Friday, December 02, 2005
So, I found out someone is reading the blog
I told my girlfriend last night that we were planning the next Screwball gig and she said she knew, she'd had to read it on the blog with everyone else. Whoops.
Speaking of the Screwball Gig, it's amazing how much work putting on gigs is.
It looks so easy as a punter, you turn up at the gig. You turn up the first band plays, you go and get a beer, the next band plays etc. Easy.
When you are in a band you get an entirely different perspective. You get invited by a promoter to play a gig (possibly after begging them to give you one*) a few weeks in advance, you possibly bounce some e-mails around about kit share. Then you turn up, bitch about having to turn up so early when the soundperson isn't even there yet. Spend some time doing a soundcheck and then try and find some way to spend the time between soundcheck and going on stage. Then suddenly you have that rush to get on stage, play your set which goes really fast, come off stage, have a few drinks load your gear up and start the long trek home. Still, even as a band member the promoting thing looks pretty easy. Just need to get a venue, PA, sound guy and some bands together in one place. No problem.
It's only when you start putting gigs on that you realise how complicated all those things are. The venue is difficult for a start. How many places in Reading are there with Public Entertainment Licences? Of those, how many are available for outside promoters to put gigs on? And don't already have a full complement of promoters working there? And are of the right size for the night you want to put on? And are prepared to give you a deal that makes the night financially viable? Not that many. When you get one, does it have a house PA? House sound person? If not you have to find those with similar questions to the above. That's before you even look for bands/compere/decorations. And I haven't even mentioned publicity.
Then on the day even though you asked them all to be there ludicrously early some of the bands are late (probably the band with the drumkit that everyone is sharing), possibly through no fault of their own. Gear breaks, there is some problem with the venue, no-one turns up and you end up having worked your arse off for nothing and lost money. Plus you didn't get to see any of the bands you hand picked because you really like them because you were working your arse off all night solving problems or soothing egos.
It is really satisfying when it comes off though. Seeing (and being one of) a full room of people dancing away to Aqua Livi and the Roots Imansion was a pretty special moment. It might have been hard but it was worth it. I must just keep that focused in my mind. All the work will be worth it if we can have another night as good as that.
The reason I got into that was that as I mentioned in a previous post the Fringe Festival organisation is also starting to roll forward like some unstoppable juggernaut and that involves (hopefully) persuading loads and loads of people all having to go through the same kinds of traumas to put on nights. We must be insane! Maybe it's like hangovers you just forget how bad the previous one was otherwise you'd think "sod it, I'm not doing another screwball, let's just do a normal 3 band gig in the town center... or actually how about we just GO to a gig."
Right, so now I've sold you on the concept I reckon you probably all want to be promoters. There are some great articles on Josaka to help you. I especially liked this one about budgets.
*A gig! Dirty minds the lot of you.
Speaking of the Screwball Gig, it's amazing how much work putting on gigs is.
It looks so easy as a punter, you turn up at the gig. You turn up the first band plays, you go and get a beer, the next band plays etc. Easy.
When you are in a band you get an entirely different perspective. You get invited by a promoter to play a gig (possibly after begging them to give you one*) a few weeks in advance, you possibly bounce some e-mails around about kit share. Then you turn up, bitch about having to turn up so early when the soundperson isn't even there yet. Spend some time doing a soundcheck and then try and find some way to spend the time between soundcheck and going on stage. Then suddenly you have that rush to get on stage, play your set which goes really fast, come off stage, have a few drinks load your gear up and start the long trek home. Still, even as a band member the promoting thing looks pretty easy. Just need to get a venue, PA, sound guy and some bands together in one place. No problem.
It's only when you start putting gigs on that you realise how complicated all those things are. The venue is difficult for a start. How many places in Reading are there with Public Entertainment Licences? Of those, how many are available for outside promoters to put gigs on? And don't already have a full complement of promoters working there? And are of the right size for the night you want to put on? And are prepared to give you a deal that makes the night financially viable? Not that many. When you get one, does it have a house PA? House sound person? If not you have to find those with similar questions to the above. That's before you even look for bands/compere/decorations. And I haven't even mentioned publicity.
Then on the day even though you asked them all to be there ludicrously early some of the bands are late (probably the band with the drumkit that everyone is sharing), possibly through no fault of their own. Gear breaks, there is some problem with the venue, no-one turns up and you end up having worked your arse off for nothing and lost money. Plus you didn't get to see any of the bands you hand picked because you really like them because you were working your arse off all night solving problems or soothing egos.
It is really satisfying when it comes off though. Seeing (and being one of) a full room of people dancing away to Aqua Livi and the Roots Imansion was a pretty special moment. It might have been hard but it was worth it. I must just keep that focused in my mind. All the work will be worth it if we can have another night as good as that.
The reason I got into that was that as I mentioned in a previous post the Fringe Festival organisation is also starting to roll forward like some unstoppable juggernaut and that involves (hopefully) persuading loads and loads of people all having to go through the same kinds of traumas to put on nights. We must be insane! Maybe it's like hangovers you just forget how bad the previous one was otherwise you'd think "sod it, I'm not doing another screwball, let's just do a normal 3 band gig in the town center... or actually how about we just GO to a gig."
Right, so now I've sold you on the concept I reckon you probably all want to be promoters. There are some great articles on Josaka to help you. I especially liked this one about budgets.
*A gig! Dirty minds the lot of you.
# posted by Mike @ 14:10 
