Seeking advice for outdoor gig

[ddewerd]

You will end up offering to let them use your mic to announce the raffle...

Depending on how many raffle items there are, this could take 30 minutes of your 2 hours...

Just saying (BTDT), not a bad thing, just don't be surprised.

I would keep your gear to a minimum, but solid and dependable. No point bringing a ton of stuff to use for one or two songs. At these kinds of things, you're mostly background music, and nobody is really going to notice that your tone was a bit thin on that one song cuz you didn't bring your guitar amp.

I tend to be over-prepared for my most of my gigs, and over the years I've learned to tone it down a bit.

Lots of other good advice here,but the main thing is - HAVE FUN!

Cheers,
Doug

 

[JustABluesGuy]

Put a stuffed animal or plastic toy in the tip jar. The kids will be fascinated by it and keep asking mom for money to put in the jar. My singer uses a plastic shark.

Half joking...but it usually works.

I haven’t heard of that before! I have heard of putting a little bit of “decoy” money in, to get the ball rolling.

You will end up offering to let them use your mic to announce the raffle...

I asked the neighbor who asked me if we would play, and she said they don’t have a PA as far as she knows.

I’m not sure, but it doesn’t sound like she’s in charge, but maybe is part of a committee?

I figured they would need to announce winners and such, so I figure they might have a PA, and she just doesn’t know, but more likely she’s assuming we will be supplying that?

I will definitely need to get some clarification on that issue. This is all a pretty amateur, fairly disorganized event.

Depending on how many raffle items there are, this could take 30 minutes of your 2 hours...

Just saying (BTDT), not a bad thing, just don't be surprised.

I would keep your gear to a minimum, but solid and dependable. No point bringing a ton of stuff to use for one or two songs. At these kinds of things, you're mostly background music, and nobody is really going to notice that your tone was a bit thin on that one song cuz you didn't bring your guitar amp.

I tend to be over-prepared for my most of my gigs, and over the years I've learned to tone it down a bit.

Lots of other good advice here,but the main thing is - HAVE FUN!

Cheers,
Doug

Thanks for all the useful feedback! It’s appreciated!

 

[Telekarster]

Lots of good advice here. IME I'm more in line with what @Peegoo and @CCK1 has recommended. Some have suggested giving tempo things to people there, to entice fun etc., that's fine if you don't mind those same people being completely off the beat and wrecking your song LOL!!! And... if the 80 proof is flowin' well.... bad things can happen there as well. IMO keep it simple and avoid adding anymore chaos than will already be there Good luck man! I'm sure it will go well!

EDIT: Oh yeah! And don't forget your TIP JAR! You might be surprised at that thing in the end, especially if the booze is flowin'

 

[Refugee]

Hi all, I was asked recently if a buddy of mine and I would be willing to play an outdoor “meet and greet” gig for our neighborhood homeowner’s association in early June. The event will run from 4 till 6 and they are serving chili dogs and sodas, and there is going to be a raffle as well.



We’ve been putting together a duo act with my buddy on acoustic and lead vocals, and myself on electric and backing vocals. We both have Fishman Loudbox Minis (60 watts) that we use for guitar and vocals. At the moment I’m planning to use my California Sound Amp in box run into my Fishman just to have less to bring, and to keep things simple, but I could, (and might) bring an electric amp to allow for more volume and a bit better guitar tone.



It’s not going to be a huge event (they’re expecting 50 people max) so we won’t need stadium filling volume, but it WILL be outside.



The organizer did say that they were going to have a raffle, but didn’t mention a PA and I get the impression it’s a fairly low budget affair.



She has offered us a tarp covering to protect against the southern Texas June sun, as well as any possible rain.



Any tips for a successful show would be appreciated, since neither of us have done any outdoor shows. It’s a neighborhood pool party, so we’ll be careful to keep things PG-13.



Any tips, ideas, warnings, or even stories about your past outdoor gigs are welcome. Also any suggestions for easy to learn and play but popular songs would be great as well. We’re old guys, but wouldn’t mind trying to play a few things that younger folks might enjoy, as long as they aren’t too difficult. We aren’t pros. We have both performed for others in past, but just a couple of private parties for friends. We usually just headline my family room, and we are doing this on a volunteer basis.



Share your outdoor gig tips, issues, successes, failures or just funny gig stories. I don’t even care if they are helpful tips, though than would be nice. I always get something useful from people posts, even if it’s just what NOT to do, so please share!



Thanks in advance.

I really like the chili dogs idea.

PA sounds like it'll be your biggest hurdle. A pair of old Mackies'll gethya a long way.

 

[JustABluesGuy]

Lots of good advice here. IME I'm more in line with what @Peegoo and @CCK1 has recommended. Some have suggested giving tempo things to people there, to entice fun etc., that's fine if you don't mind those same people being completely off the beat and wrecking your song LOL!!! And... if the 80 proof is flowin' well.... bad things can happen there as well. IMO keep it simple and avoid adding anymore chaos than will already be there Good luck man! I'm sure it will go well!

EDIT: Oh yeah! And don't forget your TIP JAR! You might be surprised at that thing in the end, especially if the booze is flowin'

Booze is allowed, but not going to be served. We will definitely put a tip jar out.

As far as audience participation train wrecks, we’re prone enough to them without and help, so that won’t be happening!

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[JustABluesGuy]

I really like the chili dogs idea.

PA sounds like it'll be your biggest hurdle. A pair of old Mackies'll gethya a long way.

I used to have a Mackie powered mixer and speakers, but hadn’t used them in years, so I ended up getting rid of them.

 

[JustABluesGuy]

Play with your backs to a wall, garage door, etc. A single 15A circuit will be plenty of power.

It's a "wallpaper gig" (social event--not a music show) so volume level can be really low. Folks that want to enjoy the music can gather around. Those that don't will be able to hear themselves talk.

Bring a backup for everything if you can.

Bring a box of large trash bags and a roll of duct tape to quickly cover your gear (speakers, etc.) in the event of rain.

Before you start, give the organizer a chance to come up to the mic and welcome everyone.

Have fun!

Great tips, thanks!

I just copied your whole post into my notes!

 

[bettyseldest]

You will end up offering to let them use your mic to announce the raffle...

Depending on how many raffle items there are, this could take 30 minutes of your 2 hours...

Just saying (BTDT), not a bad thing, just don't be surprised.

I had forgotten the charity gig we once did. They asked if they could use the PA to announce the raffle winners. They told us it would take between five and ten minutes, and we agreed they could do it between the first and second sets. Being a charity raffle, lots of folk won more than once, so donated prizes back to be raffled again. Then just as we thought that they were about to finish someone came out with a box of prizes they had forgotten about. By this time the raffle had run for over an hour. We had to merge set two into the final set to get away in time for the paying gig we had that evening.

 

[jays0n]

This sounds like it could be a lot of fun for you. I hope it all goes smooth. So many good suggestions were already put forward so Can’t really add much however, I did sound for a lot of outdoor events and what everyone says about the sound getting lost is very real. We were using some large powered Mackies and still it happens, even at a small quiet event. Having someone walk around during the show and come back and help adjust where the speakers are pointing , vol level, EQ etc. would really be a good thing.

Oh, make sure they have sand bags or weights for the EazyUp, tent or whatever. That thing lifts during the show and all hell can break loose (don’t ask how I know).

Also, watch Spinal Tap a few times between no and the show and then just try to enjoy yourself.

 

[Refugee]

Please don't exploit the kiddies with a toy in the tip jar. These are your neighbors and unless it's a featured prize for the raffle it'll probably leave a bad taste.

 

[JustABluesGuy]

Lots of good advice here. IME I'm more in line with what @Peegoo and @CCK1 has recommended. Some have suggested giving tempo things to people there, to entice fun etc., that's fine if you don't mind those same people being completely off the beat and wrecking your song LOL!!! And... if the 80 proof is flowin' well.... bad things can happen there as well. IMO keep it simple and avoid adding anymore chaos than will already be there Good luck man! I'm sure it will go well!

EDIT: Oh yeah! And don't forget your TIP JAR! You might be surprised at that thing in the end, especially if the booze is flowin'

Thanks for the feedback!

This sounds like it could be a lot of fun for you. I hope it all goes smooth. So many good suggestions were already put forward so Can’t really add much however, I did sound for a lot of outdoor events and what everyone says about the sound getting lost is very real. We were using some large powered Mackies and still it happens, even at a small quiet event. Having someone walk around during the show and come back and help adjust where the speakers are pointing , vol level, EQ etc. would really be a good thing.

Also, watch Spinal Tap a few times between no and the show and then just try to enjoy yourself.

I’m planning to buy a wireless system so that I can walk out into the audience area and listen. If I can find someone who is capable and willing to act as a sort of soundman that would be great, but I might be filling that roll as best as I can.

 

[Refugee]

This sounds like it could be a lot of fun for you. I hope it all goes smooth. So many good suggestions were already put forward so Can’t really add much however, I did sound for a lot of outdoor events and what everyone says about the sound getting lost is very real. We were using some large powered Mackies and still it happens, even at a small quiet event. Having someone walk around during the show and come back and help adjust where the speakers are pointing , vol level, EQ etc. would really be a good thing.

Also, watch Spinal Tap a few times between no and the show and then just try to enjoy yourself.

Yeah, Spinal Tap and chili dogs. Can't remember the last one I had. There was a sports bar in SF called Zeke's and they a great one called the 49'er Dog. Thing of beauty!

 

[bettyseldest]

This sounds like it could be a lot of fun for you. I hope it all goes smooth. So many good suggestions were already put forward so Can’t really add much however, I did sound for a lot of outdoor events and what everyone says about the sound getting lost is very real. We were using some large powered Mackies and still it happens, even at a small quiet event. Having someone walk around during the show and come back and help adjust where the speakers are pointing , vol level, EQ etc. would really be a good thing.

Oh, make sure they have sand bags or weights for the EazyUp, tent or whatever. That thing lifts during the show and all hell can break loose (don’t ask how I know).

Also, watch Spinal Tap a few times between no and the show and then just try to enjoy yourself.

Outdoor events can be unpredictable. For years I ran sound for a school summer fete. I placed a pair of efficient folded horns on the roof and ran 25 watts to each speaker. Twenty yards away you could comfortably hold a conversation, two hundred yards away at the end of the football pitch there were folks dancing, but you couldn't converse, and at the railway station a little over a mile, it sounded great, but you couldn't hear the platform announcements.

 

[ddewerd]

I had forgotten the charity gig we once did. They asked if they could use the PA to announce the raffle winners. They told us it would take between five and ten minutes, and we agreed they could do it between the first and second sets. Being a charity raffle, lots of folk won more than once, so donated prizes back to be raffled again. Then just as we thought that they were about to finish someone came out with a box of prizes they had forgotten about. By this time the raffle had run for over an hour. We had to merge set two into the final set to get away in time for the paying gig we had that evening.

Yup, it's happened on just about every charity thing I've ever done. Auctions and raffles that went on and on, announcing BBQ cookoff winners, etc.

It's not a bad thing, and especially if it's part of a charity event, that's just part of your contribution (probably more valuable than your rockstar time they took away from you )

It's just the nature of these things. People figure they can make announcements to 50-100+ people without any amplification, and it just doesn't work that way. And most of the folks wouldn't know what a PA is if it fell over and knocked them on the head! ("I brought a mic... oh... you mean I need an amp and speakers to make it work?"). I would assume that they haven't planned for it, so be the hero and offer to save the day!

Like I said, the main thing is to have fun, don't take it too seriously, bask in the glory, and enjoy yourself!

Cheers,
Doug

 

[sax4blues]

I'm not a fan of the tip jar for this situation. It's your neighbors having fun with you. How much money would you expect to get and will that make some kind of difference in your life? A couple times a year I host neighbors to the park for happy hour. I provide enough drink for everyone to have a couple, and others bring food & drink. Just think of this as you giving some fun to your friends.

edit: If you can think of a good cause which the neighbors might support put a jar for that.

 

[jays0n]

Outdoor events can be unpredictable. For years I ran sound for a school summer fete. I placed a pair of efficient folded horns on the roof and ran 25 watts to each speaker. Twenty yards away you could comfortably hold a conversation, two hundred yards away at the end of the football pitch there were folks dancing, but you couldn't converse, and at the railway station a little over a mile, it sounded great, but you couldn't hear the platform announcements.

Hahaha, yes, this exactly. We would have our crowd complaining they could not hear, but someone a block away and across a busy city street would call the police.

 

[SRHmusic]

Put a stuffed animal or plastic toy in the tip jar. ...

That reminds me- Our lead singer brought a very realistic looking stuffed animal dog for a while, that looked like a little shaggy dog sleeping on his guitar amp. At one mid-day 'lunch and music in the park' thing we did, a woman stood near us and took pictures of this for about three songs. We finally told her it wasn't real.

(But, yeah, a tip jar probably isn't right for a neighborhood or charity gig.)

 

[Ronzo]

If you can think of a good cause which the neighbors might support put a jar for that.

Google Image Result for https://external-preview.redd.it/flhBxSYG4OjBuf0sp4FgjYF0iqKtvCWOcFM1CjNKTqU.jpg?auto=webp&s=5c7653f292781cd8333a636a2bd522403d2d38d5

 

[DanglingNutslots]

Hi all, I was asked recently if a buddy of mine and I would be willing to play an outdoor “meet and greet” gig for our neighborhood homeowner’s association in early June. The event will run from 4 till 6 and they are serving chili dogs and sodas, and there is going to be a raffle as well.



We’ve been putting together a duo act with my buddy on acoustic and lead vocals, and myself on electric and backing vocals. We both have Fishman Loudbox Minis (60 watts) that we use for guitar and vocals. At the moment I’m planning to use my California Sound Amp in box run into my Fishman just to have less to bring, and to keep things simple, but I could, (and might) bring an electric amp to allow for more volume and a bit better guitar tone.



It’s not going to be a huge event (they’re expecting 50 people max) so we won’t need stadium filling volume, but it WILL be outside.



The organizer did say that they were going to have a raffle, but didn’t mention a PA and I get the impression it’s a fairly low budget affair.



She has offered us a tarp covering to protect against the southern Texas June sun, as well as any possible rain.



Any tips for a successful show would be appreciated, since neither of us have done any outdoor shows. It’s a neighborhood pool party, so we’ll be careful to keep things PG-13.



Any tips, ideas, warnings, or even stories about your past outdoor gigs are welcome. Also any suggestions for easy to learn and play but popular songs would be great as well. We’re old guys, but wouldn’t mind trying to play a few things that younger folks might enjoy, as long as they aren’t too difficult. We aren’t pros. We have both performed for others in past, but just a couple of private parties for friends. We usually just headline my family room, and we are doing this on a volunteer basis.



Share your outdoor gig tips, issues, successes, failures or just funny gig stories. I don’t even care if they are helpful tips, though than would be nice. I always get something useful from people posts, even if it’s just what NOT to do, so please share!



Thanks in advance.

Not reading all the replies so this may have been said. A guitar amp is very directional. If you’re outdoors, chances are that folks will be all over the place. I’d recommend a pair of 10” PA speakers on stands if that’s doable.

 

[JustABluesGuy]

Please don't exploit the kiddies with a toy in the tip jar. These are your neighbors and unless it's a featured prize for the raffle it'll probably leave a bad taste.

I’m not even sure about putting out a tip jar. It’s a volunteer event after all…