Building a House Band Around the Existing Gear

One idea I’d like to explore with The Plugin is having a featured band serve as the house band, backing up other musicians throughout the night while also playing a few songs of their own.

For our first event, I’m considering using my solo project, Tidy Demon, as the house band. With synthesizers, drum machines, and loopers, I can provide a musical foundation for other performers to build on.

One of my biggest concerns is the equipment. We don’t currently have a usable drum kit, and I want to avoid bringing in a bunch of amplifiers and creating unnecessary complications with sound levels and gain structure.

Instead, I’d like to figure out how we can make the most of the existing PA system and Behringer XR12 mixer at Artemis. Ideally, musicians could plug directly into the system, use prepared settings, and spend more time playing than setting up.

As The Plugin grows, I’d love to invite other bands to take turns serving as the house band, giving them opportunities to perform their own material and collaborate with others.

Ultimately, I’d like to build enough attendance and support that we can start paying these featured bands.

For now, the first event is an experiment in making live musical collaboration easier, more accessible, and more fun for everyone involved.