The Steel Guitar Forum

Played right on the beach in Bradenton. Beautiful day, band sounded great (although not into "new" country)the place was packed & no one was distancing & only 1 girl was masked.
I generally hate outdoor gigs, but we are booked until the end of the year, & all our gigs are outdoors. Don't think I will be playing indoors again this year.

I don't want to brag, but here in New Zealand we have had a major lockdown for a couple of months and now have no cases of Covid-19 and only had 21 deaths (almost all in old folks homes).
We still have closed borders but are now almost back to normal! As such I played our first gig last Friday night and it was a blast. We have now got a gig this Friday and some booked for the next couple of months.
I feel people are ready to get out and party!
Those muso's that relied on the work for income have struggled, but things are looking brighter.
My message is keep safe and get through this and you'll get back to playing great gigs?
Cheers
Sandy.

Rich, good for you.

I hate outdoor gigs and mostly turn them down.

We start tonight in Oxford. First time back.

My first gig in a while was this past Saturday as well. Cumberland, MD. Outdoor seating at a brewery on a little platform stage they had set up. Gig was from 6-9 PM so we got some shade from the building pretty early on. Most people seemed to wear masks to order their drinks inside and then take them off at their table. People were really happy to get out but a little unsure of how to behave (myself included). Had fun though.

Sandy Inglis wrote:I don't want to brag...

You're entitled to brag, Sandy. And to feel fortunate you're living in a country whose intelligent leadership places what's best for the entire country ahead of its own personal ambitions.

I remember an outdoor gig I did a few years ago.
I must have been set up right over the power cable going into the building because I had such a fierce hum and, no matter what I did, I couldn't eliminate it.
Erv

This coming Saturday I have my first gig since early March.
It's outside at Lake Tahoe, so that sounds pretty safe. I'm really looking forward to it.

Don't fall in the lake!
Erv

I spoke too soon as today we had two new cases from people from overseas who were in quarantine but got allowed out to go to a funeral. Now no exemptions will be issued. We need to keep our borders secure.
Life is almost back to 'normal' (whatever that was).
The band has another gig this Friday (just a small pub but a lot of fun). The venues are keen to get up and running again.
Sandy

I've got an outdoor gig coming up in a couple weeks. Mask will be worn off stage and social distancing policies will be practiced. I'm glad to see these precautions. I dont think things will be back to normal until we have a vaccine. I dont enjoy the restrictions, but I'm willing to be patient, so I don't become a patient.

RC

I haven't played an outdoor gig in years......back in the 70's I believe was the last. An hour or two into the gig that night I could see droplets of condensation hanging under all the strings. Humidity was nasty...I vowed to never do it again. But.......this is a whole new situation, you might have to play outside for a while to get the work?
Just glad there is some work out there for those who want it.
Oh ya....we also have those little devils called Mosquitos!!! Not nice!! Minnesota ya know........10 perfect days a year for outdoor events! (Well, almost)

Minnesota:
Six months of Winter and six months of tough sledding!
Erv

Erv knows!

Over the last 24 hours, I received calls for 3 gigs, two I can do, one I cannot as its on the same night as another. The two were regular rotation before Covid anyway and are outdoors. I'm sure we will be using extreme precautions and abiding by all state guidelines.

I am curious about singing with a mask though .

We should be good, the latest NC regulation is masks required if we cannot maintain 6 foot distancing in any public area.

If you don't like the mask, you are going to hate the ventilator.

Love. Love. Outdoor gigs. Always my favorites

Bill McCloskey wrote:If you don't like the mask, you are going to hate the ventilator.

Well said....

.....and remember, kids.......singing and people talking loudly and shouting have been found to be some of the worst "spreaders", for obvious reasons.

I can't see almost ANY way playing indoors will be safe, unless and until we have a vaccine.

And Sandy, brag away. You guys did it right. Jacinda is a gem. Yet another I'm jealous.......and why I continue to ask my kiwi wife of 30 years, "Why do we still live here, again?!?!"

Thanks Jim
We're still getting cases but they're all from returning Kiwis who have to go into 14 days quarantine.

Our band is currently playing every other weekend. We had a practice today and because I haven't been playing much steel, I was crap! I need to knuckle down and get going again as we want to promote the steel in the band (which makes us unique in this part of the country).
Since lockdown was lifted, I have been very busy catching up on things. Life here is almost normal, except for overseas travel. We have been invited to a Wedding on the Gold Coast (Australia) in October, but I very much doubt we'll be able to go. There's plenty to see and do right here in New Zealand so We're not fussed.
Take care/Keep safe.
Sandy