gig etc etc, I'd pass on it.

Far rather write something on Jaco... but I guess it depends who you have most empathy with. Who picked those two...?

I demo'd the TH500 and TKS S112's ...along with a few other cabs and I bought the TH/TKS set-up. The S112 cabs have that something else and they are superbly made.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1430210810' post='2758862'] Will look forward to hearing some of that [/quote] well, if it comes off, I'll send you a dropbox link...but if it is sh**, then I'd not be too keen. I guess I should get round to some hosting space for audio and video as I can see the need but this is a new venture so website ect is not sorted yet ..

I liked that version better...as it kept the pace it needs..

I'm not sure you can just decide ...you will be asked to do bigger events as you have something that they want, or they can sell. If you find that you are pulling too many people, then you can go to supply and demand, and charge larger pubs a higher fee that they can only pay by selling tickets, but basically if you can't sell 200 plus tickets, as people are used to not paying to see you or you just don't have enough people that will pay, I'm not sure you can make the move. The bands that can pack out a pub can probably ask for up to £500 and get it... but then that is competition for a good party date and £500 is poor money for that so you'll not want to do that on a saturday duringt eh summer months If you are one of the better regarded bands in the area/town...you probably should try and be one of the better bands in the county as I only know a handful of bands that can do that sort of thing. Some are exceptional bands and some are just very very appealing... it doesn't matter which so much, as long as you can deal in large numbers of people who will come to see you. That is the entire game, IMO.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1430205038' post='2758793'] What you got planned for the Doobies tune then JTUK? [/quote] Well... good question... I want the keys to get the gospel piano, and the vox to do Michael MacD... I think I'd go for MMd solo versions like his soundstage 2003 take, or his xmas party gig..where the vox were shared between him and the girl. Obviously wont be able to do the choir parts, and it is quite a simple song so I'll want a spikey non polite version... Might have to make room for a guest sax blower as well... So, altho I mentioned the Doobies... I'll want more Michael MacD on it .. Was thinking of bringing in 'Take me in your arms' as per Tom Johnston as well, and as long as the band can deliver it powerfully and live, I'll settle for that. Basically, that will be the brief... attack the songs, give it some beans and get the dynamics and sound/production right and let the players do what they can do... I'll let you know if I'm pleased with the way it went... I'll probably record it as I'm late getting this thing out there for the summer... and I need stuff to give to bookers..

[quote name='Muppet' timestamp='1430203498' post='2758777'] I assumed Blue was talking more about an individual auditioning to join an existing band rather than a band dressing for a gig and what sort of impression that gave. [/quote] I'll go comfortably...we'd discuss dress code later and if I had a gig where I need a specific outfit, there would need to be a changing room with washing facilities.

Would help if I logged into FB.. I don't mind that version but a lot of bands couldn't get away with carrying that version off, and on those terms it is a waste of the song. Punters will want the uptempo version to dance.to..so for the purpose of the song and where you would do it, it would be like throwing away one of your stand out tunes... maybe start with this version and end as normal..best of both worlds. Needs thinking about you want to achieve from the song...

Content not currently available..?? Do you have a link to where else it may be hosted..?

Taking it to the Streets Living for the City Proud Mary She's too good for me I wish None of these are difficult and are well know,...and well done, but I want to hear how the band can treat them so I'm looking for different spins or grooves... This rehearsal is all about what people can bring to the party apart from a standard take..

Depends what the brief is... I'm not interested in getting dressed up so would go smart casual as that is what I'd expect most of the gigs are. If we were asked to do a black tie, then we might go with proper shirts so as not to look too out of place but we expect the booker to have to have done their research on us as much as we would on them. We don't do function suits or outfits..

I'm not keen on auditions but in effect I have one this week in that I've pieced together a unit and they all work togerther and pass work between themselves so I am the outsider as such. It might be my band idea/project and I might be driving it...as much as I can or will do such a thing, but they have to like what I bring otherwise they wont want to do it... At this stage, all I am looking for is band chemistry that will set the band apart and altho they basically recommended each other, I have one or two reservations, so the first thing is that this works musically. I expect them to be professional enough to be able to deal with all the other stuff. Altho the make-up of the band was 'sold' to me .. and I expect to have to deviate from my original vision or set-up plan, we will target the same work, so I've just taken out more of an RnB soul vibe than the original harder edged party band. This will allow the band to target themed events. Musically if it doesn't work, then it doesn't go any further than this week but the guys are highly recommended around this area ... but that is no garauntee that we will collectively pass the 'audition' The other problem is that they all work better gigs than this band can expect to be, so it has to be fun AND get good fees. The band will not be the first or even 2nd priority for at least 2 or the guys... I'm looking forward to it... but am also realisitic about the longevity or viability