The next stage...

[drummerdude666]

Hey,
My band has just finished its first gig and had a good reception. We've played many gigs before but all with diffrent bands. At this stage we're not running out of material and we've been going 6 months and a song every band prac is how its going so far. But heres the problem the band are all turing 18 apart form me who's 15. This stops us playing under 18 gigs and also stops us playing most venues supporting as they have bars. So what happens.... what do we do? How do we start playing gigs supporting other bands etc etc? im not sure the next step to take. Can you advise us at all?
My band is Alt Rock with a female singer. We played a teen gig and we're given 4 stars; also the rock critic of the times (british newpaper) has given us some help and has told us if we get the right operuntities in the next year or two we can make it work. But i dont know how to get there.
What is the next stage........

[rapedbyape]

Shouldn't someone who's fifteen be alright if they're in a pub with an eighteen year old, as long as they're not drinking? I can't remember the licencing laws. Although it's up to the pub/venue in the end, whatever the law says. Good luck...

[drummerdude666]

im not sure. i'll look into that, but i'd imagine many venues would be wary anyway and might just refuse us to be on the safe side.
Although this might be against the law (refusing us for that reason) they could just say i dont like the music, which and refuse us becuse they withold the right to refuse a band. But yeh i'll look into it. Anyone had exerience with matter such as these? any more help?

[themaddog]

All I can say is you're lucky you're in the UK. In the US the liqour laws are really strict. My guitarist and are are both over 21, our bass player is 18, and our drummer 17. We've been able to play a few 21+ shows, but once we were scheduled to headline a show at a pretty big Boston venue (Copperfield's) and we were forced to leave. So, you have to watch out. It wasn't our fault, it was miscommunication between the promotor and the owner of the club, but shit happens.

-MD

[drummerdude666]

yeh, i cant find out about the liqer laws. anyone know anything about them?

[Elusion]

I dont know how it is in the UK, but i have been able to get my 17 year old sister into the bars we used to play as long as my mom was there. Most places were cool with it as long as there is a parent or guardian around to supervise the underage. The bars usually just dont want the hassle of playing babysitter.

[invisiblenemies]

Not sure of the liquor laws in the UK either...sorry.

I remember hearing that Def Leppard had to sneak the drummer into the show in the kick drum case.

I've heard most places are cool as long as you were to wait outside the venue until you went on stage.

Either way...

My advice: either stretch out before crawling inside a drum case OR buy a much warmer jacket.

[BentRabbit]

Originally Posted by drummerdude666

But heres the problem the band are all turing 18 apart form me who's 15. This stops us playing under 18 gigs and also stops us playing most venues supporting as they have bars.

So... "Under 18 gigs" require that the band be under 18 as well?

I started playing the clubs at 17 with a bass player who was 19 and the rest of the band were 21+ ... Mind you, this was in the states, and about a thousand years ago, but the only requirement was that, during breaks, the bass player and I had to retire to the parking lot or the restaraunt area, or some place that was not serving liquor...

By the 2nd break the club owner was usually buying us a pitcher of beer tho...

[Dani Pace]

Wow this brings back memories....when I was 14 I was "smuggled" into bars on a regular basis. The singer used to tell managers i was his brother and that he would be responsible for me (yeah sure) Even though I wasnt supposed to drink, (I couldnt go up to the bar) there were always people saying "try this, I wont let the bartendes see ya" I guess this dosen't help you out much, just thought I'd let you know there are others of us who have had similar problems and found a way to get around them. Good luck and keep playing.

[drummerdude666]

yeh, i think basicly what your all tring to say is what they dont know cant hurt them, so i hide then play my gig then hide again. lol. sound like fun. thanks for all your help. have you all had managers or promoters to get these gig or have you be soring it all out yourselves?