Bad, Questionable or Mis-Matched Bookings

[bluewine]

For those who are in bands working with Managers or Agencies, have you had any experience with Bad, Questionable or Mis-Matched Bookings.

Please share examples and how you resolved the issue.

[MatticusMania]

Happens all the time when youre in an original band getting booked on bills with multiple bands. If you are working with a manager or agency I would expect it to happen less often, as the manager or agency should be doing their due dilligence when booking you. However, often times, as a band member dealing with promoters, it seems that a lot of these people putting together shows either a) dont listen to the bands they book or b) just dont care. My vote is for b, as it seems shows will get put together based on how well the bands draw, and not necessarily if they are a right fit for each other.

How do we resolve the issue? Well, the options are either play or don't. Since we choose to play we try and put together our setlist to best appeal to the crowd at hand. If we're playing a show where all the other bands belong to a different genre we do what we can to intrigue people, talk to them about our music. Its funny to see some aggro metalhead dude up stagefront during our set, really getting into our flavor of "psychedelic folk pop rock". He may seem totally out of place, but we really appreciate that dude for opening his mind to something different. Luckily, good times are infectious.

[dj150888]

We turn down the slot, or request that the bands supporting us are changed. Those are the only two options we will present. Its not a regular occurrence for us, and because I don't like to play the a**hole who loses another band a gig, its very usually the first option.

[Raymeous]

Sometimes being the odd band out is a good thing.

If it's a long show with a bunch of bands playing the same over all genre, your band that doesn't exactly fit may be the one bit of fresh air in a sea of the same ol' same ol'. It doesn't work all of the time, but if you're booked into a line up of 6 bands all playing drop tuned, fast double bass, nu-metal, being the one rock band with a stronger sense of melody and vocal harmonies can make you guys really stand out from the others and be noticed, whereas the 4th Meshuggah clone of the night will just blend into the wash of noise.

Being different can help.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Raymeous

Sometimes being the odd band out is a good thing.

If it's a long show with a bunch of bands playing the same over all genre, your band that doesn't exactly fit may be the one bit of fresh air in a sea of the same ol' same ol'. It doesn't work all of the time, but if you're booked into a line up of 6 bands all playing drop tuned, fast double bass, nu-metal, being the one rock band with a stronger sense of melody and vocal harmonies can make you guys really stand out from the others and be noticed, whereas the 4th Meshuggah clone of the night will just blend into the wash of noise.

Being different can help.

Absolutely! Another note in this instance, perhaps there are some patrons attending this gig that arent all that into the genre (like the girlfriends of the other bands, or anyone else who gets dragged out to friends gigs). Those people, you now have their attention.

[bluewine]

Well we are an oringinalsl, heavier type Pop/Sleeze Rock act, border line glam. Our show is 1.5 to 2 hrs. We require 32 channels, decent lighting and decent size stage.

How do you think that would go over in an Ale House playing in the same room where the Journey, Pat Benatar, Jenny Jenny crowd is eating?

I know you can always get suprised, however this has happened to me before with a very blue collar crowd and I almost got my a$$ kicked just for walking up to the bar.

[busmandan]

How many of the 32 channels are unused?

I've played in an eleven-piece band with horns that never used 32 channels.