As I speak, we in Iowa are getting our first major snowstorm. 12" expected with blizzard conditions for the next two days.

Last winter, our band lost at least one booking a month, sometimes two a month due to the snow and weather. Some bar owners would stay open during a blizzard and expect the band to be there, and some will shut down at the first sign of a snowfall. I can remember driving 60 miles in a blinding snowstorm, setting up and playing an hour before the bar owner sent us home with partial pay. I guess thats the hazard of a no contract job.

Does the snowy weather affect your gigging?

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Life is like a sh*t sandwich. The more bread you have, the less sh*t you have to eat.

In England more than 3mm of snow, or even a sharp frost stops the whole nation.

Luckily we dont get much snow anymore.

When I first passed my driving test, 20 years ago. I drove to work (construction) in all kinds of weather. I remember working in 2ft of snow whilst I had hongkong flu. I'd pretty much stripped down to my underwear just to stop the sweat freezing my clothes to me. The stupid things you do as a kid eh.
In those days we were all used to it. Anything but the worst snowfalls didnt affect us much.

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No no and no

maked me glad i am from Texas....lol

Thats a good one nik We got like 3 or 4 inches the other day mostly gone the next. Better then those ice storms where it rains and turns to instant ice Seems Maryland is on that boarder often where it can go one way or the other.

In fact its snowing outside now a little.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

After a major snow storm here in Toronto back in 97/98 where the Canadian army had to step in and dig out the City we are quite well equiped to deal with enything now (hence the high taxes somebody has to pay for it ). The pace of things slows down quite a bit, however there are rarely any gig cancellations.

Rarely have had a gig cancellation, in fact never had one called because of the weather in my 20 years of playing.

We've had at least two occasions where the weather was so bad we've been told that quitting early is a good idea, no crowd=no business anyway. But we've never been offered less than the predetermined pay for a gig.

I guess the worst part is the temp, always wondering how much condensation builds up in the equipment when going from practice room to trailer to gig to trailer to practice room again.

Actually, I really, really hate winter but the cost of living and quality of life for raising our kids is too good here to make it very tempting to leave.

Regarding club gigs, in the past I've called the club owner/manager and tried to reason with him. Something like this :

Me - With this storm you're not gonna get many people.
Club - Yeah, you're probably right.
Me - Why don't we save you some money and re-schedule.
Club - That sounds great, good thinking.

....and both parties are happy.

Regarding functions and private gigs, it's a gametime call that must be agreed between both parties especially if contracted.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Since I play in a church band, December is a really busy month, as you might imagine, what with Christmas and all.

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Calling an illegal alien an undocumented immigrant is like calling a drug dealer an undocumented pharmicist.

'Good old global warming. Keeping guitarists everywhere earning.'

Hey Nik, I dropped you a fbook pm.

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

Chicago weather is awful too, snow on the ground, more coming, wind chill may be -60 F tonight.

As the local church bassist, 'bought an amp to keep there, and arrive early to get a parking spot about 50 feet from the musicians'-choir door. In addition church is only 2 miles from home, and the bass is loaded into the Jeep in an attached garage.

Super-sympathies for those of you who have to do it the hard way.