What's the best gig you ever had?

[spellcaster]

I can recall specific one night gigs that were magical, but overall, the best I ever had was a house gig in the mid seventies. I was playing bass in a three piece band called Honest John and we landed the house band job at a local waterfront hotel. we set up our gear there, practiced there once or twice a week (five minute drive from home!), played every Friday and Saturday night, and made embarassing amounts of money....Generally about 200.00 - 250.00 per man each night - back in the seventies! We drank free at the bar, never had to set up, tear down, or move gear, had a private room behind the stage where we could relax or toke, and basically had a really great time. Funny thing is, I was replaced in that band after about 2 1/2 years (due to my limited vocal skills), and about three weeks later there was an electrical fire that burned everything in the cabaret (including the band's gear) to a crisp.

[zontar]

You made it out in time, did you have all your gear before the fire?

[spellcaster]

Yeah, I was lucky. When I was in the band I always took my bass (Univox 4001 Ric copy) with me but I left my amp there. I was using an Ampeg VT22 as a bass head and had just replaced my old 2x12 Traynor cabinet with a custom built Reimer enclosure with two JBL K140's two weeks before I left the band. I took all my stuff the night I got my notice, luckily. I felt bad for the other guys though. The lead player lost a nice SF Twin Reverb and a complete Shure Vocalmaster PA system, the bass player who replaced me lost a Reimer head and Reimer/JBL cabinet, and the drummer lost a vintage set of Ludwigs. I went to the scene the next day with the lead player, who was a close friend, to see if there was anything worth salvaging. We came away empty handed. I guess that's the down side of leaving your equipment set up somewhere instead of doing the 2:00AM gear hump.

[die Bullen]

We came away empty handed. I guess that's the down side of leaving your equipment set up somewhere instead of doing the 2:00AM gear hump.

you got that right... The poor VT-22!!!

[anfontan]

I have always been wary of leaving guitars in a club after the gig-I always take it home and never leave it in the car.
There was a club in town and a band left their gear set up for the night and it too burned to the ground that night. A local music store had the guitarist's Tele on display-I think it was a 1956 and the neck looked like a burned matchstick. It was very sad.............

[die Bullen]

I'm the same way. I don't leave any guitars out of my sight and if I leave the room I ask someone to watch it. I also never leave them in the guitar- I've known too many guys that had their cars broken into and guitars stolen.

[Brian Krashpad]

My best gig ever was a one-nighter doing a benefit I didn't get paid a cent for:



Note the older gentleman seated to the right, with the rectangular red guitar.

[zontar]

Note the older gentleman seated to the right, with the rectangular red guitar.

Looks vaguely familiar...


But seriously--that must have been cool.

[YeahDoIt]

For me I think it was the time the police showed up and shut everything down. There was a big crowd, way bigger than anyone expected.

[etechstan]

@Krashpad; A brush with greatness!!!!

[Brian Krashpad]

That's what I tell everyone anyhow. Bo got lucky!

[zontar]

Nice amp there...

[Brian Krashpad]

Nice amp there...

Bo's Roland Jazz Chorus 120?

I played through a Crate BX200 and an old Woodson 1x15, here are both rigs:

[zontar]

Yes the Roland JC--neat to see that Bo used one--I have one--kind of cool.

And I love the amps.

[spellcaster]

World's longest house gig: