Trad Gig in Tight Quarters

[jhatpro]

This is essentially a repost of a thread that seems to have completely disappeared - my apologies for the redundancy.

As I said, our 6-piece trad group has been offered a gig at a vest-pocket club that features Cajun cooking.

When I say vest pocket, I'm talking about a bistro with a 10-stool bar and 10 tables for four with scant room between them. That leaves virtually no room for our group: cornet, clarinet, trombone, guitar, bass, drums.

Our challenge is to somehow shrink our footprint to fit the space and, among the suggestions received before the thread went south were: cocktail kit for the drummer, drop the drum kit altogether in favor of a washboard, drop the drummer, stools not chairs for the band, shared stands, and memorize the tunes and thus require no stands.

I like all the suggestions except the one about dropping the drummer. I hate to cast people aside just for lack of space.

Any other ideas out there?
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[TrumpetMD]

I think one of the lost suggestions was to use a stripped-down drum kit. I've done gigs, where space was a premium. In these settings, the drummer only had a kick, snare, and high-hat. Nothing else.

Mike
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

[jhatpro]

If you saw this space you might conclude even that would be too much. At the moment I'm leaning toward washboard.

The venue really is dollhouse size. My wife just rolls her eyes at even the the thought of trying to shoehorn six guys in it.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[Richard III]

The last time we used a washboard, my creative consultant told me it was totally of no value to our band. Keep in mind my consultant is my wife, but I ask her because she's not a musician and represents the general public.

I just watched a video of a band that used a small bass drum hanging off the drummer with a cymbal on top. He was standing so took up minimal space. Yup. Boom-ching-boom-ching. Worked for me listening to it.
_________________
Richard

Conn 22B Trumpet
York Eminence Model 4028 Cornet
1903 Conn The Wonder Cornet

[kehaulani]

I like the washboard idea, considering your instrumentation and size of the room. You can also mute the brasses. You might also consider an electric, in place of an acoustic, bass.

But a larger question: considering the style of the band and cramped, limited size of the room, can you really control the loudness of the sound and is holding back that much, worth it?
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[jhatpro]

It's an experiment. I guess we'll find out. The venue is new enterprise. The owner has been trying to find a trad group and been unable. He's been using a variety of blues players but really wants a more authentic New Orleans sound.

If it works out it could be fun. Whether it will pay enough to make it worth while is uncertain to say the least but I'm way past expecting to turn a profit on running a band. It's become my hobby, sort of like owning a sailboat, which someone once compared to standing in a cold shower while tearing up hundred dollar bills.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[MikeyMike]

Cowbell, dude. MORE COWBELL!!!!!


If you can't find/fit a cocktail kit in there I'd go with only a snare but put it on a high stand which will allow the drummer to play it standing up. That will take even less room than just a snare w/throne. And it would occupy only slightly more room than a washboard and would allow greater - uh, make that actual - musical contributions. Just the addition of even one ride cymbal would greatly enhance the percussion "section" but doesn't sound like there's any room left...

>>>If you REALLY need to strip it down, just get the drummer a tree with a couple of wood blocks and maybe another percussion piece or two. Like I said, MORE COWBELL!!! <<<
_________________
Ahh... that old case smell.

[jhatpro]

[MikeyMike]

[kehaulani]

Of course you and your drummer get the final vote, but I would much rather use a washboard if it's played right.

I realize it's subjective, so other suggestions may be valid, but to me just a snare sounds like there's something missing, while a washboard sounds more like a stand-alone instrument and may, also, give the listener/viewer more interest, visually and tonally.

For some reason I can't recall the name of it right now, but you could also use a wooden boxed instrument if you think you need a more bass sound to balance the other instruments.

There are plenty of examples on YouTube. Check out Tuba Skinny, i.e.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[MikeyMike]

Old Stroh's Beer Case and a foot pedal. One from the old days with the really heavy cardboard. Seriously.

Or a 2' long 2x4 laying flat on the ground with a piece of plywood 2'x2' with a hole in it screwed to one edge of the 2by. Add pedal on the other side.
_________________
Ahh... that old case smell.

[jhatpro]

Gotta love drummers. I asked one if he read music and he said, "Not when I'm playing."
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[jhatpro]

Will Leinenkugel's do?
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[MikeyMike]

[MikeyMike]

[jhatpro]

You guys are killing me.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[kehaulani]

[falado]

Hi, when I was in the Navy we would occasionally do a gig on the mess deck, pretty small on a destroyer. For these occasions our drummer had a kit called a rim set. It basically looks like a drum kit made of rototoms and that includes the bass drum. Except for high hat and maybe a small ride or crash and a snare, the entire kit fit in a narrow drum case. I don’t know who made them or if they are even around anymore, but may be worth looking into.

Dave
_________________
FA LA DO (Ab: V/ii) MUCS, USN (Ret.)
Stomvi VR (Reeves) with VR II Bell
Bach 239 25A C, Blueprinted
Bach 37, Early Elkhart, Blueprinted
Kanstul Flugel
Getzen 4 valve Pic.
Yamaha D/Eb
Besson Cornet

[Brad361]

[trumanjazzguy]

If I personally was doing this gig, I'd do it as a duo or trio. Six people is just silly, and will likely be far too loud for such an environment. Let's say you can get $40 a man, times 6, that's just under $250 Find other gigs where you can easily support 6 musicians, and let this be the one for your best and most volume-sensitive players. Realize that just because you may scoff at making money on the gig, doesn't mean the other players are in the same boat. Generally, playing low pay gigs and free gigs is bad for the industry as a whole, as it further devalues the products of the professionals who should be making a living wage...but in many cases, no longer can.

You need: Trumpet/vocals, chords/rhythm, and bass for your trio. You'll need to play in tight mutes 90% of the time. Everybody will need to LISTEN, and BACK OFF the volume! Ideally, in this scenario, you need yourself, a banjo (plectrum, not tenor), and a bass instrument. Sousaphone/tuba is better than Upright. Everyone will need to be able to solo... Singing a lot will vary things up enough to keep things interesting. If you absolutely must have another member, the next option is a reed player who primarily plays clarinet, and perhaps tenor sax.
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TPT: Nova LA
CRN: Getzen 1950’s W/5.5in bell
FL: Jupiter 1100R
‘Pieces:
TPT: 34-throat shallow double-cup, Chet Baker’s Custom Schilke, Bach Corp 3, Bach Mt. Vernon 6C, Ken Titmus BF Custom(s).
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