Gig start times
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:52 pm

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I raised this issue months ago in another
thread.
I want to raise it again.
I am midle-aged but avid collector of good
NZ music. We would love to go to live gigs
in Dunedin. But why on earth do the bands never
kick off until about 11pm at night.
It's too late for us, and meanwhile anyway,
the venue has become fuil of totally out-to-it
young drunks.
NZ Bands need to read this and perhaps have a
re-think about just where they play and at what time.
Because I speak on behalf of a large crowd of
"oldies" who are not hooked on the likes of The Greatest
Hits of Tom Jones

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:47 pm

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As one of those said bands, I would like to reply with this:

Simply put - the punters just love getting drunk at home. They can sit at home, drink a dozen beers for as little as $10, smoke all the cigarrettes and ganja they want. THEN at about 10.30 they might get around to getting a cab together, grabbing the friends that are still able to walk - then get to the said venue - whereby, if they're sober enough to get in, they start to fill up the venues, which usually starts to peak about midnight.

Sadly there is little bands can do about. Imagine playing to 10 people all night, start packing up, and have people fill the place up and start bitching that they only caught the last 20 minutes, or none at all?

You could say "GIG STARTS AT 7.30PM SHARP" but unless you're a really huge band with a label and high-level support coming out of your ass, people just won't show.

It's a sad reality but the bands have buckled with the trend of the punters I'm afraid.

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 4:03 pm

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OK my take on this. Wherever you are I guarantee, unless its a Sunday or something outdoors, nothing will start before 9pm. For the bars they have one type of punter, mostly folk stopping for a few drinks after work before heading for home, they usually clear out by 8pm and you end up with a virtually dead time from 8pm till 9pm. Based on this the 'Headline' act will always be playing around 11pm to midnight.
Other factors.... People like to have time to get home, have a shower, food etc. Some people will hang round till later getting pissed at home but I wouldn't put it down to that totally...
Band members with day jobs.... When you're not making enough to live off with your music a day job is needed. Personally I'm not going to drag my rig to work with me, risking thousands of $$s of equipment in the back of my car. Even if my car didn't get broken into I wouldn't risk warping my guitar necks... besides that I like a chance to get home and changed before the gig, send out reminder emails etc..
Some places ie. K rd is well known for not really coming to life till much later in the night. Its not as bad as it used to be but I can remember start times after midnight a few years back playing at notes..
Rugby etc... you try starting off a set while they still have the rugby on, it is not good karma with the people who came to watch it or the bar, personally I'm more worried about pissing the bar manager off so personally we won't start till the rugby is over.

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 4:39 pm

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Another good point.

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:39 pm

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We thought about checking out a gig a few weekends ago... until we were told that the first band wasn't playing until 11.30pm, and the one we really wanted to see wasn't going on stage until 1.30am!

After working a 50+ hour week, there's better things to do - like sleep! I feel your frustration!

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 6:59 pm

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get over it!

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:05 pm

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I really do feel for those bands who work days (and
I guess many do) and then get a gig that doesn't
start until almost midnight.
There has to be a way of turning this around. I
don't know what that way is ...I am an oldie.
You young people have the power, don't you?


GO ON. GET CRACKING !!

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:38 am

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Not that I'm bitching and whining about it, I LOVE playing music... but yes, when you're touring, sleep is elusive.

Up at 6am... getting your shit sorted. Meeting up, loading gear... hopefully arriving in another city around 3-4pm. Set up. Soundcheck. Find somewhere to eat. Back to the venue. Wait. Play around 12pm-1am. After the gig - pack down... hopefully get to bed around 3-4am. Repeat.

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Sun Oct 1, 2006 4:57 pm

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I've been trying to work out ways to change the system slowly for the past year by working out a system that will please everyone...and i think i think i have it sussed...

expect to start seeing earlier shows from mid-next year. I am going to start implementing a similar system they use in Australia with my own twist they've learnt threw touring 90 different bands allthroughout New Zealand.

haha, its not going to change overnight...but trust me, this is the one issue that i have focussed all my energies on changing next year.



This message was edited by blink on Sun Oct 1, 2006 4:58 pm.

This message was edited by blink on Sun Oct 1, 2006 9:08 pm.

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Tue Oct 3, 2006 11:21 am

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One way we start things earlier in wellington is to put more bands on the bill that have to start at a certain time. That usually gets the ball rolling earlier. Less pissing around between bands is always good too, that helps speed the whole process up.

Regarding the day-job thing, i agree it is hard, but come on! your playing a gig, doing what you love best, that gives me the energy after a working week(plus a few drinks) But my job isnt exactly hard physical labour so it might be diffeent for other people.

RE: Gig start times
Posted: Tue Jul 3, 2007 10:51 pm

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