Who here likes gigging in the deep, brutal, relentless, unforgiving jaws of winter ?

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

I don't like it, no sir I don't!

The problem is, It's hard on the gear, it's hard to load and unload from a nasty, wet salt sprayed car or SUV where the hatch won't stay open because it's too cold and on an icy parking lot, and then set things up with numb hands and fingers that feel like they've been hit with a hammer as they warm back up. Plus it's dangerous driving in the snow and icy to a gig where there is nobody there because they are too smart to go out in this crazy brutal weather.


Winter is for recording tunes in your comfy home by the fireside, that's what I'm thinking.

 

[MKB]

I don't either, even though we gig indoors from late October until spring. Perhaps the worst is to be loading the trailer on the bus at 2:30AM in <10F weather, wind blowing, you're exhausted and still a little sweaty from the gig, and the bus has already been started to warm up. That breathing in of diesel fumes in such conditions is a pain of near biblical proportions.

 

[kingsxman]

I don't mind it. Except for weekends like this one. I have a 2 nighter in a Casino town about 75 minutes from my house. So driving back and forth each night. Sat. will suck as we have to tear down that night. Last time we played this place I drove home in a snowstorm. Not supposed to be so bad this weekend. Our normal drive is less than a 1/2 hour for most places.

The one thing about winter here in Minnesota is the bars are usually full. In the summer months they empty out as everyone is doing something outside.

 

[Average Joe]

Can't say that I like it, but if you live in the great white north (or at least GWN adjacent) them's the breaks.

 

[B Money]

The one thing about winter here in Minnesota is the bars are usually full. In the summer months they empty out as everyone is doing something outside.

Upstate NY is the same way. Although gigging in the winter is a real PITA, seems like the crowds are better.

 

[c_mac]

I don't mind it. Except for weekends like this one. I have a 2 nighter in a Casino town about 75 minutes from my house. So driving back and forth each night. Sat. will suck as we have to tear down that night. Last time we played this place I drove home in a snowstorm. Not supposed to be so bad this weekend. Our normal drive is less than a 1/2 hour for most places.

The one thing about winter here in Minnesota is the bars are usually full. In the summer months they empty out as everyone is doing something outside.

I played Mystic Lake Casino just before Christmas. Snowy and cold but we survived! Now I get to head to North Dakota this weekend for a two nighter. Can't say that I'm thrilled traveling north in the winter. At least we get to play Texas in two weeks!

 

[SackvilleDan]

I played an outdoor show at the end of November... it was -7 degrees (Celsius) and my hands were too cold to play! I was hamfisting through a lot of it as my fingers weren't bending, and and going back and forth between my 335 and twelve string was tough (with a lot of retuning required).

We had a forced air heater on the stage blowing to keep us warm but it didn't completely do the job. On our set breaks I was standing with my hands in the duct trying to keep them from freezing.

It was a hell of a fun show though, there were ~200 people dancing and carrying on and there were a few barrel fires going to keep them warm!

 

[MLG Audio]

I don't gig as a musician, but doing sound gigs really sucks in the winter. Trying to find a place to park the trailer when parking lots are all screwed up, loading in a ton of speakers and gear with cold hands and wet feet, people stepping on your cables with gross brown snow shoes. The list goes on and on. I can't wait for the summer to roll around. Outdoor gigs in shorts with my box fan sitting right next to the desk is what I need.

 

[Peeb]

Me and winter.

We have issues.

We've just never really gotten along.

 

[magdream]

Back in the late 90s (or so) my friends and I formed a band shortly before Thanksgiving. To light a fire under our butts, the other guitar player booked a local gig for late January or February.

We rehearsed in his detached garage in Queens NY. Needless to say it was cold. Sure, we had a couple of space heaters going, but we still saw our collective breaths as we sang into the mics.

At one point I joked that we'd be ready and battle tested if the bar didn't have any heat. If I can only predict lottery numbers as accurately...

Oh, and then there was the load out at 3am, where it was in the teens and windy. The joys of a "gigging musician".

 

[michael patrick]

I'll play of there's a guarantee. But working for the door is a crap shoot, and I've played gigs before where a snowstorm keeps everyone at home and you wind up with $15 to split between three bands...

 

[hot pepper]

Goes with the territory here in northern Il. I despise the cold and snow and ice but I've never missed a gig yet. I did turn down a one nighter at Mystic Lake casino in Min. once but the four hour drive on the highway is takeing your life in your hands. It's a bad stretch of road between the wisconson border and Min.

 

[jpage]

Boston gig tomorrow night. It's about 3 degrees right now in the sun. It'll be a blast though--not like they make us play outside...

 

[drewl]

It can be quite peaceful and beautiful 3am in the middle of a winter wonderland.

You gotta do what ya gotta do.

 

[jojo]

Better than the heat imo

 

[Big Boss Man]

I have played sets wearing a winter jacket. It must have been -10 outside and 30 inside.

 

[Flyin' Brian]

Can't say that I like it, but if you live in the great white north (or at least GWN adjacent) them's the breaks.

Exactly. What do you do up here in Canada? Take the winter off? You just deal with it. I've driven home in some storms that have extended my normal 45 minute drive to 3 hours or so.

There are outdoor New Years Eve shows in Niagara Falls every year. Like I said, you just deal.

 

[27sauce]

The only thing I don't like is that the girls' outfits go from super slutty to mildly skanky.

 

[tiktok]

I like vacationing where there's snow, not dealing with it on a daily basis every year.

Hence, living where it rarely freezes other than briefly overnight. Even so, gloves during driving to the gig and while loading in are a good idea.

 

[GuitarPlaynTaylor]

On the tour I did back in December we played Boot Hill in Gillette, WY... the week that we were there it averaged -25 degrees every day haha. Needless to say loading in/out was a pain and you would be chilled walking from the van to the hotel or van to the club. First time I had been in weather that cold. This time around we're in wyoming for three weeks this month and I am pleased that is not that cold this time around. Much easier to deal with 30 degree weather. I must say though that I am enjoying an actual winter this time of year compared to central CA where I live where its summer time right now. Totally a four seasons guy