NWB - Community Blog

10 Jun 2009

Gigs. The way it used to be

Filed Under : Other

Posted By : Bad Horsie (Mick) | Comments : 9

Does anyone else remember gigs happening this way?

I was reminded by the Club post with the new bands rebelling against the crap venue ethic in Manchester.

You are a young band. Doing all covers or originals and covers or just originals. There are no pub gigs in your area, so what do you do? An enterprising member of the band says "let's hire a hall or something and charge on the door".

I remember this well in Leyland in the 80s. There was NOWHERE to play unless you were a cabaret band. Fox Lane Cricket Club had bands on at least once a month, and the Cricket Club did NONE of the arranging. The band paid for the hire and bar staff, the band did the promo and the band took the door take. SOmetimes you came away with a few quid, sometimes you took the hit. But at least you were in control of the gig.

Anybody else remember and miss those days? 8o)

Comments

# Posted by delete 79 - 10/06/2009, 16:33 (GMT)

sounds good may be time for as return to these times! its worth a try innit! suppose itd only work if you had a decent crowd coming though!

# Posted by Willow (of somebig™Fish) (Reti... - 10/06/2009, 17:17 (GMT)

It's a bloody rough time at the minute to get people through the door for free, never mind charging 'em. When we first started a couple of years ago we approached a couple of local pubs and asked could we play there once a month midweek - no charge to anyone - a few beers were thrown in which was good - but it was basically for our own benefit to sharpen up the stuff live.
We got a good crowd going at both places - but when we a) asked for money to do a 'proper' Fri/Sat night gig there was nothing forthcoming - and b)when we got gigs at beer festivals where u had to pay on the door none of the punters could be arsed but moaned about us knocking the midweek night on the head!
We've managed to earn enough for 2 days recording, 2 days mixing and all the printing gubbins so we've got an album (100 copies) out of 2 years gigging.
I've sort of gone off track now and don't really know what my point was!! haha I think its that folk are mingebags round here!! lol
WillowF

# Posted by Alyerpal - 10/06/2009, 17:21 (GMT)

Yeah , I remember those rose hued days. We used to get the women folk to put food on aswell - couldn't do that anymore for fear of the dreaded H&S exec - and we always had a good night and usually made a few bob aswell.

# Posted by Total Protonic Reversal - 10/06/2009, 19:07 (GMT)

that is the reason we put on gigs for ourselves a fair bit saves been fucked about by someene else

# Posted by Potential Victims - 10/06/2009, 20:52 (GMT)

We used to put on our own gigs, sometimes just us and a couple of support bands, sometimes with a 'name' punk band to help get a crowd in, we would hire a heard of band such as 'Subhumans' or 'U.K.Subs' and we would be support. It got us gigs, and sometimes a bit of money but it was mainly done just for the sake of playing. But like 'Bad Horsie' says, it puts you in control of your own gigs. Good times.

# Posted by Duke Bocks - 10/06/2009, 20:55 (GMT)

who was it said "LET'S DO THE SHOW RIGHT HERE !!"?..oh yeh..Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland..overture and begginers please !

# Posted by Hazardous Waist - 11/06/2009, 10:24 (GMT)

We've done 4 charity gigs in as many years, just to work on the live stuff. Some venues will let you have the room for free or at a nominal rate if it's for a charity and they'll sell a lot of beer. We can get between 60 and 90 people and raise between £400 to £900 for a charity. We get tickets printed at http://www.ticketalternative.co.uk then you can sell tickets to people who can't/won't even come on the night.

# Posted by MOTHERS RUIN - 11/06/2009, 11:32 (GMT)

When i was in my band Lights Out based in poynton from 78-81 we used to do covers = originals ..there were gigs at Masonic Arms Bollington a couple in macc,Bees Knees,Cobdens Place,Brookfield+ the market pubs round Stockport ...but we the idea of doing a gig at the civic hall in poynton as if you lived in the Parish you cud hire it for free,so we set about organizing it cans of coke from cash & carry,a mighty 2k rig from vampire acoustics and a 50p door charge... we made £400 + front page news in the macc express & Stockport Ad with headlines such as 'Night of Fear at Civic hall disco' where one of the 'board' had come down to have a look and cudnt face the mass of young people there .........but they let us do another 3 concerts !!
.....now pull up closer and warm yrself by the fire for another tale ..................

# Posted by Ian from Bolton - 11/06/2009, 16:45 (GMT)

I used to rehearse at Fox Lane Cricket Club, in my cabaret band days.. oddly enough........

Therapy and hypnosis were helping me to forget it, then you mentioned it!
DOH!

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