Musik für eine freie Ukraine 2004

Erfahrungsbericht aus Kiew

von unseren tschechischen Freunden der MCH Band:

VISA

please check how does the Ukrainian embassy work in Germany. In Prague, even they support the opposition, they work in byrocratic way and to get the VIZA it took 5 days of fighting at embassy every day and even on the last day, that we were suppose to leave, it was not sure until the last hour of their official work hours, wheather we can get the VISA. In case it works same as in Prague, most of the people, who are not ready for the new experience quit. We started as a group of 20 people and in the end we were only 7 most patient people in the world probably :-)

BACKLINE + PA SYSTEM

they have very good backline and PA system. I am almost 70% right with the Rolling Stones requirements fullfilled. In case you are not bringing some extra experimental sound band, you can use, what there is in Kiev.

SOUND CHECK

there is almost no time for sound check on the stage and the stage is not very big, even the PA is huge. So, the best is to bring 1-5 piece band, but no bands with horn sections, bongo sections, ... Too hard to manage the band to start and do the show.

TIME

you might have a chance for only 1-3 songs for each band, but it is worth it. It is not a club show, but a support of good will, positive energy and you will be given applause of 100-300 thousands of Ukrainian people. Also you might be broadcasted by UA TV to the whole Ukraine. I would not worry about the length. The support of Ukraine and the experience is much more important.

ORGANIZATION

even the most skilled tour manager would be surprised that in between the revolutianary atmosphere and the crowd of tenths of thousands of people, he becomes to be nobody. Nobody knows him, nobody understands too much of foreign languages. You will have to fight your own way to the stage and even there you can meet somebody who does not mean anything bad to you, but will decide, that the best idea is that you go from the other way and have to go through the crowd again. THIS MEANS THAT IT IS NOT PROBABLY VERY REASONABLE TO BE A BIG GROUP. AS MORE YOU WILL BE IN YOUR ROUP, YOU CAN BE SURE, YOU MIGHT LOOSE SOMEBODY.

STAR BEHAVIOUR OF THE MUSICIANS

should be forbidden during you stay in Kiev. After you come nobody knows the musicians, so you can not calculate on any specific rider requiriments being full filled. It is not a festival, it is pretty professional revolution, but not made for the famous musicians to feel comfortable. This does not mean that people will spit in your face, but it means, that in case you decide you need the keyboards more left, there might be nobody who has time to think about it and say "yes this is important". More important is there are no fights, there is a change for Ukraine. You will be one of very many people who want the change. I am not saying this to avoid you of going to Ukraine. I am saying this that you have to bring some tough musicians who are ready for anything. I WAS LUCKY MY GROUP WAS LIKE THIS AND THERE WAS NO ANGRY WORD IN ANY SITUATION. ONLY QUESTIONS LIKE "am I going to carry my piano any more kilometers? In case yes, I will have to search doctor to fix my back!"

Otherwise, I think, after our visit, that it might be really good in case every day there is one band from different part of the world making people sure, that the situation is known and supported from all over the world.

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