Another gig where we quit early because the crowd left.

[ShadowGroover]

The problems are the set lists, band volume, FOH mix, band mate styles, boring solos, disappearing patrons, etc? These are signs of a life-support band.

"Do you really want to play another set?" This is something the venue says when they've had enough of your final gig in their establishment.

 

[Five or Six]

is, WHY are we losing the crowd that we DO have?

Apparently your bands reputation precedes you! As much as you complain about everything why would you expect anything different? Here, bars are packed and stay that way until closing.

All month our venues have been packed. Dance floors have always been crowded and nothing has changed as of last night. If our venues were like you described yours, the band is the problem. If your band is like going to a funeral, nobody will be there or stay long!

 

[pepj]

If the bar doesnt have a good vibe, why play it.
A gig is not a gig..it needs to work and same with a band. It has to work.
The fact that bookers might not have much of a clue is no excuse...their responsibility is to survive the year with their business model and those that are struggling is pretty easy to spot.
Avoid those...
There are plenty of start ups who try music but your band has to be ready for it.
Unfortunately, this band sounds like a bust so you need to take a new project to these new bars.
There is no reviving this band imv, from everything I've read.
Instead of moaning about it all, move on, leave them to it.

 

[BassGuyFL]

Not to be a broken record but you’ve answered your own question more than once. Too many 12 bar blues “songs” with endless soloing. That doesn’t get girls on the dance floor. The more girls dancing, the more guys buy them drinks. The more drinks sold, the more the club owner likes your band. Also I’m gonna bet the volume is too loud.
This is all it’s gonna be as long as you deal with the “lead guitar hero” types.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Not to be a broken record but you’ve answered your own question more than once. Too many 12 bar blues “songs” with endless soloing. That doesn’t get girls on the dance floor. The more girls dancing, the more guys buy them drinks. The more drinks sold, the more the club owner likes your band. Also I’m gonna bet the volume is too loud.
This is all it’s gonna be as long as you deal with the “lead guitar hero” types.

The 12 bar blues thing only works here in 12 bar blues Bars. We have/had bars that are dedicated blues bars and folks know going in, that's what they're getting. No ambiguity.

 

[gln1955]

The 12 bar blues thing only works here in 12 bar blues Bars. We have/had bars that are dedicated blues bars and folks know going in, that's what they're getting. No ambiguity.

This. Few in a general bar audience of any age want to hear guitar wanking blues all night. The few that do go to blues-centric establishments where, as a player, you better be good, damn good, to make them happy.

 

[DJ Bebop]

This. Few in a general bar audience of any age want to hear guitar wanking blues all night. The few that do go to blues-centric establishments where, as a player, you better be good, damn good, to make them happy.

Yup
That's the other thing, if you're going to play the blues you've better paid you dues. No half steppin' no back slidin'.

 

[51PRI]

The problems are the set lists, band volume, FOH mix, band mate styles, boring solos, disappearing patrons, etc? These are signs of a life-support band.

"Do you really want to play another set?" This is something the venue says when they've had enough of your final gig in their establishment.

We already have bookings at that venue for 2024. Not many but we do have them. For 2023 Friday night was band night and Saturday night was karaoke. For 2024 bands will play on Saturday night and j don't know what they will have on Friday nights.

did you go into the audience to see how loud the band was?..........

I don't but the BL has a wireless and goes out into the audience a couple of times a night when he's into one if his long guitar solos.

 

[frankie5string]

I don't but the BL has a wireless and goes out into the audience a couple of times a night when he's into one if his long guitar solos.

...there it is again... long guitar solos.

 

[gln1955]

We already have bookings at that venue for 2024. Not many but we do have them. For 2023 Friday night was band night and Saturday night was karaoke. For 2024 bands will play on Saturday night and j don't know what they will have on Friday nights.

I don't but the BL has a wireless and goes out into the audience a couple of times a night when he's into one if his long guitar solos.

Guy wanders the crowd during his solos and you wonder why people leave?

 

[Gluvhand]

Guy wanders the crowd during his solos and you wonder why people leave?

He doesn’t wonder about the wander. He knows the answers to every question already, yet, here we are.

 

[buldog5151bass]

We already have bookings at that venue for 2024. Not many but we do have them. For 2023 Friday night was band night and Saturday night was karaoke. For 2024 bands will play on Saturday night and j don't know what they will have on Friday nights.

I don't but the BL has a wireless and goes out into the audience a couple of times a night when he's into one if his long guitar solos.

If he is wandering out during an extended guitar solo, somehow I doubt he is concerned about appropriate band volume.

Dude, you have gigs, and you have started mucho threads complaining. Either accept this is what you have, or quit the band.

 

[micguy]

we won't be making substantial attempts at improvement because our drummer has stated that he won't really be interested in spending time learning new material, which I think fits right in with the two guitar players in the bands thinking and playing styles, too.

Your band is dying. The only thing in doubt is how long until they put nails in the lid. Find a band where people want to put some effort in to it.

 

[Bass Viking]

.

I don't but the BL has a wireless and goes out into the audience a couple of times a night when he's into one if his long guitar solos.

I'm sure band volume is uppermost on his mind when he's out there wanking away!

 

[micguy]

I don't but the BL has a wireless and goes out into the audience a couple of times a night when he's into one if his long guitar solos.

I've seen Buddy Guy do that. Buddy could flat out play. Can your guitarist? If not, put a dog "invisible fence" collar on him, so he stays on stage.

 

[51PRI]

Guy wanders the crowd during his solos and you wonder why people leave?

I think he thinks they like it. It's a part of "the show" and is an accepted practice in the blues genre. He doesn't play behind his back or behind his head, though.

 

[frankie5string]

...and is an accepted practice in the blues genre. He doesn't play behind his back or behind his head, though.

In what decade? This goes back to the fact that audiences have matured enough that "dude a playing guitar" or "dude playing a guitar closer to me" isn't really a show anymore...

 

[Joeywhat]

Look, I love a good jam band just as much as the next musician. But my girlfriend - who is very not musical - is only interested in seeing live acts at a bar that are playing music she can dance or sing to. If you're not playing a bunch of tunes she knows, she's not interested. I would wager that's the case for most bar patrons.

Go to a bar with a jukebox and see what music is played. Not many blues songs with lengthy solos, mostly popular music from any given decade. I also love playing deep cuts, and jamming out over some changes and soloing a bunch, but nobody else does.

Another bit of evidence - I go to a LOT of bars with live music. The bands that pack 'em in and everyone stays play the songs everybody knows. Most even have some backing tracks to play along with for more modern pop songs. They'll play some rap & hip-hop, even. This is all stuff that the crowd knows and loves, and they utilize the backing tracks for horns, extra key parts, synths for the rap/hip-hop stuff, etc. And when they play classic rock songs it's likely just a click track in their IEMs. On the other side of that, I've seen a few bands that play music that *I* definitely like better (deep cuts, blues/folk covers, etc.) but there's never a good crowd and the crowd is never that into it.

Just sayin', you're not there stroke your ego, you're there to play what the crowd wants. If the crowd isn't there, neither are you.

 

[gln1955]

I think he thinks they like it. It's a part of "the show" and is an accepted practice in the blues genre. He doesn't play behind his back or behind his head, though.

That was a novelty when wireless came out, but quickly became lame.

 

[ShadowGroover]

Buddy Guy predates wireless crowd strolling, strolling with guitar and a 100' chord to amp. But he's a real deal blues legend with more than 1000x charisma than a typical bar player. I never saw 1 person walk out of his performances. He created memories, not empty rooms.