What would you Do ?

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 20 Apr 2002 8:06 pm

I was offered a gig this week to sit in with a band every Friday night for June and July, in a bar here in Montreal, The pay was going to be $75 a night. Sounds pretty good. Well here's the problem. The stage in this place will hold a three or four piece band, and I'm the fifth guy, so I'd have to set up on the dance floor in front of the stage. I said no way and declined. I've already had one drunk fall on me, and bust my guitar, set up like that. I'm just curious to know how others feel about setting up on the floor as opposed to the stage. It seems us steelers require lots of real estate on stage!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 20 Apr 2002 8:17 pm

Just my opinion, but I would do it. It is so hard to find any place to play anymore that I would jump on any chance to play live. I would try to set up out of harms way if at all possible.

Heck, I probably would have done it for nothing.

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 20 Apr 2002 9:32 pm

Did it only once at the Duck Inn in Skamakaway, Wash. Regreted it then and will NEVER do it again for any amount of money.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 20 Apr 2002 10:24 pm

I wouldn't do it. Too dangerous. People don't see you because you're sitting down, and they dance right into you.

I'd tell them I'll do the gig if I can be on the stage. Otherwise no dice.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 20 Apr 2002 10:36 pm

Put the bass player and guitar player on the floor. At least they're standing up and can move if they have to.[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 20 April 2002 at 11:37 PM.]

Kurt Graber · Post by **Kurt Graber** » 21 Apr 2002 7:13 am

How hard is it to find a Steel job there where you live? That is the question. I wouldn't do it just on the fact that there is other places and gigs to play from where I'm from.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 21 Apr 2002 7:24 am

I'd tell them I'd take the gig but I'm not setting up on the floor.

I'd have to see the club.
Sometimes setting up to the side of the stage is do-able (and you can always bring your own "porta-stage" (a piece of black plywood set up on 6 plastic milk crates).

Setting up in front of the band on the dance floor would not work for me (I'd pass on the gig).

I've played on some very small stages.
I couldn't believe how small the stage was at Tootsies on Broadway in Nashville, and they had steel, bass, drums, guitar, and lead vocalist all crammed on there!

The trick is to get to the gig first and get your stuff set up!

[This message was edited by Pete Burak on 21 April 2002 at 08:25 AM.]

Terry Wendt · Post by **Terry Wendt** » 21 Apr 2002 7:43 am

2pT

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TheEarlyDays.com

and appearing regularly...
Jimmy Crawford/Russ Hicks... and Buddy Emmons on Bass! aLotOfSpace.com

[This message was edited by Terry Wendt on 21 April 2002 at 04:09 PM.]

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 21 Apr 2002 8:09 am

b0b said exactly what I believe.

Pete's comment, "The trick is to get to the gig first and get your stuff set up!" is so true.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 21 Apr 2002 8:43 am

oops![This message was edited by Pete Burak on 21 April 2002 at 04:44 PM.]

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 21 Apr 2002 8:47 am

I would take the gig. What I do when drunk singers or dancers bump into my steel is warn them once and then wrap my fist around my bar and punch them in the thigh so hard that they lose the use of that leg for a bit. It works for me. Plus once you knock one dancer over the rest of them seem to be able to learn from example.

Sitting home watching tv when you could have a gig truly sucks.

Bob

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 21 Apr 2002 8:52 am

Thanks guys, I was just wondering if I was becoming some sort of steel snob, or something. If everyone is set up on the floor then no problem, but when you're the odd man out, it's a different story. My biggest problem is that I'm an on and off guy with this band, so their gear has usually been set up before I arrive, so I can't exactly stake a claim on the stage. But hearing you're comments means alot.

Steven Welborn · Post by **Steven Welborn** » 21 Apr 2002 9:56 am

A couple of options to consider:

1. take the job and and try to get the band as dependent as possible on the steel for their sound, intros, etc., then demand more pay to make it worth your while to endure the conditions.
2. a pet supply store in your area probably has one of those electric fences. I've considered setting one up around me if I ever got a bar gig again.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 21 Apr 2002 10:01 am

One time years ago I was playing w/Jim Leslie and we played a joint up in Saugus w/no stage whatsoever so we were all on the floor.A guy came up snot-slingin drunk and was slobbering all over me,poking me in the chest while I was playing - bitching about who knows what and laying hands all over my steel.Later the bass player said I over reacted but to my mind,when he got physical he crossed the line so I gave him a quick zap in the solar plexus from a little stun gun I keep handy and he sobered up real quick and promptly sat down - I guess figuring that he got shocked from touching my strings.Later on he came up,apologized and put a dollar in the tip jar. -MJ-

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 21 Apr 2002 11:31 am

I wouldn't do it. Bad situation. You are degrading yourself. Have some pride. If more people would refuse maybe they would build a real stage.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 21 Apr 2002 11:49 am

If you really want to play that gig, tell them to let you & the drummer set up on the stage, then let the rest of the band set up on the dance floor. NR

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 21 Apr 2002 11:18 pm

i'd make sure i was up on the stage and let the guitboxer ward of the dancers and rowdies on the floor...
that is if you really want the gig.
Steel wishin' ya' the best...

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 22 Apr 2002 12:11 am

Michael J.

Now you sound like a steel player after my own heart !

In the imortal words of some trumpet player that gigged with Sinatra and everybody else when I asked him on the stage of some crappy rock club what the heck he was doing playing with us losers downtown:

"You gotta gig or you don't gotta gig."

Bob

[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 22 April 2002 at 01:13 AM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 22 Apr 2002 3:31 am

Get the gig first,tell them you'll try the floor..Do the "we'll see how it goes" deal that way they can't holler at you for complaining later on. Maybe after you play a set or two ( before they get too drunk ) go for the gold, tell them the floor ain't workin' , it's the stage or home. Remember, home was the first option anyway.

I personally wouldn't set up on the floor but I would accept the gig first and negotiate after that.

Good luck, I hope it works out as playing that many gigs in a row would be great.
tp [This message was edited by Tony Prior on 22 April 2002 at 04:32 AM.]

R Robichaud · Post by **R Robichaud** » 22 Apr 2002 7:46 pm

Hi Glenn,
Problem solved! Just build a small temporary platform on top of the drummer. Just make sure to tell him to watch his head when coming out, or it could improve his playing abilities. You'll also be on top of things. Bob

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Apr 2002 8:08 pm

How big is the dance floor? Maybe you can stake out some real estate on the floor and mark it off with hay bales or something besides a steel guitar for the drunks to trip over? Or those poles with velvet rope that they use in theaters to cordone off areas? On second thought, the hay bales are probably a better idea. (Or just spread broken glass all around the floor in front of you, just for laughs...)

jerry wallace · Post by **jerry wallace** » 22 Apr 2002 11:17 pm

Glenn, back in 1970 or so I was playing a 6 night a weeker for a year in "Raymonds lounge" Located in Roswell, NM {UFO CITY}...

I was not set up on the floor, but at the very front edge of a stage about 6"or 8" from the floor..After a few drinks the dancers would very often bump into the low stage and then my 65 Emmons PP..I suffered several bent pedal rods..

I learned after a while to keep one eye on the dancers and a arm ready to defend my steel..

The final straw came one Saturday night when a gentleman who plainly had downed 10 or 12 two many "COOR'S" stumbled up to the stage, leaned over my PP and asked "DOA Yall GUYS KNOW ER,,AAAA OOOKLAHOMA HILLS"..

When hills came out of his mouth, so did about 12 or so of the "Coors Rockey Mountain Spring Waters" along with whatever else the guy had for supper {I think it was still alive} that had ferminted in his stomach, ALL OVER MY 1965 EMMONS..

Needless to say, after 30+ years, whenever I hear either the song or the title "Oklahoma Hills" I not only think about "riding my pony on the reservation",But also cleaning the Coor's from my 65 PP..And wanting to scalpe that guy!

NO MORE ON THE FLOOR OR OUT FRONT FOR ME!!

With a stand up instrument you can dodge, shift, jump , run ,turn around, lean over or something..But with a steel,Your in DEEP TROUBLE YOU CANT ESCAPE..Ands its a real chore to get all of that liquid/semi-solid stuff people swallow ,cleaned out of your tuning head, roller nuts etc..

I guess I am just to picky???

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Jerry Wallace-2001 Zum: D-10,8+6, "98 Zum: D-10,8+8,Nashville 1000,Session 500 ,Session 400 head only amp,Tubefex,ProfexII, Artesia, New Mexico
http://communities.msn.com/jerrywallacemusic http://www.jerrywallacemusic.com

[This message was edited by jerry wallace on 23 April 2002 at 12:23 AM.]

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 23 Apr 2002 9:05 am

Hi guys, Thanks for all the interesting stories, and suggestions. I'll probably do the gig. I'll just have to make myself fit up there on the stage. We seem to run into this problem a lot up here. Most bands on the bar scene here are duo's, we play as 5 or 6 usually. I just sank a pile of money for an Emmons, so I don't want to put it in harms way. I find that a lot of people in bar's have no respect whatsoever. They put their beer on your amp, while they're playing pool or put an ashtray on your guitar. I don't rule out that someone might hurl on my guitar one day either.

Gerald Menke · Post by **Gerald Menke** » 1 May 2002 9:42 am

Wow bringing a stun gun to a gig. And I thought New York could be wild, guess I was mistaken. Hmmm...I'd take it in a heartbeat, as I agree with Bob on this one, you've got a gig or you don't. And a regular one is pretty hard to come by here in the city, on the floor or otherwise. I've done a few that way, and it wasn't such a big deal. Now vomit on the steel...whoa. I think I'd make that idiot clean it himself, using that stun gun to motivate his sorry so-and-so.

G

Jimmy Dale · Post by **Jimmy Dale** » 1 May 2002 1:37 pm

Hey Bobbe Seymour, ya see I'm not the only one as you said " down in the trenches in a war zone with a steel". Jimmy I'D RATHER BE STEELIN'