Three Nasty men that play great and have a ball doin it.
New Sound, new songs, you never know quite what you're gonna get but you know you're gonna have Fun.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
How we got here
The long strange trip continues with the original Rustlers taking on a new sound. You just can't fight success although we have in the past, musicians are above all abnormal. The band began 5 years ago when Mike Jim and Peter Fullerton formed the band, a short while later Butthawk was recruited and that's where I begin to understand the true meaning of "on the fly" playing. Jim and Mike never use a set list and know about 1000 songs and although the list I received was only 40 songs there has rarely been a night when we haven't played several songs for the first time together. This certainly keeps a Fulla on his toes and gives the band a spontaneity that few bands possess. We played together for about 1.5 years when Mike decided to go on Sabatical. During his 6 month sojourne into the unknown the Rustlers continued on with fill players, Kelly Biotte, Jacinta and Blair Henry. On his return things just didn't feel right so the we disbanded and went our separate ways but not for long. Mike revived his "No Boundaries Band" and Butthawk filled the Bass Chair. Time past and Legend Jim wanted to start a new Band With Butthawk and Brian Maxwell called the Decades. As rehearsals progressed Mike decided to try a different Bass Player [one who could sing!] and the bands changed again. Next came the departure of Brian to the Golden West.
This is the extreme short version folks, what went on will someday fill a novel but that is for the day when Butthawk's arthritis at last keeps him from playing so he writes the memoirs, becomes fabulously wealthy and quickly dies in a Mexican Whore House.
And Now, WE"RE BACK!
Enjoy the Ride!
Mind of Butthawk
The favorite author of Butthawk speaks the truth again and again.
Take a Chance!
Handy at the Orgy!
In case you hadn't figured this out by now.
And all this time I figured it was checking up on cheating partners.
Your Skinny Pit Bull does not impress along side the noble Chow.
This is a real Man Dog!
What a deal, sign me up!
Now don't go home and do this lest I be Blamed.
Two of the planets coolest people, Snoop and Willie will always be in style.
Now if I did that I'd be in Jail.
There's something about a girl with a gun that turns me on.
Jimi's new Girl Friend.
You have to use your ARM!
Long lost and gone.
The Rustler's Moto.
They're out there Fellas, keep lookin.
Holding a Benefit
There is big competition in this business, and yes, it is a business so be organized and be successful. Here are some helpful hints.
- Pick your time carefully, are there any major Sporting events or Concerts on TV or locally? Any other fund raisers in town?
- The Room: Remember that a small crowd in a big room is always a failure. People like to be close. Arrange individual table scattered about because Long rows are not conducive to good socializing. Make the Dance Floor small because large dance floors make people self conscious and they won't dance as readily. Be careful with lighting, make it a s dark as you can, most people don't look good under bright lights particularly florescent ones. Put out some chips and peanuts or dress up a cute girl and get her selling them at a good profit. If you are planning on using the Clover Club at the Charlottetown Legion consider which band is playing down stairs. Will your band draw better than them?
- Advertising: Get a Facebook Page and fill it with pictures of the Family, friends, the Band you are using [and link to their web site] and put lots of information on the page, make it interesting.Email everyone you know and ask them to email everyone they know and link to your Facebook page. If you are not Computer Savy find someone who is and get them to do it. This is VERY important! Make a Decent Poster, not some sheet of paper that no one will read. Call the Radio Stations and ask about advertising the event. All the Radio Stations not just the one you listen to. Get on the phone. Get a Large Screen TV or projector and hook up a Computer to it. Place it in a central spot at the benefit and scroll the Event Schedule, crowd photos and other pertinent information . You need to make people feel that this will be an Event not to be missed not just a money grab. Keep the Sympathy on the back burner.
- Silent auctions: are a real drag but they do bring in cash. Make a good sign over each item stating in large letters who donated it. This is advertising to the business' and you need to promote them. Ask people to PRINT their name and phone number. Try to have the auction items in a separate room. Trying to see items in a dark room with a loud band is a Stupid idea! If you have to do this put lamps on the tables so people can see!End the Auction by 11PM at the latest, Print the winners names and Numbers on a sheet so that they can be quickly read on stage. This is really boring , everyone hates it and few will pay attention for long so do it FAST When it's done, post the list on the wall so people can read it. Even better put it on the projector screen.
- A Real auction: Hire a real auctioneer and really raise cash.
- Entertainment: Don't be cheap! You need to spend money to make money. Bands get asked all the time to do free benefits. The only ones who do free benefits are unknown entertainers and amateurs. People will not come to see these acts , you will only get Friends of the Family. Hire a band that plays a wide variety of music that will appeal to an older crowd. Young people rarely go to benefits. Don't have too many acts. It's difficult to get good sound and there is always a lot of down time between performers. Down time is dead time and dead time is Dull! It's hard to beat Bag Pipes for stirring a crowd or making an entrance! Play background music or dance tunes between band sets. A good band will provide this but always check as some of them aren't too swift about it. It's as simple as hooking an MP3 player to the sound board. No one uses CD's any more! No long sad story’s. People are there to be entertained, don't bring em down.
- Hire an MC: preferably a Comedian and make them dress in something sharp. There is nothing worse than some sad shabby fool who doesn't know what they are doing holding up a piece of paper that they can't read mumbling into a microphone. They have to be Entertaining. This is NOT the band's job.
- Stay Sober! You are doing this to help someone else, it's not a Party for you.
bipolar depression
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