Wall paper gigs: is it just me?

[Dayna Wills]

Lately, we have been doing "Wall Paper" gigs. We are hired to play poolside to people who are not the least bit interested in having a live band in their space. One "spa" we worked had us set up under a tree where we played for 5 hours in 100+ degree heat and they never even offered us water.
I would rather stay home than work for NO AUDIENCE. I started out as a loung singer and I like to sing to faces. Even when they dance, they are at least engaged. Is it just me?
How do you all feel about "Wall Paper" gigs?

[Rick Campbell]

I've never heard them called "wallpaper gigs", but I've played my share of them. Weddings are the worst for me. You have to be there early because they don't want people to see you setting up. Then they say: "you guys stand over there in the corner and play some quite music while people are coming in" Then you have to wait until the ceremony is over....and the pictures....and play for the reception....but not too loud, because people want to talk to each other. And you have to stay until it's all over so people don't see you tearing down. It's pretty much an all day job, and it seems that nobody cares (but they really do) If they'll pay what I ask, I do what they ask for, get my money and go home, and everybody's happy. But, it don't come cheap. Fortunately, I've found these to be the best paying jobs.

[Clyde Mattocks]

Several years ago, our band was hired to play at the
opening of a sports facility. They had us set up on a stage in front of the food court. The very proper
lady in charge told me very quietly, "We want to use the band to hide the eating area." I told her,
"We'll try to be as wide as possible."

[Billy Wilson]

I call em Potted Plant gigs. I feel like they're lovin us about as much as they're lovin the ferns.Dayna give me a call 510 232 5802 or email

[David Mason]

I have an unfortunate tendency to start playing things that will attract attention - not so much in attitude or volume, but in tonal and "creative" note choices... "Gee - I didn't know you could play a bebop solo over that....") Band members usually find it amusing and will often jump right in. I've never actually gotten fired for it.... Hey, if the money's there and nobody else is listening, might as well play for fun?

[Walter Killam]

That pretty much describes all the VFW gigs I ever played. After awhile I just stopped turning on the amps for the mains, and ultimately I played a few where I didn't even hook them up, just set them up for show & ran monitors. Even then, the members that wanted to talk would sit right in front of the speakers and complain that they couldn't hear because of the volume! I tended to look at it as payed rehearsal, just pack light and enjoy the night.

[Ellis Miller]

I haven't heard the term "wallpaper gig" in a while I learned a long time ago not to have high expectations from an audience. That way, when someone actually "gets it" you can be pleasantly supprised. I have always tried to learn something from every situation. If nothing else, how to keep a positive and solution focused attitude when things get tough. I have also learned to put a "hassle factor" in the price when I book weddings. I doubt I need to explain that to anyone.

[David Doggett]

Yeah, we do 'em when we can get 'em, 'cause the money's good - art centers, motorcycle shop open house, chili cook-offs, cocktail parties for various occasions, silent auction fundraisers, etc. We set up out of the way and play quietly, but still with some spirit. Most of the people ignore us. But there are always a few musicians, or musician wannabees who come over and watch up close. They are usually fascinated by the pedal steel.

[Drew Howard]

we played for 5 hours in 100+ degree heat and they never even offered us water.

Wow, how rude.

[Bryan Bradfield]

I call what I play “wallpaper music” on the dobro. I’ve played about once a month for a year or so in an upper scale restaurant in which the owner clearly wants “wallpaper music”. I wander from table to table while playing. I find that about 20% of the customers become really interested in what I’m doing, resulting in some pretty good tips. Heck, I am happy with the wage, so the tips are a bonus. A regular job is a good thing, no?

[John Steele (deceased)]

I've found those gigs to be fairly lucrative. In fact, sometimes it seems the less interested people are in your music, the more money you make (and vice versa).
-John

[David Doggett]

Bryan, a minstrel Dobro player wandering from table to table like an Italian fiddler, cool.

What we are calling wall paper music is what is called "program music" in classical music. A lot of program classical music was composed and played in the background for the elaborate parties of the old European aristocracy. It was never meant for people to just sit and listen to it intently. It was like elevator music. Given the vast income disparities developing in this country, maybe it's not surprising that it is getting back to impoverished musicians relegated to playing quietly in the background while the elite people with "real jobs" (and health plans, and pension funds) party.

[Charles Davidson]

If you want to be ignored,play a MUD BOG,[A large ditch is dug,filled with mud,and the good ole boys try to see who can drive their trucks through it]Played several of these through the years,The bog will be a hundred or so feet from the band,usually between five hundred and a thousand people will show up.When the bog run starts you will have maybe a dozen people in front of the bandstand[mostly friends]the rest lined up around the bog pit,but you keep on playing.The GOOd THING, they feed you GOOD and pay you REAL GOOD,NEVER TURN THEM DOWN,DYKBC.

[James Cann]

Does the term "Living Muzak" strike a familiar chord?

[Bryan Bradfield]

David Doggett -

While I call what I play wallpaper music (some might call it elevator music), when I play it for other dobroists, or musicians of any sort for that matter, there is quite a bit of interest in it. For the restaurant gig, it is played very quietly, and very straight (minimal improvisation). If one of the patrons shows a bit of interest or curiosity, I'll stop at that table and pour it on a bit thicker.

So I guess I'm saying that I arrange pop, jazz, rock, and country tunes for solo dobro because of the challenge, and because I often (not always) like the results. At that point, it is not a huge challenge to make it kind of vanilla-flavored, and take it to the restaurant, and also out busking which I do regularly through the summer.

[JERRY THURMOND]

I have played a few "wall paper" jobs, as a musician they are not bad they pay good, you can play just about anything you want to as long as you keep the volumn down. As a singer am sure the job sucks because not to many people pay attention to you. I have played a few jobs when we did not sing one song, all we did is play instrumentals hardly any MC work. When I play these jobs I only use 3 or 4 pieces an get paid very well.

Jerry

[Bob Hoffnar]

Background music, wallpaper gigs pay pretty well and are fine by me. I don't care if anybody is listening or not. One thing I do to pass the time at office parties is make bets with the bass player about how long its going to take that guy wandering up to tell me about Jerry Garcia. It goes like this:
Me: "you see that guy over there ? He is going to tell me about Jerry Garcia."

Bass player: "What are you talking about ? That is too weird."

me: "$20 says he comes up to talk about Jerry Garcia within 10 minutes."

Its an easy $20 ! Except for the rare occasion when they mention Sneaky Pete instead.

[Drew Howard]

It's just you.

I'll have to try the Cherry Garcia bet.

[Dayna Wills]

Bryan B.
I only recently heard the term "busker." I saw Suzy Bogguss on Ralph Emery and she "buskered" all over the place. She said her fave places were shoe stores because they usually had a little alcove that was it's own reverb. What are some of your fave places? Who else still does this?

[Barry Blackwood]

Bob, I'll bet it's hard to have to split it with that guy later, (unless you only offered him $5 to tell you about Garcia) .....

[Jim Cohen]

... One "spa" we worked had us set up under a tree where we played for 5 hours in 100+ degree heat and they never even offered us water.

Next I suppose you're gonna tell us how you brought your own cooler of water but thought it was tacky nonetheless that they didn't come to offer you more, right?

[Jonathan Cullifer]

They aren't the most exciting, but the pay usually beats anything else you can do. Usually it's worth it.

[Dayna Wills]

Jim,
I brought my own cooler of bottled water, so we didn't go without, but that they never even offered us water was what I thought was tacky.
I have offered water, cola, to the gardener, the repairman, anyone who is doing a service for me just cause I think it's the polite thing to do.

[Bill Hatcher]

How do you all feel about "Wall Paper" gigs?

I love them!! You play what you want, nobody bothers you, you get paid, you go home. I will take them any day. Like shooting fish in a barrell.

[Dayna Wills]

We had another one yesterday. Left at 6 AM (ugh) and played from noon to 3 to the grass. Just before the last set a guy asked for a couple of songs, we played 'em and he gace us a $20.00 tip. We were also fed and watered at this gig, which was outside and in San Jose, which is considerably cooler than in the valley. And it paid well. Compared with the ones we've done so far, this one was the most pleasant....I guess I just miss singing to people.