Support acts

I hate bands that use curfew's as an excuse for doing short sets.... If they want to play for longer, START EARLYER!!!!!!! If Bon Jovi didn't have support bands, they wouldn't come on stage at 3, and play for 7 hours. They'd do the same length show..... This idea they'd play longer, or that Bon Jovi are restricted by them is just bollocks!

Start earlier sounds great. However, venues have a say in that because of the number of people THEY hire to work at the shows. They hire people for consessions, security, etc. So they determine the starting and ending times in places with curfews. The reason curfews are so strict is that the venue doesn't want to pay overtime to their workers.

Becky

But don't forget Becky (at least in UK)... the security and merchandise and bar staff work from the moment the doors are open, not the time the band comes on...

usually this is UK plan for arena/small gigs: doors open 6:30. first band 8pm, main band, 9-9:30pm, off at 11:30...

even with a support band they could start at 7:30 or even 7

That's doesn't conflict with what I said. They have to open the doors early enough for the arena to fill and people to get situated. They're not going to open the doors and 2 minutes later start a show. They're not going to pay extra for those people working to come in earlier.

Becky

I'm sorry but they could still start earlyer. How can Bon Jovi's sets fluctuate in times so much if they were stuck to such a deffinate timetable? I saw Bon Jovi in Stoke, where they played just under 2 hours, then the next year in MK where they played 2h40. The band don't play longer or shorter because of restrictions, it will be because of the mood backstage I'm sure... Huddersfield they were well off form, and didn't seem up for it, short show, MK they were on fire, long show, Cardif longer (although I wasn't there).

Plus, they could easily get things moving on an extra 30-60 mins. When you see the support bands, they're on and off pretty quick. It's not as intense as some shows, where there will be a 15min gap between suport and main act. Whenever I've been to stadium shows, there's a good hour between bands, this is becuase the support acts break up the time, not because it takes an hour to prepair the stage for an act!

Also, if Bon Jovi would really really love to do 4hour shows like the Boss, why don't they cut one of the support acts, just have one, then come on stage at 6? They don't, because even if it was just them, they'd only do one set, and it would be the lenght as it is now....

Plus, if the support is god they're well worth it. I'd sacrafice 20 mins of Bon Jovi, for a 45 min Skid Row set!!!!!

since when is 6:30 - 7: 30 2 minutes Becky?!!!

I'm exaggerating, Dear. The poing is they open the doors and have to allow all the people to come in and get to their seats before they start the show and they're not going to open the doors earlier and pay the consession and security workers extra. Some venues are very strict about when they want the people in and by what time they want them out. The venue DOES have a limiting power on the length of the show. So, I'm all for getting rid of the stupid opening acts or make them play shorter sets!

Becky

I know that darling,

but 1 hour is plenty of time to get everyone seated... if the 1st (whether support bands or not) comes on at 7:30 then there's a good 4 hours until the average curfew

It's 11:00 in a lot of places in the USA, which sucks!!! I think they want to have the venue emptied out by midnight or they think we'll all turn into pumpkins.

Becky

definitely...

when did this curfew business begin? I remember hearing springsteen did 4 hour sets going till 2-3 am , because he used to come on quite late...