Playing gigs in the 70's

[js218]

Back in the mid 70's when I played, we usually played 45 minute set with a 20 minute break, free food an alcohol plus a percentage of the cover charge. Just curious to how it works now........ Played rock clubs in Philly and the Jersey shore.


Jim

[Markadiddle]

Probably 45 minute set, no breaks, no food or drink and you have to pay to play.

Just kidding. I have no idea. Some of the threads I had seen here talked about where you had to sell your own tickets just to be able to play. I thought it was a little ridiculous.

[js218]

^^^^^ yeah that is crazy, for a 4 night booking at the Jersey shore I averaged ~ $200 this to a 18 year old drummer was priceless.


Jim

[EddieV]

We do either four 45 minute sets with a 15 minute break, or three 1-hour sets with a 20 minute break.

[PopsOldSkins]

I'm going back to the 1960's
We (four) were still in high school. Not allowed in bars under 21.
Grew up in a small town in northern North Dakota.
All the little town's had a hall of some kind.
We booked or rented the hall for a night. Usually $30.00 for the hall and $5.00 for a cop.
Played from 9:00-1:00am Three fifteen minute breaks.
Tickets were $1.25 a piece.
On average we each made $25.00 per night after expenses. (today would = $200.00+ each)
Once in a blue moon we would contract a gig threw the Jaycee's for $125.00, split five ways. $25.00 for each of us and $25.00 for gas and expense's.

Oop's, sorry you meant now.. Never mind.

[late8]

4 sets @ 45 minutes each with a 15 minute break in between sets if playing local for $400. Price jumps up to $500-$600 if we have to travel more than 45 minutes to the gig.

[slinglander]

Back then we were rock cover-garage bands. Nobody really thought we could become famous or make much money. Who would notice us? No youtube, no way to cut our own records, no Twitter or URLs! It was for fun.
I tried forming a band but the guitar and bass loved my "Blue Cheer" LP so I disbanded it.
Another band wanted to go on tour-the "lounge circuit." Songs were original but sounded too much to me like wedding reception music. I didn't go.
Other gigs..$25 sounds right.

[MDK]

One band I was in 3 yrs ago did 3 sets at 50min. each with a 15 minute break give or take and the one I am in now does the same thing but we are going to try a 90 minute set with a 20 minute break followed by another 90 minute set.

When I go to clubs both as a customer and a player I notice everyone starts getting into it and then 4 songs later you take a break? I hate that. I wonder why that ever even started?

I know of one local band here who plays 3 hours straight with no breaks,and they are really known for doing that although they do throw in a brief drum solo, followed by a guitar solo and also a bass solo but not every night.

Not sure how I am going to like playing 90 minute sets back to back but we will see.

[js218]

We use to book 4 night gigs down the shore a town called Wildwood N.J.
There were 3 or 4 rock clubs for lack of a better word then there was a club called Bullwinkle's had 1 main stage then 3 stages outside the property was on 5 acres with a large lake those were the good old days.........




Jim

[markthechuck]

We do a 50 min set, 20 min break, 1 hr set then 15 min encore.
If we were strict we'd do 2x45 min sets with 20 min break then a 15 min encore.
We get between £200-£300

[atomcorr2]

we do 3 , 1 hour sets with 2 half hour breaks.

[rickthedrummer]

Nowadays, having 4-5 bands for 1 venue is like having a hockey game and a wrestling match at the same time in the same place. I would still be driving a truck if it were like that back in the day.

Back around '64'-'65, we played the Jersey shore, a little NYC, and some Pennsy in the Philly area. Had phony proof for NY and Jersey (who didn't), grew a moustache and I don't recall anyone bothering me.

1st gig in '61, paid me $5.00 for the night. Last gig with our band paid considerably more in 2004.

Played with a trio for a couple of years after I had basically retired just to play something totally different, and play 95% of the time with brushes. Didn't make what I was making with our band, only about a C a night, but it was fun.

The '70's were a great time. Lot of good bands and a lot of places to play.

[js218]

^^^^^^^ agree 100% a lot of good bands and clubs back in the 70's the Jersey Shore was a gold mine if your band was able to land a summer gig.



Jim

[rickthedrummer]

We use to book 4 night gigs down the shore a town called Wildwood N.J.
There were 3 or 4 rock clubs for lack of a better word then there was a club called Bullwinkle's had 1 main stage then 3 stages outside the property was on 5 acres with a large lake those were the good old days.........




Jim

There are Bullwinkles all over the place.

Bullwinkles in Minneapolis has some great food. Friendly crowd. Lot of UM students.

[NewTricks]

. Just curious to how it works now........

It's pretty much the same but @ $100 a night each, you make 1/2 the money you used to.

Around here it was never a one night gig in the olden days. Usually Thursday thru Sunday (if I can remember back that far)

The last place I gigged in the olden days made us play an extra 2 sets after hours.

Eff that. If I wanted to work six hours, I would have gotten a real job, which is what I did

[Texdrumr]

We typically only take one break per night. That's our decision not the club, usually. Even on 4 hour gig nights, we will usually play 2 hours, break for 15-20 minutes and then finish the night out at whatever it takes. Rarely do we ever take 2 breaks.

As far as pay...I'm guaranteed a minimum fee everytime I take the stage. I am also always guaranteed a 'free' ride to and from gigs if it's out of town. These are two things I negotiated up front. I almost always get paid more, but never less, and it's always worth my time. Food and drinks are free on about half the gigs but this doesn't really matter a lot to me. I don't drink or eat much right before or during gigs and I always have about a half gallon of water with me.

As much fun as it is to play out, this is still a business and I refuse to be cheapened by playing for tips alone. The ONLY exception is for benefits like breast cancer fund raisers and such. These I gladly play for free.

Tex

[js218]

^^^^^ I agree we never played for tips we had a set price per 4 night gig plus a percent of the cover, remember this was 1974 - 1977 so $200 was a lot of cash plus it was a lot of fun something I'll never forget. That $200 was my take home for 4 days work.


Jim

[N2Bluz]

We usually do four 50min. sets with a 10min. breaks between. Some place give free drinks (usually 1 drink per person, per set). Other places make you pay for everything. I usually try to include drinks And cut $50 off our price if they don't want to pay our full price. As a 6pc or 7pc band, we can easily drink $50 worth of beer at bar retail prices, but it actually costs the bar about half that. In the end, our take home pay is the same. We'll do 3hr gigs, acoustic gigs, Friday afternoon gigs.....our price varies accordingly. $300 is about the minimum and $600 is the most we've charged.

[Ricardo]

I have a club-gig coming up in August............they require 9pm until midnight.

We plan to play two sets of 75 minutes each with a 30 minute break in between.

[js218]

For those of you gigging now do you use a promoter, agent or is it all word of mouth. When we got started it was word of mouth the we went with a promoter who actually increased our income and perks, is this how it works in todays environment.



Jim

[Texdrumr]

For those of you gigging now do you use a promoter, agent or is it all word of mouth. When we got started it was word of mouth the we went with a promoter who actually increased our income and perks, is this how it works in todays environment.



Jim

All on us. No promoter or agent.

[js218]

So you book the gigs and draw up a contract.....


Jim

[veafer]

I know I played alot in the 70's..................Just don't remember much of it. It WAS the 70's after all!!!!!!!!......lol

[EddieV]

For those of you gigging now do you use a promoter, agent or is it all word of mouth. When we got started it was word of mouth the we went with a promoter who actually increased our income and perks, is this how it works in todays environment.



Jim

We source and book much of our work on our own. Many larger venues, especially casinos, corporate customers, and even larger entertainment centers use agencies ... so we work with 4 or 5 different agencies too. These agencies are approached all the time by acts looking for work. Some are new and simply looking for someone to "find" gigs for them. The agents typically don't waste their time with that as they are looking for acts that are established, have experience, and can be trusted, so they can use them for their clients.

[Ricardo]

I know I played alot in the 70's..................Just don't remember much of it. It WAS the 70's after all!!!!!!!!......lol

That's right............remember the old saying :

If you can remember the 70s, then you weren't there !