Do your sets start on time?

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 6 Jul 2005 7:35 am

I'm happy to announce that I've finally found something to complain and whine about.

Seriously, this is the one thing that gets my goat, when a gig does not start on time. I'm not talking about 5 or 10 minutes, I accept circumstances beyond control like flight delays, bus breakdowns and unavoidable situations that cannot be planned for.

As a person who attends a lot of varied musical venues, it burns me up when a group or performer begins their set 30 minutes or more late because,....they did not allow enough travel time, traffic time, were not finished doing something else, forgot, hungover from whatever, or did not check out their equipment beforehand, and things of an irresponsible nature.

No matter how fantastic the music may be, my "aura" is tainted to some degree because of this.

Now I'm not a musician in the sense that most of you guys & gals are.

What are your thoughts on this one?

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 6 Jul 2005 7:42 am

I agree totally, and over here this has become the norm rather than the exception. 30 minutes? From my experience this is almost 'on time',- one hour delay is not unusual.
I think it started with some folks having a twisted idea of this making tghem more 'important', and 'everybody' has followed in their footsteps...

Of course, after getting used to this over many years, people now don't bother to show up on time either but rather get there an hour or so late, so on those occasions where I've insisted that we start on time we've had to play for an almost empty house. Brilliant.....

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 6 Jul 2005 8:05 am

The only bands I have played in that started on the dot were Spade Cooley, Dude Martin, and Jess Willard. I have even had band leaders to have the band at the gig two hrs beforehand instead of the normal one or one and one half hrs prior and we still started 5 10 15 min late. Of course the Hawaiian bands that I have played in and am now with have a valid excuse as we operate on hawaiian time. CC (alias;Pake)

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 6 Jul 2005 9:04 am

No matter how fantastic the music may be, my "aura" is tainted to some degree because of this

That's usually the problem, band members out in the parking lot tainting their "auras" before they go onstage.

Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 6 Jul 2005 9:07 am

Howard, I agree somewhat... However, I do know for a fact that "some" clubs will bill the "Acts" to start earlier than they are supposed to in order to get bodies in the door (more alcohol sales). This happened to a friend of mine last month. The contract he had with the club owner said he would start at 10:00... The fliers posted around town said he would start at 9:00. When he asked the clubowner about it, he told him he was just trying to get the crowd in earlier. What a punk!

db

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 6 Jul 2005 9:11 am

I think some of us are still waiting for Sly Stone to get started.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 6 Jul 2005 9:42 am

I'm happy to announce that I've finally found something to complain and whine about

I'm happy for you, Howard. Your rosy disposition was starting to piss me off...

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 6 Jul 2005 11:17 am

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 07 July 2005 at 04:00 AM.]

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 6 Jul 2005 11:20 am

Howard, there is nothing worse than a tainted aura when you go on. Not even a Hawiian shirt or cool cowboy clothes can hide it.
But it'll pass.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 6 Jul 2005 12:14 pm

" Do your sets start on time? "

I thought this was gonna be a Dolly Parton thread

.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 6 Jul 2005 1:47 pm

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I guess I deserve all the pot shots

I didn't think about club & venue owners delaying the start time. That's a good point and I couldn't fault the musicians. Still, annoying.

"There are two kinds of people in this world" <pre>Clint Eastwood</pre>

Those who are habitually late and those who are annoyingly punctual. I'm of the latter and so that's where my lack of tolorance comes in.

This past winter there was a group that I very much wanted to see. I'll not name names out of respect. They are from a neighboring state and were scheduled to play at 8pm at an educational and art center. It is quite a large building.

The audience had to wait outside in the hallway and wait standing up. There were some elderly folks present and after awhile there was complaining. It got to the point where there was so much complaining (30 minutes into the wait) that they let the people in just to sit down. The group was still going through the sound check and 40 minutes after schedule, they started.

The same group (I really went to see one person in the group) was scheduled to play at a local restaurant/music club a few weeks later. Half of the group were present when they were supposed to begin. After 20 minutes, they began. Twenty minutes later, the other half shows up and then we had to wait while they set up. The group in it's entirety played maybe 20 minutes and then had to clear the stage because there was another group scheduled to go on.

The reasons for being late both times....traffic!

The next time they played, I didn't have the interest. I would see them again, but if it's the same scenerio, it would be my last time.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 06 July 2005 at 02:50 PM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 6 Jul 2005 2:22 pm

I'm with you 100%, Howard. The way I'm wired, I'm playing a duo show this evening at a Brooklyn place I've never been at and my stomach is already flipping over worries about getting lost, parking, stupid what-ifs etc. and the result is that I will probably get there an hour earlier than necessary. But I couldn't do it any other way.
The arrogance of being casual with somebody else's time doesn't wash with me but I feel like I'm butting heads with an immovable force, as out of step as I am with the norm on this issue. (Once, when informed of a scheduled rehearsal with my former gig, my solution, after twice arriving for rehearsals at the designated time, only to wait an hour before everyone else got there, was to inform them that I had no intention of trying to change them, I took pride in my own responsible habits and had no intention of changing myself, so therefore the solution was the decree----I do not rehearse with this band. Tell me where to be and when for a gig and I'll be there.
After getting stiffed like you were, as an audience member, I, too, would save my effort and $$ for a performer who gave a damn.
What does one need to do to be on time? Simple. Whatever it takes.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 6 Jul 2005 4:41 pm

I was in a band once that always started late and took half hour breaks instead of the customary 15-20 minutes. The club owners loved us because the more we didn't play, the more booze they sold. The fans never complained because two of the members were real schmoozers, working the patrons at their tables between sets. Lots of "I'd like to buy the band a round of drinks" going on.

The two bands I'm in now are both very punctual. You should come to see us, Howard!

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 6 Jul 2005 5:33 pm

I recall working for several months at a bar in downtown Buffalo, NY circa early 60s. A five night a week gig, the owner liked us to start on time which we usually did, give or take.

The kicker was we had to play 15 minutes on with 45 minutes off, so the folks could drink.

At first we were quite happy about the arrangment. Yo, 45 minutes to cool our heals. After a week we were tearing our hair out. How many hot dogs could one eat from the stand near by? We could visit a few clubs nearby to hear other bands but that got old as well.

Boooring was the word and we were almost happy when the bass player left, giving us an excuse to leave as well.

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 7 Jul 2005 6:49 am

People keep telling me I'm in the wrong business because punctuality is one of my pet peeves. If you're not on time, I don't hire you again. From what my weak memory can recall, I've been late for one gig in the last 10 years. Reading this thread and hearing of bands disregard for their "fans" time just absolutely apalls me.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 7 Jul 2005 7:31 am

Here's another story...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...no, that's not it

The sea was angry that day....that's not it either.

I was at Jazz Fest New Orleans a few years ago. This event is held at a race track. They have about 10 different outdoor venues at staggered times and they are all outdoors.

At the clubhouse, which is a large, long building, the have indoor auditorium seating with smaller sectioned off "mini auditoriums" facing the track which you can see through windowed walls.

In these auditoriums, they hold interviews with artists, historians, chefs, crafts people, musicians etc. and it's very informative.

Lucinda Williams was scheduled at 1pm to be interview and to do a few tunes. During the 45 minutes the audience was waiting for her, the interviewer was on his cell phone 3 times to her or her manager and he was nervous and noticibly ticked off. I imagine that this interviewer might have produced this segment. He kept saying, "she's on her way" each time he called.

She finally showed up, no apology, acted kind of oblivious, artsy, cutesy, and nonchalant.

Three minutes into the interview, I stood up, made a motion with my hands as if to say "the hell with you", shuffled through the isle and walked out.

I was disgusted, but not to cut off my nose to spite my face, I also wanted to see Duke Robillard who was scheduled at this time.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 7 Jul 2005 8:21 am

She finally showed up, no apology, acted kind of oblivious, artsy, cutesy, and nonchalant

Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but I do think it's possible, in cases like this, that the artist had No Clue as to what time they were supposed to be there, and didn't even realize she was late. That could explain appearing oblivious... because she WAS oblivious. (Of course she could just be a jerk, too...)

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 7 Jul 2005 9:30 am

N.O. Jazz Fest is a well organized, tightly run ship. Schedules of appearance regardless of venue are well planned & printed in advance. It isn't a just show up & jam if you feel like it kind of thing. I can't imagine an artist not knowing where they're supposed to be and when, although anything is possible. Who knows, maybe her manager got it wrong.

For whatever reason it was, & I guess I'll never know, it appeared that the attitude was, "hey, spit happens"

The least she could have said was, "I'm FINALLY HERE.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 07 July 2005 at 10:36 AM.]

Orville Johnson · Post by **Orville Johnson** » 7 Jul 2005 10:48 am

i would hesitate to immediately blame the artist in these situations because i've had things like that happen to me at festivals. there are a lot of elements involved in these things including managers, agents, transportation people, communication snafus, etc.
personally, i'm a chronically on-time or slightly early person and hate it if i end up in a situation like that but stuff happens. i've also learned after many years in the music biz dealing with lots of people that have a much more fluid idea about time than i do to not let it upset me. i'd rather spend my bilious moments on more important concerns cuz you can't change people who are like that.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 7 Jul 2005 11:16 am

"hey, spit happens"

which is why I have long been campaigning to have spittoons at all such events.

The other thing about being as anally early as I tend to be---I was enroute to my gig last night, driving thru a heavens-letting-go monsoon, about a mile from my destination and plenty early when I realized that my picks, bar and cords were sitting in a bag in my living room. That's a first for me. I sure hope it's a last.
I turned around, got pretty well lost in unfamiliar territory, hit horrendous traffic, got home, got my stuff, got to the venue and was still there before my "employer"--the other half of the duo performance. The point? When I say I tend to shoot for early arrivals, I guess I really ain't kidding. (I mean that's kinda pathetic!)

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 7 Jul 2005 5:22 pm

I don't mind too long of breaks usually, but I've got a couple pet peeves.

One is where a band that has played the venue many times and does sound checks and noodling right up to the moment of the start of the night, lights on full blast, and yet the lights are pointed at their bellies cause they "don't like bright lights.

Then there's the "play Steel guitar rag so I can go out and check the sound." Too bad I'm usually the only one that knows how to play the three parts in order..

There's more, but that's it for now.

Another one is when one member is detained, late, or otherwise, the band can't play without them like a drummer or bass player, and the rest of the band gets up at starting time and looks stupid, even sometimes announcing the member's tardiness. The band should look as normal as they can for as long as they can. They won't look any better to make a public spectacle out of it...

Kind of like announcing "here's a song we probably won't be able to play, but we'll try it for the first time.."

Then there's the band that can't do a request taking 5 minutes inbetween songs that invariably end up in a dozen songs being requested that they don't know. Like "Together Again", or "Waltz across Texas"...

Etc Etc Etc...

EJL

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 7 Jul 2005 8:13 pm

i just hate it...when i'm setting there, waiting to hear this great road band everyone told me i just have to check out. Driving 50 miles to hear'em..paying $7.00 for two watered down glasses of coke for my girl and i....and no damn band! I once played at this club in Grand Rapids Michigan, on West River Drive, the name escapes me. Where the club owner kept part of your pay if you were late..and SHUT OFF the juke box when it was time for you to go back to work!
P.S i just remembered the name of the joint..it was the "Intersection Bar"
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Whitney Single 12 8FL & 5 KN,keyless, dual changers Extended C6th, Webb Amp, Line6 PodXT, Goodrich Curly Chalker Volume Pedal, Match Bro, BJS Bar..I was keyless....when keyless wasn't cool....

[This message was edited by George Redmon on 07 July 2005 at 09:15 PM.]

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 8 Jul 2005 9:28 am

My favorite variation is when you show up on time and the whole rest of the band is late. The club owner's rage is focused on you because you're the only one present to scream at - and after they've screamed at you for a while,then they want you to get up there all by yourself and "play somthing and keep em dancin" till the rest of the band arrives.

And yes Jim - her natural state is high maintainance oblivion.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 8 Jul 2005 10:30 am

Having known Lucinda when I was living in Austin back in the early 80's I do feel the need to come to her defense. Back then, she was definitly spacey and living by kindness of others, but she also never gave up. I was working at the local Sound Warehouse to make ends meet and she asked if I could arrange for her to get a job there. I set up the appointment but she was a no show. When I asked her about it afterwards she said she changed her mind because she didn't want people saying that Lucinda was working at the record store (she did go on to work at a record store in LA years later).

I played with her on a number of occasions (mostly at her house), shared a number of interesting experiences with her at various bars like Emma Joes where I played (including a very crazy night with Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley) and I even had a brief affair with her roomate at the time. When I saw her a few years ago, she remembered none of it or me. (She said she didn't remember a lot from those days). At that time she was a major smoker of mexican tobacco which could have had something to do with it.

On the other hand, she stuck in there and did it. She paid her dues by living on peoples floors while the rest of us got jobs and gave it up. For that I think she deserves a little slack. We might wait 45 minutes for her, but she waited 20 years for us. [This message was edited by Bill McCloskey on 08 July 2005 at 11:34 AM.]