Subject: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Bobert Date: 24 Aug 07 - 08:57 PM Well, gol danged.... When the folks at the Page County Farmer's Market asked me to perform 4 times this season it was back in like, ahhhhh, winter and in the middle of winter one doesn't think about heat but... ...tomorrow, I'm scheduled to peform from 11:00 to Noon-thirty... I been watching the whether forcasts all week hopin' fir a reprieve but ain't gonna happen... I don't have a Bobert-lite style... All I have is a Balls-to-the-Wall style so... ...I'm screwed.... By tomorrow I might be checkin' in here in Mudville from the local hospital... (Shut up 'n play, Bobert...) Nevermind... Bobert |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Aug 07 - 09:07 PM wear a big hat - drink lotsa' water - perform under an awning/roof/indoors good luck sandra I watched a group of 19th century-costumed dancers perform in similar weather - the band was up on the stage under a bit of cover, the dancers were in the full midday sun & they were melting. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Bobert Date: 24 Aug 07 - 09:11 PM Melting??? Geeze??? |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: bobad Date: 24 Aug 07 - 09:14 PM Get one of these, it helps. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Aug 07 - 09:39 PM but the dancers were dancing complicated dances in Sydney's mid-summer heat & humidity, Bobert, you'll be singing. Ask the organisers about shade, & if they haven't a bit of shade for you to perform under, ask them about supplying a beach umbrella or similar shady thingy. I assume their insurance wouldn't like to pay out for treatment for a sun-struck performer. (I assume they have insurance, no event in Oz can happen without lots of public liability insurance & I'm sure our insurers were inspired by American insurers.) sandra |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: JennyO Date: 24 Aug 07 - 11:12 PM Bobert, are you going to be on a stage with stage lights? That can be a real killer in the heat - especially if it's in a marquee. Those things hold the heat in. The only relief I've had in those circumstances was at one festival when they got a big fan and directed it towards us. Wear as cool clothes as you can manage - preferably light colours (dark colours absorb heat). As Sandra said, it's important to drink lots of water - also those drinks with electrolytes in them. If you are going to be in the sun, then a large hat and sunscreen is essential. I can imagine being one of those dancers in the heat. When you have to wear costumes in inappropriate weather, it's tough. I had some experience of that at Snalbans festival (which wasn't even in summer, although it was a warm day). John and I joined in with Wayward and, of course, to look the part, we had to wear the medieval costumes, march up the road banging drums, and perform on a hot stage in a marquee under stage lights. It was fun from one point of view, but boy was it hot! |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: GUEST,Texas Guest Date: 24 Aug 07 - 11:13 PM Well, living down here in Texas I've done a few shows in 100 degree-plus heat and yes - lots of cold water is NECESSARY. Something you might consider doing - if you have a small portable cooler go get a bag of ice, put it in there and then when you get to the gig open the lid so the ice will slowly melt; be sure to bring along a cup or mug to throw into the cooler so you can drink the ice-cold water that comes about as a result of the melting ice. It should take several hours to totally melt so you'll have plenty to drink. You can always add some water at first to sort of "prime the pump," if you will. Also, I don't know what gauge strings you use but "light gauge" will not work for me in the heat - they get corroded very quickly. It may well be because of the sweating and the resulting excess acid from my skin but they do corrode quickly and just sound terrible and then have a tendency to break. I always make sure my instrument has medium gauge strings on it when I'm playing an outdoor gig in the heat. Also, be sure to bring a couple of towels - one for yourself and one for your instrument and keep it wiped off between sets. A hat is usually a good thing to bring along, too; or, at least a pair of sunglasses in case you are uncovered or the sun-in-your-eyes becomes a problem. Finally, the host should provide water for the entertainment, but either way, I'd bring along that ice chest with some ice in it. I've done some hot Texas gigs where they provided the water but it was warm - yuck. Cheers. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Sorcha Date: 24 Aug 07 - 11:13 PM Been there, done that. Ruined a bow or two. Keep drinking water. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 24 Aug 07 - 11:42 PM On the 4th of July I went to a festival in Denver in weather about that hot. A band was playing in the shade of some trees and was doing fine. 95 isn't that bad - it's 105 that'll kill you. Drink lots of water. Wet a bandana, fold it up and put it around your neck the way athletes do. That really helps. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: KT Date: 25 Aug 07 - 12:21 AM "I don't have a Bobert-lite style... All I have is a Balls-to-the-Wall style so... ...I'm screwed...." Too bad you don't have a Bobert -lite style.....you shoulda learned some of those "chick songs" when you had the chance. Aw, you'll do fine....you're used to heat. And have some fun with it! |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: JennyO Date: 25 Aug 07 - 01:23 AM Tree shade is good. Marquee shade is not. They trap the heat. Another thing I did one very hot year at Woodford Festival, where every day was 100 or more, was get one of those cloth hats that has the bit hanging down the back, put it in a sink or bowl full of cold water so that it was completely saturated, then stick it on my head. The cool on my neck was great. As it dried out, I would go and wet it again. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Aug 07 - 01:50 AM 95? Is that all? Pull up yer socks, Bobert, and play yer heart out! My traditional headgear in the heat is a ballcap over a bandana that is draped on my head to hang over my neck and onto my shoulders. And my water bottle is used to spritz the back of my bandana and shirt every so often for the wonderful evaporative cooling. Drink lots of water, eat a few salty chips or peanuts, and sweat. Manage your own evaporative cooling. Texas Guest, your beer will get warm if you leave your cooler open like that! SRS |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: SharonA Date: 25 Aug 07 - 03:47 AM Piffle, Bobe-ster. A humid 95-degree day in Virginia in late August is mild weather, aint't it? You must be used to this by now. 'S only for an hour and a half, and not during the hottest part of the day. Still, none of us is getting any younger, so you're wise to think about taking precautions. Page County Farmer's Market, is it? Well now, I see from Google that that's in Luray, VA, apparently at the train depot. If you're performing at the same location as the musicians in the pics on the farmer's market entertainment page, it looks as though you'll have a bit of shade under an overhang, which will be helpful. You can skip wearing a hat if you're in shade, and let some more body heat escape from the top of the head. But if you're in the sun, the hat is a must, along with sunblock. Also it looks like you'll have access to an electrical outlet, so you might bring a surge-protector strip and a couple of desk-size fans (maybe one pointing at you from the front, and one pointing up to hit you between your back and the back of your shirt!). I like those hand-held battery-operated fans attached to water bottles with triggers to squirt yourself with -- they're great gadgets. I second Stilly's comment about the open cooler. Leave it open for melting ice if you want, but bring a second cooler for your water/Gatorade/beverage of choic, and keep it closed to keep the drinks cool. Definitely use the bandanna, the sunglasses, the medium-weight strings and the lightweight loose-fitting clothing... but skip the socks, and wear sandals instead of heavy shoes or boots. We won't think less of you. Have fun! Check back in afterward and let us know how your gig went. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: JennyO Date: 25 Aug 07 - 05:12 AM Oh yes - and make sure you know where your towel is....... |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: jacqui.c Date: 25 Aug 07 - 07:30 AM No advice to add darlin' - just have fun and take care of yourself. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Bobert Date: 25 Aug 07 - 08:08 AM First of all, no "chick songs" fir this ol' hillbilly... No sir... 'er mam... I got my pride... No, Charoon-aaa, they move the Farner's Market down the hill where the breeze can't find it into the middle of a big, hot, balcktoped parkin' lot but, at least there is a a tent thing over the stage... I like the idea of the bandana... I got a couple three of them critters and I think I'll just put 'um in a small cooler with ice and rotate 'um 'bout every third song... Yeah, I'm kinda used to hot 'cause I been out in it all summer but that's like, ahhhhh, different than peformin' but seein' as the mean ol' weatherman has now upped the high to 99 instead of a mere 95 I have gone thru my set list and taken a couple songs out where I can't help myself but gettin' real cranked up... But still no "chick songs".... Bobert |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: deadfrett Date: 25 Aug 07 - 08:46 AM Bobert- I play outside in the heat all summer long. Get A large Bandana and put ice in the thing, wrap it up and your good to go for at least an hour.Repeat as needed. Take salt tablets too. Stay cool.. Dave |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: GUEST,DonMeixner Date: 25 Aug 07 - 09:22 AM Dave Ruch and I did exactly this playing yesterday at the New York State Fair. He at one end of the fair under trees as well as a cover. I was in a building at the other end of the fair with The Flyin' Column, my Irish band. We both drank lots of water. There was a steady breeze through the day which kept Dave's area reasonable. I stopped down at his venue and played a little banjo. Indoors was a nightmare. The air was dead and humid and the temp was nearer 100 degrees. The venue supplied water and that was about it. The sound man gave up his personal fan for us after the second first set. I suffered a sun stroke about 30 years ago and the heat is a big issue with me. I will pass out from heat easily. Hydrate constantly, gatorade if you can stand the taste, water is probably best. Take a fan that clamps on your mic stand. I use this rig and I don't have a problem with vibration and sound from the fan. Use a floor fan from behind you. The wind won't affect the mic then. Play cool music. Don |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: JennyO Date: 25 Aug 07 - 10:29 AM Bobert, watch out for the "tent thing". Those can trap the heat if the sun is shining on them and make it hotter than not being under it. At least if it's open at the sides there will be some movement of air. Good luck! |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Bobert Date: 25 Aug 07 - 07:47 PM Sheet fire... An' I mean fire... Yeah, I kinda used the bandana trick... I had the cooler with a couple of them in it all ice cold an' wet and then I started playin' and was half hour into my set when I discovred that I was real hot... By then I was prolly past the time to fix stuff but I put the bandana 'round my neck and the water was drippin' from it down onto my geeter and the sweat was drippin' down onto my geetra and the last 30 minutes was like pure Hell... Toward the end when I pulled out my cigar box geetar, which I can flat ot finger pick the crud out of it dead I kinda lost my rythum right toward the end of the song... Yeah, I imporoved the best I could an got thru the song but in the words of Edgar Allen Poe, "Never more"... This is my 2nd gig from Hell in the last year,,, Last October I played in an open barn at the Page County Heritage Festival... IT was 40 degrees, rainin' and windy... I'm too old fir all this... 50 to 90 degrees kinda guy... BTW, it was over a 100 degrees this mornin' on that stage... Like I said, I'm too old for this... Bobert |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Barry Finn Date: 26 Aug 07 - 12:27 AM Don't try to keep up with us young 'uns Bobert, just got in from a gig at the Antique & Classic Boat Fest in Salem, had a witch of a time, weren't bad at all but we did have an offshore breeze. Tomorrow I get to sail an 18th century New England cod fishing boat known as, The Lewis H Story, a chebacco boat back to it's home in Gloucester Ma, from Salem, not a long sail but I be very cool on the water in a historic vessel like this. I'd like to think that that's what comes from singing in this heat. Oh I only had to sing 2 songs, I cheated. Barry |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Barry Finn Date: 26 Aug 07 - 12:34 AM Oh, I really cheated, by the time I got there it was only 93 under the awning. Barry |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: KT Date: 26 Aug 07 - 12:40 AM Bobert, I played for 14 years at an outdoor restaurant (in the woods). There were maybe a dozen days where the temperature reached more than 75, but there were at least a hundred days - more like your Page County Heritage Festival, where I had to work to keep my teeth from chattering while I was singing. When I took a break, it was to hold onto a cup of coffee more than it was to drink it, so that my fingers would work when I got back on the stage. I think I'd prefer to play in the heat. KT |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 26 Aug 07 - 12:42 AM 1) Dilute 'commercial gatorade type drinks' 50% with water - truly if you don't, you actually LOSE water - 5% sugar solution acually absorbs faster, and 10% may actually USE bodily fluids to ingest, thus dehydrating you further - that came from my Aus Sports Medicine Fedn Sports Trainer course... 2) The heat by itself will not necessarily be the killer - but high humidity will knock you about much more at the same temperature - until you get acclimatised, your body will distress, because the sweating will not cool you anyway in high humidity - it's the evaporation, not just the sweating that cools, but any movement of air will assist, even if the humidity is high. The Medieval sword & shield guys from NSW & Vic used to be unable to handle Qld Summer heat - high humidity - so we had to have our Aus wide tourneys in winter for them to cope.... summer further south is less humid than in Qld... :-) |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Richard Bridge Date: 26 Aug 07 - 03:50 AM Ice cold water may feel nice - but water that is not too cold is better for teh throat. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 26 Aug 07 - 06:30 AM Also an old wives tales was that cold water 'could cause stomach cramps'. My mother's father would never drink ice cold water, prefering always to drink room temp or body heat water - hot tea excepted. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: JennyO Date: 26 Aug 07 - 07:59 AM Main thing is, ya got through it. But like you said - Never More! You ain't got nothin' to prove - we all know you is great - I got the CD to prove it! |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Bobert Date: 26 Aug 07 - 08:52 AM Fine, KT... Next time I'm booked to play in hunnert degrees, I'll let you fill in fir me... But not to worry, I'll be there unner an umbrella sucking down Natural Lights with a little poster that reads, "Adoring Fan" while you sweat it out... Thanks, JennyO... Yer right, I ain't got nuthin' to prove, do I??? Well, I'd like just once to prove to the P-Vine that I'm right about any danged thing unner the sun... BTW, if a man admits to being wrong, is he right??? Work on that one... Well, folks, I'z all recovered this mornin'... And today oughtta be a piece of cake... The P-Vine has an air conditioned gig lined up fir me as auctioner for the annual palnt auction of the Northern Virginia Azalea Society... Who will give me 20 dollars for this fine azalea??? Nevermind... B~ |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: KT Date: 26 Aug 07 - 10:02 AM Bobert, I could never fill in for you......but if you hired me back into your band, I could maybe take some of the heat for ya! The auction sounds fun! And so does Barry's sailing adventure ! Have a great time! |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Bobert Date: 26 Aug 07 - 08:15 PM Sniff... I never meant to fire ya' from the band, KT... Somethin' come over me... I think it was bad spell, 'er something horrid... B~ |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 26 Aug 07 - 10:54 PM I'm glad it went okay, Bobert. You had me worried with that remark about going to the hospital. Did you try putting a cool bandana around your neck? |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Alice Date: 26 Aug 07 - 11:00 PM You need one of those bandanas that has the water absorbing crystals sewn into it. You soak up water into it and it stays cool and wet for a Looong time. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Banjiman Date: 27 Aug 07 - 05:19 AM Oh to have this problem would be really nice...have you seen the summer we've had in the UK?.......wet,. wet, wet and only a few days touching 70 degrees. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Bee Date: 27 Aug 07 - 07:28 AM Seems at the Bluegrass festivals here it's either pouring down rain or hot and humid. I feel for the musicians, up on a three side stage, under lights, all dressed in long pants, and usually plagued by biting insects as well. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Bobert Date: 27 Aug 07 - 07:37 AM Well, Bee, there is a reason that it pours down rain on Bluegrass festivals and that is that God absolutely hates banjos... Awww, jus' funnin'... Yeah, I've seen them bandanas that have the pouch thing and I know a lady who makes 'um an' come to think of it I performed here grand opening (FOR FREE, gol dang it!!!) so I just might lean on here to jus' give me one of 'um... Actually, here it is Monday morning an' I think I worked harder being the azalea auctioneer yesterday in air conditioning than on Saturday in the heat... No matter, glad to get back to real work so I can rest up from the weekend... B~ |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: GUEST,crazy little woman Date: 27 Aug 07 - 10:16 AM God loves banjos, Bobert. The patter of hail upon a roof is an attempt to make nature imitate the banjo. Banjiman, you have my sympathy. Bill Bryson once wrote that he lived through a long cloudy time in England, and it was like living in Tupperware. I believe your only recourse is to grow the kinds of colorful flowers which thrive in cool, wet weather. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: HouseCat Date: 27 Aug 07 - 03:34 PM A word of advice to the ladies... If you play guitar in a 45-minute set outside in 95+ degree heat, do not wear a white shirt. You sweat really hard under the guitar and the set ends up as a wet T-shirt contest at the end. Had to hide out til my shirt dried. :~( HC |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: frogprince Date: 27 Aug 07 - 03:50 PM Housecat, you would go and try to spoil the fun! |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: GUEST,Desert Rat Date: 27 Aug 07 - 03:55 PM It could always be worse. You could have an outdoor gig in Phoenix, AZ in August (more or less dry heat) or a similar event in Houston, TX in your basic outdoor sauna. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Do a lot of songs with water, river, lake or winter themes. Have they fans on stage for you? Turn 'em up to nine and put a cake of ice in front of them. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: HouseCat Date: 27 Aug 07 - 05:57 PM Naughty naughty frogprince. |
Subject: RE: Performin' in 95 Degree Heat... From: Peace Date: 27 Aug 07 - 05:59 PM "Performin' in 95 Degree Heat..." Make sure you take the covers off . . . . |
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