Trad Gig in Tight Quarters

jhatpro · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:56 am Post subject:

All valid. I just wish someone in our group could sing. Thanks.
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Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.â€ 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 · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 5:52 am Post subject:

jhatpro · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:37 am Post subject:

This is shaping up as a grand experiment. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for all the good replies.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.â€ 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

area51recording · Veteran Member Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 480

One drummer I work with around here knocks it down to a snare (played with brushes) and hi hat on such gigs. This guy swings his butt off and would sound good playing a shoebox, so it still totally works.....

Turkle · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 12:10 pm Post subject:

jazz_trpt · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 12:20 pm Post subject:

Not every band is meant to fit in every space.

If it were me I'd do it with 3-4 players tops or just turn the gig down. UNLESS they were offering $$ I didn't feel like I could pass up.
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jhatpro · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 12:54 pm Post subject:

While I really hate to drop players just to make a few extra bucks it may come to that.

I'm going to drop by the venue with a tape measure and find out exactly how much floor space we might have. Then I'm going to bring some tape to rehearsal tomorrow and mark off the space and see if we can deal with it.

The tale of the tape may make it obvious how many players we can use.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.â€ 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

Turkle · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 1:41 pm Post subject:

I do a whole lot of gigs with just piano, trumpet/flugel, and a singer. For those small venues you don't even need drums, especially if it's a restaurant where people are trying to talk.

(I just really don't like playing with drummers! They are always so dang loud!!)
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Jazz Beatnik · New Member Joined: 02 Sep 2017 Posts: 1

I've done some gigs at small coffee-shops and sandwich shops with a drummer, upright bass, electric guitar, and me (trumpet/flugelhorn). The drummer actually used a small set which consisted of bass, snare, mounted tom, high hat, and ride (once he even crammed in a floor tom).

All I can tell you is you have to show up early, and be aggressive about claiming space in the shop. Even if it means rearranging their seating to make even the slightest amount of extra room for the band. You will probably get some little complaints, but always remind them how much value they bare getting for what they are paying. And, if your group is good, they will forget all about their minor/temporary rearrangements. Plus, you will find that once you start playing, some people won't even mind standing for a set or two.

anyway, it will still be cramped, and you will have to pay extra close attention to dynamics, but the space thing will be in YOUR favor.
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Turn up the furnace!" -Herman Munster

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jhatpro · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 10:16 am Post subject:

Just finished a very good rehearsal for which I used masking tape on the floor to delineate a 9x7 rectangle. We shucked some equipment (no bass drum, tuba instead of upright bass) and the 6 of us fit fine.

It was cozy but as the previous poster just suggested, tight space can actually work to your advantage: we sounded really good because we had closer contact with one another.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.â€ 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

cheiden · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:36 am Post subject:

One of the best gigs I ever had with my old pop band was when we were crowded onto a tiny stage. These days I still struggle when bands insist on needlessly spreading out to fill a big stage.
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BeboppinFool · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:47 am Post subject:

For what it's worth, there's a guy here in the Asheville area named Russ Wilson, and he plays many, many gigs using just his snare drum and brushes. Nothing else.

And I tell you what, he sounds so good on that one drum that I have booked him on gigs and requested that he only bring his snare and brushes. I'm sure there are other drummers who can do a great job with very little equipment.
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jazz_trpt · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:32 pm Post subject:

aaronwolf1 · Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 5:49 pm Post subject:

Do you really need all of the horn players?
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Aaron

Richard III · Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 5:57 pm Post subject:

giakara · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 3:42 am Post subject:

For me is too big combo for this place , if you realy want the job leave the bone out and tell to the drummer to use a most minimal set he can.

Regards
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jhatpro · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 1:29 pm Post subject:

These are guys I enjoy playing with. I'm not tossing people overboard just to makea few bucks. Besides, to me trad without a full front line would sound pretty bland - sort of like pizza from anywhere but Chicago.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.â€ 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 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 1680

jhatpro · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 3:05 pm Post subject:

Love it!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.â€ 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

plp · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 3:16 pm Post subject:

I might be able to contribute something useful here, but you may not want to hear it.

Build around what the percussionist agrees to.

I play in a 15 piece band, every gig is about fitting the band into the assigned space.

When our percussionist (she has a Master's degree in applied percussion, performance) says it can't be done, it can't be done.

We have canceled some gigs because they can't provide the square footage.

She has done a 3 hour gig on clavinets, maracas, and beatbox, because that was all the room we had.
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Since all other motives—fame, money, power, even honor—are thrown out the window the moment I pick up that instrument..... I play because I love doing it, even when the results are disappointing. In short, I do it to do it.” Wayne Booth