Stuff I learned

[Rachel Peters]

Agreed. It also makes them feel as though you think they have bad taste and don't know anything.

Mr. Boyd, I always read your posts thinking you're laughing really hartily while you type, because of your photo. It's fun.

[Rex Boyd]

Thank you Rachel.

( I thought about jokingly disagreeing with your compliment, but decided that I had better follow my own advice. )

[Butterfly Man]

Advice from a sagebrush

Two things:

#1. Get paid before you go on!

#2 Make eye-contact with as many different people in your audience as possible.

p.s. Snickers is better for you than Twix.

[elbonko]

ha-ha

this i have learned:

1) no matter who you are, there will be another act better than you and there will be another act worse. if you pay attention, you can learn a lot from both.

2) it is harder to be funny-nice than funny-mean. (maybe that's just me, but it is a challenge i've been working with lately)


-Bonk

[Juggalicious]

Microphones + Speakers

I don't care what kind of good deal you can get on any sort of audio equipment - or how much better your favorite brand is. Get the most common brand possible. Whatever all major audio stores carry -

You want something thats easy to get replaced/fixed when you are in a jam.

I believe the hot thing right now is seinnheiser(but I could be wrong) - anyone else have comments on this?

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Yeah, do not buy your mikes from Sam Ash. They will not accept a microphone return, even if you only used it to see if it works. Really.
(And they're more than a little snippy about it.)

Sam Ash, if I may say it, can go eat a bag of dicks.

[Evan Young]

create a show with lightweight props.

clients like you to have a positive attitude, no matter how cool you think it is that your exhausted from being on airplanes all week and are used to much more professional stages etc.... I know this seems obvious, but a lot of the college clients we talk to bitch about other artists attitudes. Keep it humble, you aren't that special; just be confident and let them know you'll give them an awesome show.

[Juggalicious]

lightweight and small props are INCREDIBLY important - we have to lug around 6 folding chairs - man that is such a hassle.

we're currently working on getting rid of these asap.

to back up Evan again - I'm am totally surprised at how often i hear of other performers complaining about conditions to the client. You should definitely be thanking them for everything - even their mistakes.

[Butterfly Man]

timing is everything

When giving a "pick-up" time for a driver to bring you to the airport (or any important gig), always give a time that is utterly specific down to the minute.

E.g.

"Pick me up at 9:37" ...

...don't say 9:30 or 9:45...

... they will pay attention... and that's what you want.

P.S. Kurt Vonnegut did this and I stole the idea from him.

[Frisbee]

I mostly agree with Evan...

If you send a technical rider and techincal/staging requirements to a venue for your show: i.e. things that are needed to make your show the best it can be or to work properly and the client, college, venue etc sign off that you will have those things and then you show up and they are not there, then yes, I think you can voice your complaints in that situation.

[Evan Young]

speaking of the super obvious

unreasonable riders are a common thing we hear clients bitch about.

seriously, acts that are ready to work through problems, even if they are clearly the clients fault, get invited back and have their praises sung... If you freak out about how bad the sound system and lighting sucks, or how the ceiling is a couple feet too low, they will not like you and won't hesitate to tell others.
Soooo many shows are bad for uncontrollable reasons. You can have them remember you as the guy who treated them like assholes, or the nice guy who tried to make it work.
oh, and pulling it off and being amazing doesn't make up for a bad attitude, they will still talk shit about you.

[Evan Young]

"keep your dick out of the cash register"
Don't sleep with your clients. Common advice that's hard to follow in the college market.

[Frisbee]

I never mentioned unreasonable riders.

If your rider is unreasonable than that is a problem that the performer should address.

However, if you send someone a tech rider, especially when they ask you for one and it lists reasonable requests or if you require certain staging and/or certain lighting to do your performances properly then these are issues that should be taken care of before the show.

When you send a tech rider with your requirements, you should have the client check off that they read it, understand it and have them sign it.

If there are things that are questionable in the rider or unreasonable or just not possible the time to negotiate or axe them is before the performance.

If the client signs off that those things will be provided for you lighting, sound, etc and then you check with them and they confirm that they read and understand your rider requirements and then you show up and they claim to not have those things or whatnot, then yes, you can ask why?

I am not saying put up a stink and say that they suck or the sound sucks or the light sucks, that is bad business and not professional and will definitely not get you hired back.
You should try every effort to go with the flow and still provide them the best show you can do.

There is a way to politely point out that you sent the techinical/lighting and show requirements that they signed and followed up in advance and wonder whether there was a miscommunication on the needs.

Always be nice, polite and professional to your client and give them the best show possible and dont make your requirements unreasonable...I think that is the way to go.

[Evan Young]

We sure spent a long time saying "don't be a dick". I'll be happy to take the clients of anyone who doesn't understand the subtleties of that one..... and I have been.

better response than "why don't you have this for me?": "oh, crud, that was on the rider..... ummm, *present solution*." Don't tell them they are dumb or ask them why, let them figure out on their own. If it was your fault, they will tell you.


sorry. we are getting way too specific. We're all saying the same thing.

[Juggalicious]

"keep your dick out of the cash register"
Don't sleep with your clients. Common advice that's hard to follow in the college market.

Evan.... please don't make me cry.