All Event and "Bar Night" Organizers Only!!

[netsfreak]

Im trying to start a bar night in the Philly area and im trying to get it started on a shoestring budget (until i have enough jobs lined up until i have enough upgrades and backups).

so far i have:

xbox/controllers/game
3 19" HDTVs with display stands
120G drive

how essential is a portable PA system? i understand that i cant run without it for TOO long, but can i start without one?

thanks
David
Plastic Metal Entertainment

Where in the Philly area?
I'd love to check it out sometime..

I have been hosting at a local bar in Bucks County... but I am doing it for fun since I am not really drawing any people I can't really expect them to pay me.

[Zoologico]

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...uss?sku=451068

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...ght?sku=803107 (x2)

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...ulb?sku=803076 (x4 with colored lenses)

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...ave?sku=810112 (x4 with colored gels)

Rock Band Stage Kit

Chauvet "octopus light"... but the motor went out on it

I've tried to stay sound activated or permenantly on for the lighting so far but eventually I do plan to purchase some controllers for the lights. For the new guys, if you tally up the above items, it really is'nt a ridiculas amount of money and it really adds a big impact to the show! Later!

Thanks.
I was particularly interested in your setup since it uses so many different effects.

[Zoologico]

So does anyone currently doing this have previous experience running these types of events?
The closest I can liken this to is karaoke of DJ services, but it's not exactly that. Any of you current or former DJs or karaoke hosts?

[Cptn_Squishy]

Where in the Philly area?
I'd love to check it out sometime..

I have been hosting at a local bar in Bucks County... but I am doing it for fun since I am not really drawing any people I can't really expect them to pay me.

I havent gotten it started yet, although I went to see a rock band tourney sponsored by WYSP and it was PS2 home setup...which was odd...

what bar to you do RB in? i wouldnt mind visiting, checking it out, and exchanging ideas.

[Lucid_Delusion]

I'm trying to organize a mini rock night at a local bar here in Philly. Just a little something to see how it goes and if it would draw out a crowd.

I've got an X-Box 360, at least 80+ songs downloaded, 3 guitars(2 X-Plorers and 1 RB1 guitar), the Rock Band 2 drum kit with dual cymbals, and the mic (with a mic stand). My friend will be loaning me his PA system and we'll be hooking the system up to a single HD-TV (pretty good sized).

There's still some details to work out, but I was wondering if you guys could offer any suggestions. I know for one I'll have to go through my game and list out all the songs I have and make a song list for people to choose from.

I think my biggest question is whether I should set out to just make this an all around fun experience with no competition, or maybe try to get a battle of the virtual bands going with the winner getting like a free round of drinks or something. And if I was to go with the latter option, do I judge based on scores or performance?

[GarageBandLA]

I've been in the planning stages to start my own Rockband events at bars since last year and have finally got my equipment together. I've got to say I like the idea of organzing so as to not step on each others toes and to share from our personal/professonal experiances to better enhance the playing experiances of the game for others. I've been keeping an excel spreadsheet of songs available for quite a bit now, haven't tried the Karaoke Song Sheet that was posted (yet). I like RockBandNightsLA's sheets, but I think listing the song's difficulty might disuade some people. Massive thanks to YRDaddy for the lighting links, that is something I'm looking forward into investing in.
As of right now I have just the one gig, but will be expanding soon. I decided to wait for the green light on my first gig before printing up flyers and expanding out to public venues. Hope those of you near by can make it. Check out the William Shatner Rockband post.
Thanks you guys for this great community and thank you Harmonix for Rockband.

[Cptn_Squishy]

I'm trying to organize a mini rock night at a local bar here in Philly. Just a little something to see how it goes and if it would draw out a crowd.

I've got an X-Box 360, at least 80+ songs downloaded, 3 guitars(2 X-Plorers and 1 RB1 guitar), the Rock Band 2 drum kit with dual cymbals, and the mic (with a mic stand). My friend will be loaning me his PA system and we'll be hooking the system up to a single HD-TV (pretty good sized).

There's still some details to work out, but I was wondering if you guys could offer any suggestions. I know for one I'll have to go through my game and list out all the songs I have and make a song list for people to choose from.

I think my biggest question is whether I should set out to just make this an all around fun experience with no competition, or maybe try to get a battle of the virtual bands going with the winner getting like a free round of drinks or something. And if I was to go with the latter option, do I judge based on scores or performance?

Do a tournament if enough players ask for it, until then do it for fun (and jam as many songs as you can onto that HD), and set your options to 'NO FAIL'.

[YRDaddy]

I think my biggest question is whether I should set out to just make this an all around fun experience with no competition, or maybe try to get a battle of the virtual bands going with the winner getting like a free round of drinks or something. And if I was to go with the latter option, do I judge based on scores or performance?

We touched quit a bit on "Free Play" vs. "Contest" a few posts back. I know we are up to 13 or 14 pages on this thread now, but take some time to read through all of it. There has been a lot of great input here from everyone.

If anyone here is thinking about getting a website I highly recommend www.godaddy.com. Until recently I used myspace and the forums for my internet advertising (I am notorious for being a cheapskate). My uncle was suppose to build a website for me but when that fell through I found out I could do it my self using the web builder tools on godaddy's site. Their customer service is awsome and have answered every question I've had up to this point. The package I got is less then $10 a month and the best part is, I have full control over my site, and I don't have to rely on a webmaster or anyone else to run it for me. Here is the result of about 5 hrs. of my time and a couple calls into customer service www.deathofthearcade.com . There is definetly more I plan to do with it, but I thought I would share the experience and the info. Later

[netsfreak]

I havent gotten it started yet, although I went to see a rock band tourney sponsored by WYSP and it was PS2 home setup...which was odd...

what bar to you do RB in? i wouldnt mind visiting, checking it out, and exchanging ideas.

I was at that event as well... I am just using the inhouse old projection screen TV and bring my Xbox 360. I am not doing this as an enterprise in anyway this was more of an idea as a social outlet. Since I have no plans to make money on this I had no intention of investing money into it. They were running GH on and I thought Rock Band would just be a better outlet. I would love if a place in the area had a real setup that made it more of an experience.

JB's in Morrisville on West Trenton Ave... Sunday nights usually start around 8 or 8:30.

[Zoologico]

We touched quit a bit on "Free Play" vs. "Contest" a few posts back. I know we are up to 13 or 14 pages on this thread now, but take some time to read through all of it. There has been a lot of great input here from everyone.

If anyone here is thinking about getting a website I highly recommend www.godaddy.com. Until recently I used myspace and the forums for my internet advertising (I am notorious for being a cheapskate). My uncle was suppose to build a website for me but when that fell through I found out I could do it my self using the web builder tools on godaddy's site. Their customer service is awsome and have answered every question I've had up to this point. The package I got is less then $10 a month and the best part is, I have full control over my site, and I don't have to rely on a webmaster or anyone else to run it for me. Here is the result of about 5 hrs. of my time and a couple calls into customer service www.deathofthearcade.com . There is definetly more I plan to do with it, but I thought I would share the experience and the info. Later

I can volunteer the following if someone with past experience can commit to producing content with me.

1. hosting (Web space)
2. site design
3. site building

We technically haven't decided on a name, which should be the first order of business. Part of content building will be to compile and organize the information posted here, but I have actually done a lot of this already.

I spent last week and this week researching booking rates for coffeehouse and pub talent including DJs, karaoke, and other musical artists.

I am about half way through my business plan and then I have to figure out how to raise some cash and look for a trustworthy and hard working partner or employee. I am trying to refrain from starting this up on my own as I travel about once a month and need someone to be able to back me up and make myself available to back them up.

Here is what's available from my Web site so far:

RockBandNightsAtlanta.com