Well,...I'm playin' the city bandshell !

[Guildman]

I had one of my dreams come true last year when I played at my city's bandshell in our towns biggest and most popular park! It went well, considering it took about four songs to settle down!! Now,...I get a phone call a week or so ago, and was asked to do it again by the organizers, twice this time!! So on the 25th of this month and July 16th both of which are at about 7 pm. The only thing is,...I found that the sound man they got the last time was REALLY crappy! I had no way of earing myself singing or playing,..there was NO monitor speakers facing me,...so everything I did was pure guess work! The worst part about it,..it's the same guy doing the sound this year! Any recommendations? Wish me luck!

Guildman http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[viking]

Since you know who the soundman is this time, contact him before your gig date. Explain to him/her what you need.


Communication is the best remedy.

Not to mention a little negotiation if he/she turns out to be the stubborn type that needs a little persuasion.

v

[Guildman]

Well,...I played the Bandshell last Monday, and here's what happened:

All week before the gig,..I practiced like crazy, and set up my playlist. The big day comes,...I pack my stuff up in the truck,..and I head for the outdoor location. It's a beautiful evening about 78 degrees not cloud in the sky! I get there,..on the set date and time,...and guess what? NO ONE'S THERE!! no organizers nothing!! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/frown.gif

So I say to my wife,.."You know what? I should just plug in and play anyways!" Other than a few passer-by, the park was somewhat vacant. Well along comes this older fella, says to me,.."Isn't there suppost to be music schedualled tonight?" I say "Yeah,..I was to play here,...and no one called me to cancel!" So he says "Why don't we check if there's a live outlet so we can plug you in!" "Come on,...I'll help you set-up, if you want." So I says "What the h**l" "What have I to loose now,..my gear is in the truck!" So we get my stuff set-up, I plug in,..it's live & workin' so I'm on!! Well I start my set off well and people started dropping by one after the other!! Before you know it, the benches were getting filled!! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif It went soooo well that I can't tell you enough about it! I even did TWO encores! Next gig July 9th.

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

Thats sounds really cool guild! That kinda **** never happens to me. I sit down with my acoustic in the park and people puke as they walk by. Atleast i get some kind of reaction. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[StoneDragon]

Did you ever find out what happened to the rest of the scheduled performance? That seems kinda weird for nobody to be there and no notification that it was canceled. Are you sure you and the old-timer were in the right park?

[Guildman]

Actually Stone, everyone had it right but the organizers themselves!! It was to be an event there called "Arts In The Park" but it turned out that the organizers had to re-shuffle their schedual around a bit and fell to warn each and everyone involved(one of them,...yours truly!!) But things are straight now and they told me that next one's on the 9th,..so I asked them "Are you SURE now?" "Yeah,...it's a go!"

I'm going to bring my own gear, cause it REALLY went well with just my Fender amp alone! The acoustics there are great!

[StoneDragon]

All's well that ends well.

[kinolo]

.hi guild....thats a great keeper story !! be sure to let us know how it goes on the 9th.-the down side compared to the other day is that you won't get as much playing time..lol.-have fun.
~T~ http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/cool.gif

[Guildman]

Well, the Bandshell show was cancelled due to weather(thunder showers)! It was on for awhile,...young dancers were on for a bit doin' their stuff. That was cute, some of them were as young as four,...doin' a "Singing In The Rain" number,...who knows, they might have jinxed it! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/wink.gif There was another singer/guitar player that was going up before me,...she was an 18 year old young lady that did her own material!! Then yours truly was to be up next, right after. BUT, it was cancelled. That is not the end of the story though! I had alot of family and friends that showed up,...some of which actually travelled an hour to come and see me!(Quite an honour indeed!) So not to be outdone,...I show up to my favorite Pub with all my gang and ask the manager if he wanted a free act on a usually slow Monday night, and he says "sure, why not?" They usually just serve munchies on slow nights, but we made them open up a full menu for my group of fans http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/wink.gif I order a pint (but I don't drink too fast though!) and started playin'! the place was somewhat packed and started filling up a little at the time. You see,..I might be a regular at this place, but I NEVER played there before, I've seen lots of performers,..but now it was me the performer!! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/eek.gif I played 2 sets from about 8:45-11pm to a very appreciative group, so once again, I pulled a impulsive show and did o.k. I guess. This one was my wife's idea. So to those who shy up in public,...don't! They're more forgiving then you think! I know, i've made my share of boo boos last night and still managed to entertain a crowd and myself to boot!

[StoneDragon]

Sounds like you secret is to not plan a gig... just be ready at the drop of a hat and you'll be a sensation http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smokin.gif

[Guildman]

Well Stone, I seem to shine under the worst conditions man! I laugh in the face face of adversity!! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

[kinolo]

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/rotatesmilie.gif way to go GUILD you're the MAN!!! its like they say: when it rains,look for the rainbow!--glad the evening turned out well for you..keep us posted on your exploits.
~T~ http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/cool.gif