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Topic: .....road gigs.....was it really that much fun? |
Bo Legg
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Posted 23 Apr 2013 12:08 pm |
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I was reminiscing on another topic about being a member of a few all over the US sht tour road bands.
I thought it would be fun for folks to share their fond on not so fond memories “was it really that much fun?”
The pickin’ was fun but the rest was like being in the “Twilight Zone”
Fond memories (no dressing rooms) in the bathrooms having to use the knob of a rubber machine for a mirror.
I still remember a lot of things written on the stage walls and bathrooms in those circuit gigs.
Two quotes come to mind. The one on the stage wall that said “I’d rather eat sht with a big spoon than play here” and one on the bathroom floor you had to lean over forward and look straight down while sitting on the commode to see the real small words that said “you are now shting at a 45 degree angle.”  |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Bobby Hearn
From:
Henrietta, Tx
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Posted 23 Apr 2013 2:39 pm
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| Interesting stuff Cal. |
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Jack Stanton
From:
Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
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Posted 23 Apr 2013 3:41 pm
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| Bo, in response to your initial question, yes, indeed it was. |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 23 Apr 2013 4:24 pm
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| How about large holes in the screens in the summertime that let in the giant mosquitos and cockroaches at night. |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2013 4:25 pm
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48 states and 35 countries for me. And yes, it was mostly a LOT of fun. Places to see and people to meet I never would have encountered if not for music.
_________________
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
www.musicfarmstudio.com |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 23 Apr 2013 7:58 pm
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| Cal Sharp wrote: |
| OK, Bo, here's my contribution from 1980-something. Cold Hamburgers. Seemed like a good idea at the time. |
Excellent read, Cal. Very well-written and told.
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
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Posted 23 Apr 2013 8:28 pm
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| Road gigs...usually not alot of money, but at least they're a long drive. |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 23 Apr 2013 8:31 pm
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You mean the part about pulling into a Tastee-freeze somewhere in Alabama and the girls treating us so nice until we realized the boys were headed our way with death in their eyes and it was time for us to get out of town real fast. You mean like that?
Anyway it must have been a lot of fun, 'cause we never got home with any money  |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 23 Apr 2013 9:36 pm
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It's a different way to live but it can be amazing. There are things you get to see and do from the inside of that world that are not available any other way.
Nice story Cal. Finding the room these days can be even harder with those generic pizza ad keys they use now.
Also the money can be pretty good.
_________________
Bob |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Steve Alonzo Walker
From:
Spartanburg,S.C. USA (deceased)
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 3:58 am
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| I toured twenty five years with only Nashville Artists, been around the world twice, experienced the worldly beauty that God created, made alot of friends along the way, and so much wonderful music! And i'd do it all over again if I could!!! |
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Andrew Roblin
From:
Various places
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 6:05 am
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Thank you for this great topic, Bo...and thank you, Cal, for your fabulous writing.
Hey, Chris, how about tales from Newfoundland? An exotic place to me and most of us here.
Andrew Roblin
International Sho-Bud Brother & Sisterhood
Member #79, Janitor |
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Storm Rosson
From:
Silver City, NM. USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 7:43 am
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 Great read Cal. |
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Len Ryder
From:
Penticton B.C.
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 9:01 am
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Cal:
Absolutely a great article on "Life On The Road". It just isn't as wonderful as the "unwashed" believe. |
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pdl20
From:
Benton, Ar . USA,
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 9:02 am road gigs
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yea it was fun but it was a job and had a family to support so it was also work and being at 100 % every day.got to work 48 states and 6 countrys.met a bunch of other artists and several movie and Tv stars. thats what made it a neat job.Also got to work with great musicians like Bucky Barret,Steve Wariner,Ben Brodgen ,The Gatlin Bros and many more other bands on artists package shows. Hee Haw ,the Opry over 65 times thanks to Dottie West ,i don't regret any of it.I miss Dottie also,she was a great lady and friend.
_________________
Mullen G 2 D 10 8 & 6 , Emmons D 10 8& 6 Evans Amps , Revelation,MPX1,Steward PA 1000 rack, Steelers Choice Cross country Seat ,Hilton Pedal, Curt Mangan strings . When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 10:00 am
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Depends on the schedule and the player's lifestyle: Two days out, two weeks out or two months out?
With a band of all old friends, or with a bunch of inexperienced smartazz kids and an azzhole manager?
I've done both and a bunch of other types. I always considered it a job. A frequently very much fun job, but a job nonetheless.
Road work and the experiences therein are just like any job; fond memories of good times and the occasionally unwanted reminiscence of the bad.
Hopefully the former greatly outweighs the latter. They do in my case.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Mike Cass
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 5:26 pm
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Hotels?? Motels?? What planet did you work on?
I once had a boss who said we didnt need motel rooms, we had the "Silver Eagle Motel" right there. These days I stay in the Crazy Arms @ Camp Cherokee but mind you, Im not whining, it aint the Cowboy Way....besides, Sam sez its a $5.00 fine for that.
Not to mention that a bunk beats the you-know-what out of trying to sleep along with 4 other guys in the backseat of a station wagon, or worse.
Over the years Ive had the honor of camping out overnight in a number of Wal-Mart and Cracker Barrel parking lots, which is great because either one takes care of most all of your basic needs, and for sure beats being holed up all day out in the boonies waiting for the venue to open.
Besides, you take 11 or 12 guys all locked up in one confined area for maybe up to 15 hours depending on where youre headed, add to that a good-natured, true country music legend full of history and stories and I'll tell you, you cant buy that kind of entertainment anywhere, no sir.
Maybe the big$$ gigs with TV exposure, planes, multiple buses(with non-band member drivers), limo's, semi-trucks, in-house sound crews, hotel suites and personalized catering might give one a few more hours sleep and a better diet out there, but in the immortal words of Steve Hinson, when confronted by the ubequtious "new guy in town" with stars in his eyes who expressed his desire to be in Steve's shoes, 'ol Steve replied, deadpan and quicker than Johnny Carson; "Son, that costs you extra..." liked to fell off my barstool been there, done that...how true. |
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Bo Legg
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 5:44 pm
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It was fun getting up after noon and lounging around the pool, watching other folks work.
I woke up one morning around 10:30am and there was actually folks out walking around at that time of the day. I had no idea! |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 6:26 pm
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| Wouldn't do it again. |
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Bill L. Wilson
From:
Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2013 10:42 pm Touring.
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| Riding in an old bus, built in 1946, no air-cond., no bathroom, but it did have bunks. 6 of us lived on that bus, at the fair grounds in Beaumont Tx., for the the South Texas State Fair. We played 2 shows a day, and hung out the rest of the time, eatin' and fartin' around. The craziest deal was taking a shower, where the show animals were cleaned up. You walked out on a 2x12board, careful not to step in manure, find a little place on a gate, or a stool to set your clean clothes, shower up, tip toe back across the board, get dressed, and feel really clean. Lots of fun, but I was young and stupid. I still haven't got a lot of sense, and I would do it again, even at my age. |
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Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Apr 2013 2:25 am
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| I was blessed to do it for a short time back in the early 90's. It was the most enjoyable job I have ever had. I miss the professionalism and the quality of music I got to play at every gig. I look back now and feel like the Good Lord blessed me with my wife. I met her when I moved off the their small town in Texas. Now with a wife and children I would really have to think hard about doing it again. |
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 25 Apr 2013 4:38 am
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Some musicians never learned the difference between a "Job and a Party". I have had some that thought a set break was a "paid vacation". But all in all looking back I'm glad I had the chance.  |
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Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 29 Apr 2013 7:47 am
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| In the best of conditions, with hotel rooms and good pay, it was pretty wonderful. In less than wonderful conditions, sleeping on couches or the floor, low pay, etc, it was still not bad. In and of itself I have found road work to be enjoyable. The deciding factor is whether the bills get paid or not. Right now it looks pretty good from my office cube. |
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Ken Lang
From:
Simi Valley, Ca
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Posted 29 Apr 2013 4:48 pm
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Road gigs are fun when you are young.
But as you get old, so does the road.
_________________
heavily medicated for your safety |
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