A little wisdom from Ger Fitzgibbon
Here are two very interesting pieces of writing from Ger Fitzgibbon, a good friend of the band. Ger submitted it to me in an email and I've finally got the chance to put it up on the site. The first piece deals with self-organising your own gigs and outlines the steps and precautions you should take when putting on a gig in your local village/town. The second piece is a vey interesting and fascinating read of the world today and how humans have lost touch with their natural world. Read it and appreciate it.
1.
Self-Organising: How to Stage a Rock Gig
Hello there, my name is Ger Fitzgibbon. I am 29 and I grew up and went to school in the Charleville area. I was involved with members of Purgatory, their friends and some others in getting the first Underground Sounds Gigs off the ground. (When I was 17, I too was in a band looking for somewhere to play.)
Putting on gigs is good because you get a chance to hear real live music, not the commercial crap we usually get force-fed with. Also, putting on a gig involves free, creative, and independent thought and action…which is what you'll need, no matter what you end up doing in life.
This Underground Sounds gig
is mainly the work of Enda Buckley and Stephen Rea (Purgatory) and Jerry Hynes, the proprietor of Rath Luirc Motor Factors, but a lot of others have helped out to make the dream a reality. Live gigs are great fun, but getting a gig off the ground is bloody hard work and a real responsibility. Especially when you are a musician and all you really want to do is play.
Preparation
Without proper preparation, things get messy and local townspeople will be unwilling to offer the use of halls and other spaces in future. Here are some notes on Self-Organising a gig:
What you need to do:
1. Get bands
2. Get space to play (How much? make sure it's properly insured)
3. Get sound equipment and engineer(how much?)
4. Make posters and fliers, print and distribute.
5. Contact local newspapers and radio stations(Write a press release)
6. Get bouncers for hall
7. Have a qualified first-aider there on the night(Cover all the angles)
8. Get someone to handle cash at the door
9. Clean up hall.
10. Hand back the Key!
11. Make a contact list for everyone involved. Will make the next gig easier.
12. That's all there is to it! There's no Mystery about it at all.
Older people
Remember, older people were young too.
Some of them were even in Rock Bands….
They won't bite. They're just into different things now than when they were 17.
Find some clued-in older people in your local village and try to get them on your side: just tell them what you want, and why and that you need help.
When talking to your local pub owner or town hall person:
- reassure them that you are serious,
- that you won't burn the place down,
- that you'll do everything to make sure it's a safe drug/alcohol-free event and
- that you'll clean up afterwards.
Moshing
Ok, so we all like a good mosh. Unfortunately, moshing also looks like complete madness to everybody except those doing it.
You love to mosh but you're trying to run a gig and don't want anyone to get hurt…. Imagine how confusing that feels.
So the message is: mosh if you can, but if your moshing is going to hurt someone or make people pull the plug…then think again…
Make it happen
You get nothing for nothing in this world, and especially if you’re are a young person in Ireland, where, if you are aged between 12 and 18, and you are not into sports…..there is basically FUCK-ALL for you to do.
Then your parents, and the guards and the judges and the journalists will complain…. "oh underage drinking and drug abuse and vandalism and loitering and noise and noise and oh terrible young people please go away…."
But of course there is NO CONNECTION between the vandalism and alcohol abuse in young people AND the lack of places for young people to hang out, play music, listen to music…and chat etc…
END OF RANT
SO, there is no point complaining like I've just done….. the point is to make things happen. Self-Organisation. Do-It-Yourself.
If there's anything you want to ask me, or if you think I might be able to help your DIY efforts in any way please email me at suantri@yahoo.ie
Continued>
© Purgatory 2006
