When To Start Gigging

iceshaft07 · #1 08-27-2009, 03:27 PM

Hey guys. My Band has about 45 minutes worth of material. My 'band manager' thinks this is not enough to go giggin with (I'm htinking on a Wednesday night). Since I have never actually gigged, what are your thoughts? What should we be looking for at this point?

DeluxeRed · #2 08-27-2009, 03:36 PM

Well, you don't say what type of music you play, but :45 is maybe enough for an opening act in some places some times. My group has >80 songs ready to go and plays 3 one-hour sets per show (at least).

And yer probably gonna need more than 15W, too...

BananaKing · #3 08-27-2009, 03:37 PM

Your "Band Manager" is only correct if you're playing a large festival or headlining a show.

45 Mins is more than enough to play some open mics, put on a show with a few other bands, or just play a coffee shop gig.

jelpo · #4 08-27-2009, 04:11 PM

Basically, you have one set of music.

If you're a cover band, that's probably not enough. Most of the bar or casino gigs I do are 4 hours longs (with breaks of course.) If you're doing originals, maybe you can have someone open for you or you open for them. Make a show out of it and hopefully get a good door.

I played a large summer music festival that had a lot of bands, and each band only had to play for 45 minutes.

My advice is, if you can find a venue and make it work then start gigging asap.

groooooove · #5 08-27-2009, 04:16 PM

in/around NYC where im at, 30-60 mins including setup/breakdown is unfourtunately really common. but thats for shows with a bunch of groups playing.

if you intend to just go to your local bars and clubs and ask to play there on a weeknight, youd need a lot more material. 2 hours is the genneral standard for shows IMO. however, if your a "nobody" band playing in a bar, your going to need even more.

cassanova · #6 08-27-2009, 04:19 PM

You're ready to gig out when you have enough material for a full nights show & a professional promo kit to include demo cd.

Vamposaur · #7 08-27-2009, 04:21 PM

I've never played a show where I was given more than 35 minutes to set up and play.

WayneS · #8 08-27-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vamposaur

I've never played a show where I was given more than 35 minutes to set up and play.

Wow! Our shows were 4 hours minimum!

derrico1 · #9 08-27-2009, 04:37 PM

Depends. Cover bands need a lot more material than niche originals bands who are sharing a night with three or more other bands.

IMO, sounds more like your problem is that it's too soon to have a manager.

As a new band, you'll already have enough people telling you what you can't do to bother giving some git a 10% cut to put the brakes on ya.

clive916 · #10 08-27-2009, 04:49 PM

Mate, get an open mic slot, share a small gig with another band or just do your set in your local boozer. Just make sure the punters aren't paying and know what they're getting before you start up. If you wait till you've got a couple of albums worth then you're probably gonna be waiting a while yet. If you're confident and good at what you're doing then do it.
The band we formed last November played our works Xmas do for a laugh with 6 songs we knew. Since then we know about 20 songs and share gigs in local pubs with another local band. The punters know what they're getting, they (seem to) have a good time and so do we. Our next gig is with 3 or 4 other bands, at a charity night in London in aid of injured British servicemen.
Get out there and get started.

Good luck.

jelpo · #11 08-27-2009, 05:02 PM

What the hell's a punter?! : )

crijan · #12 08-27-2009, 05:05 PM

A punter is British slang for a regular in a bar

Bassman203 · #13 08-27-2009, 05:13 PM

start as soon as possible

JohnMCA72 · #14 08-27-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassman203

start as soon as possible

+9999

If you've got :45-worth of material, find a gig where that is enough ASAP. The sooner you can get out, playing in front of real people, the better. This is where you learn, not in the "studio" (or basement, garage, etc.).

As you learn more material, book gigs that involve more/longer sets. Don't wait until you have 4:00; do what you can with what you've got now. Try to have more than just the bare minimum, if you can.

One important lesson you'll learn: Some of your material isn't going to cut it, for whatever reason. Maybe your band just can't pull it off, or maybe you do it well but the audiences just don't like it as much as you do. The sooner you can find out for sure what works & what doesn't, the better off you'll be. The only way you can tell for sure is to get out & play!

JM

jimb213 · #15 08-27-2009, 08:07 PM

45 minutes is plenty for an originals band to get started. Most bands in non-headlining, non-weekend shows get 45 minutes or so around my neck of the woods.

If you're a cover band, 3 or 4 45-minute sets is probably good.

RustyAxe · #16 08-28-2009, 07:48 AM

To us, a "gig" is a full evening or afternoon of performance. From two hours (a short one) to four hours. 45 minute sets with 15 minute breaks. We think in terms of 15 songs per hour (average three minutes per song). That gives us some flexibility to mix it up and we don't end up playing songs twice.

Some bands seem to think they can get by simply by making each song longer (more lead guitar riffs, etc). We've found that anything over 4-5 minutes (unless it is truly SPECTACULAR) will lose the audience, and then you have to win them all over again.

Soloshchenko · #17 08-28-2009, 07:55 AM

45 minutes is fine to start gigging with if you are playing originals.

My band is doing great getting support slots with popular Manchester bands. We're normally playing 30-45 minute sets and have recently been asked to to some headlining shows.

Do some support stuff to get yourself going, get in the popular local music venues and you're off.

Oh, and by the sounds of things, sack your manager. If they don't realise 45 mins is enough for a band to start gigging they have a rather frightening lack of knowledge.

EddiePlaysBass · #18 08-28-2009, 09:10 AM

My band plays covers and nothing but covers. So far we've always gigged with a 50 minute set because that was all we had. Mind you, it was usually festivals and stuff, but even the occasional bar gig where I was almost embarrassed to ask for money (but got it anyway).

I have been telling them for ages that we need a SECOND 50 minutes set, but they never agreed. Until recently when fans came to us afterwards saying they regretted that we stopped playing when they were getting in the mood. That happened 2 or 3 times and finally we have agreed to add new songs to the set, and not rehearse the 15 songs we know over and over.

BassMaster4s · #19 08-28-2009, 10:29 AM

Cover bands need 3-4 hours worth of music (don't be afraid to throw and original or 2 in the mix)

Purely orginal bands can usually get away with 30 minutes, but more music is better than not enough.

For now try to get an opening slot for someone or maybe an open mic slot. Experience is priceless!

BigOldHarry · #20 08-28-2009, 10:32 AM

45 minutes is one set.

Working bands need 4 to 5 sets. Do the math.

If you just want to do showcase/original, then 45 is fine for your first gig. My advice: Write 2 hours worth of material, then only play your best 45 minutes. Trust me, you won't miss those filler songs - nor will your audience.