Casino Gigs....

[Lotis]

I'm doing a week at a casino in Reno. What a strange gig. The management runs the front sound with a computer. We get a good sound on stage which is above a bar in the middle of the place. It is a big place. You can have ear buds and a small board if you want and do your own mon mix. They have us so low in the mains people complain they can't hear us. Good band too. Creative pro's, great vocals, blues and R and B. Lots of jamming. 11:30 to 5 am on weekends for not so great $. I guess I'm lucky to be gigging but it sure feels the same as a crappy low paying job a lot of the time. The band before us is killer...all suited up, 2 keys, sax and guitar. Sharp. Can't hear them either unless you are right at the bar pit. Anyone else do this?

[germs]

that's a helluva graveyard shift.

most casinos DO have strange-ish sound requirements. but they're in the business of making money, not selling your band. you're just part of the background noise in a casino, unless you're playing a dedicated concert hall.

at the casinos around my house - let's say w/in 60 miles - all of them have a large and med/small venue in-house, as well as 1-2 risers near a seated bar area for a duo to play. the venues are all world class and have touring artists come through, as well as larger regional cover bands. the small risers on the gaming floor are all direct to board, house controls the levels, so don't even THINK about asking.

all comes with the territory.

[The Golden Boy]

It is a weird scene.

All around.

[jimfog]

Down in AC, every casino band I saw was:

Chick singer

Drummer w/ electronic drum pads

Guitarist w/ Pod

"Keyboards" (dude running sequences, basically) who also stepped out front for the male lead vox and duos.

Zero stage volume, ear buds, house tech ran sound.

EVERY damned band was the same, other than 1 or 2 "theme" bars (country, etc).

[mightypudge]

When we played casino gigs we were forced to use all house gear - POD, elec kit, etc. House sound was provided, marginal most nights. Sucked the life out of me.

[Steve73]

I play casino gigs all the time. We bring in our own PA and do our own sound. Not bad gigs, they pay well and you can get into a cycle where you are in each one about every 3 months.

[wstsidela]

It all depends on the casino. I've been playing at the Pechanga casino for the last 7 years. No pods on my stage.

[The Kid]

I've done a couple, but they're not much fun IMO. Load in was a pain for me because they have no guitar amp, although drums & a bass amp were provided Terrible PA.

The best part was that they actually got mad at us when people would stop to hear the band! I know, I know... they're supposed to be gambling. Seriously though, it was kinda funny.

The stage is above the bar and you feel like you've smoked a carton of cigarettes by the end of the first set. Not worth $150-$200 per man for a 4 hour gig IMO. I stopped doing them.

[guitarman_nebr]

for what it is worth, i played the casino gig in the early to mid 80's and it was the same gig then....................same as ever.

[cjs42079]

Originally Posted by jimfog

Down in AC, every casino band I saw was:

Chick singer

Drummer w/ electronic drum pads

Guitarist w/ Pod

"Keyboards" (dude running sequences, basically) who also stepped out front for the male lead vox and duos.

Zero stage volume, ear buds, house tech ran sound.

EVERY damned band was the same, other than 1 or 2 "theme" bars (country, etc).

I've played at Harrah's in AC a few times, and it wasn't so bad at all. They provided backline, so I only had to show up with pedalboard and guitar. That was nice. Backline was solid too - 2 JC120's and a Hartke bass rig. They had 4 monitors across the stage and volume/stage mix was quite generous. Mix was controlled by computer as well. I thought we were plenty loud for the area we were in. Oh and we don't have a chick singer, don't have keys, samples or electric drums, and we play modern rock and pop tunes. 2 guitars, bass, drums and 2 vox. Everyone loves it...and frankly, it was a pretty sweet gig. The only downside is that they pay you by check 4 weeks later.


I kind of agree with you though, most bands on that circuit are total cheese.

[GAT]

Originally Posted by Lotis

I'm doing a week at a casino in Reno. What a strange gig. The management runs the front sound with a computer. We get a good sound on stage which is above a bar in the middle of the place. It is a big place. You can have ear buds and a small board if you want and do your own mon mix. They have us so low in the mains people complain they can't hear us. Good band too. Creative pro's, great vocals, blues and R and B. Lots of jamming. 11:30 to 5 am on weekends for not so great $. I guess I'm lucky to be gigging but it sure feels the same as a crappy low paying job a lot of the time. The band before us is killer...all suited up, 2 keys, sax and guitar. Sharp. Can't hear them either unless you are right at the bar pit. Anyone else do this?

Hey, are you still in town? I live in Reno, PM me, maybe we can meet up!

Yeah, those casino gigs will suck the life blood out of you! I did the circuit for a couple years and couldn't stand it.

Sounds like the Atlantis or Peppermill.

[pbradt]

JC120s a solid backline? Not in mah book.

[DFK]

My modern rock cover band played a gig at the Lighthouse Bar at Rhode Island's Twin River. In between songs, my 20-something female singer pretended to be a 60-something, chain-smoking, slot machine junkie dropping every nickel of her social security check into the one arm bandit. Not a good idea to mock the patrons. We've not been invited back.

Very good sound though, out front and on stage.

[Kaji13]

Originally Posted by pbradt

JC120s a solid backline? Not in mah book.

Depends on what you play. If I'm doing Smiths covers, then I would be in heaven.

[SteveGaines]

who does those down in Tunica....From my understanding..They want the band to be "WALL PAPER"...something to look at, but something that isn't going to draw all the attention away from the people who are gambling...They don't want all the customers standing listening to a band when they should be losing their hard earned money...