TobiasMan
08-24-2012, 11:52 AM
Well, still unwinding/decompressing from our big summer gig at the Church's District summer camp.
Played 13 times over the 7 days. Audiences ranged from 1100-1200 on Sundays to about 600 mid week, so approximately 10,000 people over the week. Had many compliments on our music over the week and were invited back again, but after 2 years in a row, we declined. As a group we talked discussed returning again next year, but decided it was time to let someone else step up the the plate. I have now played here 4 years. Twice I've sat in with another band, and now the last two years with our band. In addition to preparing and playing for our normal Sunday services, we spent a lot of time developing arrangements and new material for this gig over the previous 3 months and there was almost no downtime for the band at the event itself. The meeting area was abuzz with other speakers, meetings and activities so our practice/prep time was fitted in whenever available, so between playing twice a day and practice/prep, we had very little time to chill out.
We had different themes arranged during the week and that worked well, but we had a couple of curve balls tossed our way when the speaker asked us to play something entirely different for the closing. Luckily, with over 65 songs in our set list, we had something prepared that could be swapped in.
It is normally fairly hot there during the day with rain/thunderstorms at night. This year was the same, but the humidity was very high and that wreaked havoc on our guitars! Morning sessions were the worst - cool and damp making guitar necks and strings sticky (even though I frequently used the towels I always carry in each of my guitar cases) and wonky tuning that had to be corrected every time you got up to play. Even had to adjust the truss rod on my fretless as it was clattering. Thankfully my basses have all "normalized" now that I have them back home.
Great sound system (3 subs pumping out the bass!!!! :cool:) so we managed to keep the stage volume reasonably low and could hear each other for cues etc. That, plus our familiarity with the material meant that things went quite smoothly.
Saturday night has been our "special" set night over the past two years. Last year we did a Beatles (Abby Row) kind of sound/feel, complete with tie-died clothes and some great video backdrops. This year it was 60/70s sounding music, but we broke out our black, long haired wigs during the first song and played the rest of the set in character. The video guy had some great, psychadelic backgrounds going. We had a lot of fun coming up with appropriate lyrics for tunes of the day. Lots of whooping, foot stomping and cheers when we finished that one.
Excellent speakers and great vibe at the camp. It is located on the side of a river about 15 miles out in the country, so is a largely self contained venue. There were well over 250 RVs/trailers there along with all available rooms/cabins rented and many walk-in attendees. The entire event is very family oriented, with folks spending the afternoons attending workshops or seminars, or golfing, tubing down the river, racing RC cars, in the pool, on the climbing wall (the zip line was down for major upgrading) at the playground or standing in line at ice cream shop. My grandson was there with us and he had a blast riding laps around the area on his bicycle when he wasn't doing chores for folks to raise money for missions.
Over all, a very good event. Lots of support and enthusiastic responses, good sound people to work with and a great sound system. We were tired, but happy with what we contributed. Now I'm looking forward to next year when I get to kick back, enjoy the vibe and a different band. I think a band from a neighbouring city has already stepped up for next year.
Played 13 times over the 7 days. Audiences ranged from 1100-1200 on Sundays to about 600 mid week, so approximately 10,000 people over the week. Had many compliments on our music over the week and were invited back again, but after 2 years in a row, we declined. As a group we talked discussed returning again next year, but decided it was time to let someone else step up the the plate. I have now played here 4 years. Twice I've sat in with another band, and now the last two years with our band. In addition to preparing and playing for our normal Sunday services, we spent a lot of time developing arrangements and new material for this gig over the previous 3 months and there was almost no downtime for the band at the event itself. The meeting area was abuzz with other speakers, meetings and activities so our practice/prep time was fitted in whenever available, so between playing twice a day and practice/prep, we had very little time to chill out.
We had different themes arranged during the week and that worked well, but we had a couple of curve balls tossed our way when the speaker asked us to play something entirely different for the closing. Luckily, with over 65 songs in our set list, we had something prepared that could be swapped in.
It is normally fairly hot there during the day with rain/thunderstorms at night. This year was the same, but the humidity was very high and that wreaked havoc on our guitars! Morning sessions were the worst - cool and damp making guitar necks and strings sticky (even though I frequently used the towels I always carry in each of my guitar cases) and wonky tuning that had to be corrected every time you got up to play. Even had to adjust the truss rod on my fretless as it was clattering. Thankfully my basses have all "normalized" now that I have them back home.
Great sound system (3 subs pumping out the bass!!!! :cool:) so we managed to keep the stage volume reasonably low and could hear each other for cues etc. That, plus our familiarity with the material meant that things went quite smoothly.
Saturday night has been our "special" set night over the past two years. Last year we did a Beatles (Abby Row) kind of sound/feel, complete with tie-died clothes and some great video backdrops. This year it was 60/70s sounding music, but we broke out our black, long haired wigs during the first song and played the rest of the set in character. The video guy had some great, psychadelic backgrounds going. We had a lot of fun coming up with appropriate lyrics for tunes of the day. Lots of whooping, foot stomping and cheers when we finished that one.
Excellent speakers and great vibe at the camp. It is located on the side of a river about 15 miles out in the country, so is a largely self contained venue. There were well over 250 RVs/trailers there along with all available rooms/cabins rented and many walk-in attendees. The entire event is very family oriented, with folks spending the afternoons attending workshops or seminars, or golfing, tubing down the river, racing RC cars, in the pool, on the climbing wall (the zip line was down for major upgrading) at the playground or standing in line at ice cream shop. My grandson was there with us and he had a blast riding laps around the area on his bicycle when he wasn't doing chores for folks to raise money for missions.
Over all, a very good event. Lots of support and enthusiastic responses, good sound people to work with and a great sound system. We were tired, but happy with what we contributed. Now I'm looking forward to next year when I get to kick back, enjoy the vibe and a different band. I think a band from a neighbouring city has already stepped up for next year.