Pushing band gimmicks over the top

[Stewie26]

Originally Posted by LiquidMidnight

Me personally, I wouldn't be dropping my pants on stage.

Yeah, if I recall correctly, Jim Morrison was arrested for doing this during a concert.

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by pklima

The only time I bought something for a specific band (a pair of black boots) I never played another gig with them, so I learned that lesson.

How about buying a required tux for a gig (and future gigs) and getting booted out the band? I needed a tux anyway so I wasn't too mad but still.....

[Chuck King]

You're looking at this the wrong way. Do you have any idea how rare it is to find a band that actually gives a damn about putting on an entertaining show for the audience? If the band is not together musically, that's an issue, but it's a separate issue---absolutely not an either/or. Maybe not every idea your singer has is a gem, but you are LUCKY to have somebody who is thinking in those terms AT ALL. And, far better to error on the side of going too far than not far enough. The kind of hijinx you describe might not work for every genre, but the absolutely will for ska.

Once you take the stage in front of an audience of regular non-musicians, you are a performer, and that is more than just being a musician. With few and limited exceptions, nobody notices, remembers, or cares about the guys who are too cool for school. I say run with it. Better to regret something you have done, than to regret something you haven't done.

[JoeVictim]

Originally Posted by kevteop

Why do ska bands all have to be 'zany' now?

+1.

Ska band attire should be a suit, pinstripe or solid, matching. If the lead singer wants to wear something a bit different than the rest of the band, good. He is almost expected to be the most outlandishly dressed (everyone is in black suits and he is in red). Skinny ties. Yes, these never lost style for rude boys.

Pajamas and ****, yeah...that sounds pretty lame. I have an idea that may get you in trouble but I say let this guy think everyone is going to be in PJ's and then everyone else is in suits and he looks stupid...

If I see a "ska" band, I expect suits. If it's a band like VGS or Mad Caddies, I am ok with t-shirts and jeans/shorts. But, suits are better.

[alembicguy]

Originally Posted by JoeVictim

+1.

Ska band attire should be a suit, pinstripe or solid, matching. If the lead singer wants to wear something a bit different than the rest of the band, good. He is almost expected to be the most outlandishly dressed (everyone is in black suits and he is in red). Skinny ties. Yes, these never lost style for rude boys.

Pajamas and ****, yeah...that sounds pretty lame. I have an idea that may get you in trouble but I say let this guy think everyone is going to be in PJ's and then everyone else is in suits and he looks stupid...

If I see a "ska" band, I expect suits. If it's a band like VGS or Mad Caddies, I am ok with t-shirts and jeans/shorts. But, suits are better.

I agree!
Pajama and them around your ankles doesn't really say "hi we are good at what we do" it says more " hi I might have mental problems or I could be homeless".
Although I did see a pic of Nic Nolte out in public wearing a bathrobe so there you are!?!?

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by SnowCal

Stuffed cthulhu. Duh.

Elder Dark Lords are not animals, however.

[Anthony Fury]

Originally Posted by Chuck King

You're looking at this the wrong way. Do you have any idea how rare it is to find a band that actually gives a damn about putting on an entertaining show for the audience? If the band is not together musically, that's an issue, but it's a separate issue---absolutely not an either/or. Maybe not every idea your singer has is a gem, but you are LUCKY to have somebody who is thinking in those terms AT ALL. And, far better to error on the side of going too far than not far enough. The kind of hijinx you describe might not work for every genre, but the absolutely will for ska.

Once you take the stage in front of an audience of regular non-musicians, you are a performer, and that is more than just being a musician. With few and limited exceptions, nobody notices, remembers, or cares about the guys who are too cool for school. I say run with it. Better to regret something you have done, than to regret something you haven't done.

^^^QFT

[the yeti]

sounds like fun to me. if everyone in the band thinks it's fun except you, you could be in the wrong band.

[electracoyote]

I don't quite understand the pigeon-holing of ska "style" and acceptable vs. unacceptable forms of visual expression linked to a ska band. When I think back to the Tutone bands of the 80s, they were doing all kinds of weird stuff, weird looks, weird moves, and enamoring themselves to audiences with it.

And there's your bottom line: If you attract an audience, and they respond positively to your visual efforts, it's a win. If you're skittish about that sort of thing, find a band that doesn't think along those lines. They're easy enough to find.

[BawanaRik]

Originally Posted by vishuddha

Well, here's the issue. You, as a band, are generally meant to pander to the fans. That's just how it goes. If the fans like you guys doing stupid (and emasculating) things, then that's what you have to do to be successful. It's the industry.

You've reached a crossroad here. Which path are you going to take? Dignity or business?

+1

[rust_preacher]

With the music in my earphones right now, I would totally come to see you no matter what you wore onstage. This "ska" is actually a fusion of styles and you sound like having fun doing it.

But remember, it's a short slide from jammies to baby diapers, pacifiers, and bonnets.

As for black suits or pinstripes as a "ska code" I suppose it was valid for Jamaica in the 1950s and for The Specials. I saw The Skatalites live one time in about 2008 and as I recall they wore flannel shirts and baggy jeans.

I would advise you to just be yourselves, the music speaks for itself.

[TopBillinBass]

Thanks for everyone's input. We talked it about and we are doing a compromise. No Slumber party theme but pajamas are still gonna happen. Not entirely happy but at least it's a compromise. Thanks everyone and I'll update this topic after tomorrow night's gig with pictures so we can all have a good laugh at me haha.

[3mrhythm]

my guitarist was in a metal band before starting our current post rock band.


his band would always find something interesting to do at each show.. last show they played they played the pirates of the carribean song in metal styling while two of the band members sword fought in the crowd.

a show before that they wrote a very viking sounding song and wanted a a guy show up playing bagpipes. (the pipe play got too drunk before the show and never showed up )

another show they played michael jacksons beat it metal style..

they were one of the only local metal acts that always packed the house. I promoted the same club for a couple years .. when i booked them i made more money those nights than any other nights..

What they did was entertaining.. just make sure you guys dont cross the line :P

[Melonthief]

When you first went to play with the band was it presented as a novelty act?

Also it would depend on your goals for the group. Are you going for international stardom? Then lose the gimmicks.
Are you trying to be the fun local "life of the party" band?
Then gimmick away but maybe put more thought into your antics so that they are actually clever

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by rust_preacher

I would advise you to just be yourselves, the music speaks for itself.

At some of the higher levels of this business ,I'm not sure that's enough.

People want more than music.

Blue

[AuntieBeeb]

Does it have to be a stuffed animal, or is there some wiggle room?
http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/products/clap.html

[jaywa]

My BL/lead singer has had some zany ideas over the years.

- For awhile he wanted to bring a helium tank onstage and take huge hits off it before we covered a Sugarland tune.

- Then he bought some of these stilt-spring deals to strap onto his feet and make him about 9 feet tall (he's already 6'4). He wanted to walk out into the crowds on those with his wireless mic.

- Then he asked our drummer to douse his sticks in lighter fluid and set them on fire before his drum solo.

Thankfully, all of the above got voted down before they were ever put into practice.

One gimmick that actually has worked tremendously well for us involves this metal "washboard" you wear over your shoulders that he bought in New Orleans. We bring it on stage and at some point in the night he'll recruit a young cutie from the audience to come up on stage and wear the washboard while he and our drummer play a solo on it with drum sticks. BL is a very good looking dude and I've seen gals come close to having a sexual experience wearing that thing while he's working them over -- even though he never lays a finger on them. Crowds just eat it up.

It can actually be a lot of fun being in a band with a person who thinks outside the box on that kind of stuff (as long as they know when to quit with it)... those people usually have a really keen sense of marketing and are willing to go with something (even if it's cheezy) that will help set the band apart and deliver an "experience" over and above the music.

Obviously the line has to be drawn at band/crowd safety as well as any kind of legal considerations (pyro, etc.)

[MatticusMania]

Next weekend our band is playing at an art walk with a "female artist" theme. All of the art having been done by the ladies. Our band was asked to play because we have a female lead guitarist who also does some backing vocals.

We decided that she should sing lead on a song, so we're doing a slowed down version of Blondie's "Dreaming".
Now I have to make a trip to the thrift store, because our band leader though it'd be a good idea (rather, a funny idea) for us to wear dresses on stage. Actually, it sounds like fun. I just hope the female artists dont presume that we're mocking them.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Next weekend our band is playing at an art walk with a "female artist" theme. All of the art having been done by the ladies. Our band was asked to play because we have a female lead guitarist who also does some backing vocals.

We decided that she should sing lead on a song, so we're doing a slowed down version of Blondie's "Dreaming".
Now I have to make a trip to the thrift store, because our band leader though it'd be a good idea (rather, a funny idea) for us to wear dresses on stage. Actually, it sounds like fun. I just hope the female artists dont presume that we're mocking them.

Men in dresses. Always a winner.

[Richland123]

Silly antics entertain but be careful not to offend people. Make it fun and funny for all those involved (the band and the audience). I was in a band that wore goofy hats and outfits and changed them right in front of the audience (no, we never took our clothes off). We took the music very seriously and the band was very good but we never took ourselves seriously and had fun. Sometimes, we would wear giant cowboys hats with a fake arrow through the head and a long fake beard for some country songs or a firemen's hat for Highway To Hell. We would laugh all the time since we did not even know what each of us would do (e.g., we would play a beautiful slow song and our drummer would wear a stryrofoam T-Rex head or a bee keeper's hat with fake bees on it.). The drummer actually would wear wild pajama pants with fur or wood panel platform shoes.

Check out early videos of The Tubes, Arthur Brown, or Alice Cooper if you want to see over the top stage stuff.