Beware of Free Gigs

When we started Red Sky a little more than a year ago we were thinking that after practicing and a lot of legwork and schmoozing we might get a paying gig or two around town.

Within a couple of months we played at some open mics at the Black Diamond and then played a free gig at the Orange Inn. That free gig led to a lot more paying gigs because we were considered "legit" at that point. 

The next hurdle was getting repeat gigs at venues. That would show that we are at least entertaining, and at most drawing a crowd. We have learned that some places expect bands to bring them customers to justify being there. Others bring in bands to get customers to show up. We find that the second premise works best for us at our infancy stage, since we are very good, but still developing a following.

We decided at that point to stop doing free gigs except the occasional benefit. One exception to that was to play at a women's soccer game this summer. Little did we know...

I will never forget Sunday July 22 2013 when our soundman, Steve, said "Guys - I never expected to be doing this in my life!" referring to setting up for our first stadium show in Rochester NY. Not to mention getting taped for possible TV broadcast and seeing ourselves on Fox Sports the next day.

How did this happen? Well, it didn't just happen. Red Sky has been practicing and playing out consistently for a year now. We have built up the skills, equipment and confidence on top of the talent already there. We know that if we reach out for a grab at an opportunity we can make the most of it. In this case it was being aware that there was an opportunity to be had - this was not an advertised gig. It came from inboxing a sports team on Facebook and having an online package together to represent us.

We also got to give away game tickets to fans and supports and enjoy most of the game with our families. We got mentions on all advertisements and placements - radio, TV, news heard "Red Sky" all day when the game came up.

And we unknowingly auditioned for potential gigs for other teams that play at the stadium, and at least two booking agents that contacted us in person after the game.

So we are careful how we define "free"

When we started Red Sky a little more than a year ago we were thinking that after practicing and a lot of legwork and schmoozing we might get a paying gig or two around town.

Within a couple of months we played at some open mics at the Black Diamond and then played a free gig at the Orange Inn. That free gig led to a lot more paying gigs because we were considered "legit" at that point. 

The next hurdle was getting repeat gigs at venues. That would show that we are at least entertaining, and at most drawing a crowd. We have learned that some places expect bands to bring them customers to justify being there. Others bring in bands to get customers to show up. We find that the second premise works best for us at our infancy stage, since we are very good, but still developing a following.

We decided at that point to stop doing free gigs except the occasional benefit. One exception to that was to play at a women's soccer game this summer. Little did we know...

I will never forget Sunday July 22 2013 when our soundman, Steve, said "Guys - I never expected to be doing this in my life!" referring to setting up for our first stadium show in Rochester NY. Not to mention getting taped for possible TV broadcast and seeing ourselves on Fox Sports the next day.

How did this happen? Well, it didn't just happen. Red Sky has been practicing and playing out consistently for a year now. We have built up the skills, equipment and confidence on top of the talent already there. We know that if we reach out for a grab at an opportunity we can make the most of it. In this case it was being aware that there was an opportunity to be had - this was not an advertised gig. It came from inboxing a sports team on Facebook and having an online package together to represent us.

We also got to give away game tickets to fans and supports and enjoy most of the game with our families. We got mentions on all advertisements and placements - radio, TV, news heard "Red Sky" all day when the game came up.

And we unknowingly auditioned for potential gigs for other teams that play at the stadium, and at least two booking agents that contacted us in person after the game.

So we are careful how we define "free"

Youth Hockey and War Pigs Highlights of Recent Gig

Red Sky has been booking a lot of gigs at new places. We had been hoping for a long time to play at Mickey Finn's because it is close by and a super nice restaurant first, bar and music venue second. They only book good bands that can play without relying on loudness or a narrow style range.

When Tim returned my email we discussed the kind of music hist patrons would prefer, and we changed up our set list. We added some Allman Bros, CSNY and a Miranda Lambert. Took out the Bush and Stone Temple Pilots. And we really had a good time trying to hit one out of the park when we played there last night (Sat March 2, 2013).

A couple of moments stood out as memorable: a bantam league hockey team joined in on Purple Rain - slow arm wave, 'oooh-oooh' chorus. Grade-school kids- how do they know this stuff?
And our final song- War Pigs. Our bass player was really lost in the music - eyes closed, head moving like Geezer, transported by the conveyor belt that is "the Wall" segment of the song. He opened his eyes to see quite a few people had left their seats, left the bar, left what they were doing and had re-formed an audience. Scotti played an epic lead- molten sheets of fire put Satan on the wing as the war pigs burned.

Probably not what Mickey Finn's envisioned when they booked us, but somehow the journey we were all on that night took us there.

Red Sky has been booking a lot of gigs at new places. We had been hoping for a long time to play at Mickey Finn's because it is close by and a super nice restaurant first, bar and music venue second. They only book good bands that can play without relying on loudness or a narrow style range.

When Tim returned my email we discussed the kind of music hist patrons would prefer, and we changed up our set list. We added some Allman Bros, CSNY and a Miranda Lambert. Took out the Bush and Stone Temple Pilots. And we really had a good time trying to hit one out of the park when we played there last night (Sat March 2, 2013).

A couple of moments stood out as memorable: a bantam league hockey team joined in on Purple Rain - slow arm wave, 'oooh-oooh' chorus. Grade-school kids- how do they know this stuff?
And our final song- War Pigs. Our bass player was really lost in the music - eyes closed, head moving like Geezer, transported by the conveyor belt that is "the Wall" segment of the song. He opened his eyes to see quite a few people had left their seats, left the bar, left what they were doing and had re-formed an audience. Scotti played an epic lead- molten sheets of fire put Satan on the wing as the war pigs burned.

Probably not what Mickey Finn's envisioned when they booked us, but somehow the journey we were all on that night took us there.

Open Mic'd

Got a message from our singer, Patti, that she would be at the Cottage Hotel in Mendon with Steve Sunday night to check out the open mic scene there. Scott and Hot Pockets had wanted to drop in there to scope out the stage for the upcoming gig. Most of the band do not go out much, and had not been there before.

Its always a good idea to personally check out a venue before the first time you play there. Despite the size connotation of a hotel, the place is pretty small - maybe 7 tables for dinner and a 12' bar. There's another with game tables next to the diningroom that seems like wasted space - I was told bands used to play from there in the old days when Marshall Tucker Band played there, for instance.

There was a young lady playing Taylor Swift songs while chairs and beers tracked down. Then the MC, Ricky, played a song with one of his students from Jovi's music where he teaches and sells instruments. A few pre-teen girls at the adjacent table were giggling and scribbling and I saw one write some names on the sign-up sheet after ours.

Ricky smoothly let them go ahead while H.P. went out to get the guitars. They were done before he came back! Time to quickly set up, tune and find out the guitar had some electrical problem (its the pots!) and Scotty switched to Ricky's Martin (ha!). Off we went into Rockin' in the Free World, Blue on Black, Almost Cut my Hair and finally Been Awhile. By then H.P. had to bend every string to keep in tune since the bass had warmed up.

Another tuneup and Ricky wants to play too, so Scotty convinces H.P. to do Little Wing. H.P. is not feeling really confident about that song, but reluctantly agrees. Emphasizes the parts he is sure of and tries to fade back on the rest or dance around.

Then Ricky wants to do another to close out the night - do we know "One Way Out"? H.P. doesn't even know what song that is- oh "Might be your man I don't know" Allman Bros. Ricky says don't worry you guys can do this! A dry run through the chorus and the all-important stop in there and we're off again, this time Ricky signing, playing the rhythm, and telling H.P. what note to change to on the bass- hilarious and impressive! "A!",  "D!", "E!" "stop!"

Later H.P. realizes he has never heard a recording of Almost Cut My Hair and hadn't heard One Way Out since he sold his old Vinyl records and tossed his tapes 20+ years ago. Great way to close out 2012!

Got a message from our singer, Patti, that she would be at the Cottage Hotel in Mendon with Steve Sunday night to check out the open mic scene there. Scott and Hot Pockets had wanted to drop in there to scope out the stage for the upcoming gig. Most of the band do not go out much, and had not been there before.

Its always a good idea to personally check out a venue before the first time you play there. Despite the size connotation of a hotel, the place is pretty small - maybe 7 tables for dinner and a 12' bar. There's another with game tables next to the diningroom that seems like wasted space - I was told bands used to play from there in the old days when Marshall Tucker Band played there, for instance.

There was a young lady playing Taylor Swift songs while chairs and beers tracked down. Then the MC, Ricky, played a song with one of his students from Jovi's music where he teaches and sells instruments. A few pre-teen girls at the adjacent table were giggling and scribbling and I saw one write some names on the sign-up sheet after ours.

Ricky smoothly let them go ahead while H.P. went out to get the guitars. They were done before he came back! Time to quickly set up, tune and find out the guitar had some electrical problem (its the pots!) and Scotty switched to Ricky's Martin (ha!). Off we went into Rockin' in the Free World, Blue on Black, Almost Cut my Hair and finally Been Awhile. By then H.P. had to bend every string to keep in tune since the bass had warmed up.

Another tuneup and Ricky wants to play too, so Scotty convinces H.P. to do Little Wing. H.P. is not feeling really confident about that song, but reluctantly agrees. Emphasizes the parts he is sure of and tries to fade back on the rest or dance around.

Then Ricky wants to do another to close out the night - do we know "One Way Out"? H.P. doesn't even know what song that is- oh "Might be your man I don't know" Allman Bros. Ricky says don't worry you guys can do this! A dry run through the chorus and the all-important stop in there and we're off again, this time Ricky signing, playing the rhythm, and telling H.P. what note to change to on the bass- hilarious and impressive! "A!",  "D!", "E!" "stop!"

Later H.P. realizes he has never heard a recording of Almost Cut My Hair and hadn't heard One Way Out since he sold his old Vinyl records and tossed his tapes 20+ years ago. Great way to close out 2012!