The Opening Act

[bluewine]

The mission statement for my band was to learn 3 sets of tight, creative pop rock songs with a touch of the 70s.

Then try and book at least 3 decent bar/club gigs per month.

Now I am thinking with the tools that are available today, why take 4 semi-pro musician to play "hot" music in clubs where people might not get it.


I am going to focus on networking and try and get a few opening act gigs for established B & C level acts that come through Milwaukee.

[kingpin2512]

Well good luck.

[smogg]

not if yer playin' covers; if ya wanna open for signed touring artists, ya better have a kick @$$ set of originals about 60 to 90 minutes long in the correct style of the acts you want to open for. sorry but that's how it works.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by smogg

not if yer playin' covers; if ya wanna open for signed touring artists, ya better have a kick @$$ set of originals about 60 to 90 minutes long in the correct style of the acts you want to open for. sorry but that's how it works.

I was thinking just 1 or 2 amazing covers. The kind that people will say."I couldn't believe that was that song "Super Fly" from the 70s" Something kick @#$ yet trendy and out of control.

[Zappstorius]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I was thinking just 1 or 2 amazing covers. The kind that people will say."I couldn't believe that was that song "Super Fly" from the 70s" Something kick @#$ yet trendy and out of control.

I think you could probably get away with one cover per set in this type of setting IMO, as long as it's done right and in a different style than the original...but it's definatley not going to be the staple of your show I would hope.

The point of opening for a major level act is to try and get some exposure for YOUR BAND and YOUR MUSIC. I wouldn't think that it would equate to a ton of money initially though.

[runmikeyrun]

60 to 90 mins for an opener? Man i've never gotten more than 30 mins opening for ANYONE!

[rakirksey]

I've actually seen a 90 min opener ONCE.

It was Maktub opening for Soulive. Maktub played for 90 min. and Soulive played for 2 and a half hours. That is not the norm though. Most openers are 30 to 45 and the headliner is 60 to 90.

[bigfatbass]

Opening sets are usually 30-50 minutes, anything longer is rare to non-existent. Not the same for fests where even non-headliners are often given a chance to play for 60+ minutes, but if you are warming up the stage in a club, plan on 45 minutes of TIGHT, ORIGINAL, material, with no time/breaks between tunes. Your set should be like one 40 minute song with a chorus of "one, two, three, four!" If you have to share gear, don't whine about whatever amp they have you use, and when you are done get you and your stuff as neatly and quickly out of the way as you can. I have been on both sides of the issue, literally for decades, and trust me on this: touring bands don't want cover bands for openers. Ever. Leave that super-duper special cover song for the bar gigs where you have to fill a whole night.

You want to impress the house? Burn said house to the fudging ground for every second they allow you to be on stage with your own material.

[Bayou_Brawler]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I am going to focus on networking and try and get a few opening act gigs for established B & C level acts that come through Milwaukee.

good luck....typically you want to build a crowd...build your rep....and hone your act before you get to open up for "bigger" acts...

you build a network by getting out there and playing....

do you know why bigger touring acts get local openers?? i'll tell ya to help draw a crowd...plain and simple....

of course if you have some creative booking guy that can sell sell sell and weasel you into gigs....you might have a shot...

just my two cents...

[fo shizzle]

I'm depressed to see that bands now have "Mission Statements" and "Network"..........

Can "synergy" be very far behind!!?