Are we alone in trouble getting gigs?

[fourstringdrums]

I was wondering if anyone else was in a similar situation with their band and having a difficult time getting gigs.

My band (i'm the drummer) is a Progressive Folk-Rock band. Mostly originals though we're trying to incorporate some covers. We pretty much only play out once every 6 months because we have a really hard time finding gigs for the following reasons:

1) We don't have enough material yet to support a night by ourselves so we need to find places that multiple bill.

2) A lot of places want bands that can bring in people but we don't really have a following for the following reasons:

a) We're in our 30's. All of our friends have kids so they usually can't come out to gigs.

b) We all live in different areas of the state and I actually live out of state, so our friends are really widespread and don't want to commute to our gigs

c) Most venues have so many bands trying to gig that we can't play a particular venue enough to gain a new following because they want regular rotation or again, bands that already have a following and can bring in people

d) Most venues we've played have poor turnout anyway so we don't gain any new fans

e) Each venue we tend to play is further away from the last and our "fans" don't want to commute to see us and will only come out if we play that venue again (see C)

We try to use Facebook as our way of promoting gigs for the local people that we think may come out, but sure enough, every gig, we have people who say they're going to come and they never do.

If you want to check us out, Another Divide

Are we alone in this problem? We're not trying to do this for a living, but it would be nice to gig more than a few times a year.

[IncX]

back when i was in a death metal band, we could only gig about once every 2 or 3 months. we played to the same faces and depending on how drunk they are, we could get a headbang thing happening in front, or only 2 people in front (that is when the audiences arent drunk enough).

the band eventually dissolved because the drummer and guitarists failed to live up to the standards all of US agreed upon.

when i look back at it, i dont know what kept us going and writing since there never a way the band could go anywhere - maybe because i really loved the music and that all of us were friends when we started out.

im in my 30's ... and my advice is, playing some music genres are its own rewards... playing the music, hanging out with the band ... that is it. it could never get bigger than that.

if you find it dismal and depressing.... i guess its time to set aside one's pride and learn the Lady Gaga songs. i did that, and i realized one thing: having a lot of your family and friends watch you, getting to be called and booked for a gig, is a lot more fun than playing death metal in the rehearsal room.

-*-

i listened to your song and wow... it reminds me of Dave Matthews Band.

you certainly have a lot more appeal than my death metal band...

i do hope you'd find success, cause you guys make great music.

[fourstringdrums]

Well thats the thing is I'd rather play music I enjoy.. And the band is like family. Besides the genre wont change our friends being flaky or unavailable to come see us

[joe vegas]

try to find a handful of simpatico bands in your area who offer some overlap to each other's audiences, talk to a venue that's not a traditional music joint (vfw hall, non-music bar, etc), and start booking an every-month mini festival which also can make use of things appropriate to your overall multi-group scene (spoken word? avant film projectionists? comic? solo banjo player? 3-card monte specialist?).. you're creating a scene every month OUTSIDE the bar gatekeepers, with strength in numbers (and mailing lists) through 3-5 bands per event. make FB pages for each show etc... chances are, such an inclusive, communal approach will create a good buzz about itself. i've seen this scenario work often. good luck!

[Icey101]

nice sound mate too, ok so play your own music that you like and scrounge gigs? or play stuff clubs want to promote and have gigs?

do you want to play gigs or just keep rehearsing?

[fingerbun]

The band has a nice sound, I don't think that is the problem.

You have to move beyond getting friends to gigs - that never works in the long term anyway - and find rooms where you can build a following. Maybe a different type of venue.

How long have you been running, and how long before you will have enough material to do a full night?

[BritPicker]

We have totally the same problem as you. We are 40's / 50's in age, doing originals. So we don't really fit in to the 20 something originals scene.

What we've tried to do, is NOT do the far out of town gigs, get good gigs and play well. We get the same problem as you, people SAY they will DEFINITELY come and then just don't. It's just work/kids. Don't take it personally.

When people do come, they love it! And we make sure we thank them from the stage and after too, make a big fuss of them.

All I can say is, that now things are maybe just starting to look up after 4 years of this. We got some TV appearances and build up the internet presence and we are working more on getting gigs close by to where we live.

We've spent our time on developing our songs and just enjoying it.

Work on getting gigs with other bands as much as you can. ALWAYS return the favor if someone gets you in on a gig. Most of the time we've found other bands don't return the favor (especially the younger ones) but, the bands that do are good people to know and its quality over quantity in any case.

Pick and choose what you do a bit. Because bad gigs are truly demoralizing.

2 or 3 band gigs are easier to do, taking a whole night is hard, so concentrate on doing that kind of gig.

[BritPicker]

You sound good, btw. There's no problem with your music at all. Stick at it!

[wonderjosh]

Incorporate less "progressive" in your sound and I think you'll have much broader appeal. I think simpler arrangements and time signatures would help a lot. You guys sound much better when you chill out a bit. "Far Away" is an example where it feels like everyone in the band is working together instead of competing with each other.

That said, gigs can be hard to get for a new band, no matter how good you are. Building a fan base takes a lot of time and hard work.

[soulman969]

I don't mean to be a smart ass but if you want to work play the blues. There's always a club somewhere hiring blues bands. Use that to gig on while you build up original material or more obscure cover material you want to cover and you can get work with it.

This problem began a very long time ago for cover bands, even eclectic ones like I've played it, and it's one of the reasons I hung it up for a while. Younger bands doing originals and promoting their latest self produced CD will play for almost nothing just to get publicity and gain a following. The clubs that hired dance oriented rock bands who catered to the baby boomers are drying up so it's tough to get work unless you're in a market that will support blues bands, country rock bands or tribute bands.

At least that how it seems to going here in Colorado.

[IncX]

Originally Posted by Icey101

do you want to play gigs or just keep rehearsing?

you have to ask yourself and the band that.

and remember, if you dont gig, you'd eventually break up ... or the rehearsals would get so sparse, its like you guys arent a band - more of a hobby jamming group.

i suggest you guys learn some covers - something a bit close to your originals... and market yourself as some alternative group, avoid the word "progressive" ... it only attracts musicians, and frankly, musicians are terrible audiences - they will just look for things to criticize, they always think they are better than you, they dont dance, and they dont buy beer or pay the door.

[jmattbassplaya]

I can't say that my band is having trouble getting gigs, and we're a relatively new originals band. We gig out about 4-8 times a month, average around $300-$800 a gig, and play music that's not that mainstream sounding. We're actually about to start recording our first demo this weekend.

[MarcusPocus]

Know your music scene.

I don't know what New Hampshire has to offer, but in Dallas the music scene caters to the douch and cougar crowd.

I love playing live, and If I want to stay gigging, I need to play the songs that get asses on the floor.

We do take our liberties with adding our influences to the edge of some of our set list which satisfies my urge to write music, I write arrangements. The girls love it, the guys love it, and most importantly, the bar owner loves it.

[hrodbert696]

I'm in NH, and only been playing a couple of years, so not the greatest expert. But what everyone's saying is that there are fewer venues, at least paying ones, and harder times for bands all around. What is the geographic spread of the band, exactly? I'd love to catch your show when you have a gig again, I'm seacoast area but work in Manchvegas.

I would suggest dropping "progressive" from your self-description when marketing for gigs. Just say you're a folk-rock band. "Progressive" is accurate but to venue managers I think it automatically says "no audience appeal."

I would think you'd be able to get a lot of play if you did community festivals, county fairs and things. I'm not sure you're the kind of band that's going to play well to the bar crowd unless it's a kind of folk-oriented venue. If you're not doing it for the money, and don't mind playing for free for the sake of the visibility, a lot of towns have festival days where bands go on for short sets, like half an hour. That could help to get your name out and build a fan base beyond your existing friends.

I do like your sound. The other thing would be simply to get busy writing more music! The only way to get over your problem #1 is to get more material. One option might be to consider covering music that influences your originals, especially if you can put your own spin on it.

One last thought would be if any of you have the time to play in other projects as well. If you're part of a popular cover band or whatever you can build relationships with venue owners and fans that you might be able to carry over to this band.

[MNAirHead]

It's the Bain of originals

Opinion: write and record one stellar song and go nuts trying to get it heard

[HeadyVan Halen]

Learn'em all.
Put yourself in a position to play anything where you never have to turn down a gig. Slide in some originals, have GOOD STAGE PRESENCE...that's the difference between people coming to see YOU and not just a band that happens to be there.

The distance thing will be an issue I suspect.

[bassbully]

I know your pain but may be some help. My band is in its third year a folk rock, Americana band all originals but we throw a cover or two in and twist them up ..our way.

You will need to learn enough songs to pull at least a 2 hour set and do your own show. Add some covers just a few and twist them up. We do Billy Jean, Werewolves of London etc, something a folk rock band dont normally cover.

Don't worry about friends ,family coming out or how many heads are in the club. Always invite and promote your shows but people just dont get out for live musc like they did these days at least originals that is. If the club wants you to provide a draw dont book there. You cant let this get you down. We play places that go over well and others you would sware they never knew were in the room. Whats funny in the places where we are wallpaper we get people coming up and thanking us for the great music later that night...go figure?

I don't know your market but you need to check it close and and find venues, clubs etc that cater to original music and your sound...this is huge! We play a handful of indoor clubs that cater to local, live, original, music some that will never have a cover band..never. They are music listening rooms and are a great places to play. The people who go there are going there for the music not to chase skirts or watch TV. They are there for you a built in crowd. Find venues that work with you not against. If a club is booking 80's hair cover bands chances are you wont go over there on Saturday night. Find your market ..carve it. In the spring ,summer, fall target festivals and community events. Most pay well and want original music. Travel is part of any band so I cant help you there.


I like your sound, it reminds me of a local band here who gigs in my area and they stay busy. My band is booked into next year and we do ok on pay. We average $200+ on indoor shows and do much better at the outdoor ones in the summer. It takes someone to be the mouthpiece and do the hard work, bookings etc. When I was in cover bands it was so much easier to get gigs just throw them a demo and get booked. Originals bands are about PR and allot of work. I still enjoy it but I will admit it does get to me sometimes..good Luck.

[Vakmere]

1 and 2 say it all. What does you band bring to the bar owners table? If its not much then you dont get the gig.

[Phalex]

My current cover band grew out of my old originals band for the reasons you cited.

We had better than a sets worth of material, but not enough for a whole night, so the guitar player, drummer, and myself would fill time with covers. (The singer/song writer had too much "Artistic Integrity" to stoop so low as to entertain the crowd by performing any cover material at all.) It got so that the cover stuff was more popular than the original stuff, but the band leader wouldn't budge.

So the guitar player and I started a "side project" doing covers. We got booked a lot, and the original project turned into the side project. Then we all got fired from the original thing one by one, and the singer / songwriter from that band is doing a lot of nothing these days as far as I'm aware.

[fhm555]

Maybe it's different in NH, but around here unknown bands who want to work regularly translates to bar gigs.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but your style is not bar band material so if you are looking to get booked as alcohol salespeople, you are going to have to start playing material that makes people want to buy a drink/ask someone to dance.

If the music is what matters, assemble a list of all the regional, seasonal festivals, celebrations, etc, in your travel comfort zone and put together a nice promo package and get it in the hands of whoever is in charge of bands for those events.

Don't limit yourself to music things either. I played in a little country band and we stayed busy with all kinds of spring flings. Spanish trail festivals, mullet (the fish) festivals, etc.

Sounds like you just need to get organized and target venues where you have a chance to get your style on the bill.

And as as been mentioned, drop the progressive from your description. Most people tend to read that as "self indulgent wankers".