Waste of time things your band should avoid

[BritPicker]

Looking here on Talkbass, there's a whole load of stuff I see again and again. Things that hinder or prevent us from getting the best out of our music and indeed life in general.

Here's my Waste Of Time list:

(a) ANY music competition, they're either scams or irrelevant

(b) 'Services' that ask for money upfront in order to promote your music.

(c) Multi-band (>3) gig lineups.

(d) Gigs on 'dead' nights like Monday or Sunday evening

(e) Band members that are flakey, or druggie or egos

(f) Waiting for band members to 'get good'

(g) Reading TB when you could be practicing

(h) GASing when you could be practicing

[John Wentzien]

(I)...Primping in the mirror whilst watching "American Idol"

[Thunderthumbs73]

Drinking excessively and/or partaking in any illegal substance use.

[bluewine]

[quote=BritPicker;9969760]Looking here on Talkbass, there's a whole load of stuff I see again and again. Things that hinder or prevent us from getting the best out of our music and indeed life in general.

Here's my Waste Of Time list:

(c) Multi-band (>3) gig lineups.

(d) Gigs on 'dead' nights like Monday or Sunday evening


Good Thread topic,

However, I have done 2 band line ups that were perfectly cool. Depends on the venue, if all the bands bring a crowd it can be kind of happening.

Monday & Sunday Night Gigs are typically a drag.

However, I have done some benefits (multi band) on Sundays that were awesome. But, I know where your coming from typically their bad and not much chic action either.

[Nashrakh]

Originally Posted by BritPicker

(g) Reading TB when you could be practicing

Funny because it's true.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by BritPicker

Looking here on Talkbass, there's a whole load of stuff I see again and again. Things that hinder or prevent us from getting the best out of our music and indeed life in general.

Here's my Waste Of Time list:

(a) ANY music competition, they're either scams or irrelevant

(b) 'Services' that ask for money upfront in order to promote your music.

(c) Multi-band (>3) gig lineups.

(d) Gigs on 'dead' nights like Monday or Sunday evening

(e) Band members that are flakey, or druggie or egos

(f) Waiting for band members to 'get good'

(g) Reading TB when you could be practicing

(h) GASing when you could be practicing

So no live music is available Sundays and Mondays and I can't put together a show with 3 of my friends bands?

LAME

[rodl2005]

We've done a regular Sunday eve gig- 6-9pm for 5+ yrs- been great. So one exception to the 'rule' here.

[BritPicker]

[quote=bluewine;9969803]

Originally Posted by BritPicker

Looking here on Talkbass, there's a whole load of stuff I see again and again. Things that hinder or prevent us from getting the best out of our music and indeed life in general.

Here's my Waste Of Time list:

(c) Multi-band (>3) gig lineups.

(d) Gigs on 'dead' nights like Monday or Sunday evening


Good Thread topic,

However, I have done 2 band line ups that were perfectly cool. Depends on the venue, if all the bands bring a crowd it can be kind of happening.

Monday & Sunday Night Gigs are typically a drag.

However, I have done some benefits (multi band) on Sundays that were awesome. But, I know where your coming from typically their bad and not much chic action either.

i meant MORE than 3 bands on line up, those 'conveyor belt' type gigs where you play to the other bands and if you're playing last everyone's already gone home.

[corinpills]

Regarding A, the first big thing my old band ever did was enter a local battle of the bands sponsored by Jim Beam and Rolling Stone, won that and they flew us to New Orleans where we won the whole thingy and got a 3 week national tour opening for acts ranging from Jimmy Cliff to The B-52s in...wait for it... our own tour bus. That was not exactly a waste of time for a new band and got us signed to an indie label that released (and paid for) our next two albums. I think those things are definitely a total waste if you don't win, though.

[Rockmusician]

Multi band gigs are only an issue if you are not the last band and the other bands are better than yours. I have done many multi band gigs including headlining at Bikeweek in Laconia, Myrtle Beach, Daytona and Sturgis and always enjoyed them. I agree with the rest of your list.

[BritPicker]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

So no live music is available Sundays and Mondays and I can't put together a show with 3 of my friends bands?

LAME

That's MY list. Feel free to disagree and do what you like, whatever.

But calling me LAME for having a different opinion and experience to yourself is rather childish.

[BritPicker]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

Multi band gigs are only an issue if you are not the last band and the other bands are better than yours. I have done many multi band gigs including headlining at Bikeweek in Laconia, Myrtle Beach, Daytona and Sturgis and always enjoyed them. I agree with the rest of your list.

Well how can they know if they've left before you've even played?

I'm not really talking about those 'festival' type shows, more clubs and pubs.

[MrDOS]

Although this thread could be considered 'negative energy,' I have to say I agree on all points!

Some, like "wrong" days of the week and multiband gigs, are regional. Here in Colorado Springs, I've neve played a multiband gig that worked out well. But in Los Angeles, well, what else have you got available?

Here's a "competition" story that I should have known better. We were invited to play a Wednesday night competition for an opening spot for a national act. The promoter was one we have been trying to schmooze for a while, and some of the other bands on the bill were friends of ours and pretty good bands. At the last minute, the "good" bands dropped out. And, by the way, can the other two bands use your PA?

I ended up running sound for a really bad band, the band that they had already decided was going to do the show, and my band -- for free.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

Multi band gigs are only an issue if you are not the last band and the other bands are better than yours. I have done many multi band gigs including headlining at Bikeweek in Laconia, Myrtle Beach, Daytona and Sturgis and always enjoyed them. I agree with the rest of your list.

We closed a multi-band show on a Sunday afternoon, well it was 6 or 7 when we went on and there was still a respectable crowd. I guess it all depends

[Joe Nerve]

While I hear ya on most of these, I'd suggest not making them hard and fast rules because they all have situations where to turn down the gig might be cutting your nose to spite your face. As they used to say.

Originally Posted by BritPicker

Looking here on Talkbass, there's a whole load of stuff I see again and again. Things that hinder or prevent us from getting the best out of our music and indeed life in general.

Here's my Waste Of Time list:

(a) ANY music competition, they're either scams or irrelevant

Almost always just some plan to make money for a club (clubs), yet as much of a scam as some are they can offer waay more exposure for your band than lots of other gigs. ESPECIALLY for a band just starting out. Much against my will I played a bunch of Emergenza shows with a brand new band a couple of years ago. I complained all the way through, but truth was there was no way we'd have been able to play to crowds that big with a brand new band if it were on our own. Each show (after the first) averaged around 400 people.

(b) 'Services' that ask for money upfront in order to promote your music.

I'd say 98% if them are scammers. Some such companies really do promote however, and earn their money. If well researched, and if a band has the money to do this, it's almost a necessity.

(c) Multi-band (>3) gig lineups.

Well, most clubs operate this way unfortunately. If you consider these a waste of time you may have very few gigs on your calender.

(d) Gigs on 'dead' nights like Monday or Sunday evening

I'm almost 100% with ya on this one, except for the fact that it's required if you ever want to play weekends at some of the more happening spots. From playing sundays and mondays at CBGB we got lots of midnight weekends and a regular thursday gig. Had we not done a handful of sundays and mondays we'd have never gotten it.

(e) Band members that are flakey, or druggie or egos

Agreed. But it's a limiting attitude, subjective, and almost unavoidable.

(f) Waiting for band members to 'get good'

(g) Reading TB when you could be practicing

(h) GASing when you could be practicing

Agree 99%. Gassing and buying stuff always creates a new creative spark in me.

Not certain what I avoid. Blatent drug and alcohol abuse, for sure. People that don't do their homework and waste my time in the studio. I'm starting to aviod working with musicians who have 8 bands that they're playing with. Way too difficult to get things going.

[Staccato]

Originally Posted by BritPicker

(b) 'Services' that ask for money upfront in order to promote your music.

Add to this one:
Or that require the band sell ANY tickets to the show.

[zachoff]

Merch before music.... Record first!

[Mooch]

While I agree with most i dont get the gigs with multiple bands thing. So being an originals band we are supposed to play some place for 3 hours? Any show I've ever been to from big time acts to small timers play with multiple bands.

Cover bands is one thing but original acts play with other bands, at least in Minnesota. Maybe its different everywhere else.

[zachoff]

Originally Posted by Mooch

While I agree with most i dont get the gigs with multiple bands thing. So being an originals band we are supposed to play some place for 3 hours? Any show I've ever been to from big time acts to small timers play with multiple bands.

Cover bands is one thing but original acts play with other bands, at least in Minnesota. Maybe its different everywhere else.

Yeah, we typically play with 2 or 3 other bands as well. Usually 3... A festival-type gig would be fun though.

[mrjer]

Hey There! New to posting here, but I've been reading for a while now. I agree that there is a big difference between original and cover bands. The original list seems to provide good guidelines IMHO. I've had a regular cover gig for a couple years and multiple-band nights tend to be a drag for several reasons. In original projects, I found it to be a great thing to have regular gigging partner bands....it sort of built up a litle "scene" and helped all the bands draw well.
Love the whole TB site!!!
Jer