Information for New Musicians

Dress Code:

Stage dress is smart black shirts, black shoes and black trousers, unless otherwise stated. Black ties are optional. Lead vocalists are welcome to deviate, usually by wearing a white shirt.

We aim always to be smartly presented. It’s not expected that we’ll always turn up in our ‘uniform’, but since we’re likely to be visible to guests, ripped jeans and the like are best avoided.

Payment and Invoicing:

Payment will be made after the gig upon receipt of an invoice. I’ll always aim to pay invoices the same week as they’re received, and to inform you if this isn’t likely (if I’m on holiday for example). You’re always welcome to chase payment by phone or e-mail.

Invoices must contain the following:

Your full name and address
The date/event
The total amount payable
A breakdown where appropriate (with travel, late finish or extended playing)
Details of the account/method of payment
A unique reference number (you can use your own system; something like COV2011-001, CU#001, or DEP11-001)
No reference to an hourly/daily rate (or any other time period). It is simply a ‘fee for the performance’

Invoices should be in .PDF format. OpenOffice, a free program, has an ‘export as PDF’ feature.

Timings, Timeliness and Helpfulness:

By default, the arrival time will be 6pm, with live music finishing at midnight. Any variation outside of this will, in general, allow for additional pay.

I know it might sound obvious, but arriving on time is pretty vital. Any problems/potential issues with arriving on time must be flagged up to the band leader as soon as possible.

In general, on the night, we take a “we’re all in this together” approach. This translates in part as all helping to get all the equipment loaded in, set up and down, and loaded out. In some circumstances, (when, for example, the band leader is 10mins from home, and the guitarist is 2 hours from home), it may be possible to send one or more musicians home earlier than others; but in general, we aim to all hit the road at the end of the night together.

This has been mentioned I think to pretty much everyone, but I just wanted to make sure it’s been said: in general, we avoid lending a hand to the venue or other people involved in the event where there’s a possibility of injury. This sounds awful, I know, but if we can’t perform because the drummer’s broken his wrist lending a hand moving tables or stacks of chairs (or been scalded by the boiling fat on a hog roast), then we’re liable for our non-performance. I certainly don’t want any of us to be a jobs-worth about it, and being polite is always key – but you’d be amazed how hard it is to say “no” when someone pleads with you to help move a pig, and quite how easy it is for an innocent situation to turn to near disaster!

Set Lists and Song Learning:

I will always aim to have set lists out 2 weeks in advance of a performance. Where this is not the case, please do flag it up, and if a set list wildly different to those you’ve previously performed, let me know.

There will almost always be a few new songs in the set list, whether it’s a first dance or request, or just songs going through the rotation. We offer to learn a first dance as part of the fee, where we feel we can do it justice. If you feel there are too many new songs, please do flag it up, and where possible we should be able to alter the set list toward what you know. Songs will be starred where the bride and groom have requested them, so we endeavour to keep those in.

Sound Checks and Set Up:

We pride ourselves on having quick and quiet set ups. Obviously, the sound check itself needs to be loud, but we try to avoid the following while setting up:

Extensively tuning drums
- I appreciate drums can settle in transit and need some tuning
Setting up guitar sounds
- Ideally this should be done before arriving at the gig
Noodling
- We all like to play, but set ups are usually under a time pressure, so if you’re set please help with the rest of the setup

The sound check itself will be to the “A Song” and “E Song”. “A Song” is simply all playing an a chord with some singing over the top in the style of the early evening, acoustic numbers. “E Song” is the electric, later in the evening equivalent, is based around an E chord and includes a guitar solo.

Equipment and PA:

You will be required to bring with you any equipment you require for the gig; your instrument, amp, monitoring, spares, cables, tuner and extension leads. Tuners are not supplied, and are required; ideally the muting stomp-box variety for checking tuning during the gig. Monitors are not supplied, though there are jack outputs on the desk for connection of your own monitoring equipment. With some instruments being purely amplified through the PA, monitoring is very useful.

If you sing and own a microphone, XLR and stand, please bring these along.

We will aim to provide at least 1 plug socket per band member – please bring sufficient extension leads to power your own equipment from a single socket.

Drummers:

A 4 piece kit (Kick, Snare, 2xtoms), Ride, Hats and at least 1 cymbal is all that’s required for these gigs
The Kick drum will usually be mic’d up, but that’s normally it
We are, where possible, playing to a click (in your ears only). If you can do so, please find a quick way of selecting new tempos. In addition, keep time on the hi-hats when not playing.

Guitarists:

Please have in mind a way of putting your guitar sound (in mono) through the PA (using a cab simulating DI, or microphone is fine)
Your guitar sounds should be set up before the gig
Since we have no one manning the desk, lead guitar sounds should be around 3dB louder than your rhythm sounds to hit the right place in the mix
Ensure you have a tuner available, preferably one that would allow you to tune during the set if required

Basists:

Please have in mind a way of putting your bass through the PA (using a DI is preferable)
Ensure you have a tuner available, preferably one that would allow you to tune during the set if required

Vocalists:

No monitoring is provided. A jack out can be supplied from the desk for your own monitoring
Reverb will be provided at the desk
Please provide your own microphone, stand and XLR whenever possible
If playing electric or acoustic guitar, please refer to the Guitarists notes

During the Performance:

Keeping the dance floor going is key, and our way to do this is to transition between the songs quickly. This means:

checking the next song on the set list during the current song
if you’re starting the song, start when you’re ready – the rest of the band should be keeping up
drummers with click: set the click quickly, preferably during the ending of the previous song (where it’s a rall, or other instrumentalist finishing the song)
if you’re using notes, make sure they’re in good order, ideally turning the page before the current song is finished