From jeep99@bright.net Thu Oct 09 14:02:55 2003
Subject:Re: Gigs everywhere

Here in Southern Ohio it's pretty limited to service clubs (American
Legion, Amvets, VFW) zoo circuit (Moose, Elks, Eagles) or red-neck
bars. Our band prefers service clubs and zoo because of cleaner,
nicer clientel and better pay and shorter hours. They typically are
only Saturday night and 9 to 1, whereas the bars are Friday &
Saturday 9 to 2. Also, the clubs tend to put you on a more-or-less
rotation schedule so you stay booked but never the same place too
often. We try to limit ourselves to every other Satuday but
sometimes double up for 3 in a row. There are 5 members; female lead
singer, bass player (these two are husband & wife), guitar, drums,
and me on keys. Four of us sing. We have our own P.A. and mix
ourselves from the stage and everyone hauls their own equipment with
me and the drummer splitting the P.A. gear. We do contemporary
country, r&b, blues, classic rock, and Motown. We average $100 per
hour for band, (minimum three hours... you want us two hours you pay
for three) sometimes $500 for the night ($80 - $100 per person per
night) and premium around the holidays. Now, no one so far has
mentioned the "U" word, but we are not "U" members since it does not
have a strong presence in Southern Ohio due to sparse population and
small "dues revenue" potential. We all have day jobs (engineer,
quality manager, school teacher/high school band director, and parts
person at Harley shop) so we try to take it easy on ourselves as far
as the hours. However, like everyone else probably thinks, what the
heck would I rather do on the weekends but hang out and play music
with my friends?