Recording or Gigging?

Vic Winters · #1 05-22-2007, 01:36 AM

What do you think should take precedence for a band starting out? Recording or trying to get gigs? Some members of the band want to spend the summer recording an EP, while others think we should try and book some gigs and try to develop a following. We're having trouble because of circular logic.

Recording gives us something physical to hand out to people, something they can listen to and share with friend. But without playing out a lot, distribution is much more limited.

Playing out will expose us to more people initially, but if they don't have something to take home and listen to, we're running more on word of mouth.

It's always good to have a few songs on a CD to give to a club to help score the gig, and the more professional sounding the better. But at the same time, if you're already recording 2-4 songs for a demo, why not go the full 9 and record a whole EP if you have the money? But again by playing out first you can gauge crowd reactions to songs and record the best ones, and market what people seem to like the most.

Any insight from the more experienced?

meev991 · #2 05-22-2007, 01:56 AM

Well, first, ur right about the circular logic, you could run circles in your head and never come up with the right answer

so lets start with the premise: if you had to do just one of the two activities, which?

I would put my money, on recording some decent songs. Personally, I've been able to record songs with my band, on the cheap, with clever DI boxes, modelers, etc, all at home. This route, isn't for everyone though, because a majority of the people don't know what they're doing anyways

but back to your original question, I advise laying down some qualtiy tracks, be it, at home, with some respectable home recording equipment/mics, or at a studio. This way, when you start tagging ppl on the internet with your band's website, people will have something to mull-over before they go see your future shows. For me, I have no interest in bands that have expensive amps and gadgets, and yet, failed to make some decent music to listen for my own personal enjoyment.

and as for deciding which songs to record, Go with the most technichal, heartfelt, and catchy tunes that you have. Make your EP as eclectic and varied as possible, balancing between ambient/filler songs, fast beats, slow tunes, and everything in the middle.

hope this helps, i'm pretty sure i covered everything

Dave Muscato · #3 05-22-2007, 02:02 AM

GIG GIG GIG GIG GIG!

You don't need a demo to get some shows under your belt. Don't worry about developing a following yet. Get out there and play some free shows. Get your "sound" together and get tight by playing in front of people every chance you get. There is no substitute for playing live. One of the best things my band did was wait until we'd been together for awhile to record our first album. We did some home recordings when we first started out, and we cringe when we listen to them now (3 years later). Our style has solidified so much and our group songwriting has improved greatly. It takes a while to really get to a place where you're ready to record an album. If you are just starting out, you are wasting your money by recording an album now. In six months, when you've really tightened up, you'll be kicking yourself for spending the money to record songs you can't stand anymore, now that you've got some songs that you really sound good playing together!

It doesn't hurt to have a demo, but remember what a demo is: It's just to get the gig. It's not for fans, and it's certainly not for your MySpace. Its only purpose is to show a talent buyer that you can, in fact, play your instruments. Here's what you need to get a demo for booking shows:

1) A gig with a good crowd where you can play 3 songs
2) a line out from the board
3) a stereo digital recorder (Olympus WS-100 works great, $70 street: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...p?product=1170 )

Play three of your highest-energy songs, and get as many of your friends to come and make some noise. It doesn't have to be anything more than that. Then, burn it to a CD, get a CD Stomper ink-jet label-maker

http://www.cdstomper.com/cds/Main?ac...rchy=CDSTOMPER

and that's your demo. Have people take photos at your show. Get the best one blown up at Kinko's for $3 to an 8x10 on a piece of archival-quality photo paper. Attach the CD in a clear plastic stick-on CD envelope like this:

http://www.sleevetown.com/adhesive-cd-sleeves.shtml

to the back of it, and staple a business card from http://www.vistaprint.com to the front. That's your promokit.

Play at least 20 shows before you think about spending $ on an album. You'll be glad you did.

My 2 cents

Dave

Passinwind · #4 05-22-2007, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Winters

What do you think should take precedence for a band starting out? Recording or trying to get gigs?

Yes.

Seriously, just do both. Each will evolve more quickly on the strength of the other.

T-Bird · #5 05-22-2007, 03:23 AM

Hi, Vic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

GIG GIG GIG GIG GIG!

You don't need a demo to get some shows under your belt. Don't worry about developing a following yet. Get out there and play some free shows. Get your "sound" together and get tight by playing in front of people every chance you get. There is no substitute for playing live. One of the best things my band did was wait until we'd been together for awhile to record our first album. We did some home recordings when we first started out, and we cringe when we listen to them now (3 years later). Our style has solidified so much and our group songwriting has improved greatly. It takes a while to really get to a place where you're ready to record an album. If you are just starting out, you are wasting your money by recording an album now. In six months, when you've really tightened up, you'll be kicking yourself for spending the money to record songs you can't stand anymore, now that you've got some songs that you really sound good playing together!

It doesn't hurt to have a demo, but remember what a demo is: It's just to get the gig. It's not for fans, and it's certainly not for your MySpace. Its only purpose is to show a talent buyer that you can, in fact, play your instruments. Here's what you need to get a demo for booking shows:

1) A gig with a good crowd where you can play 3 songs
2) a line out from the board
3) a stereo digital recorder (Olympus WS-100 works great, $70 street: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...p?product=1170 )

Play three of your highest-energy songs, and get as many of your friends to come and make some noise. It doesn't have to be anything more than that. Then, burn it to a CD, get a CD Stomper ink-jet label-maker

http://www.cdstomper.com/cds/Main?ac...rchy=CDSTOMPER

and that's your demo. Have people take photos at your show. Get the best one blown up at Kinko's for $3 to an 8x10 on a piece of archival-quality photo paper. Attach the CD in a clear plastic stick-on CD envelope like this:

http://www.sleevetown.com/adhesive-cd-sleeves.shtml

to the back of it, and staple a business card from http://www.vistaprint.com to the front. That's your promokit.

Play at least 20 shows before you think about spending $ on an album. You'll be glad you did.

My 2 cents

Dave

+100.

One addition though. Camcorders are so versatile and cheap nowadays that You shouldn't leave that option out. Besides it does wonders to Your performance to see Yourself playing

But as Dave said: GIG, GIG and GIG

That's the only way You'll find out the "hit-songs", and those are the ones to record, not the ones Your group might have picked up.

You should also record some of the rehearsals with a multi track DMT or a computer based recording system, just to learn that process, but IMHO don't throw too much money to the recording side, the gigging should be the priority in the beginning. That takes enough money anyway

Regards
Sam

Phalex · #6 05-22-2007, 07:33 AM

I would never think of recording anything until I have performed it live for 6 months. Every song goes through an evolutionary phase. Do you want the original concept committed to a CD, or do you want the final product?? You never know what the crowd will react to until you play the stuff in front of a crowd.

Get the gigs. Iron the wrinkles out of the material, and then record those songs while you are trying out newer material at live shows.

lpdeluxe · #7 05-22-2007, 09:04 AM

Our band got its official start in October, with our first paid gig that incorporated all the current members. We have been gigging up to 4X each month since, and just last Friday went into a studio to record a demo to send to venues we haven't played yet.

Phalax is right: get the songs DOWN before you record. As it happens, the singer's wife made a video recording of our first gig, and now, 7 months later, it is instructive to see how far we've come in terms of timing, learning to play off each other, and so on.

Record immediately and forever repent, or get some seasoning and get a superior product.

Fat.Mike · #8 05-22-2007, 12:26 PM

Both. Record when you can; Gig when you can.

meev991 · #9 05-22-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat.Mike

Both. Record when you can; Gig when you can.

Record the gigs!

there, problem solved

Diggler · #10 05-22-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

3) a stereo digital recorder (Olympus WS-100 works great, $70 street: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...p?product=1170 )
Dave

Dave,

The Olympus records in WMA format; how does it sound when replicated to CD quality? We only have some soundclips that have been swiped from digital camcorders and could really use something that we can record 'off the board.'

Recording a whole gig will be instructive too.

IanStephenson · #11 05-22-2007, 06:07 PM

I know plenty of bands that have dropped $1000 on demo after demo, then split up, or changed line up, or just got better and not liked it (or hated it in the first place).

What are you planning to do with this EP? It's nice to have them on your iPod so you can play them to people (and remember the band you used to be in), but unless you've got a serious buisiness plan, and sound AWESOME recording is a quick way to blow your cash.

Go out and play, get tight, then go and record "live in the studio". We got a pretty decent demo for $150 - it took 4 hours from walking in to walking out with a CD. If you can play the parts it only takes 4 mins to record a track (+4 to overdub the vocals). $150 is an OK amount of cash for something we're going to play to our friends, and send out to venues. $1000 is an indulgence.

Go out and get gigs, and GET GOOD. Gigs can EARN money... Play enough gigs to pay for your recording?

Ian

Bass Thunder · #12 05-22-2007, 08:49 PM

Record Sunday through Thursday and gig Friday and Saturday.

problem solved

.

Afrokid · #13 05-22-2007, 09:37 PM

I agree with doing both at the same time, but when my band plays a gig we usually end up not liking something in the song and changing it ^_^

meev991 · #14 05-22-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrokid

I agree with doing both at the same time, but when my band plays a gig we usually end up not liking something in the song and changing it ^_^

I'm missing something here?

all the more reason to record your gigs, maybe new ideas will pop up

toaster2k3 · #15 05-30-2007, 03:34 PM

Play lots of shows. Get people interested in you. Hopefully, a generous recording engineer will see your show and record you for free. record the EP. Have an EP release show with lots of people. Take your EP to venue owners so they can book you some more gigs.

Spoiled Grape · #16 05-30-2007, 04:21 PM

Good thoughts here.

Try to get a recording from your shows, that should solve the immediate need to "hear" your songs. It shouldn't take "all summer" to record 3-4 songs. Since it will be a demo, I'd take one week max to get it done. Practice your songs like crazy, get a solid drum session in, and than it should be cake from there.

Juniorkimbrough · #17 05-30-2007, 04:46 PM

Record a short 3 or 4 song demo, something to give to bar owners in a press kit.

then like someone said above..........Gig, gig, gig, and gig some more.

Gigging is key to gaining a following and getting your "name" out there. Without gigs noone has a clue who you are.

Juniorkimbrough · #18 05-30-2007, 05:00 PM

Also after you gig a lot together you will get much tighter and that money you spent recording the EP will be money wasted.

The current gigging band I'm with recorded a short demo in a garage with the bare essentials. Looking back now it sounds extemely rough. We've now been in a real studio recording a full length CD and we've sent two of the tracks to several radio stations and are getting quite a bit of airplay as well as some interviews and the radio station is also getting us to play at some of there promotional events. Exposure = good Along with this we also play anywhere from 4-10 gigs a month in our hometown (Memphis, TN) and surrounding areas 3-4 hours away.

scotch · #19 05-30-2007, 05:18 PM

I'd lean more on playing out more. If your band is that "new" it can take a while to center in on a sound as a band rather than just a collection of players.
Handing out EP's at the show is great, but you can get a lot more mileage on the ole' interweb & save a lot of scratch to boot!

On the other hand, recording can be a great way to explore what you are all capable of creatively. It's also a lot easier these days to get a few songs recorded well & relatively cheaply!

It sounds like you all might need to get your heads into the same place. I think that traveling & gigging together will probably accomplish that with less conflict than recording.

Experiment & see what works best for you guys. It's never been cheaper to rent out a studio for a day & now that the summer is almost here you should be able to find somewhere to play.