All Event and "Bar Night" Organizers Only!!

[TheKitchenMan]

I'm really having a tough time on deciding on the XBox vs. PS3 as the system I want to run. Right now to start up, I am running with my personal Xbox. But, I need to purchase a new system for just business. Personally, I love the XBox over the PS3, but Microsoft really hamstrings us on the DLC licensing. Right now, I only plan to run one set-up for awhile, but if eventually I get to having 2 set-ups, then I have to buy an XBox plus all new DLC, or just a PS3 and already have the DLC paid for. The initial investment on the PS3 would be more for the first one because I would need to buy all-new games and instruments, but if I ever go to 2 set-ups then it has already paid for itself. The only problem I've had with the PS3 is that I have never been able to get the damn thing to calibrate correctly. My friend has RB on PS3 and everytime we go over there to play we have to fix it. Does anyone else have this problem?

[rancej]

Yeah that's a tough decision. Xbox seems to get everything new for RB first. And honestly, in 1.5 years plus, I've had very little problem with the Xbox. I have had the red ring a few times and it recovered. I found that laying it flat, seemed to cause it and standing it up, it never does it. On the PS3 side, I would really like to have the "real Guitar", I forget the name of them but they are mentioned in an earlier post, and they are only available for PS3 unless I missed something. Like you said, PS3 will allow you to have the DLC on multiple systems, for backup or multiple shows. Much as I have enjoyed the Xbox, If I had to start from scratch, I think I'd go with the PS3. I'd research it more like you're doing though and read through "technical difficulties" post on the forums. I have never played the PS3.

[Zoologico]

Hey, guys, lots of great posts here as usual. It seems we've been pretty lucky, the places we host at already have multiple HDTV's and PA systems that we just have to plug into, so we don't really own any TV's or PA systems ourselves, just Xboxes, cables, splitters and instruments. I did buy the Behringer 1202 for one bar we were at for a short while, and once I learned to run the Xbox through the Control Room out, giving me the ability to amp it twice, it worked fine, but if we're ever going to do parties we will either have to rent or buy a much better PA system. The places we focus on for our gigs are sports bars with stages, I know that kind of limits you to where you go, but these places are the best to start in.

On another note, I spent the day at E3, watched the Beatles Rock Band demo and played the game a bit, and what I can tell you is , we're all gonna need to buy some more mic stands! Three vocal tracks on some of those songs. But that's the easy part, the hard part is that the game is a 'stand alone' product, and won't currently integrate into the Rock Band 2 library, so we're going to have to rack our brains and figure out the best way to deal with this in September. Will we have special Beatles Rock Band nights? Will we play the Beatles for an hour, and then swap disks and go into RB2 the rest of the night? Will we have to have two separate Xboxes and equipment setups to quickly change back and forth? All ideas are welcome.

Also, I was able to meet HMXSean and Sarah and many of the other people we have been emailing and talking to recently and they are very interested in what we are doing and in trying to coordinate all this and help us out. One idea Sarah talked about, which I really like, was maybe getting us a special controller or game disc so that we have complete control over the instrument settings for every instrument (easy, hard, etc.) so when people start pushing buttons or hitting drums it won't cause us the chaos it usually does, that would be cool. They also said they were going to come to our Rock Band Night at THE DRAFT tonight (Thursday) to check it out, so if you're in Los Angeles you might want to drop in. Of course I can't guarantee they will be there, but let's hope!

www.rockbandnightsla.com

Hey man,

Has anyone considered that it might be a problem if we have the words Rock Band in the title of our business name?

I'm about to launch and I don't want to get a cease and desist letter as I am hitting my stride.

Anyone have experience in this?

[HMXThrasher]

hi there - we're not in the habit of going after small businesses that are supporting our brand, but Rock Band (our name, logo, instruments, etc...), are registered trademarks. If you're at all unsure about whether your name/website/marketing materials are kosher, send an email to either info@harmonixmusic.com or press@harmonixmusic.com for some feedback and answers.

[Jerrid_DOMN8R]

Okay, so after talking with Liquid for a while about things - I think I'm going to just post my "stuff" - all the way down to the marketing (some)....

Will get pics, and post. stay tuned.

Heard some interesting things, and want to get a master list started of "Things to Change" or "Things to create just for Rock Band Nites Hosts - Game Disc options"

Some things off the top of my head, of course:
1 - Create "Host Control": allow host (me; you) to have sole control, and disable all that drunk button flailing that makes us all say, "Okay everyone, don't hit anything.. hang on"

2 - Left Flip selection in better spot: If someone wants lefty, Host should be able to check a radio button by "left flip" right next to, or ad right after "Difficulty" selection - avoiding mid-song pause, and restarts. Automatically default this back to Righty after each song.

3 - More VOCALS control. Vocal TRACK (wider range). Actual Game Vocals, should have ON/OFF + levels (in case you are using real mics into mixers, and don't need games' vocal sounds)

I have more, but want to get to the pics post

[rancej]

Thanks HMXThrasher! I think a lot of us were wondering about that. I'm working on a new website/marketing materials and I was planing to put the "Copyright Harmonix/MTV" verbage at the bottom as well as a link to rockband.com. I'll be sure to send an email to the above before I do. Thanks for all you guys do for us....

[rancej]

Great post Jerrid_DOMN8R. I have a lot of trouble with #2 on occasion. It just takes so long....

[Jerrid_DOMN8R]

For song selection - I go with the tried and true standard Karaoke Catalog (3-ring binder) of songs.

My first page (front and back) is a "Welcome to RB Karaoke" page, explaining things... since this is still new (at least where I live).
Back side is "How to Play" for uninitiated and elderly... this seams to get them up and playing sooner than later, since they don't have to ask me many questions at the beginning.

I do all my songs Alphabetically by band, and again by song.

for New songs, rather than constantly reprinting, I have a "Recently Added" section - highlight new stuff from past couple months, until next reprint.

I have a section for POPULAR PICS and COUNTRY.

anyhow - pics below - email through website for Larger ones.
Files are created in PhotoShop and Excel.

Wazzup to Chrissie with MTV (can't wait to hear what's cookin')

PS - Thanx DocMods and LK for answering my Q's and sending my 1/4" to USB mic adaptor - Real Mics sound WAY F'ING BETTER!!! and more than one is tremendously fun!

[Jerrid_DOMN8R]

triple post FTL.

need more than 5 pics at a time.

[rancej]

Very nice Jerrid. I use Excel and sort by song and then artist as well in a 3 ring binder. I really like your graphics...I'm cloning my main laptop drive to a 500gb but will post a pic of some of my stuff when it's finished.