[sirspinbad]

over here in Germany a function,birthday party,Wedding is called a Gala

...and unlike my experiences in NY here they are generally around 6-7 hours

everything held up well!! i was able to feel comfortable with my sound and play in tune..those are my 2 main concerns...

I had help.... first of all my Sakshama MBII gave me just what I needed..a full rich and warm sound...clear and even through the register i have to focus very concentratedly on the streamined contour of the piece as I practice on fat HR pieces at home,but it didnt ever let me down

im using a sterling plus neck on my Mark 6 keeps everything focused

and for overkill a saxgourmet neck enhancer...and it really gave me that extra focus

i was very comfortable on stage...it was a strange,but cool venue...at the base of one of those inflatable water tanks...the room was a hexagon and made completely out of concrete....sound of the horn really carried...I never used a Mic!!!

At home i practice the sax basically the same way as I do the trumpet concentrating on keys like A,B,F#,Ab minor and it really had my fingers prepared for the gig.It's a highly MIDI sequenced band so I was free a lot to work out my own lines and just flow

just glad to put the horn in action...next time I'll take the bari too!!!

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Glad to hear it went well. 7 hours is a long time to play. My gigs are usually no longer than three 45 minute sets with 15 minute breaks. I can not imagine playing for 7 hours.

B

 

[sirspinbad]

i do 10 hours on trumpet at the jazz beergarden about 7 days in the summer and the other 14 days im booked i play 7-8 hours its a jazz beergarden so its cool...funny thing is i play my best the last 2 hours

in NY if you tell somebody the gig is more thann 4 hours...usually they just say flat out no...or it better pay extraordinarily....

....always fun is the 4 hour straight gig!!!

 

[Grumps]

Tell us more about the gig... and less about the equipment.

 

[sirspinbad]

...i'll post a video

..equipment is a large factor in my last years development as a player.... staying focused on a gig is a major problem for many,and on a 7 hour gig even more difficult

my equipment has been a MAJOR factor in my quick development....and when I'm on the spot to produce...for a long period of time, in non -original keys(singers ...you know?),tunes i've never played before,or haven't in a very very long time anything that helps me keep the focus is a BIG help.... and in this case I WASNT EVEN USING A MIC and still able to keep a comfort zone so for me...the equipment gets half of the credit I COULD NOT have done it on a Martin Indiana with a Brilhart Tonalin (i mention that ,because I think it's a GREAT setup...but not for this gig)

as a trumpet player,ive got my favorites...but still...give me any horn and mouthpiece(within reason) and ill play it for 7 hours.... I know that there are many sax players here who feel the same..but they are proficient players....I am not....... i'm just tickled pink that I squeeked only once the whole gig!!!!

 

[sirspinbad]

about the gig...it's amazing ive realy never played 80% of the stuff that this band plays...of those tunes never even heard almost half of them....and of those tunes 3/4 of those are American!!

my first club dates(that's a function in NY,if you think its playing in a club,its not!!) were with some amazing musicians...Tony Sotos,Eddie Montero........ they played tunes from the 20s 30s that id never heard before...then there was all the Italian and Jewish music...then the classics Somewhere Beyond the Sea etc.etc...
I was scared out of my pants to go on a gig....

that VERY quickly changed.... it soon became....if you Knew Girl from Ip,In The Mood,YMCA,and I will Survive you were cool...then you could just fake the rest Quando,Quando Quizas Tea for Two all tunes of a forgotten age

Well the gigs are back to that level over here...and whats really tough for me is the Waltzes.... they play some LONG famous waltzes with like 6 different sections that,yes,Ive never heard before..... the fun never stops!!!!

 

[Grumps]

...equipment is a large factor in my last years development as a player...

Only by keeping your interest and having you play more to experiment, I'd imagine. I like it when folks share their gig experiences here and I was looking forward to a good read. But quite frankly, your initial post read more like bragging about what you were using to play with, rather than anything you played. I'm not trying to flame you here either. Just that now that it seems that you're all set with the right equipment for the job, now it's time to focus on the music. I just want to hear more about that, that's all.

 

[sirspinbad]

...my ability to get work relies on people wanting to trust a musician with more experience more than a technician with less

for the last couple of years i can do anything in the studio...playing with a band,rythm section is really the trick

 

[Grumps]

How many pieces in the band? And seven hours is brutal. How much of that time are you actually playing? And is it customary there for the band to get fed and maybe have a drink or two?

 

[sirspinbad]

..as a matter of fact the concept of gear is parallel to music in certain senses....
if you havent lived it,you cant play it............
ive got many GREAT players as friends who always convinced me that B+ level stuff is just as good as the ferraris.....and ,yeah I wanted to save money!!...but through experience,and searching out those experiences,ive found what works for me....... and everyone is at a different level...and going for something not necessarily equal

i'm very curious to see after a few years of serious focus how my viewpoints will remain,or change

 

[sirspinbad]

5 piece band (left hand bass on the keyboard) we had lots of breaks with speciality acts in between this time(thank goodness) worst ventriloquist Ive EVER seen..(and hes famous !!!)
dummy had the same voice as the other dummy...and lips moved naturally the WHOLE time....seeing he was speaking in dialect,I had NO idea which character was speaking at all times

beer is MANDATORY in Germany!

sometimes its a light pasta before the show and thats it (still better than a bandwich) and sometimes its the full shabang.. last night was a Buffet...anybody who knows me ,knows that makes me VERY happy.... Ive somehow been the guy over the years who has become responsible for food organization,because I take it VERY seriously!!!
i was actually entered in the WING bowl a few years ago(all you can eat hot wings contest)...and this year I had i gig in NY the same week,so they tried to enter me again....but i couldnt fit it into my schedule....!!!!

 

[Grumps]

Now you're speaking my language; beer, buffet, all you eat hot wings! Oh wait a minute... I'm supposed to be focusing on the music. :bluewink:

Sounds like a great time actually, where you were treated well. Those are the best gigs to have.

 

[Sakshama]

My European customers would ask me for very small tip opening mouthpieces. I was wandering why when one told me " You go blow for 8 hours on 8"

 

[sirspinbad]

..actually I was meaning to talk to you about opening the MBII just a hair for me!!!!...i think it might cure that squeek!!

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

10 hours is insane! I guess I'm spoiled playing two contracted gigs a week with three 45 minute sets and 15 minutes break in between. My quartet plays a 60 minute set once or twice weekly, and then there are rehearsals that might last 3-4 hours at most.

If I compared my gig wages to a european 10 hour gig I would need to get paid $830 usd.

B

 

[sirspinbad]

well there are other perks.....quality of sound system is always primo, generally i ride the ICE train to a gig...have a nice meal before....as well a green room with refreshments/snacks showers.... a monitor man as well as a sound man.....nice hotel ....breakfast the next morning and take the train back home

when in NY if i had a gig in Boston..i was driving there(my own expense) nice meal before the gig...play 9 or 10 till 2 ...no hotel...drive back home....arrive in #$%^rush hour....when i finally got home id be wrecked for a couple of days....and what did I earn???

 

[sirspinbad]

http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb441/moses269/DK/?action=view&current=BlueBayou.mp4

here's a video!

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

well there are other perks.....quality of sound system is always primo, generally i ride the ICE train to a gig...have a nice meal before....as well a green room with refreshments/snacks showers.... a monitor man as well as a sound man.....nice hotel ....breakfast the next morning and take the train back home

when in NY if i had a gig in Boston..i was driving there(my own expense) nice meal before the gig...play 9 or 10 till 2 ...no hotel...drive back home....arrive in #$%^rush hour....when i finally got home id be wrecked for a couple of days....and what did I earn???

Yes it is always rush in, rush out and the added expense of transportation and late nights. That is a musicians lifestyle most of the time.

I still feel its good work if you can get it.

B

 

[Yofis]

The volume for that video is so low (at least on my system)...that I can't make out anything.

 

[sirspinbad]

...darn compression