|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
I want to hear real stories about funny things that happened to you at gigs.
Actually, it doesn't even have to be funny, just interesting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
We once had a call to play a gig in Erie PA for "a banquet". That was all we knew. A banquet dinner party for some organization. We got there at 1 to set up. Finished by 3. Got a message saying that instead of 7 we would start at 8, that they would have their presentation event before we started playing rather than between sets.
Well, for some reason we decided it would be a good idea to have some beers while we spent the rest of that afternoon And before we knew it, it was time to go to the job. We were not falling down drunk, but had consumed more than we should have. That extra hour meant and extra 12 pack was consumed.
And the only thing that makes this even a little bit funny.....
The gig for for an Alcoholic Anonymous dinner, as we showed up trashed.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
here's mine:
back during the VietNam era, Our band's singer got drafted. He was stationed close enough to home that he could come back on the weekend for gigs.
In those days, all the musicians had long hair, and his military buzz cut lacked the image he wanted... so he bought a wig and wore it when we performed.
On one gig at the hottest venue in town, he got into the song and threw his head back for dramatic effect... and, you guessed it... the wig flew off and slid across the floor like a rat trying to escape a room full of cats.
The song stopped because the band couldn't play they were laughng so hard... it was like one of those movies where the scene is filmed in slow motion, and the look on the singers face and the faces in the crowd morphed from surprise to disbelief to extreme hilarity.
The singer had to ignominiously go get his rat and put it back on to continue singing. Maaaaan.
It was the hilight of the evening... And this post proves that those present are still telling the story 40 years later.
(What's YOUR tale from the trenches?)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696 |
Writing a book, Pat?   Ian
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
Quote:
The gig for for an Alcoholic Anonymous dinner, as we showed up trashed.....
I don't want to minimize the solemnity of AA and the good it does in helping people...
but the irony in this story is priceless!
Thanks for posting, Eddie!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
Quote:
Writing a book, Pat?
Ian
nope... but I would definitely buy such a book if it existed!
This is a spinoff from the idea that this group of people are the kindred spirits I don't have in my "real life". If we all lived close enough, I'd have you all over for a cookout this weekend. We'd probably sit around and swap tales about the hobby we all share. But that ain't gonna happen... a thread is as close as it gets.
What's YOUR gig story, Ian? I KNOW you have some!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
I hope I can do this justice. Probably had to be there . . .
I had a full-time gig doing sound for a band whose repertoire was 90% original. They had over a thousand songs of their own. One was called "The Clockwatcher's Waltz," about the nine-to-five grind. They did it as robots or, more to the point, like figures on an elaborate Swiss clock. Very mechanical.
Picture the scene. This was a house gig and they had a loyal following who were intimately familiar with their act. They had done a kids' show in the afternoon, so the low ceiling over the stage was full of helium-filled balloons. They also used a lot of hats in the act, grabbing whatever was handy. This time the lead guitarist happened to put on a Mickey Mouse beanie with ears.
Okay. They start the number. The guitarist decides he wants to pop one of the balloons with the cut end of a string on his Strat, so he starts shuffling around while doing robot shtick. The balloon moves. He goes after it, jabbing at it in slow motion. Of course, all of his gestures are in time with the music. The balloon keeps moving and he follows it around the stage. The other players have to move out of his way, all moving like robots in time with the music.
All of this is done completely deadpan on the part of the band--to a point. The guitarist can't get the balloon to burst, so he chases it for the duration of the number. The house, of course, including me, is on the floor.
I'd give a lot to have video of that moment. I have never seen or heard an audience in complete meltdown like that outside of a straight-ahead comedy act. I don't even remember whether he popped the balloon or not. It took the band about 10 minutes to get it together enough to attempt the next number. There was no way you could follow that. They and the house kept breaking into giggles for the rest of the set.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 483
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 483 |
I was a sideman on a gig at Pebble Beach golf course with a piano player who I had worked with before.
He had also hired a trumpet player who I had not previously worked with. The leader called a "standard" and
I played it the first time through and when it came to the trumpet player's time to play he stated
"I DON'T PLAY IN THAT KEY MAN". Now this may not seem to be that unusual or funny but before the gig
he had bragged of how he had just came off the road with jazz group and basically telling us that he
was the greatest. The drummer and I are old friends and to this day we find this hilarious.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
One story that only musicians would appreciate. I once was a guitarist in a serious fusion band--one whose members, including a blind keyboard player, were fully appreciative of the dictum that you can play a solo with just one note, if you play it with enough feeling.
So I'm late to a rehearsal. The band had just started a number which featured a solo by me. To this day I don't know whether the keyboard player knew that I had entered the room until I started playing.
It took me a while to get my rig set up--in fact, until the exact moment when it was time for my solo. I had everything adjusted so that I could get infinite sustain if needed.
Time for my solo. I hit a note and leaned into the speakers. I kept trying to think of the next note to play. Nothing seemed appropriate, so I held it--and held it--and kept holding it--for two choruses. The keyboardist started to smile after a couple of measures. The longer it went, the bigger his smile got. The "solo" ended and we finished the piece, at which point everyone burst out laughing.
And that's the story of my one-note solo.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 483
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 483 |
Same gig at Pebble-We are watching the guests eat lobster, crab and steak. The catering manager comes up to us and said that we will be served in an adjoining room during our break. Needless to say we were all for that. Come break time we go to the next room which is all set up for the four of us. Our dinners come rolling in on a cart with the plates covered with a metal lid to keep the food warm. Of course we are anticipating lobster, crab and steak. The waiter lifts off the lid covering the food to reveal our HAMBURGERS! So much for high society 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Ever play a Pittsburgh wedding reception where a fight breaks out between the bride and groom's families?
Yes, even grandma was involved.
The police were called.
The brides and here maids were wearing white with yellow trim, but before the big bust happened, some of 'em were stained in red...
Dad got taken downtown with many of the other participants, as a result we never got paid.
But they didn't get to the dinner part yet, so we did manage to fill the band van with some rather interesting trays of food from the kitchen.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Quote:
I don't want to minimize the solemnity of AA and the good it does in helping people...
but the irony in this story is priceless!
Thanks for posting, Eddie!
And I agree with the good that they do. I quite drinking since those days, though I did it myself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722 |
I have a load of gig stories . . . One of many occurred while playing a steady weekend gig at Johnny’s, a lower 9th ward New Orleans two level bar about 40 years ago. We played on the 2nd floor on a stage that overlooked the crowd on the 1st floor, and on each break the band would work the crowd.
Well on the 1st break of the night I went down stairs to mingle with the crowd on the 1st floor and one of the patrons who was a pretty tough broad (and I mean that as a term of endearment in this case) asked me to dance to a tune playing on the jukebox. I said no I have to get back to start the 2nd set. She insisted “yes”, I too insisted “no” and started to head back up the stairs making my way back on stage. She grabbed me by my foot causing me to trip on the stairs putting my teeth through my bottom lip. I got upset and called her a lot of things (none of them nice) blood running down my chin all over my shirt, one of those **tuxedo ruffled type we wore back then.
Well after what seemed like a lifetime (but actually only took a few minutes) I settle down, get the blood flow down to a drip and look at Charlie Little (my best friend and drummer) and say alright lets play music. He looks me right in the eye without the hint of a smile and says, “You should have danced with her”.
** Ahhhh the ruffled shirt, I have at least two more gig related stories about that shirt.
Later,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,345
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,345 |
I have a ton of 'em!
It was either '67 or '68. We were on the road playing in Milwaukee at "The Attic".
Some guys approached the band leader & asked him who arranged our horns. He sent them to me & we talked for the break, and again next break. They had a lot of questions. I asked them what kind of music they did & they said, "We're kinda like Vanilla Fudge with horns." That really excited me! I asked them where they were working... They said they hadn't worked in quite a while. (back then...if you were any good...you were working)
Zoey, the club owner said later, "Those guys are bums. Alex canned them at the Hollyoke." (Indianapolis)
A little while later, they changed their name to The Chicago Transit Authority!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
oh, MAN! These are GREAT gig-tales!
Somebody really does need to write the book that Ian alluded to.
Encore!
(I have a 3 day weekend to read your stories, so bring 'em on!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
The problem is that most of them can't be printed in a public forum.....
My band was playing in Timmins Ontario once. We had played a round of gold that day, and the guitar player was having trouble with his short game. After the round we were back at the hotel and decided that we would work on his short game. We went up to the roof with a bag of clubs. After about an hour of chipping back and forth, one of the crew guys came up to hang out with us. Now the crew guy had never hit a golf ball before that didn't dribble along the ground. On the roof was a half eaten apple. I stuck a tee in it and set a ball up and handing him a 6 iron and told him to take a swing. Now know that this crew member was the kind of guy that if you handed him a gun and said "Go kill the pope" he would do it. So he took that 6 iron and CRUSHED a shot off that roof somewhere into downtown Timmins Ontario. We were listening for a window shattering, cars slamming on brakes, anything... we have no idea to this day, 24 years later, where that ball ended up. We watched the papers the next few days and saw nothing so I would guess nobody was hurt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,448
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,448 |
This is one of those "you had to be there" stories, but I hope it translates okay. Sometimes it's the timing, not the actual incident, that makes it funny.
In the 70s we were playing at a club up in the mountains, it was an old building – no A/C - and being a hot summer night they opened the windows to let some air in. Novelty songs were popular at the time, and we started playing “Snoopy Vs The Red Baron”. Just as Mick started to sing, a huge flying bug came through the window and started to dive bomb him. He was ducking & weaving as he sang, and we were making aircraft & machine gun noises in the background. Amazingly at the end of the song the bug flew back out of the window, never to be seen again.
Cheers,
Keith
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
Quote:
The problem is that most of them can't be printed in a public forum.....
just substitute the word "CHICKEN" for all the bad words. That way it'll be funny no matter what.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 267
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 267 |
I was playing a gig in a coffee shop with a small jazz group. Finished a song and the leader called out "September Song" for the next number, but due to the ambient noise, I only heard "September". Man, those two songs just don't go together.
tony
Lenovo lappie, 4Gb RAM, 500Gb HD
Ubuntu 12.04
Running BIAB under WINE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
There is an area in Cleveland along the Cuyahoga River known as The Flats. There is an East Bank and a West Bank. At the moment the East Bank has been razed and is being rebuilt, but back in the 80s, it was the hot place to be. All the clubs had docks and the boaters would pull up and dock and come in for dinner. We were playing at a very nice restaurant at the very end of the strip. The stage was positioned in a way that the right side of the stage was along the river, and I was set up right against that safety rail.
After setup I decided to have dinner. It was mainly a seafood place and I love seafood. Sat down and ordered scallops with angel hair pasta.
Okay roll forward a little more than an hour. We were in maybe the 4th song of the night, and I had a sax solo. Wearing my sax while I played the keys, we came to the solo, and I took in a nice big breath to start my solo. And then had to turn to the right where I puked my scallops and pasta into the river, and that was just the start as I played through the night with a case of food poisoning from the bad scallops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,788
Posts796,148
Members39,959
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean