A big fat HOWDY to all out there in cyberland. This is very uncommon for me to do this but what the hell i'll give it a bash as this is about a subject that has started to REALLY get on my nerves over the past year or so.

When I walk into a venue or club that has a supplied P.A and/ or lighting system I expect to find it in a reasonable state of working order same goes for the stage. By the stage I mean that it should be reasonably clean. As most band and crew members know cleaners in venues very rarely clean the stage and busboys are very short sighted when it comes to getting empties off the stage and surrounding areas. Can you see where i'm going with this.

I have got into the habit over the last 10 years of picking up after myself. I.E. drum sticks , picks , tape or roadie poo call it what you will and of course the odd shattered ego after a song goes down like a lead balloon.

What i'm tring to say is clean up after yourselves you pigs.

Thats part one of my bitch to the world part two concerns the way house systems are left after your shows have finished and all you want to do is chuck your * insert instrument here * into your car and get out of there. Have a little thought for the band that is on the next time that venue is open.

The band who can't afford road crew usually don't have time to work out how to patch in a sound system thats been totaly unplugged because the last band just couldn't work with out their own desk ( YES THAT IS A DIRECT SLUR AT A CERTAIN BAND THAT SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS AND GIGLESS IF THEIR ANTICS KEEP UP ). How about working with whats available or putting the system back how you bloody well found it.

Same goes for lighting, don't pull a house lighting system out of the roof then leave it on the floor for the next poor bugger to put back up.. THIS TAKES UP VALUABLE DRINKING TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!

How would you like it if someone did it to you?

Whats that you say it HAS happened to you and you DIDN'T like it. Well there is a simple solution to this problem and its called common courtesy. This isn't aimed at all bands and crews just a certain few and YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

Well it's time for me to get off my soap box now but before I go just a little hint for the newer bands out there. When you arrive at any venue check the condition of all the things I have mentioned then point them out to venue manager then at the end of the night put the system back how it was and tell the manager 9 times out of ten they won't believe you and go and look. And a happy manager is the manager that remembers that when it comes time to rebook bands. Also if there is mics leads and stand provided by the venue do a count of whats there write it down and give it to the manager or at least tell him that you have counted and checked that everything is there, that way at the end of the night the venue knows that all the gear is still there and when stuff gets stolen or gets misplaced ( yeah right ) your bands name is instantly cleared.

Thanks for reading my whinging and moaning. Hope to see you at a gig one night