All Event and "Bar Night" Organizers Only!!

[Zoologico]

I occasionally use the stage kit. It's a pain in the *ss because it doesnt have the RB to chose the letter in the alphebet for the song and it's wired. If the venue ceiling is white then I will use it and select songs with the guitar controller. If not then I use a manual fog machine and a standard controller. Either way, the goal is to have the next song selection chosen and ready to go for the next band.

Cool, thanks.
Do you do the guitar and drum mics into your mixer or do they all go into the XBOX?

[TheKitchenMan]

I got some good news today. Our local Buffalo Wild Wings were having Guitar Hero Tournaments on Saturday nights, but because the players were coming for the tourney and not purchasing any food BWW got rid of them. I'm going to try to get in one of those spots and offer them non-tournament alternative. Got to get my stuff together because everyday I hear of another opportunity.

[LiquidKourage]

Well, here's my attempt at a video describing my equipment setup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHzQezeIK1o (part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQbJydPNG_o (part 2)

Sorry about the split, the total ended up being about 11 minutes, and I didn't know where to trim something out.

Hope this helps someone out there, if only as a cautionary example

[TheKitchenMan]

Well, here's my attempt at a video describing my equipment setup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHzQezeIK1o (part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQbJydPNG_o (part 2)

Sorry about the split, the total ended up being about 11 minutes, and I didn't know where to trim something out.

Hope this helps someone out there, if only as a cautionary example

Really appreciate this, LK. It shows me I'm on the right track.

[Sportzter]

LK -

Showing your setup was a great tutorial. I would guess that seeing this type of setup will spark a few people to see what they have and upgrade where they can, just as you stated in your videos.

Your utilization of the space shows that this can be done almost anywhere especially when you can also use the house TV or equipment. I expect that once the equipment is setup, that isnt the hard part, but your performance is what really sells the show.

Nice job bud!

[Zoologico]

I got some good news today. Our local Buffalo Wild Wings were having Guitar Hero Tournaments on Saturday nights, but because the players were coming for the tourney and not purchasing any food BWW got rid of them. I'm going to try to get in one of those spots and offer them non-tournament alternative. Got to get my stuff together because everyday I hear of another opportunity.

It sounds like they have a bad taste in their mouth from those Guitar Hero nights.

If I was going to go for that business, I would have to have a really good plan to convince them that the same isn't going to happen with you. The fact that you have Rock Band instead of Guitar Hero won't be enough.

If you have other opportunities, I would focus on them, but if this is what you want, go for it, but make sure you have a really good plan which may include offering your first heavily promoted night at a significant discount where you will definitively prove that you will bring people that consume food and drinks instead of thrifty video game players.

I just thought I'd offer it as a business tip if you really want to go after that establishment.

[YRDaddy]

Cool, thanks.
Do you do the guitar and drum mics into your mixer or do they all go into the XBOX?

If you are referring to the back up mics, yes they are going into the mixer. The game mic is the only one going through the xbox.

It sounds like they have a bad taste in their mouth from those Guitar Hero nights.

I agree. I have ran into a few places like this where GH didn't bring in the customers and or a shotty or self done Rock Band night didn't work either. For the most part, these places where no longer interested in booking a Rock Band Night. On the other hand, there have been a couple places that had a good turnout with GH tournys which made them more open to a Rock Band Night. Your largest successand easiest booked venue, especially when starting out, is going to be your neighborhood bars and resturaunts. After you have established yourself there, then work on the chains and franchises. Chains and franchises expect results right away, neighborhood bars are more of a "lets see what happens" kinda of attitude. Thats been my experience anyways. Good luck.

[TheKitchenMan]

It sounds like they have a bad taste in their mouth from those Guitar Hero nights.

If I was going to go for that business, I would have to have a really good plan to convince them that the same isn't going to happen with you. The fact that you have Rock Band instead of Guitar Hero won't be enough.

If you have other opportunities, I would focus on them, but if this is what you want, go for it, but make sure you have a really good plan which may include offering your first heavily promoted night at a significant discount where you will definitively prove that you will bring people that consume food and drinks instead of thrifty video game players.

I just thought I'd offer it as a business tip if you really want to go after that establishment.

Agreed 100%. That was exactly my thoughts. I figured I would hit some of the smaller joints and hone my craft, so to speak. Then, come back and present to the big guys. I got one up my sleeve that is 10x better than even that gig and you'd better believe I will be on top of my game when I go in to present for them and I won't even think about approaching them until I feel that I'm giving them an offer they can't refuse.

To start out I'm trying to hit the smaller stuff. I'm even do some pro bono work for some friends to get my name out there; a wedding and a birthday party.

[TheKitchenMan]

I know a few pages back we were talking about an automated system of signing up for songs, did anyone think of just having your customers text you their info, ie name/name of band, songs to play, etc., and writing them down as they come in. When I got this idea last night I took it to the nth degree (like I do with everything, I have Adult ADD, whole other story) and thought about getting a SMS short code, like the ones they have for Idol, Facebook, and Twitter. Those short codes cost $500 a month for a random one, or $1000 a month for a personalized one! Eff that! I thought about getting a separate cell with unlimited text just for this so I'm not giving out my personal number. What do you guys think?

[Zoologico]

I know a few pages back we were talking about an automated system of signing up for songs, did anyone think of just having your customers text you their info, ie name/name of band, songs to play, etc., and writing them down as they come in. When I got this idea last night I took it to the nth degree (like I do with everything, I have Adult ADD, whole other story) and thought about getting a SMS short code, like the ones they have for Idol, Facebook, and Twitter. Those short codes cost $500 a month for a random one, or $1000 a month for a personalized one! Eff that! I thought about getting a separate cell with unlimited text just for this so I'm not giving out my personal number. What do you guys think?

Higher end DJs do this at parties and they project the messages to a large screen. It's like people doing community texting/chatting.

I like the idea of making this electronic, I just don't like the effort it would take to overcome something that isn't that big of an inconvenience so far in my eyes.

I think you've come up with the most streamlined idea for it, but keep in mind it would alienate anyone that could/does not do texting. In fact, I don't text. Not because I can't, my phone does support it. I just find it annoying to be trying to type into a mobile phone. If that was the only way to sign up, I'd hate it, but would probably do it anyway.

I think you might have to do both texting and traditional signing up and then it would just add to the original process you are trying to replace.

Just my view, though, like I said, I actually like it since it would be minimally elaborate. You should try it and see how it works for you.

By the way, I now have all hardware in place except mixer and speakers. I am trying to find a decent deal because those are by far the most costly components.