17 Things Local Bands Just Don’t Get

[mellowinman]

I'm not sure what the most effective way to promote gigs is...but I'm very sure fliers are the least effective. They are expensive, take the most time to distribute, are completely untargeted, and in many cases, not even legal. They can be cool as art, though.

Me too, probably. But this rule points towards an eventuality where bars are full of musicians watching one another play. Because most everyone else is at home watching Netflix these days. I do think the evolution of the "scene" is the largest part of the issue. You can be the world's greatest typewriter repairman but you still won't get much work these days.

Here's my indefensible position, and I've been carrying this around for a while: bandleaders whose bands play in small and medium-sized bars and venues need to start insisting on electronic drum kits. It's even better if you run all the instruments through the PA and eliminate amps. I know, I like my amp too.

Live drums, and the acoustic chaos they create, are at the root of 95% of the volume and sound problems in clubs. No drummer ever soundchecked at the same volume he played once the set began. From there, every other player starts turning around and cranking the knob, and we're off to the races.

Use a good electronic kit and run it through the PA, and you have total control over volume and mix, and you can do whatever you need to in order to keep people from flooding out the door. How many times have you guys played an early set in a restaurant and, despite your best efforts, have cleared the place out of 8/10 of the people who were in there eating?

Or get a drummer who can actually play.

 

[ColonelZulu]

I'm not sure what the most effective way to promote gigs is...but I'm very sure fliers are the least effective. They are expensive, take the most time to distribute, are completely untargeted, and in many cases, not even legal. They can be cool as art, though.

Me too, probably. But this rule points towards an eventuality where bars are full of musicians watching one another play. Because most everyone else is at home watching Netflix these days. I do think the evolution of the "scene" is the largest part of the issue. You can be the world's greatest typewriter repairman but you still won't get much work these days.

Here's my indefensible position, and I've been carrying this around for a while: bandleaders whose bands play in small and medium-sized bars and venues need to start insisting on electronic drum kits. It's even better if you run all the instruments through the PA and eliminate amps. I know, I like my amp too.

Live drums, and the acoustic chaos they create, are at the root of 95% of the volume and sound problems in clubs. No drummer ever soundchecked at the same volume he played once the set began. From there, every other player starts turning around and cranking the knob, and we're off to the races.

Use a good electronic kit and run it through the PA, and you have total control over volume and mix, and you can do whatever you need to in order to keep people from flooding out the door. How many times have you guys played an early set in a restaurant and, despite your best efforts, have cleared the place out of 8/10 of the people who were in there eating?

100%++++++

It not only makes you better in controlling your sound, it makes you able to scale to any sized venue.

Bestest gigs, or at least the most enjoyable for me, were the ones where the drummer was on an electronic kit.

I love how I'm able to hear myself and everyone else in the band in those situations.

Love love love electronic kits.

 

[fjadams]

Here's my indefensible position, and I've been carrying this around for a while: bandleaders whose bands play in small and medium-sized bars and venues need to start insisting on electronic drum kits. It's even better if you run all the instruments through the PA and eliminate amps. I know, I like my amp too.

Live drums, and the acoustic chaos they create, are at the root of 95% of the volume and sound problems in clubs. No drummer ever soundchecked at the same volume he played once the set began. From there, every other player starts turning around and cranking the knob, and we're off to the races.

Use a good electronic kit and run it through the PA, and you have total control over volume and mix, and you can do whatever you need to in order to keep people from flooding out the door. How many times have you guys played an early set in a restaurant and, despite your best efforts, have cleared the place out of 8/10 of the people who were in there eating?

Drums have always been the leaders to the space race of loud sound. More drums, more cymbals, bigger drums, etc. Remember how loud everybody thought the VistaLites were when Ludwig introduced them? And guitarists and bassists went to bigger amps to compensate.

I no longer gig and probably won't, but if I did I'd hope it'd be with a drummer playing a little jazz set. With the quality of today's PA systems it really isn't necessary for guitarists to use the high powered amps for stage presence. Stage volume doesn't have to be painful if you let the FOH take care of what the customers hear. Have a friend who uses either a Princeton or Deluxe, can't remember which, sitting in a stand so it points at him. Then it's miched to the PA for front sound. He said it's all he needs to hear himself.

I've seen a couple of bands using electronic drums successfully. But I think the drummer and sound man have to know what they're doing to get it right.

 

[Winfred]

I understand the complaints about drums (believe me!), but it's not the drums, it's the drummer.

Good drummers play to the room and the song.

 

[bassboysam]

If I didn't have a family, a home, two other jobs, homework, I might have time to go out and watch other bands.

see that is the problem, everyone uses this "excuse" to not support other bands and then when no one shows up to your show bcause they have a family, a home, two other jobs, homework.

i try to go to at least 1 local show each month.

 

[Altitude]

I understand the complaints about drums (believe me!), but it's not the drums, it's the drummer.

Good drummers play to the room and the song.

They do. I've played in many jazz combos where the drummer showed up with a kick drum, a snare, one cymbal, and some brushes, and sounded totally appropriate all night long. But the book lends itself in that situation because nobody headbangs "All the Things You Are."

If you're playing dance covers from 9 'til 2 it's just super hard to keep the intensity without adding volume. I'm sure there are guys capable of doing it, but if I'm the bandleader I'd rather just have control of the sound.

 

[Mugre]

Live drums, and the acoustic chaos they create, are at the root of 95% of the volume and sound problems in clubs. No drummer ever soundchecked at the same volume he played once the set began. From there, every other player starts turning around and cranking the knob, and we're off to the races.

Use a good electronic kit and run it through the PA, and you have total control over volume and mix, and you can do whatever you need to in order to keep people from flooding out the door. How many times have you guys played an early set in a restaurant and, despite your best efforts, have cleared the place out of 8/10 of the people who were in there eating?

Um yeah, I'll do that when you start playing your gigs on a Kala or Ashbory. I drum and have both types and even the best (electronic) kits sound kind of real but the feel and the timing are still limiting. I also play piano and also have a digital and acoustic piano. The limitations of the digital drums are greater than the limitations of the digit piano. At a local church, they tried to put everyone in Line 6 pods and electronic drums. The drummers starting refusing to play worship and settled on a plexi screen instead. Of all the guitar players, the one who refused to give up his amp was the bass player ironically enough.

 

[Richland123]

Last weekend, my band played in my hometown at a club. All our other gigs so far have either been out of town or for very large area festivals. Lots of people kept asking when we would be back in the area, including numerous musicians who told me they wanted to see my new band. Well, we were only one of a very few bands in our town that night; so, you would think there would have been quite a number of musicians in the audience since hardly anybody else had a gig. There was only one other musician who showed up and he left early (actually to go see and support another band).

 

[Big Hoss]

6. Going to other bands’ shows is THE most important thing you can do to support your scene.

Ok, I don't disagree...but supporting my scene is not my biggest priority.

If I didn't have a family, a home, two other jobs, homework, I might have time to go out and watch other bands.

But, I'd more likely use that time to practice/rehearse/play out with my band.

I totally agree on that. However, since you mention family, if you have a wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, whatever your deal is... why not make attending other bands gigs as a date night if your SO is into that kind of thing? My problem is most of the local scene is in venues that my wife and I seem like fish out of water in. (Who are those old folks in the dance club?). We do frequent the more family friendly venues though (T-Bone Toms in Kemah Texas is a good bet for me!).

I really can't tell from whatever area you are in, but I can say for sure, near me, in the last 10 years we went from literally dozens of good venues within a 5 mile radius to maybe 4. So the choices are somewhat limited, and I am in the Houston Metro region, it's kind of pitiful if you ask me...

 

[two fingers]

Including me. I disagree with about half of them.

Which ones and why? I'm not saying you are wrong. Actually I tend to like your "walk to the beat of my own drum" take on things.

 

[Altitude]

Um yeah, I'll do that when you start playing your gigs on a Kala or Ashbory. I drum and have both types and even the best (electronic) kits sound kind of real but the feel and the timing are still limiting. I also play piano and also have a digital and acoustic piano. The limitations of the digital drums are greater than the limitations of the digit piano. At a local church, they tried to put everyone in Line 6 pods and electronic drums. The drummers starting refusing to play worship and settled on a plexi screen instead. Of all the guitar players, the one who refused to give up his amp was the bass player ironically enough.

I'm sure it's something that, as a drummer, you resign yourself to, and I've heard plenty of guys do it well.

I myself love the back massage I get from standing 18" in front of a loud cabinet all night, but I understand that's not usually conducive to a sound that keeps the customers in the room.

 

[AdamR]

So dont dress as a rock star, But no cargo shorts either. So what should I wear on stage a 3 piece suit ?

Also, at least around here there are plenty of bands supporting each other. It seems the non-musician fans are the ones not going out to the shows.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

[QUOTE="WillInDenver, post: 16599135, member: 54314"need to start insisting on electronic drum kits.[/QUOTE]

I have seen a quiet drummer who was also very good. Electronic drum kits aren't expressive in most cases. Well, the expensive ones are better and are probably no more expensive than a good drum kit. But it would be hard to get all the rim shots, side clicks, main beats, and so on out of kits which mostly have at most dual triggers per drum, plus some velocity fades between effects. No elbow on the skins showmanship though - about the best you get is putting it on demo mode and going to the bar for a drink

I was in a band 20 years ago and the drummer had a real kit, but also triggers so the bass drum could be replaced with a triggered one rather than set up a microphone set up. The sound wasn't perfect but wasn't too bad. With the PA and a full band on top it was passable even then.

I am sure that an electronic kit is an easier load in and out, though.

 

[Richland123]

So dont dress as a rock star, But no cargo shorts either. So what should I wear on stage a 3 piece suit ?

You mean like this. Actually, they are not wearing 3 piece suits; but, they are wearing double breasted suit coats.

This band happens to be friends of mine.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[-Asdfgh-]

So dont dress as a rock star, But no cargo shorts either. So what should I wear on stage a 3 piece suit ?.

Sounds like that is getting too close to either a wedding band or Kraftwerk. Or combine the two: "She's your bride and she is looking good..."

 

[Altitude]

You mean like this. Actually, they are not wearing 3 piece suits; but, they are wearing double breasted suit coats.

This band happens to be friends of mine.

My guess is that those guys are getting more than the $300 guarantee at that gig they're playing, too.

 

[AdamR]

Exactly. It should say if your not in a rock band dont dress like a rock star. I wouldnt show up to a jazz show dressed in tight jeans, no sleeves and a leather jacket and certainly wouldnt show up to a metal show wearing a cardigan

You mean like this. Actually, they are not wearing 3 piece suits; but, they are wearing double breasted suit coats.

This band happens to be friends of mine.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Fat Steve]

Good list for originals bands trying to make it within their scene and break through to the next level. Can't argue with any of it. Older folks looking to play local, weekend warriors and cover bands will obviously take issue with some of that list, but you're not the intended audience for the rant.

 

[AdamR]

My guess is that those guys are getting more than the $300 guarantee at that gig they're playing, too.

Guarantee ?

 

[I am Soma]

i think a lot of this depends on what kind of band you are in. i would never want our drummer to use electronic drums and id probably get something trown if even suggested. i would also never run direct into the PA as that would be bypassing my tube distortion that i run at 7. maybe some of this would work for a wedding band, but def not for heavy music