Outdoor Gigs without a Bandshell.

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

How many times did you play gigs on a flat-bed trailer for Market Openings, Chili Cook offs, Parks, Weddings, etc..
In the summer you roasted to death, in the winter you froze to death, you couldn't hear the rest of the guys good enough to know who should be playing, etc.
Usually the power source was an hundred foot long extension chord with the volts dropping down so far your amp sounded like mush.
It would start to rain or the wind would blow so hard the sound ended up half a mile down the road.

Why did we do it ?

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Billy: The reason I played my first flat bed trailer stage show in Molalla, OR., on July 4th, out behind Jerry's Tavern.......was for the BIG BUCKS.
I earned $75.00 for the 3 day event at a time when AFM Union Scale was $14.95 per gig. The HOT SUN and clouds of dust were my dues for the target goal as I saw it, of one day being on the Grand Ole Opry.
Playing music on a moving hay-wagon as we rolled down Main Street in Gresham, OR., during a County Fair Day Parade.......was just for the G-L-O-R-Y!!!
If I hadn't loved steel guitar and playing in a great country band, I wouldn't have done it. Those were the fun days in my music history.

Kenny Martin · Posted 24 Feb 2009 6:00 pm

What Ray said!!

I was in a band from 1978 to 1991 as weekend warriors!! We grossed $87,000 one year and was thinking maybe we should go to nashville and hit it big.
Speaking of freezing, that same October we were outside at night playing for the Little Mtn Reunion and before we hit the first lick it had dropped to 34 degrees!! We were on a flatbed trailer with nothing to block the wind. We made $800 that was split after gas for the truck between 7 people!

We sat at the hotel that night and started talking about expenses. After we totaled them up we figure that we made $1.94 an hour to play music!

It's because we love it but i will say that at 49 i'm not quick to say i'll play below 55 degrees!!

Just playin live with a full band is as good as it gets!!

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Well.... it's not exactly outdoors, but it may as well be!

My Summer gig for the last three years (and an earlier one in '02) has been sixteen weeks at the Medora Musical in western North Dakota. They have an amazing facility there, but it's a 2,800-seater amphitheater; the band is just about under-cover, although still exposed to the elements.

We rehearse (indoors at first!) in late-May, but opening night is usually in very-early June. For anyone who's never been, I can promise you that it can be very cold in the Badlands that 'early' in the Summer. I've yet to resort to wearing woollen gloves with the fingers cut off (although our pianist does!) and I shudder to think how my palm-blocking would sound if I did.

Of course, it soon warms up - and warms up, and warms up!!!! We've played in 110 degrees before now, although it is evening and we're out of the sun. It can get very windy, too, and the thunderstorms in that part of the world are of cataclysmic proportions! I didn't mention the occasional dust-storms, did I?

BUT! I've been fortunate enough to play with five terrific musicians for the last two years, the camaraderie is second-to-none, the golf is free, it's four months solid, well-paid work with free housing (I get a nice apartment), and free food.

Why do I do it? Well - this is what I do....

I'm going back this coming May! Very Happy

_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

We did it because...that's what we did. I've done some miserable shows outside, cold weather (40 degrees), wind storms (50 mph winds) blowing over speaker cabinets, "pushing" the wheeled amps all around, and a sudden gust even blew the bar out of my hand! One of my most miserable gigs was outside at an airport, with 95 degree temperatures, no wind, and also NO SHADE ANYWHERE! Why did we do it? Show business, son..show business. That's what it takes to be a star. Muttering

These "new" stars, drivin' around in a bunch of half-million dollar Prevost Motor coaches, with roadies doin' all the work, and bein' served catered food. Shucks. They don't know what a tough gig really is!

Damned bunch of sissies. Laughing

Curtis G. Greene · From: Eure, North Carolina

Played last fourth of July on a flat bed trailer, some of the boards were rotten. The singer almost fell through. We played until it started to rain, but I really enjoyed it. C.G.G

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

Played on a flatbed in the middle of a field with one light over the flatbed,with burning stinking railroad ties next to us in 50 gallon drum in 47 degrees.

Played another job outside almost as above but wind whipped up knocking our bass player over onto the lead singers flat top smashing it into 15 trillion pieces.

Played outside in Kodiak Alaska light mist 46 degrees a few years ago.

Played Six Flags two weeks straight 7 hours per day, average stage temp every day was 107 no shade and my steel burned me whenever I touched it.

Played on a flatbed out in the country,again hot as hell and came home with at least 10 million chiggers

I don't don't know why I keep doing it.

Tommy Shown · From: Denham Springs, La.

I remember my first playing gig, August 1979 in on of the hottest places in the country. Baton Rouge, La. We were hired to play for a man who was running for public office. We were playing on a flatbed trailer. And as I recall about a couple of hours before going on stage, we had a rain shower that had passed through the area to cool things down. However when we started setting up ol' Mr. Sunshine came out and made it hotter than what it was before.Typical Louisiana heat and humidity. And to make it even more worse our axes kept getting out of tune that for the rest of the evening.

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

Sure, I also did it because I loved playing and would do it again. I just wanted to hear some of you other forumites experiences.

I played for an outdoor Horse Show on the good old flat bed trailer. It started to rain and they told us to move into a large covered paddock for the horses. We were out of the rain but the floor of the paddoock was covered with sawdust and some kind of loam about six inches deep. The pedals disapearred in this covering and for the rest of the gig I played non-pedal. Being I started out on non-pedal steel I got by O.K.

Tommy Shown · From: Denham Springs, La.

Billy I would do it all over again, because I love playing also. Whether it be in or outdoors.
Tommy

David Collins · From: Madison, North Carolina, USA

Billy,

Somewhat ironic that you should bring this up. I've got a "flat bed" gig coming up on March 14 at a chili cook-off.

Like the rest of you, I'd much rather be inside, but what the hey, it's a gig for a worthy cause. Cowboy Church.

At least we get all of the chili that we want Smile

_________________
David Collins
www.chjoyce.com

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

For the most part, I hate outdoor gigs; however, I've done a few poolside parties at South Padre Island that weren't too bad! Winking

Lee, from South Texas

Paul Wade · From: mundelein,ill

first year i got with the county out laws band
we played on a flat bed in 95% degree heat no shade Oh Well

just got a used m.s.a d-10 vintage xl
and my session 400 amp. i was wet from head to toe
with that heat Whoa!

but, that old m.s.a stayed
intune the hole day!!!

p.w
www.countyoutlaws.com

Drew Howard · From: 48854

$$$$$

I'm playing a heated tent in Grand Rapids on Saturday.
Been there! We'll see about the heated part.

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Drew - You're playing in a heated tent???

It's supposed to get up in the high 80's and low 90's here today! I think spring has sprung in South Texas.

Lee

ray qualls · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas (deceased)

I've always done it for the halter tops and short shorts! I love playing outside Devil

_________________
Ray Qualls
Member(KSGA)
Inducted into KSGA
Steel Guitar Hall of Fame 2008

Leland Ogle · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA

Ray, you got paid in halter tops and short sorts?
Lee

ray qualls · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas (deceased)

Lee, let me clarify myself! I didn't wear the halter tops & short shorts but the payment came from watching the girls that did wear them! The worst gig I ever had playing outside was at a rodeo! They set us up right next to the pen where they kept the bulls & steers. It was in July and we played there 3 night in a row. Talk about heat, dust, smell and no girls in halter tops! It was my first rodeo and my last one! But, I still love playing outside! Ray
_________________
Ray Qualls
Member(KSGA)
Inducted into KSGA
Steel Guitar Hall of Fame 2008

Leland Ogle · From: Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA

playing outside on trailers is a good place to have digital reverb. I played my share of outside gigs before I even new what digital reverb was.
Lee

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

I am playing an outdoor gig this Sat. afternoon for the Fur Rondy celebration,That's Alaska's Marti Gras.It will probably be 10 degrees out,Last year the heaters never worked,I will be playing guitar.Pics soon,Stu Crying or Very sad

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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

The worst one I ever did,the band I was in at the time played a benefit show for a very sick little girl,It was in a field near Plains Ga.on a flatbed truck,the back and sides were covered with canvas,[did'nt help much] the temp was 19 degrees [I know that's a heatwave for some of our yankee buddys]but for an old sourthern redneck that's COOOOOLD. It was worth it,we raised about 25 hundred bucks for that little angels family,would do it again,but would have some thermal long handles on. DYKBC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

John McGuire · From: Swansea,Illinois, USA

We played outdoors at the St. Clair County fair 2 years ago. Still 90 degrees at 7:00pm, stock cars started at 7:00 also, dirt track by the way about 70 yards behind us. Between the sweat and dust from stock cars what a mess..

And we had a hellva good time Very Happy

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

As the other Lee said, outdoors on a flatbed trailer is a good place to have a digital reverb unit. The springs of an amp reverb will be crashing the whole time if you try to use the internal unit.

A good delay pedal also helps when playing outside.

Lee, from South Texas

Dave Grothusen · From: Scott City, Ks

I cut my teeth on a flat-bed. Wind rain and sun. It is all part of the business. Fun, huh?

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

one word ... SUCK !

around here they happen in the spring to fall.
sun, heat, sweat, dust, steels out of tune..

but I love to play so bring it on !

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