Break Time!!

oobie · Post by **oobie** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:00 pm

What is the average time a band takes for a Break?

Only reason i ask is beacause they seem to get longer and longer everytime i go out to watch somebody!! It gets kinda of annoying!! I understand taking a 15 minute break-piss, get a drink, bs, etc.

What are your thoughts?

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:12 pm

It's a play by ear thing for me. Typically, I like to throw down an extra long first set, followed by (typically) a 15-20 minute break. This gives people a chance to get back to the bar and get their drink on. This, to me, is the most crucial part of the night where alcohol sales are concerned. If you give them the opportunity to get rolling on a good drink in that first set break, then you'll have an easier time of keeping them in the building for the rest of the night.

Second set is usually similar in length to the first set, but the second break (if we take it) is usually a wee bit shorter than the first. Of course, if we're rolling, sometimes we skip the second break and play through.

The only bad thing about this is, by this point in hte night, people tend to stay on the dance floor (in our experience) which could have a bad affect on liquor sales. Always give them a chance to drink, peeps. They gotta buy the booze or we all loose.

r:>)

drums=life · Post by **drums=life** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:17 pm

a 15 - 25 minute break is plenty of time to get your drink on, or to get get your head right

bfoust · Post by **bfoust** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:43 pm

Speaking entirely as a fan, why do you need over 25 minute breaks?

If you take two, that's almost 1 hour you could be playing.

I can see 15 minutes, I'm cool with that, I'll chill out in the corner for that long (I don't drink), but 25 minutes gets a tad boring.

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:58 pm

15 - 20 minutes maximum. Any longer does not make sense. The band is there to play not stand around. I recently saw a few area bands that took 35 - 45 minutes breaks and I could not understand why they would do that. The club owners always appreciate that we take short breaks (usually 15 minutes and sometimes 10 minutes).

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:02 pm

bfoust wrote:Speaking entirely as a fan, why do you need over 25 minute breaks?

~ wincing as bfoust cracks the whip ~

Sometimes, breaks are necessary simply from the standpoint that some clubs/bars don't have the most ideal climate control or smoke control equipment. Some fans might not realize it but performance is fairly demanding on the physical body, being up there under effing hot lights in a smoke-filled, oxygen-deprived room pounding out tunes for an hour-15 at a clip.

Another thing to think about is, many people go out not only to hear a band, but to hear each other converse. When the band plays, it's nearly impossible to carry on a conversation. I know we value the chance to meet and greet the crowds, as well, and this activity figures in heavily during set breaks.

Of course, I've been to the shows where the band will disappear for 45-50 minutes each break and I find myself wondering why I paid $5 to listen to a CD for over half the night.

r:>)

Trucula · Post by **Trucula** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:04 pm

I agree with Rob on this one..... We usually play an hour 1st set...then 15-20 min break... That brings you to where you can finish on the 1 am hour by playing 45min. sets from there on.

10:00 till 11:00 : Play
11:00 till 11:15 : Break
11:15 till 12:00 : Play
12:00 till 12:15 : Break
12:15 till 1:00 : Play

Although some band members seem to dissappear into the parking lot and you have to round them up...then they have to piss....and get another beer..Not mentioning any names ...*coughJasonEricCurtcough*....

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:08 pm

It's muh ma fuckin opinion dat bands should play three hours straight. peep this shit.

Trucula · Post by **Trucula** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:21 pm

Gangsta of Ebonics wrote:It's muh ma fuckin opinion dat bands should play three hours straight. peep this shit.

That's only for rappers that sing with records and DJs!!

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:23 pm

moxham123 wrote:15 - 20 minutes maximum. Any longer does not make sense.

Sounds like the Chewbacca Defense.

"25-minute breaks do not make sense. It's like Chewbacca. You see, Chewbacca is a Wookie from Kashyyyk. Now why would this 8-foot-tall Wookie want to live on Endor with a bunch of Ewoks? It doesn't make sense."

r:>)

jangel · Post by **jangel** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:33 pm

Over the years of playing 15 min breaks are the norm. We used to assign 1 bandmate as the time keeper and his job was to make sure everyone was on stage at the given time. My opinion is that bands that take 20 to 30 min breaks (while they dork around with their friends or girfriends) are rude and discourtious to the people that came to see them. Some of these people will not be back, and word spreads quick amongst their friends.

todd17063 · Post by **todd17063** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:37 pm

i know we usually hit it for about 20 any more than that is just wrong. I have seen bands abuse the break time and go for 30 minutes. if we did that we would have to cut our song list in half..hmmmmmmm that gives me an idea !! less new material to learn... more three chord Ramones tunes...lol

Trucula · Post by **Trucula** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:51 pm

jangel wrote: My opinion is that bands that take 20 to 30 min breaks (while they dork around with their friends or girfriends) are rude and discourtious to the people that came to see them.

Well more so to the guy your working for! You have to remember you work partially for the crowd and mostly for the guy who pays you...Your paid to provide a service. Do you want to come back???

I am a supervisor for contractors to the phone company... Try starting late or taking too long of a break here and see how long your there or asked back!

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:46 pm

Usually, at 15 minutes, we corral each other and we're tuned and start playing before 20 minutes is up.

Keep in mind that the break lasts from the time the music stops to when it starts again, not from the time you leave the stage to when you return.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:00 pm

todd17063 wrote: more three chord Ramones tunes

Please don't speak of the Ramones unless you are praising them.

DrumAndDestroy · Post by **DrumAndDestroy** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:37 pm

DirtySanchez wrote:
todd17063 wrote: more three chord Ramones tunes
Please don't speak of the Ramones unless you are praising them.

Thank you Sanchez...you beat me to the punch on that.

Plastered Bastards · Post by **Plastered Bastards** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:46 pm

You don't take a break,bring your shit on stage.
Drugs,drink or whatever.
And The Ramones rock!!!!!
Cheers!!!!!!

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:51 pm

10:30-11:20
11:40-12:30
12:50-2:00

You wanna play the longest set last, that's when people are dancing. First two sets they are getting drunk. 20 minute breaks.

Merge · Post by **Merge** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:57 pm

Typically, we take 2 breaks during a 4 hour show and 1 break during a 3 hour show. The breaks are usually 15-20 minutes. I don't like the breaks to be any longer than 20 minutes, I can hear people getting worked up if we take any longer than that.

greaser · Post by **greaser** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 2:23 am

DirtySanchez wrote:
todd17063 wrote: more three chord Ramones tunes
Please don't speak of the Ramones unless you are praising them.

That's fuckin' A right!!!

Take a break...blah blah blah....get up and play again.
We have our breakes down to 20.5366673 minutes. Thats because we care!

todd17063 · Post by **todd17063** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:31 am

ok ok now let me clear this all up ! you guys are taking that wrong!!! I love the Ramones.. Awesome raw from the soul music.. My comment was only to signify that..... oh hell with it.. No defense... Sorry !! it was not meant as a Ramones DIS !! Don't be clubbing me like a baby seal

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:00 pm

Hey man, don't be puttin' down baby seals...that just ain't right!

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:27 pm

todd17063 wrote:ok ok now let me clear this all up ! you guys are taking that wrong!!! I love the Ramones.. Awesome raw from the soul music.. My comment was only to signify that..... oh hell with it.. No defense... Sorry !! it was not meant as a Ramones DIS !! Don't be clubbing me like a baby seal

How would you prefer to be clubbed then?

j/k

todd17063 · Post by **todd17063** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:09 am

i prefer to be clubbed by 20 year old college nympho cheerleaders while basking in the warm Florida sun and drinking ice cold FREE BEER , and listening to "I wanna Be Sedated" being covered by every rock pagers band....lol

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:06 am

todd17063 wrote:i prefer to be clubbed by 20 year old college nympho cheerleaders while basking in the warm Florida sun and drinking ice cold FREE BEER , and listening to "I wanna Be Sedated" being covered by every rock pagers band....lol

Everything was good up until that last part about "every rockpager's band" thing....