ISSUE

55

AUGUST

2014

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GigGuide

The Masked Review:

We address theElephant In The Room..."Why can't I get a gig?"

see page 8!

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The Masked ReviewPETEO'BRIEN - Strange Daze

Pete O'Brien has established a name for himself local ly as anindependent musician and singer songwriter with a wil l to nevergive up on his dreams.Strange Daze is the debut album from Pete O'Brien which deliversa collection of country songs every man and his dog canappreciate.The opener kicks us into the l ife of a ‘Country Man’ and whilelyrical ly it is quite simple, the repetitious chant of the choruscertainly gets our feettapping to the beat.‘Show Me Your LoveTonight’ takes thingsdown a notch beforewe are picked back upagain with ‘SouthernCross’ and the feelgood ‘Love Somebody’.A melodic pianointroduction serenadesus into ‘Goodbye Dad’ ,a heartfelt story of lossand sorrow.‘Do You Love Me’ and‘Hang Around Me’ onceagain return us to thedance loving , toetapping country soundthat we heard fromearl ier tracks.In a ghostly, almostatmospheric ‘I LoveYou’ we are transportedinto a stunning useof space and hauntinginstrumentation.The first single from thealbum is track 9, titled ‘Red Dress’. ‘Red Dress' tel ls the story ofparty girl Susie dancing on a Saturday night in her appealing attire.A catchy song that makes us want to ‘love that country song’.‘We All Live In The Same Town’ is a personal reflection on theBundaberg Floods and concludes the album Strange Daze.A well recorded and produced album which holds quite a fewhidden gems. A must have album for any country music loverscollection.

Standout Track: I Love YouThe Masked Review is independent ofBundaberg Live!

THE

R@ILW@Y

HOTEL

Your Local Gig GuideFri 1 Mr Q Acoustic TrioSat 2 Mr Q

Fri 8 Blacksmack UnpluggedSat 9 Aussie Boogaloo

Fri 1 5 Brendan EganSat 1 6 Brendan Egan Band

Fri 22 Mr Q Acoustic TrioSat 23 Mr Q

Fri 29 Matthew BarkerSat 30 Matthew Barker Band

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for updates

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____________________________________Fri 1 Jason Wil loughbySu 3 Railway Jam Session

Fri 8 TBC

Fri 1 5 Jay ToneSat 1 6 SausageFest feat. Phantom Fires, Into The Badlands &

The Weaver

Fri 22 Rattle & Blow

Fri 29 TBCSu 31 Bundaberg Friends of Jazz presents

Paul Hendon's Goodman Quintet____________________________________

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Su 1 0 The Purple Hil ls / Jam Session (al l welcome)

Su 24 Cleveland Blues

Sat 9 The Final Bark - Farewell Jam Session

Your Local Gig GuideFri 1 Steff MareeSat 2 Rod Pascoe

Fri 8 Roberto DunnSat 9 Steff Maree

Fri 1 5 Carl WocknerSat 1 6 Roberto Dunn

Fri 22 Rod PascoeSat 23 Brendan Egan

Fri 30 Brendan EganSat 31 Steff Maree

Fri 1 Matthew Barker / The Black Snow BandSat 7 The Black Snow BandSu 8 One For The Road

Th 7 Trevor WhiteFri 8 Toni / Smooth & GrooveSat 9 Smooth & GrooveSu 1 0 The Radio Star

We 1 3 Rob JohnsTh 1 4 Don CostaFri 1 5 Danni / Big ThingsSat 1 6 Big ThingsSu 1 7 One For The Road

Th 21 Jared AlexanderFri 22 Amity / Brass MonkeysSat 23 Brass MonkeysSu 24 Jared Alexander

We 27 Peter CouplesTh 28 Bil ly GuyFri 29 Dean Sauer / Paris TexasSat 30 Paris TexasSu 31 Darryl Keirnan

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SINGING LESSONS

Your Local Gig GuideSat 2 James Johnston

Fri 8 Bad BoysSat 9 The Electric Banana

Sat 1 6 Dan England Duo

Sat 23 James Johnston

Fri 29 Hitz939 Over 30's Retro PartySat 30 Dan England Duo

Fri 1 KaffeneSat 2 A2ZED

Wickety Wak (ticketed)Su 3 Alex Peden

Th 7 Nameless & ShamelessFri 8 Dudes of Doo Wop

IneXcess (ticketed)Sat 9 Dudes of Doo WopSu 1 0 Alex Peden

Th 1 4 Able MagwitchFri 1 5 Able MagwitchSat 1 6 Knee DeepSu 1 7 Alex Peden

Th 21 Old SkoolFri 22 Old SkoolSat 23 Max 7Su 24 Alex Peden

Th 28 CrossXRoadsFri 29 A2ZEDSat 30 Knee DeepSu 31 Alex Peden

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Sat 2 Clinton Honor

Fri 8 Ken & AnnieSat 9 Mark Lavender

Sat 1 6 Andy McLucasSu 1 7 Ken & Annie

Fri 22 Ken & AnnieSat 23 TBC

Sat 30 Andy McLucas

Your Local Gig Guide

Fri 1 Unlikely LadSat 2 Unlikely LadSu 3 Unlikely Lad

We 6 Michael BazleyFri 8 SamiSat 9 SamiSu 1 0 Michael Bazley

We 1 3 Jul ie SparksFri 1 5 Jul ie SparksSat 1 6 Jul ie SparksSu 1 7 Jul ie Sparks

We 20 Clinton HonorFri 22 Clinton HonorSat 23 Clinton HonorSu 24 Clinton Honor

We 27 Corinne RocketFri 29 Corinne RocketSat 30 Corinne RocketSu 31 Corinne Rocket

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Fri 1 Todd Keightley + DJ'sSat 2 Buffalo Moses + Mischeif

Th 7 Rod Pascoe + DJ'sFri 8 Rod Pascoe + DJ'sSat 9 The Deported + DJ's

Th 1 4 Todd Keightley + DJ'sFri 1 5 Todd Keightley + DJ'sSat 1 6 Buffalo Moses + DJ's

Th 21 Todd Keightley + DJ'sFri 22 Todd Keightley + DJ'sSat 23 Buffalo Moses + DJ's

Th 28 Roberto Dunn + DJ'sFri 29 Roberto Dunn + DJ'sSat 30 The Deported + DJ's

First thing I want to do is change the question. How about “Whatcan we do to help us get a gig?”. Aaaah thats better.Lets make this whole thing, a positive experience for me the writer,and you the dear reader.Firstly, the music industry is a strange little armadillo for sure. Amixture of people who might be doing it for a bit of fun and somedoing it to put food on the table. Think about that for a second.You generally don’t have a Plumber, who on the weekends goes outand does plumbing work... for fun. But that is exactly what you cansee any given Friday or Saturday night right around the world.Musicians, who have the night off, going to see other musiciansworking, and then often getting up and having a play with them.For free.Can you imagine Kevin the Plumber, finishing putting in a toiletsystem, and ringing up his mate Trevor the Plumber, and saying...“Hey Trev, I got me a new set of wrenches, how about tomorrow,when you are working on that job, I come and watch for a while,maybe jump in with my new wrenches for a bit of fun?” But we asmusicians do it all the time. Weird huh?So we have hobbyists, enthusiasts etc competing with “full timers”for a small supply of gigs.All of the above could be a professional musican. Once you getpaid, to play... you are a professional.Lets deal with “Professional Musicians”.We are in show business. SHOW!... BUSINESS!Two words for you to think about and consider. Because everythingyou do, everything that you should be concerned about as aprofessional musician, is contained in those two words.... ShowBusiness.

The Elephant In The Room...Last month we covered the covers versus originals discussion.This month, we wanted to take on the ever present elephant in theroom - original ly titled "Why Can't I Get A Gig?". We invited Peter"Wiz" Knight, one of the most respected and experiencedmusicians in town, to share his thoughts based on his extensiveexperience as a professional musician.

Peter Knight is in The Black Snow Band with Matthew Barker,Randal Ing and David Lye. You can catch the band at SugarlandTavern and The Waves Sports Club semi-regularly, and at othervenues as avertised. You can also catch Peter solo around thetraps. His current album Black Snow is available from his website -ozlandmusic.com

Credit: parkwaystoragecenter.com

SHOW.The minimum that you and your band should be capable of, whenasking someone to pay you to play music is:Enough of the right material to do the job.(Just because you have 40 songs, doesn’t necessarily mean that youare set. You need to have the right type of songs, for your intendedaudience(s).)The right equipment to do the job.(dont turn up to an outdoor gig for 500 with one wedge and apowered 15” speaker)The appropriate level of ability to do the job.( Just because your Mum, Girlfriend, Wife, Drunken mates reckonyou go alright... it doesn’t mean that you are at the level required tobe a professional musician. Be realistic about your ability. Seekadvice, and seek instruction on how to get better.)If your band has enough songs, you play them well enough, yourPA sounds good and is reliable, you have the right stage presencefor the venue and your hygiene is of a passable standard. Whyaren’t you still getting work?Well we took care ofthe “SHOW”.Lets take care of the“BUSINESS”.Think about greatcustomer service youhave received. Thinkabout why you goback and deal with aparticular businessyou use. What doyou like about them?Is it just price?Would you still usethem, if you had topay more than someother business downthe road?

The Elephant In The Room...

Be professional in all that you do. On stage, in public, on Facebook.Have a professional photo shoot done. Not your cousin who does abit on the side. Pony up the cash and get a proper photo done. Gettogether a brief BIO. Be honest , succinct and realistic in your BIO.Have something that the prospective client can listen to or watch.It doesnt have to be super expensive, but it does have to beshowing them that your act is right for them, be it a wedding or apub. If you are not prepared to invest your hard earned cash intothe right tools, posters, photos, gear , lighting, PA for you to do thejob, why should anyone hire you?Have one point of contact in the band to handle bookings,enquiries and the venue contact on the night. Pick the guy in theband who is good at it. If no one is good at it, really you are up thatwell known creek... and the bass player locked the paddle in thetrailer.Heres a hint, become that person. Hint 2, own the PA. Hint 3, learnto sing harmonies.. do all 3 of those things and your employment isvirtually assured.Approach venues/booking agents correctly. Attempt to find outwho the booker is for the venue. Write them a letter asking if youcan submit your BIO etc to them. Manners go a long way in life. Asdoes personal hygiene. Approach them if they are approachable.You are selling something.Tell the venue, that you are available to “Fill In” at short noticeshould one of their existing acts fall sick. Thats how I got my starthere in Bundaberg 10 years ago. I had been a professional musician

"Have aprofessionalphotoshootdone."

The Elephant In The Room...

Credit: usedwigs.com

in Melbourne having done over a 1000 gigs, and couldnt get a lookin here. I didn’t pout, I accepted the fact no one knew me fromAdam, and followed the advice I outlined above. Sure enoughsomeone cancelled, the venue was stuck and I was there within halfan hour and did a great show. Off to the races we were.Treat the Manager, Venue and Crowd with respect.If you or your band are not getting gigs, the reality is .. it’s your ownfault. I know that sounds harsh, but its true. There is no conspiracy.Those of us who have regular work don’t hold meetings and plotthe fate of others. Just because you play an instrument or sing,does not ENTITLE you to anything. You must make your own way.The music industry can be a very hard place. Not all are suited tobeing a Professional Musician. Thats okay. Like all businesses ifyou aren’t succeeding you must ask why? You must try to do whatyou do better, more effectively, or ...... ARRRGHHH .....cheaper.For the love of all music humanity don’t go down the cheaper path.Professional Musicians make less now than we did 25 years agowhen I started... If you have to play for peanuts just to get the gig,ask yourself .. why?

If you find yourself waxing negative about other players, bands,venues etc have a think about why you are doing that? How is thatgoing to serve you in getting what you desire? One of the hardestlessons in life to learn, is when you learn that YOU might be gettingin your own way. You can make the change though, and becomewhat you want. If you are willing to accept and really go after whatyou want.Above all, love making and playing music. It is wonderful to havemade my living for so long in the field of music. I feel blessed andhonored. I take my job very seriously though and it has been anenormous amount of hard work and sacrifice to have been able tobe successful at it. If you choose the path of a ProfessionalMusician, I wish you all the best. Get your mindset right and alwaysbe self evaluating. Never say a bad word about anyone (the industryis far too small) and every single time you are playing on stage, takea moment to shut your eyes and remember how lucky you are to bedoing this.Peace,

Wiz

The Elephant In The Room...

LLAASSEERR TTAATTTTOOOO RREEMMOOVVAALL

“Rock and roll music, if you like it, if you feel it,

you can’t help but move to it.

That’s what happens to me. I can’t help it.”

Elvis Presley