Grateful Dead Music Forum

PostPosted:**Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:06 pm**

im really digging these discussions on gigging. some of the best constructive engagements, discussions and arguments have come from the subject in recent months. so now i'm interested in what you all have to say about mic etiquette and your opinions on a few things.

1. do any of you do the "tip jar" thing? if so do you announce its "emptiness" to the crowd or do you just leave it sitting beside you and hope a few folks drop in a dime?

2. do you guys ask the patrons to tip the bartenders? do you use their names?

3. do you always introduce the members of your band?

4. do you always announce your next gig, promote your cd and or other products?

5. do you guys drink while performing? smoke?

6. do you bring your own music for set breaks or do you just let the jukebox roll?

7. do you use a system or program that automatically sends band updates to folks who leave an email address?

8. how do you handle a request?

just interested in what everyone has to say. i personally don't do tip jars - they irk me, but most of the other bands at the venues i frequent do. i also don't ask the patrons to tip the bartenders. i know it's all in good intent, but when does it cross the line and become you just speaking to hear your voice? i usually sip on beers for the first 2 sets and then have a couple during the third. i ask bars now, to not let the bartenders put on the jukebox when we are on break, we run our own music through the p.a. we found that the jukebox will usually blare lady gaga, bad country or rap. this has proven to be annoying to the folks that came to see us play dead. also we gig at a particular venue where the Saturday night bartender (yay we graduated to Saturday nights!)generally dislikes "hippie" type peoples. she would fill the jukebox with rap and anything else that she knew would annoy us and the crowd and at the same time turn up the heat in the room. they've since removed her from working Saturdays - lol. the owner was pissed.

-ll

PostPosted:**Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:20 pm**

1. Tip jars are almost unheard of with Australian bands. Most play for a set fee, a percentage of the bar, a door deal or a combination of the above.
2. I always thank the bar staff for looking after the band and ask the patrons to do the same.
3. I always introduce the band and state that I feel priviledged to play with musicians of this calibre
4. Always promote any CDs we have to sell. We don't promote shows in other venues but will promote the next show we have booked in the place we are performaing (if we have another booking there)
5.Usually have a light beer between sets. Sometimes goes on stage with me if I haven't finished by the time to play again. I quick swig between songs is acceptable in most venues. Smoking is banned indorrs in Australian pubs and clubs
6. Always thank the and patrons for coming to our gig and for supporting live music

PostPosted:**Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:42 am**

1. do any of you do the "tip jar" thing? if so do you announce its "emptiness" to the crowd or do you just leave it sitting beside you and hope a few folks drop in a dime?
--> Sometimes have one but only if the place doesn't do a cover and we are only earning a % of sales. So Maybe 3 out of 50 gigs. No, don't announce it. Put it up, throw a 5 and 1 in there and forget about it!

2. do you guys ask the patrons to tip the bartenders? do you use their names?
--> No, if they want better tips they should work harder for them. I was a bartender and server and know how to earn tips without a band telling folks to tip me, so should they.

3. do you always introduce the members of your band?
--> No, a shout out to something extra cool that happens yes.

4. do you always announce your next gig, promote your cd and or other products?
--> Only our next gig at that venue. Horribly poor etiquette to be doing promo by directly naming another bar, IMO.

5. do you guys drink while performing? smoke?
--> Do anything that makes you happy but doesn't impact your performance.

6. do you bring your own music for set breaks or do you just let the jukebox roll?
--> Depends on the bar. If it's my PA, the owner says the jukebox is off I'll night, etc, etc, I'll pop in the ipod.

7. do you use a system or program that automatically sends band updates to folks who leave an email address?
--> Manually.

8. how do you handle a request?
--> Do it that night if it's a regular fan or say we'll do it next time we play that venue. Then really do it!

PostPosted:**Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:29 am**

+100 Strummin, I think we have to play a gig soon!

PostPosted:**Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:35 am**

jdsmodulus wrote:+100 Strummin, I think we have to play a gig soon!

Call me. I can do most any weeknight.

PostPosted:**Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:36 am**

LazyLightnin wrote:im really digging these discussions on gigging. some of the best constructive engagements, discussions and arguments have come from the subject in recent months. so now i'm interested in what you all have to say about mic etiquette and your opinions on a few things.

1. do any of you do the "tip jar" thing? if so do you announce its "emptiness" to the crowd or do you just leave it sitting beside you and hope a few folks drop in a dime?
never have done the tip jar, dont really understand its purpose, is the room not paying the band?

2. do you guys ask the patrons to tip the bartenders? do you use their names?
absolutely mention that a couple times a night, dont use their names, but it is a good practice if you want a return gig at the room

3. do you always introduce the members of your band?
rarely if ever, only if there is like a fill-in player for a vacationing member. Although sometimes if I am feeling loopy I will introduce the band during the breakdowns in Satisfaction (think RFK 86) or Lovelight

4. do you always announce your next gig, promote your cd and or other products?\
we do not mention bar names from stage, but announce the fact that we have schedules on the table for anyone to take if they would like to see us again, also announce to sign up for mailing list a couple times a night

5. do you guys drink while performing? smoke?
I have a beer or 2 while playing, also have a mini-bat that I might hit from time to time, but not usually (usually firing up before show and then set break is sufficient, I am a lightweight in my old age)

6. do you bring your own music for set breaks or do you just let the jukebox roll?
prefer to bring our own music, but most rooms want to let their jukebox roll which sucks because most of the times the jukebox music sucks

7. do you use a system or program that automatically sends band updates to folks who leave an email address?
yes

8. how do you handle a request?
we usually try to do it at some point in the night, depending on a huge amount of factors

just interested in what everyone has to say. i personally don't do tip jars - they irk me, but most of the other bands at the venues i frequent do. i also don't ask the patrons to tip the bartenders. i know it's all in good intent, but when does it cross the line and become you just speaking to hear your voice? i usually sip on beers for the first 2 sets and then have a couple during the third. i ask bars now, to not let the bartenders put on the jukebox when we are on break, we run our own music through the p.a. we found that the jukebox will usually blare lady gaga, bad country or rap. this has proven to be annoying to the folks that came to see us play dead. also we gig at a particular venue where the Saturday night bartender (yay we graduated to Saturday nights!)generally dislikes "hippie" type peoples. she would fill the jukebox with rap and anything else that she knew would annoy us and the crowd and at the same time turn up the heat in the room. they've since removed her from working Saturdays - lol. the owner was pissed.

-ll

PostPosted:**Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:41 pm**

We mostly play parties and the occasional club, so answers may vary from the rest of you:

1. do any of you do the "tip jar" thing? if so do you announce its "emptiness" to the crowd or do you just leave it sitting beside you and hope a few folks drop in a dime?
We put out a jar often and never mention it.

2. do you guys ask the patrons to tip the bartenders? do you use their names?
Depends on whether they're giving us drinks or not. We get free drinks, we mention to tip them.

3. do you always introduce the members of your band?
Nah, cuz I don't always remember their names! Once, I mentioned I was going to "introduce the band" and I started introducing them to each other...got a good laugh. Also after a particlarly hot solo, I'll introduce the soloist for some extra applause during the song.

4. do you always announce your next gig, promote your cd and or other products?
Almost always say something, but only once, about an upcoming gig...and never mention a rival establishment by name.

5. do you guys drink while performing? smoke?
I like to sip a cold brew but I can't drink too much or I can't keep time. As for the rest, the bass player and lead guitar/singer almost always smoke but I forget the changes if I'm high and think I sound better than I do...

6. do you bring your own music for set breaks or do you just let the jukebox roll?
Never. I prefer for people to hear music that is worse than us during the break so we sound better!

7. do you use a system or program that automatically sends band updates to folks who leave an email address?
Nope
8. how do you handle a request?
We ignore them as they're being yelled, but If we do it/know it, we'll often play it sometime later, but I want to write a song with the title "Whatever the fuck you want" so that way when people scream...Play "Whatever....well you get the idea. I do often speak between songs, introduce the song, tell a short story, etc. because people are tuning and changing instruments and such. Sometimes, I even insulf the audience with things like: "we've never played in front of people...and this is no exception" or "is it too loud? Then you're too old!". Once told an audience that we weren't invited back to this gig, but we snuck in and are playing anyway. Later, several people asked me how we got away with it? I couldn't believe they bought it, but such is the public sometimes. Taught me to watch what I say!

PostPosted:**Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:56 pm**

1. If the venue charges at the door, it seems a bit tacky to have a tip bucket. Usually beer pubs love to have bands but only pay a percentage of the bar tab. Most of my band's fans prefer pot to beer so the bar/pub doesn't take in much. This works: get the best looking of the group's wives or girl friends to go about the crowd with the tip bucket. You will be surprised how much cash will be dumped into it.

2. We always mention the barkeep's name, it's friendly and personable.

3. If someone has a shining moment on stage, something might be said afterward.

4. Announce the next gig for the venue you're playing at the time, some club owners detest mentioning the competition.

5. I don't drink or smoke during performance because it wrecks my voice. I have issues right now in one of my bands due to excessive alcohol consumption.

6. In my area most of the beer pubs and clubs don't have jukeboxes; usually a stereo system and they'll play Dylan or a similar "kind" when a Dead Cover band plays. Bars are a different animal. Really fun to open up a Dead tune after Godsmack has been blasting...

7. We have an email listing to announce shows. I have to send emails in blocks of 20-30 addresses because it's not a commercial email account.

8. We don't do requests unless it's the right song at the right time. ..(and we have to know it!)

PostPosted:**Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:49 pm**

1. do any of you do the "tip jar" thing? if so do you announce its "emptiness" to the crowd or do you just leave it sitting beside you and hope a few folks drop in a dime?

Never have, but will start if we have to continue playing free gigs to build up a following.

2. do you guys ask the patrons to tip the bartenders? do you use their names?

Absolutely.

3. do you always introduce the members of your band?

Rarely

4. do you always announce your next gig, promote your cd and or other products?

When we've actually got one lined up, yes... but do not mention a competitor's name

5. do you guys drink while performing? smoke?

A few brews for me and some of the guys; a couple of them like to have a little bit of the kind during breaks

6. do you bring your own music for set breaks or do you just let the jukebox roll?

totally depends on the place - since we're basically playing the same club monthly, we let them roll it, but for a festival like Earth Day we've got coming up, we obviously supply our own music (or the sound company does)

7. do you use a system or program that automatically sends band updates to folks who leave an email address?

Facebook

8. how do you handle a request?

If we know it, we'll play it. That said, we usually don't know it

, and I'm fighting to have that taken under consideration but some in the band would rather learn non-Dead stuff for some of our gigs where it's appropriate to mix it up a bit more... we're not strictly a tribute act.

PostPosted:**Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:15 pm**

1. do any of you do the "tip jar" thing? if so do you announce its "emptiness" to the crowd or do you just leave it sitting beside you and hope a few folks drop in a dime?
we play a small acoustic gig every month or so for tips and the venue puts out a jar - we never mention it - I hate asking folks for money but we do pretty good, usually around $100 a man for a 6-8:30 gig and awesome food.

2. do you guys ask the patrons to tip the bartenders? do you use their names?
When we played a weekly gig at a bar I did, or if it's a club that we know and love. We always tip our bartender/waitress even if food/drinks are free - those folks still have to work and deserve to get a tip. We often get the comment that no other band ever does that. Be nice to the folks who serve you food and drinks. We also always tip the door guy. He's usually the lowest paid person at the club and he touches ALL of your money. Good to keep this guy on your side.

3. do you always introduce the members of your band?
Occasionally, when we're in front of a lot of new people or at a big gig we do sometimes, usually too busy playing and having fun to remember those details.

4. do you always announce your next gig, promote your cd and or other products?
We will announce gigs but never a rival clubs name - usually don't announce a gig at a rival club especially in our hometown. Word of mouth works fine and we don't tick off club managers that way.

5. do you guys drink while performing? smoke?
I listened to a recording of me playing drunk when I was 19 or 20, thought I was killing it, the tape proved otherwise. Now I save the alcohol for after the show - though occasionally I'll have a drink. No cigarettes - one bad habit successfully avoided . . . other stuff . . . no comment . . . but not great for singing or remembering words

before I was relied upon to carry a lot of the singing duties it was a lot different

6. do you bring your own music for set breaks or do you just let the jukebox roll?
Yep, though never play Dead - always pick something different to play during breaks, been on a Gogol Bordello kick lately. We play an awesome spot in Nags Head, NC except that during breaks they play the worst club music imaginable. Their policy so nothing we can do about it. If I hear that gawdawful version of "Cotton-eyed Joe" again this year I'm gonna shove the mixer up the DJs nose

7. do you use a system or program that automatically sends band updates to folks who leave an email address?
there's some sort of program thingy our buddy who manages our website made but we usually do it manually

8. how do you handle a request?
It's always nice if it's already something we were thinking of doing or something other than the blatantly obvious . . . I mean, I love playing Shakedown St but I get kind of tired of the requests. I love the folks who come up and request shit like "do you know any Black-eyed Peas?" I usually tell them "sure, we'll get right on it." Or "well, we are a Slim Whitman tribute act and I don't recall him ever doing that tune."

PostPosted:**Wed Apr 28, 2010 7:20 am**

Wait a minute...you're doing Slim Whitman, now? How cool is that! I bet you're the only ones, too!!

PostPosted:**Wed Apr 28, 2010 7:31 am**

ugly rumor wrote:Wait a minute...you're doing Slim Whitman, now? How cool is that! I bet you're the only ones, too!!

- we do a mean cover of his version of "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"

PostPosted:**Wed Apr 28, 2010 7:32 am**

tcsned wrote:
ugly rumor wrote:Wait a minute...you're doing Slim Whitman, now? How cool is that! I bet you're the only ones, too!!
- we do a mean cover of his version of "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"

it actually has kind of a cool chord progression - love me some augmented chords

PostPosted:**Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:40 pm**

The song from the Big Lebowski? Those are some chool chords.

PostPosted:**Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:53 am**

Rusty the Scoob wrote:The song from the Big Lebowski? Those are some chool chords.

same tune - I think the Sons of Pioneers did the tune in that movie (love that movie btw)

It started as a joke, we told someone we only did Slim Whitman tunes and he said, "well then, play one!" so during set break me and the bass player figured it out the chords and found lyrics and we hacked our way through - I think we only played it once after that. I'm sure it sounded like shit but is was hilarious that we got called out like that.

Love songs with the augmented chord pick-up - also the minor-6 chord another favorite of mine

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