So this weekend was the first back for us and a real contrast:
Friday night - indoor live music venue. Still socially distanced, seated audience and limited numbers. In house PA with sound guy - great fun, a few mistakes but a room full of friends to catch up with.
https://imgur.com/gallery/A9YSBWF Sat night - outdoor for a pub by the river playing in a Marquee. We`d played there before and previously there was a small raised stage, but it was the dustiest gig ever. Speaker grills off the PA to deep clean kind of stuff!
This time turned up, Marquee still full of tables my band mates had to clear and no stage or matting! Literally expected to set up in the dirt, not even level for a drum kit. Grass in the marquee had worn away, so really was dry dusty, loose mud - apart from where their huge aircon unit had leaked, so the bass player had a damp patch to use.
When I asked if they had a ground sheet / old carpet the waitress came over and suggested that we use pizza boxes to build a stage to play on. When I showed up I said it was not acceptable, and we wouldn`t play.
This is only the 2nd gig I have cancelled in about 30 years of doing this. The first was when our drummer fell off his CBR600 and was having his leg pinned.
As a band we pride ourselves on being professional (although this is a hobby for all of us), on time, respectful, accommodating etc, etc, But there was simply no way I was rocking up with £10k of band equipment and being asked to play in the dirt. Hopefully the venue makes some improvements for the next bands.
https://imgur.com/a/hqVc5hZ
Comments
If any venue was serious about hosting bands, even that small effort should be made.
Totally the right call.
I think the worse position I ever played in was literally in the gutter, right by the kerb, Titchfield carnival in 2016. We had to set up on the road and there was a load of dog shit my side.