bonzodog Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1392562662' post='2370034'] We usually play 2 x 90 minute sets with a 30 minute break. I personally think that is reasonable break for 3 hours of music. Seems to be the done thing in our neck of the woods. [/quote] Fair play....dont think my back, fingers or vocal chords could do 3 hours of playing. 2 is enough for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Proffessionalism is giving the person paying the bill what they are paying for with the minimum of fuss. Whether you agree or not with the timings you do what you are asked to do. Seems very unfair to criticise this band without knowing what was actually asked of them. We regularly play timings that we don't think are best but if that's what's asked of us by the organisers then that's what we do with smiles on our faces and we make sure we entertain the crowd the best we possibly can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I've got a lady friend who is a keen follower of a local band. She has been to see them play a few times since Christmas. Both times they have been 20/30mins late onto stage because of 'propping up the bar'. The same band did a gig just before Christmas, they were over an hour late arriving at the venue, with no apologies! They have loyal fans who seem to ignore their lack of punctuality as being 'rock and roll'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mep Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1392550680' post='2369879'] Round here cover bands on pub gigs are expected to go on on at 9.30 (gig o'clock as it is often known), play for 45 minutes and take a longish break to allow punters to have a chat then go back on at 11.00 to finish exactly at midnight. This is what most landlords generally want and bands structure their sets accordingly. This tried and tested approach seems to keep the most punters there until the bar closes. You may lose a few who have to leave early but you can't please everyone can you? Seems to me that the band you saw had been pretty professional about it and got the set timings spot on... [/quote] Much the same down here too. We have plenty of songs so the set generally stretch to 60 mins. The venue calls the times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 As we're slightly on the subject of charity gigs I have to say I wouldn't do one on a pass the bucket basis, no guarantee of anything for the chosen charity there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I'd say if the band were told when and how long to play, and they stuck to this brief then they were acting professionally. As already been said, its not unusual, and normally out of the bands control unless the band are putting the gig on and calling the shots. Im really not sure why this thread is titled as it is, as there is nothing to show the band weren't acting professionally, just that the OP had to leave and missed their second set and feels cheated (IMO). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1392562662' post='2370034'] We usually play 2 x 90 minute sets with a 30 minute break. I personally think that is reasonable break for 3 hours of music. Seems to be the done thing in our neck of the woods. [/quote] Streuth , that is commitment , we do around 50mins first set then get back on around 10.45 to finish at midnight , the break depends on how close to 9.30 we start , the end time is normally the clincher . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Admiral Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1392594980' post='2370548'] I'd say if the band were told when and how long to play, and they stuck to this brief then they were acting professionally. As already been said, its not unusual, and normally out of the bands control unless the band are putting the gig on and calling the shots. Im really not sure why this thread is titled as it is, as there is nothing to show the band weren't acting professionally, just that the OP had to leave and missed their second set and feels cheated (IMO). [/quote] Having investigated this a little more with a close friend of the band, I understand that the timings etc were all within their control, and they just had to be mindful of the end time. It's not a pub by the way, the venue is a large purpose built hall, with bar facilities, which host weddings etc, so normal pub/ landlord issues were not an issue. My point about 'professionalism' was really that in my view, a break between sets should be 20 minutes max, maybe 30 at a stretch for a relaxed charity gig, but any more seems counter productive, as you have got the crowd warmed up and into it, and then they go cold, before you start again. Just my view, but I would have worked backwards from the desired end time and gone on later, with a twenty minute break between sets. Better to have a later start time - and a solo support act perhaps, than the 40 plus minute break - which showed no sign of ending, when I left. I would be unhappy about this if I had paid for a ticket - perhaps a broad definition of playing professionally - and that is a reasonable carry over in thought process to my mind. Also, they had 250 potential clients in the room - they are clearly an ideal act for a 40th/50th, and whether you are being paid, or not, and whether it's to 10 people of a thousand, I think any show should have the same standards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobVbass Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 well if it was entirely under their control it does sound a little poor - usually if we're given carte blanche and the audience is raring to go then we just carry on playing and forget the break. Saying that I know nothing really of the situation maybe there were some other reasons why it went that way. Whatever though, venue restrictions, band's own choice, organiser's requests, it will always be the band that's seen in the worst light as they'e fronting the show Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I think you have hit the nail on the head, it's your view. I do see what you are getting at, but sometimes it's just not possible to keep on playing. It's always better to finish the night with live music IMO, and if this means a longer break in between then so be it. If people were there to see live music then stating later would look just as bad IMO. I've never played a function/wedding etc where the break has been any less than 30mins, unless the schedule has gone to pot, so I still say this has nothing to do with them being unprofessional. If they had agreed on timings before hand, and they stuck to these then they did no wrong. I'd have thought that the organisers should have had other things going on between the bands sets though, to keep the momentum going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1392621409' post='2370616'] My point about 'professionalism' was really that in my view, a break between sets should be 20 minutes max, maybe 30 at a stretch [/quote] I'm sorry, but the length of the break has got absulutely nothing to do with the bands professionalism. 15-30 minute breaks are ideal IMO, but in the real world, dealing with clients, events organisers, caterers, venues, bridezillas, weather etc it doesn't always work out like that. Whoever is organising/paying the bill has the final say on set times, rightly or wrongly, so to blame the band is a bit harsh. And. why are you upset that you missed their 2nd set? Surely you already knew what time the event was finishing, and that you would have to leave early? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1392621409' post='2370616'] My point about 'professionalism' was really that in my view, a break between sets should be 20 minutes max, maybe 30 at a stretch for a relaxed charity gig, but any more seems counter productive, as you have got the crowd warmed up and into it, and then they go cold, before you start again. [/quote] Professionalism is doing exactly what is asked by whoever is paying you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I don't recall us doing a charity gig without being paid...unless the cause was organised by one of the band and then they would be the one forfeiting their fee...... so I am not sure you should expect a band to do their thing and hold them to all sorts IF they have denoted their time for free.......... Charity do's can be quite relaxed or they can be very corporate where the audience will get to spend a LOT of money... Did one of the latter recently and we reckon it must have cost a minimum of £15k to put on....so god knows what they raised... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHW Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 The only unprofessional thing that I can see from the OP comment is that maybe at the end of the first set the band could have said. "Thanguverymuch, we're off for a break now but will be back at ....." We are frequently asked to take breaks of an hour by venues, it's frustrating to a degree as I feel you lose the momentum a bit from the first set, but let's be honest, the venue is buying in a service, so would have their expectations of that would be delivered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I know every venue is different but I don't really get the 'audience will lose the buzz' if you take a break longer than 15 mins. I agree with whats also been said that people don't just come out to see the band. They also socialise with their friends who they have probably not seen for a week, and also have a fag or two. In general, I would say most gigs we do, and what I did as a solo singer was 9.30 till 10.30 and 11pm till 12am. 30 minute break was accepted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 We played a gig last weekend with instructions from the pub gaffer not to go on until 9:30. By 9:00 the pub was quite full and a few punters were hassling us to start but the landlord told us to hold back. He also asked us to take a good half hour break in the middle because he always sold more beer when there was a longer break. He added that by pushing the second set back we'd be kicking off when the pub got its 'second wind' as some other locals started winding down for an 11:00 finish. We were a bit sceptical and got a bit concerned when people started giving us a hard time for waiting until 9:30 to start but we stuck to his guidelines and he had things spot on. The early crowd mostly stayed for the second set and were all at the bar in the break. Then, pretty much as we went into the first song of the second set, a whole extra group of, much younger, punters came in and stayed to the end Turned out it was a really good night and starting late and having a long break just suited the venue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 8.30 - 9.30, half hour break then 10.00 - 11.00 is pretty normal for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Funny... a band I know picks songs on the basis that if ppl go to the bar during that song, they bin it... seems most odd thinking to me for a pub band.... We have had discussions with venues about paying a continued set as it helps us plan the show better but they want a break to maximise beer sales ...so we are going to try a stripped down set of numbers in the middle of the set, where the break may be..... which should help us pace the gig otherwise we are in their faces all the time. We are thinking this as the drummers can't keep up for the set....(they are very fit but the gig is very tiring) so I can see the point that LL/pubs want a break.... but venues don't, so much... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 We usually play for an hour, fifteen min break then another hour to an hour and half depending on the venue and the audience. Mostly play pubs, audience (and landlords) start getting restless if we are off stage for more than 15 mins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Also it makes a big difference I think if the venue put loudish background on during break. If there is just silence then that could kill the atmosphere so we always take our own just in case Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Two 45min sets and an hour set with two 15min breaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1392739603' post='2372177'] ....We have had discussions with venues about paying a continued set as it helps us plan the show better but they want a break to maximise beer sales .... [/quote] I suggested this 30 years ago and several times since, but I've always been told to forget it! Unless you're playing at the O2, the reality is that anyone putting on a band usually has higher priorities than the music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1392744712' post='2372261'] I suggested this 30 years ago and several times since, but I've always been told to forget it! Unless you're playing at the O2, the reality is that anyone putting on a band usually has higher priorities than the music. [/quote] True, IME..... even gigs that are more shows like a break...even to the point that we offered them a bill with no increase in cost and they wouldn't go for it as they wanted a break for drinks sales... And this was a ticked show for a Covers band... We felt we had to do something different to justify the tickets and the money we were getting... but the venue wanted to 2 sets.. What actually happened, in our view, was that the break that they wanted for drinks sales, shut down the show to a degree and people left so they lost those sales anyway. We were pretty convinced we would have kept more people in the venue if our 1 set suggestion had been implemented. It wasn't a disaster by any means... but we thought their set plan wasn't helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 (edited) My only issue with bands doing sets longer than an hour is the noise. They get louder and louder and as they get more tired the music gets sloppier and sloppier. The audience's ears get tired. Really you owe it to yourselves and the audience to put on a professional performance. Edited February 18, 2014 by TimR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacey Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I can tell a covers bands proffesionalism within the first 6 seconds of the start. If I hear only 4 clicks and bang off they go and up go the lights , you know it will be a good band. Hear people get on stage and start plucking strings, bumping bass notes, or wait for someone to tune the guitar whilst the rest play random song parts and I know, it will only get worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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