Gigging thing - opinions, please!

[mrph]

(With apologies to diffrentcolours for poaching the title...)

There's been a fair bit of debate about gigs and promoters elsewhere on LJ today - mostly about a specific incident, but with some discussion of what should be expected/provided, good practice and all that sort of thing.

And thinking about it, there are a few musical and promotery types reading this journal. So...

What advice should be in a FAQ/guide for first time gig promoters?

Or, from the other point of view, for new bands who are about to start playing gigs?
Edit: actually, there seems to be a very decent take on the band's checklist here. Which the gigging thing lyrics indirectly reminded me of... :)

Comments

[naamah-dust.livejournal.com]

From all my live gigging experiences the only gripes that I can still remember with a frown are :

- not enough DI boxes despite always submitting a tech spec in advance

- not enough available inputs into the mixing desk despite always submitting a tech spec in advance

- turning up (always) on time for soundcheck but no sign of the engineer / PA and therefore getting an inadequate soundcheck due to their tardiness.


On a positive note the good memories are :

- being given agreed riders, always helps when you are sitting around for hours at soundchecks etc. Its a long day...

- being paid as agreed without having to argue, haggle or chase

- the promoters themselves actually spending time with us having a beer (just as Morph says), it really does make the hours sat around go by a lot more pleasantly when there is someone to have a beer with, and not just turn up as the doors open....