G-Springs
Posted: 21 April 2005 at 01:21:47
Okay, I should finish up talking about the recent trip to Colorado and then touch on a number of other things.
Coloradole
First of all, let me point over to Thom’s excellent thomolog about our trip to Colorado. Thom’s been wanting to do “en-route” blogging from day-one but it has just never happened. Finally, on this trip, he figured out the best way for him to do it: take shorthand-like notes in a spiral notebook and then compose more detailed entries from the notes later. The result is worth reading.
My take on the whole experience is similar to Thom’s. We went to Glenwood Springs on Saturday. Our arrival at the Eagles club was anticlimactic — The room was nothing more than a medium-sized banquet hall which was used for bingo games. Christmas lights were string in a grid pattern about 10-12 feet from the floor. The stage was just a riser in one corner of the room. No stage lights and no P.A.
The sound guy — Bob — showed up a couple hours late and brought a couple trees, PAR30 lights, and one of the most primitive (but rugged) lighting controllers I’ve ever laid eyes upon. I set near Bob’s mixer and rack near the back of the room and contemplated how I was going to set up the projector. To get it high enough to go over people’s heads, I would have to get it at at least 6-8 feet above the ground, but I couldn’t go up too high or else that grid work of Christmas lights and wire would affect the projected image. I decided to hit the area hardware store to see what I could come up with.
It was during this time that “sound check” began. As I understand it, the sound check included (free, with no purchase required) putting the band through several audio feedback endurance tests.
When I got to the True Value hardware store, an older woman coming out told me they were closed. Next stop: Wal-Mart. Here, I found what I needed: an inexpensive set of modular plastic shelves that, when constructed, were 48-inches high. Putting this set of shelves on top of the table I had set up my equipment up on would put the projector about 7-8 feet above the floor: Perfect. Plus, the packaging for this set of shelves boasted one of it’s finest qualities: rust resistance.
We didn’t pack the place in, but it wasn’t poorly attended either. Those who did come out to experience Sons Of Nothing were very appreciative of our visit to Glenwood Springs and enthusiastic fans of Pink Floyd music, even the more obscure selections.
Despite how primitive the lighting controller was that I had to work with, I think I put on a bitchin’ light show. It just goes to show it doesn’t necessarily take a set of expensive, sophisticated lighting instruments to light a band well. Someone who knows the music well can usually create the right moods with the lighting with pretty simple resources.
That being said, I would really like to see the band get a couple inexpensive 250-watt DMX-controlled scanners. Maybe someday.
There was that creepy incident with the inebriated purseless woman in the back alleyway and the grammatically-challenged law enforcement. Thom explains it better than I could. All I can say is that I always thought the law enforcement officials you see on the TV show COPS behaved the way they do on the show because they’re being filmed for a national audience. I was wrong. As I watched one of the officers toy with this drunk woman by barking at her that he didn’t want to smell her cigarette smoke in his face I felt I was living out a scene from that show... Surreal to say the least.
The drive home was smooth and uneventful. Nothing more can be said about it.
After I got home, I finally gave myself some time to reflect on the events of the previous few days and got increasingly angry.
I called Thom on Monday and told him I’d had it with the band. Specifically, I had lost faith that our path to playing to well-attended 1000+ seat audiences was through dozens (hundreds) of bar and club gigs like we’ve been playing the last year or so. I told him there has to be an easier way to get the band to that rung in the ladder than what we’re doing. I believe it’s promotion- either bringing in indepedent promoters or setting aside funds to effectively promote the shows and pass that cost to the venue in the form of much higher fees to play.
Thom feels similarly so I think there’s going to be some changes... the ball is already rolling, in fact.
But, if things don’t change, I’m going to have to say adios to my role as “technical director” with Sons Of Nothing. It’s just not worth it anymore. Maybe it would be different if I was already the type to stay in scummy motels and visit scummy watering holes in other cities... but I’m not that type.
Dave calls it quits!
My good friend Dave has had it with his boss. Well, former boss, that is.
Read all about it over in Dave’s Dave-o-log.
Adam takes on more responsibility.
Adam and Melissa are the proud parents of a little girl they’ve decided to call Morgan Marie Peterson. Tonight, I helped Adam set up his website so he could show off pictures of the baby.