Suggestions needed for this gig...

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Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

Suggestions needed for this gig...

For one of this summer's wedding gigs, a client has made a slightly unusual request. As well as providing background music during the drinks reception and meal, they want me to walk in front of the bridal couple as they enter the room for the reception, playing something suitably dramatic and flamenco-ish to accompany their entrance and as they take their seat at the head table.

I think anything loud, simple and possibly corny would do the trick

Beraing in mind that I will be walking (and will have to use a guitar strap) suggestions for something suitable anyone?

I'm thinking maybe some straight Verdiales chords, maybe Lecuona's Malaguena theme, or prehaps even a rumba though I think the first two have more of that TA-DAH! impact if you see what I mean.

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 28 2004 12:16:47

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Hmmm...guess a Siguiriya's out then. LOL!
(To be played several years later)
Basic Sevillanas chording compás (in C) is pretty bright and joyus.
Folk can clap along to it too.

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 28 2004 12:32:57

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Hey Jon,

It's when you're half way down the aisle playing away in your wee flamenco suit, imagining the happy couple behind you and then glimse round to realize you're out there on your own and it's all been a big joke! and your wife's killing herself laughing...ho! ho!

Cheers
Jim.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 28 2004 14:10:52

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Jim Opfer)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jim Opfer

It's when you're half way down the aisle playing away in your wee flamenco suit, imagining the happy couple behind you and then glimse round to realize you're out there on your own and it's all been a big joke!

Hey, do you know something I don't? (gulp!)

Jon.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 28 2004 14:35:27

Fergusito

Posts: 206
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: UK

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Jon Boyes)

I played a t my siste's wedding reciently and played cavatina as they were coming down the aslie corrny yes but they loved it. I think for Weddings you can get away with anything thats really cheezy jolly, I got asked to play at a weeding reciently and all they wanted was Gypsie Kings stuff so anything too "flamenco" probably wont go down too well
Fergus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 28 2004 15:27:56

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Just play E F E, E F, E, repeat ad infinitum.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 28 2004 15:52:33

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Hmmm....folk don't get much for their money over there in Phoenix Az.
Or is that just the "budget" wedding?

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 28 2004 17:14:42

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Jon Boyes)

daaaamn, Ron, I was just referring to Jon's situation. I am investigating different options for weddings, as I have only done a few of them. I just read the packet of one of my competitors, a classical guitar duo. They have included a demo CD, a professionally done postcard, a few pre-printed worksheet forms, and a partial list of their repertoire, 100 songs long. Of course, they charge $400 for the ceremony and $200/hour for reception type activities, which is significantly higher than I charge. The longest ceremony I have been a part of was only about 20 minutes, so not too bad, eh? But I have noticed that weddings gigs are a lot of work, people have lots of requests and often unreasonable expectations. Thus I had been thinking about raising my rates. Also about getting a fake book so I can fulfill their cheesy requests! Luckily, I am a good sight reader so that would be good.

Tonight I am playing at a couple's 10 year anniversary. The top caterer in town, whose business I have been coveting, called me. It's going to be the couple, the caterer, and me, that's it! I will play romantic music for 2 hours and then the couple will go off in a limo to some show or something. It seems like I am finally making inroads into the rich clientele I have been coveting!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 28 2004 17:50:33

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Just a quick report back..

Did this gig yesterday. I ended up basically improvising something jolly and flamenco-ish in E major for the couple's entrance to the wedding breakfast.
Sounded somewhere between a Sevillanas and an Alegria, I reckon.

Anyhow, they seemed very pleased with it, as as everyone (100 people or so) was busy clapping and cheering, I'm glad I went for something loud and simple with plenty of ras.

It was another long gig though. Although they are comparitively well paid, you're right about wedding gigs being hard work Mike. I was out of the house for seven hours including travelling and packing up time. As well as the couple's entrance into the reception, I played during the drinks reception that preceded it, and throughout the meal itself. Phew, my fingers were starting to drop off, particularly as I had a gig the night before as well.

Fortunately I have a three week gap to recover before the next wedding do.

BTW Mike, most of the time I don't get requests for specific music at weddings, the clients usually look to me for guidance. And this is only if I am playing during the actual ceremony, wher they want selected pieces at key times.

If I am playing during the drinks reception or wedding breakfast I am always left to my own devices. My clients get a copy of my demo, and they know exactly what to expect.

Jon

PS Can't wait until next year, you guys would just lOVE to see the pieces this client has asked me to prepare for their wedding: a couple of pieces from 'Desperado' plus some Spanishy thing from Mission Impossible 2!
Maybe I need a stage name too, Mike, like 'the Flamingo Kid' or something

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2004 13:34:56

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Hey, I play a piece from Desperado. Well I combined two of them and arranged them for solo guitar. Em. I also sing the Mariachi Song. Yo soy un hombre muy honrado, que me gusta lo mejor, las mujeres no me falta, ni el dinero, ni el amor!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2004 18:10:49

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Suggestions needed for this gig... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria
Hey, Iplay a piece from Desperado. Well I combined two of them and arranged them for solo guitar. Em. I also sing the Mariachi Song. Yo soy un hombre muy honrado, que me gusta lo mejor, las mujeres no me falta, ni el dinero, ni el amor!

Mike - I'm convinced, what are you doing next June? We'd make a great double act

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2004 8:18:31