Is Your Band Established?

[ChrisB2]

Let's just apply the correct definition of the word. I might say, "To me, an orange is a red crunchy fruit. That's just the way I see it" but I would be describing an apple, not an orange.

Again... established simply means something that is generally accepted by others. Let's look at an example. Say a guy decides he wants to work with water and drain pipes. Those guys are typically called a "plumber" but he's not a "plumber" just because he wants to work with pipes; he wants to work this as his job, and he needs customers, so needs to be established. He learns the trade, gets licensed, buys the tools; the van; he sets up shop, gets business cards made and a website. He starts getting jobs, small ones, sporadic, family and friends. Over time he starts getting calls from all over. He's working a lot, everyone sees him do his job, drive his van, use his tools. He is "generally accepted by others" as a plumber, so he is a plumber. It doesn't really matter if another plumber says "only guys with a red van are plumbers" or "he's not established; he only works on the west side" or "he's only been doing this for a year and changed careers at 35, I've been doing this my whole life, he's not established." Oh, there will be plenty of nay-sayers and sour grapes among some of his peers. But nothing matters except that he is accepted by others at what he does, therefore he is established. It's really not a matter of opinion at all. With bands, IMO you can tie it to gigs; if you are accepted by venues and audiences as a band, and get repeat bookings which indicates some level of quality, you are established.

If you want to be an established band, you need nothing but a history of gigging, with bookings coming up. Period.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by DWBass

es·tab·lished
/iˈstabliSHt/Adjective
1.(of a custom, belief, practice, or institution) Having been in existence for a long time and therefore generally accepted.
2.(of a person) Recognized and accepted in a particular capacity.

Synonyms
fixed - founded

Ain't no other way to see it.

Nice!

Blue

[Bert Slide]

"If it was up to me, there wouldn't be no such thing as the establishment."
Jimi Hendrix

[bluewine]

While I don't agree with or share bullys analysis that " established" and "making it" are synonymous, I empathize with him.

You guys know how I get with some of my crazy opinions

Blue

[millsbass5]

In my eyes, I think the band I'm in is very well established. We've been together going on 20 years. We don't even have to go around to book gigs. We get the call from all our past clients. Or, they'll just re-book us for future dates while we're playing at their club. Hell, we stay booked at least 3-4 months in advance at all times. But, it can have it's setbacks. We'll usually leave a couple of weeks open here & there to switch a gig around if a high-paying gig/private party comes up. The clubs are pretty cool with us when it comes to working with us. They don't care, just as long as we keep coming back and drawing a crowd and making money for 'em.

[JumboJack]

Next question....
Is your band Awesome or Rad?

Discuss....

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by JumboJack

Next question....
Is your band Awesome or Rad?

Discuss....

Neither

I chose the band because they were good people and had the volume of work I was looking for.

They gave me a generous gift certificate for Star Bucks for my 60th birthday.

Blue

PS: " Your not going to see me wearing my bass up at almost chest level"

[5StringThunder]

I'd say my band is semi-established. We try to gig only once a month (we're all still in private high school and have to keep our grades). We have friends in some bar and clubs (fairly big) in town and with other bands. We aimed to take February and March off to write and practice (recent turnover in personnel). We ended up with being overbooked (4 shows each month) between all of our connections. We're only doing 3, one early February, one early March, and one end of March. I would say that's established, somewhat. Here are definitely different degrees of establishment and it takes a lot of hard work and time and energy and skill o get there. And a little bit of luck.

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by bluewine

While I don't agree with or share bullys analysis that " established" and "making it" are synonymous, I empathize with him.

You guys know how I get with some of my crazy opinions

Blue

I just think the wrong word is being used.

[Bert Slide]

Originally Posted by JumboJack

Next question....
Is your band Awesome or Rad?

Discuss....

I think it's possible to be both. My bands always shoot for max awesomeness and extreme radness. Sometimes we settle for just being killer, or sick or even ill or bada$$!

[ChrisB2]

Originally Posted by JumboJack

Next question....
Is your band Awesome or Rad?

Neither. We're established!!!

[ChrisB2]

Originally Posted by bluewine

While I don't agree with or share bullys analysis that " established" and "making it" are synonymous, I empathize with him.

You guys know how I get with some of my crazy opinions

Blue

Genuine hearty LOL here... Yeah I often get you two confused...

[ChrisB2]

Originally Posted by bluewine

" Your not going to see me wearing my bass up at almost chest level"

LOL. Me either.

BTW nice pic. You have GOT to be playing "Knocking on Heaven's Door" or "Turn the Page" there........

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by ChrisB2

LOL. Me either.

BTW nice pic. You have GOT to be playing "Knocking on Heaven's Door" or "Turn the Page" there........

Dang, your good. It was "Heaven's Door"

I'm serious.

Blue

[Biggbass]

i agree with everything jmattbassplaya said

[ChrisB2]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Dang, your good. It was "Heaven's Door"

I'm serious.

Blue

Haha! The facial expression is a dead giveaway

[SnowCal]

I joined an 'established' band once. Wish I hadn't. Turns out that the frontman wanted to play material from his previous band that had broken up. That's what established meant.

The original material was a variety disaster. If you thought we were getting into a rocking groove over the past couple songs we were sure to burst your bubble when we proceeded into a reggae song next. There was something in the set for everyone to hate and none of it was good. Just wait 'til you hear the clarinet solo on a looper.

So we did our first few shows. Oh dear God. We were scheduled to play at kind of city park summer music night in town. Turns out that they'd double booked us with the International Yo-Yo Championships. So we played at an open mic. The next morning we got up and drove 4 hours to another town to play there. Nice little bar. I nearly died on the way in an almost collision with a big rig. My very best driving skills saved the day as I managed to miss both the ditch and the truck by about 2 feet as my car started to spin out in a 40-mile an hour turn into a dirt driveway. Got to the venue and we played to 2 regulars who could've cared less until they left at which point we played to the staff. They comped us all the free dranks we wanted though. Me and my drummer, frustrated with the show and harrowed by our near death experience outdrank the patrons by quite a bit, maybe individually. Cool.

We left late at night pretty drunk. Well, me and the drummer, which was a mistake. We were in Mendocino and the roads there are very windy and the dense forest looks straight out of a horror movie. It was also foggy and the vehicle in front of us that knew where we were staying so we had to follow them as they did about 10-15mph for the next 2 hours on a drive that should have taken 30 minutes, pausing to puke periodically from the combo of motion sickness and free import booze.

[SnowCal]

We got to the house we were supposed to stay at. It was in the middle of nowhere. Not a cottage nearby. Pitch black outside with the clouds. And as I said before, Mendocino looks straight up like Deliverance at night. We were also in the Emerald Triangle and the house was under renovation so the first order of business was to scout the property and make sure no pot growers were squatting in it. Turned out we were safe. But the house was seriously under renovation. Exterior walls were missing except for the frame. And this was spring in the coastal range. Me and the drummer drank a lot more beer and our chick singer cried about the lack of walls. I slept well, don't know about anybody else.

Woke in the morning and discovered that the property was one of the most scenic places I'd ever been. Deliverance turned Paradise. I was sad to leave for our gig the next day and was unoptimistic after the previous night. So I drank quite a bit of beer.

We arrived at the most redneck bar in California. Decent crowd of regulars. The guy next to me was smoking as were a few others, which is pretty weird anywhere you go in Cali. The bartender, who looked a little cracked out, hastily pulled her underwear from her pocket and let us know that they've been in that pocket since the night before. She wasn't wearing any. Made sure we knew that. And she wasn't very picky. Every single member of the band got hit on hard. Chick singer included. And once again we got comped anything we wanted, so me and the drummer drank micros all night and I was a little plastered by the time we went on. Which was delayed being as we couldn't find the drummer when we were supposed to start. Nor was the bartender anywhere to be found when I tried to get my stage beer. I hope he wore a rubber. That crowd was receptive enough. I doubt they liked us... who can like a band with looped clarinet solos? But they got into the entertainment and our hot singerbabe and the night didn't completely suck.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by ChrisB2

HA!

You've used the phrase "I'm not knocking cover bands" a lot lately..... while you are knocking cover bands.



I don't care, I don't get my validation as a cover band member from you or the internet, I'm just pointing out that you seem to be having issues knowing when you're knockin' us and when you ain't.

Your first comment above belongs in your "Covers vs. Originals" thread....

Geeez..ok Really makes no diff I said if it is a touring tribute band or even a guy like I told you about that plays 95% covers BTW..that it is the level of their buisness that makes them established...to me.

It is not a knock about covers. If a cover band is doing what in my eyes is established than goodie for them. It is not about the type of music although you will see established bands mostly being original ..sorry just the way it is to me.

I know another band that was local a very good orignals band that all the members left their jobs and toured four 5 years. They had a minor money backer, studio ,label and all. They made a minor dent but finally gave up the dream. Now that to me they were an established band. My band is no way near that dedicated and will never be. That is my view and gosh dang it...I'm stickin to it

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by bluewine

While I don't agree with or share bullys analysis that " established" and "making it" are synonymous, I empathize with him.

You guys know how I get with some of my crazy opinions

Blue

I maybe wrinkling some foreheads with my view but thats ok..I'm thick skinned. Maybe its that word ESTABLISHED. It sounds like it should be more than being accepted to me.

So are the really horrible bands I have seen that only get gigs because they have allot of friends they drag out to their shows to drink ..Established?