Calling live TV session players...

My advice:

1. Get a new 2nd guitarist.

2. Check into income tax situation - they may not let you leave the country until you pay it................

3. If it pays that well who cares about the backline? There's plenty of good musicians in Europe that are "hungry".

It's a tough World out there but good luck!

Best, Pete.

 

I'll fly over ad play the gig for you!! pm me if you want me. This is not a joke


AJ

 

my other advice would be something i do for church playing , which for me is a really powerful tool and means i get time to work on parts while everyone else is writing out a new chart. Im talking about the Nashville numbering system. Write all the charts in that and with key changes just write down the MODULATION from the first key to second (so G to A would be up a step)

get me.

other than that be a nice guy, get there on time and be willing to try everything and anything. Remember alot of muso will watch the programme for the great music. (i do with Idol, cus paul jackson jr rocks!!)


AJ

 

when you say that they are refusing to let you have a backline, do you mean that they are refusing to let you use an amp at all? if so, assuming you guys have in ears or monitors, just set it up in an iso booth of some sort. whenever i have gigs that don't want me to use the amp....i always go that route first.

 

My first question is how big is the sound stage? Sometimes there are restrictions on what is out and in view of the cameras, but that doesn't mean your amps can't be mic'd off stage. Monitors are not a big deal, I would push for in-ear monitors. This has an advantage of allowing the band to have individual mixes as well as click tracks.

As far as the inexperienced guitarist, you may have to replace him or work hard with him during your off time. Remember your band is only as good as your weakest person.

Lastly, I would push for your pedal boards to be with you. The only exception to this is if you have somebody off stage controlling your effects. The downside to this is they need to be very familiar with the song changes and will most definately need to be a fellow musician. Additional personelle creates additional expendatures for the show's producers.

 

you'll need, in this order:

1. a capo
2.a new 2nd guitar player
3. the newest POD board, xt3 live or whatever it's called

 

hahha...glad that worked out. i might be wrong, but plexiglass doesn't seem like a good iso option to me. most of the one's i've used are a softer/more absorbing material....sound panels, foam, etc. depending on your situation, you could also just put it in a room backstage.

 

Hey man, congrats on the new gig... might I ask if it's gonna' be in Bratislava? I've got lots of relatives in Slovakia (and Czech republic- Prague in specific), so if you need anything while over there, give me a PM and I'll help you out... Pretty cool place- LOTS of nice girls.

 

wow... now THAT's cool to know.
Of course I know Elan!
I spend a few weeks in Trnava each summer, but like I said, mostly stay in Prague. What's your wifes name, if you don't mind me asking? I just ask, 'cause I know most of their names for some reason! (I guess it's all that watching Markiza when I'm there, lol).

Do you ever travel around Slovakia? I really like it in Piestany for some reason and also Trencin, Kosice & Nitra aren't bad! Trnava is also a cool town.

Just wondering, but do you ever hit up the guitar shops in Bratislava near the "Narodne Divadlo"? (or near the US embassy...) There's that street... towards the Danube that has a few of them! I forget the street name, though. Might be "Medena". There are a few cool shops there, considering the rest of Slovakia doesn't have the greatest selection of gear, lol, but the prices are *INSANE*.

Very cool seeing someone from that part of the world on here! Maybe when I'm there this summer we could jam or go for a drink or something! Cheers.

Marko M.

P.S. What kinda' pedals do you use?
P.S.S. Do you also speak Slovak?
P.S.S.S. rolleyes: I know) Call me commercial, but I really like this song http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=9mPmwvUm8tA&feature=related

 

One word for your rhythm guitarist........CAPO

 

Sounds like a cool gig!

I have no real experience with live TV in front of a national audience. The last publicly aired program I did was about 25 years ago for a PBS type station.

But I do the same songs regularly with different singers in a large mega church setting that is a 2500 seater with 3 jumbotrons and full video production...4-6 cameras etc...

My best advice is to bring multiple guitars that can do the genre of music and have alternate tunings set up. That way you are not having to transpose chord voicings into some wierd configuration to match the singer's range. I bring 4 guitars and an acoustic to my "gig". If I can tune one or two guitars down a step or two and then beef up the string weight to compensate, I'll be miles ahead in grabbing the feel of the music in a naturally shaped and voiced chord progression. That's any rhythm players problem...

Now if all I was doing was lead licks and fills...well I can do that in my sleep in standard tuning, any key and transpose on the fly no sweat. Rhythm guitar is hard work, and I have respect for the good ones.

 

It is amazing to me, now we are living thru the "Cult of the Amateur" the lengths REAL musicians are going to in order to look like they are lip-syncing on TV in order to preserve the TV soundstage look. Your band sounds like you are a Karaoke machine in human form.
I hope it works out for you all.

 

first time I've ever heard of that. Congrats and good luck.