Is Your Band Established?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by lustersilk

Out of curiosity, what do you do for rehearsals?

The vast majority of our rehearsals take place at soundchecks. Once in a great while we'll rehearse at someone's house. Sometimes we just play really quiet, sometimes we set up our keyboard player's rig which is a 6 ch head and two small monitors, sometimes our guitarist sets up his small club PA if we're at his house. But we've used his PA once on a gig and came to the conclusion that his monitor system is inadequate for our needs.

[lustersilk]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The vast majority of our rehearsals take place at soundchecks. Once in a great while we'll rehearse at someone's house. Sometimes we just play really quiet, sometimes we set up our keyboard player's rig which is a 6 ch head and two small monitors, sometimes our guitarist sets up his small club PA if we're at his house. But we've used his PA once on a gig and came to the conclusion that his monitor system is inadequate for our needs.

Okee Dokee - that makes sense. We practice\write\record at the same place (singers house) but we're thinking of using multiple locations and I'm not really wanting to buy and haul a P.A. Almost all the venues have a P.A. around here and it's so nice not to have to deal with setting that up and tearing it down.

[fdeck]

An established band is known in its market, and has a record of past performance sufficient to predict future performance.

The band that I'm in has been gigging steadily for 25 years, and has a loyal following, despite being largely non commercial. It's an established band.

[Floyd Eye]

My current band has been actively gigging with more or less the same personnel for about 3 years. I have no clue what the exact criteria is, but I would say we are established.

[bluewine]

We play 1-2 a week, band has been together for 7 years.

Are we established>

Locally, in a sense because we work. However, if you mentioned our name, not many have heard of us.

blue

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by bluewine

We play 1-2 a week, band has been together for 7 years.

Are we established>

Locally, in a sense because we work. However, if you mentioned our name, not many have heard of us.

blue

Doesn't make a difference. The type of band you're in is usually known by those who are in the same circles. Here, there are several top40/variety bands that have been around for 35-40 years now and are truly established but I'd bet that most of the rock band musos would have no idea who they are.

[BayStateBass]

Well, I guess "established" can mean a lot of things. Some might view a consistent meeting of friends to jam out as a form of "established", because it's consistent and reliable.

For me, this would be the definition of an "established" band (these are my opinions and how I view things);

- Consistency in membership and having the same people for a good duration of time. If the membership changes frequently I would not consider that an established "band" (maybe an established act, but not a band). Time frame? Don't know if I can define it but I would say if there have been multiple personnel changes within six months or a year, it may not be "established".

- Having a good definition of just what your band is about. Knowing the identity of the band as an act or project. The band should function as a unit, not as a group of individuals. Bands that struggle with being pulled in different directions are subject to either never becoming established or losing any establishment they have.

- To me, an established band will have a recognizable name beyond the members. Maybe it might be recognized by local musicians, maybe fans, maybe just the general night-club regulars, but in any case.....if the only people who know your band name are the members, you are not "established".

- Just getting offers to play out does not mean you are established. We get a ton of them and I would not call us "established".

So, basically, to me being established means a combination of consistency, direction, having a plan, knowing who you are as a group, being recognized by others outside your band for what you do, and holding it all together for more than the few months that many bands last before they implode.

FWIW, I am not in an "established" band. Yes, we have played shows, have more booked, we are known locally by name, and do get paid, but when I think about the fact that 8 months or so ago the only members who were in this band that are still there are myself and the BL, I can hardly call that "established".

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by BayStateBass

So, basically, to me being established means a combination of consistency, direction, having a plan, knowing who you are as a group, being recognized by others outside your band for what you do, and holding it all together for more than the few months that many bands last before they implode.

FWIW, I am not in an "established" band. Yes, we have played shows, have more booked, we are known locally by name, and do get paid, but when I think about the fact that 8 months or so ago the only members who were in this band that are still there are myself and the BL, I can hardly call that "established".

I like your definition.

I still battle with whether or not my band is established or not. I can't get pass, in some ways yes and in some ways no.

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by DWBass

Doesn't make a difference. The type of band you're in is usually known by those who are in the same circles. Here, there are several top40/variety bands that have been around for 35-40 years now and are truly established but I'd bet that most of the rock band musos would have no idea who they are.

Good point.

blue

[BryanM]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I think we have all seen this classification come up in other threads and posts. However, I have not seen any recent discussion regarding what “established” means.

The purpose of the thread is to come up with a good working definition of “established band” I’m sure it means different things to different people. Doesn’t matter if your original or cover, however I think it pertains more to actively gigging bands

Here are a few bullet points to get the discussion started;

Blue

1.What does established band mean to you or how would you define it.

I think that being established as an original band means you can make as much money per show as a cut rate cover band. Being established as a cover band means you can make as much money as a cut-rate corporate band and being established as a corporate band means you can make as much money as a productive member of society.

2.Is your band established.

It's gradually getting there. I left an established cover band to play in an established corporate band that decided it would much rather be an unestablished originals band, which I left to form an originals band and work towards being established well enough to make as much as I did with the first band on a typical night.

3.Do you want your band to be established.

We're working on it.

4.If your band is established, how did it happen.

Constant vigilance in promotion, keep in touch with fans and learn how to activate the best fans as auxiliary promotion through benefits outside of just being a favorite. Keep on top of social media and modern promotional practices but don't overlook traditional media if it can benefit you.

5.What does being established bring to a band, what are the advantages.

It's much easier to book shows and we make a bit more at them than we did in the past. We alsosee revenue streams not only from shows but from merchandise, record sales, etc.

6.How does a band become established, what is a criteria for being established.

Keep at it and make sure all the pieces are in place. It depends on what type of band you're trying to establish:

Corporate band: Establish a word of mouth reputation and guarantee pro-quality equipment, solid and consistent performance from all members/subs. Availability, repertoire and coverage (subs and regulars) to offer a professional product without compromise.

Cover band: Establish a word of mouth reputation and grow your following by impressing patrons or building solid business relationships with venues that have a large and diverse clientele. Build your repertoire and solidify your interpretations to please a large and diverse clientele. High quality equipment owned or available to ensure a smooth performance.

Original band: Build your audience organically and intentionally, focusing on your target audience. Gain a reputation as professional, courteous and unique enough to hold crowds and impress newcomers to the scene/venue/show.

[hernameisrio]

I live in NYC. It seems the bands who are truly established here, don't necessarily describe themselves as such! I feel like that term tends to get thrown around a bit. To me, "established" means that you're known by a decent amount of the population and you're making money at gigs. You have an album out and merchandise and possibly a record contract or at least label interest.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by hernameisrio

I live in NYC. It seems the bands who are truly established here, don't necessarily describe themselves as such! I feel like that term tends to get thrown around a bit. To me, "established" means that you're known by a decent amount of the population and you're making money at gigs. You have an album out and merchandise and possibly a record contract or at least label interest.

I agree with just about everything you said, however for a lot of us "ham & eggers" gigging consistently within the small bar circuit hustle. We are not even thinking about a record contract. We just want to make sure there are no holes in April.

blue

[hernameisrio]

Yeah, I mean, I personally don't feel label interest is mandatory. I just think some bands consider it a sign of being established...it kinda drives me nuts when I see all these Craigslist ads where they try to reel people in by claiming label interest. For that matter, I'm pretty done with Craigslist. I'm starting to land more opportunities via word of mouth. Maybe that's another mark of being an established band...that you don't have to resort to Craigslist?! Who knows. I think it depends on musical style and where the band is from.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by bluewine

We play 1-2 a week, band has been together for 7 years.

Are we established>

Locally, in a sense because we work. However, if you mentioned our name, not many have heard of us.

blue

You're a known quantity to the clubs that hire you, and can use that reputation for booking other clubs. Hiring your band is not a crap shoot. So, in that sense, your band is certainly established.

[jumblemind]

Originally Posted by DWBass

Doesn't make a difference. The type of band you're in is usually known by those who are in the same circles. Here, there are several top40/variety bands that have been around for 35-40 years now and are truly established but I'd bet that most of the rock band musos would have no idea who they are.

Yup. I'm in a small city of about 400,000. I have a cover band that's been playing for 10 years in bars and at private parties, and while other cover bands and bar owners probably know who we are, i don't expect regular folks will have ever heard of us. Further than that, i have friends in metal bands that have gear sponsorships, when most people in this town, even working musicians, would never even know there are metal bands here.

I think established means you've been doing something for a while. Not sure what people mean on the forums.

[jumblemind]

Originally Posted by fdeck

The band that I'm in has been gigging steadily for 25 years, and has a loyal following, despite being largely non commercial. It's an established band.

Yeah, i'd say that's "established".

[bassbully]

To me an established band is a band that tours, signed, at least regional or national press and makes some or most of the players incomes from that band. To me local bands can be a draw locally but that's not my view of an established band.

[jumblemind]

Originally Posted by bassbully

To me an established band is a band that tours, signed, at least regional or national press and makes some or most of the players incomes from that band. To me local bands can be a draw locally but that's not my view of an established band.

That sounds more like a band that has "made it" to me.

[RustyAxe]

In the ads I assume "established" to mean just one thing ... we have had gigs, and we have a schedule of upcoming gigs. "Label interest", "endorsement deal" and such phrases are ********. What "label"? Endorsed by who? It doesn't mean a thing unless the gigs are there.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by jumblemind

That sounds more like a band that has "made it" to me.

Not really. In some ways they are one in the same but I know bands that are Established by my view but have hardly made it. I just don't feel the average bar band like Buckin Joe and the Hung Lo's are established since they play 2-3 times a month at the corner dives. That is not my idea of established.

There are tours all over the country with bands I would call established and the guys are eating beans ..just sayin.