IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BANDS APPEARING
ON ROCK MY ASS!
Four episodes of "Rock My Ass!" are
shot in a single day, so there is a good deal of activity in the building
on these days. We, as producers, will have our hands full trying to keep
things on schedule and avoid unnecessary delays and problems, so we must
ask for your cooperation in a few key areas.
The building where the show is shot does not belong to us - everyone
involved in this production is a guest of the building, which is as much
an office as it is a studio. Please respect the property and stay out of
areas where offices are located. Smoking in the building is absolutely
prohibited in all areas. The video cameras and recorders (and the
producers
themselves!) are very sensitive to smoke, so we would appreciate it if you
smoke outside.
VERY IMPORTANT: Absolutely no alcohol or controlled substances are
allowed on the premises. This is a television studio, not a nightclub, and
any bands or audience members found using these substances will be
immediately
asked to leave - whether they have performed yet or not. We are totally
serious about this!
Bands *are* encouraged to invite an audience of their own friends,
families,
and fans. But remember: if, for some reason, the live audience is small
(or none - this has happened) play the show the best you can
anyway.
Remember the ultimate audience is the one at home, and the cameras will
not lie about your performance and enthusiasm.
Bring whatever cables and effects boxes you would normally use
onstage.
If you have special/preferred drum microphones or other pickup devices,
please bring them. Our equipment changes from show to show depending on
availability - our permanent supply is four direct boxes, four SM57
vocal/instrument
microphones, and five Beta 58 vocal mics. Our soundman usually has a few
spare microphones as well as drum-specific microphones and a reverb unit,
but we don't have a specific inventory of what he may bring. Any special
requirements beyond that: please be prepared. We also recently added some
animated lights and we use a bit of smoke to make them stand out. If you
have any cool lighting effects you want to bring, do so and we'll try to
fit them in.
At all costs, avoid long pauses between songs! The studio audience may
perceive this as normal for a live performance, but TV viewers will see
it as dead air and start flipping channels. In a small room such as ours,
it's a big temptation to just talk directly to the audience, but remember
you are also performing for TV viewers in the "audience of the
future,"
and unless you talk directly into the microphone, the videotape will not
pick up what you're saying. This happens frequently, and on the air it
amounts
to dead silence. We don't edit the show - it airs as a
"live-to-tape"
production.
"Rock My Ass!" is distributed among several different
cable systems covering much of the Chicagoland area. These cable systems
have rules to which we must adhere... one unfortunate rule is that you are
not allowed to give phone numbers or addresses where people can reach the
band, but "Rock My Ass!" is allowed to have an
information
hotline, so all inquiries regarding your band will be forwarded to you by
us. Giving out band hotlines or addresses is perceived by these cable
systems
as advertising, and is not allowed by them. We have been warned that shows
with such 'advertising' (or profanity, I should mention) will not be
accepted
for cablecast. On a similar note, please don't bother plugging upcoming
shows, because by the time your episode airs, they will be *past* gigs,
and some cable stations hang on to older episodes and air them as reruns
in the future... so you never know how far in the future the show will
wind
up being played again.
We realize this sounds like a lot of rules, but past experience has
shown us that these are indeed points worth bringing up before bands
perform,
to avoid potential problems. In essence, "Rock My Ass!"
is dedicated to being a creative outlet for Chicago area musicians to
reach
a wider audience. We, as producers, are bound by certain obligations to
the owners of the facilities where the show is videotaped as well as where
it is seen, and in order that we may continue to provide this type of
programming
to bands and viewers alike, we must ask that our guests help us adhere to
our own guidelines.
"Rock My Ass!" is not a money-making venture for
anyone
involved. No one involved with the production accepts any form of payment
for their time or equipment. If anyone asks you for money, they do
not work with us.
You can bring a blank VHS tape to the taping, and we will make a
single
copy for you after the shoot.
*** IMPORTANT *** If you get a copy of your appearance on the show,
you are not allowed to sell it or make any other profit from it. The music
within is protected by your own copyright, but the show itself is
copyrighted
to Destruction Productions (and TCI owns 50% of the program because we are
using their facilities), and any use for profit by anyone is prohibited,
although you are encouraged to use it as a part of your demo package as
long as no part of the tape is ever SOLD or RENTED.
We're near a shopping mall with a food court so grabbing a bite to eat
while you're in the area won't be a problem.
Again, the key points we'd like to stress about
performing
on the show:
1. NO ALCOHOL OR OTHER INTOXICANTS. Please don't roam around the
building... it's a working office for TCI of Illinois and the are many
areas
which are off-limits to visitors.
2. Bring an audience if you like or if you can but be prepared to
perform without one if it comes to that.
3. The show is 30 minutes long, so be prepared to perform for 35
minutes so we can fade out on you while you're playing... don't try to end
with the timeslot - that *never* works no matter how sure you are that it
will.
4. Don't plug merchandise/gigs or give phone numbers on the air...
we will be sure to forward any viewer feedback or requests for information
to you.
Cable systems will refuse any program with blatant
advertising.
5. Don't pause or delay between songs... it amounts to dead air,
in which viewers will flip channels out of boredom. 5 seconds of silence
is an eternity on TV.
6. Have fun with your performance - the cameras won't lie about
your
attitude; if anything, they'll magnify it... if you're not having a good
day, your at-home audience will be keenly aware of it.
7. TCI of Illinois does not produce nor endorse the show... Mike
Hoffman and Mark Menshing produce it and it will be seen on cable systems
owned by several different companies... we cringe at bands thanking TCI
for having them on the show! TCI has nothing to do with it except for
owning
the studio facilities. If you want to thank someone on-air, thank
*us*!
Simple version of the directions from the
Edens:
94 toward Milwaukee
Exit OLD ORCHARD BOULEVARD. Turn right (east) at end of
ramp.
Continue EAST on OLD ORCHARD BOULEVARD to GROSS POINT
ROAD (approx. 5 lights)
Turn RIGHT on GROSS POINT ROAD (now headling SOUTH)
There
are no stoplights or stop signs... just continue several blocks and look
for the left turn lane at PAYNE STREET. Turn LEFT there, into studio
lot.
Enter on street side of the building.
* * STUDIO PHONE NUMBER * *
(847) 674-9505
Please use this number ONLY on scheduled shooting days.
The producers cannot be reached at this number any other time and no one
there will take messages for us.
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TO THE ROCK MY ASS! HOMEPAGE