Another gig where we quit early because the crowd left.

[richntiff]

The target audience for the 3-piece blues band was never large to begin with - at least, not since about 1980. And it's literally dying off more every day. Virtually nobody in search of live music wants to hear it. That's kind of the bottom line.

 

[pcake]

It's more like I see where I think we can improve and have better gigs and better crowds but nobody is willing to do the work. Most bands that I've been in rehearsed a lot, learned a lot of new songs regularly and fine tuned them to perfection. This band likes to just show up and play. I think we could, and should, do better and the crowd leaving shows that what we're doing is no longer working.

to your bandmates, it seems it IS working. they're happy - they're living the dream. it's only you who recogizes and is bothered by their shortcomings.

i've known bands with musicians like that - they play music more sloppily than i play at a first rehearsal, drive away audience, but they have no awareness of this. they think they're rock stars. it sounds like you are in one of those bands but aren't willing to fully realize that the guys you play with don't want tighter songs or shorter solos that don't drive people out the door. they're happy with things just the way they are.

 

[51PRI]

to your bandmates, it seems it IS working. they're happy - they're living the dream. it's only you who recogizes and is bothered by their shortcomings.

i've known bands with musicians like that - they play music more sloppily than i play at a first rehearsal, drive away audience, but they have no awareness of this. they think they're rock stars. it sounds like you are in one of those bands but aren't willing to fully realize that the guys you play with don't want tighter songs or shorter solos that don't drive people out the door. they're happy with things just the way they are.

All true. But I think I DO realize it, there's just nothing that can be done about it.

First off, I don't think they think there is a problem. The BL seems especially oblivious to this. There's nothing wrong with ego...we all have it to some extent or we wouldn't have the guts to get on stage and play music with people watching us...but I think he thinks he's the second coming of SRV or some hot guitarist, singer and songwriter. And I don't mean to sound like I'm knocking him...he does very well but I don't think as well as he thinks he does. But anyway, the point is that you first have to realize that there is a problem and I don't think they have yet. Maybe it's complacency or just rolling with the flow, I don't know.

My gut feeling is that a time will come when the gigs completely dry up and the guys look around and wonder what happened and what can be done about it but its already too late.

 

[GMP]

All true. But I think I DO realize it, there's just nothing that can be done about it.

First off, I don't think they think there is a problem. The BL seems especially oblivious to this. There's nothing wrong with ego...we all have it to some extent or we wouldn't have the guts to get on stage and play music with people watching us...but I think he thinks he's the second coming of SRV or some hot guitarist, singer and songwriter. And I don't mean to sound like I'm knocking him...he does very well but I don't think as well as he thinks he does. But anyway, the point is that you first have to realize that there is a problem and I don't think they have yet. Maybe it's complacency or just rolling with the flow, I don't know.

My gut feeling is that a time will come when the gigs completely dry up and the guys look around and wonder what happened and what can be done about it but its already too late.

60% of restaurants go out of business in three years. Luckily you will have another crop of business owners!

 

[Michedelic]

The target audience for the 3-piece blues band was never large to begin with - at least, not since about 1980. And it's literally dying off more every day. Virtually nobody in search of live music wants to hear it. That's kind of the bottom line.

To be fair, that ramped up considerably when SRV hit circa ‘83. Then came a host of similar acts, but that entire scene ran itself into the ground by the 90’s. Since then, there have been people like Samantha Fish occasionally propping up the popularity, but attention spans keep getting shorter every day.

 

[basseux]

All true. But I think I DO realize it, there's just nothing that can be done about it.

First off, I don't think they think there is a problem. The BL seems especially oblivious to this. There's nothing wrong with ego...we all have it to some extent or we wouldn't have the guts to get on stage and play music with people watching us...but I think he thinks he's the second coming of SRV or some hot guitarist, singer and songwriter. And I don't mean to sound like I'm knocking him...he does very well but I don't think as well as he thinks he does. But anyway, the point is that you first have to realize that there is a problem and I don't think they have yet. Maybe it's complacency or just rolling with the flow, I don't know.

My gut feeling is that a time will come when the gigs completely dry up and the guys look around and wonder what happened and what can be done about it but its already too late.

So what you are looking for is strategies to make them realise they must change their approach ?

Do they see people leaving ?

Can you ask someone to ask members of audience to write in a notebook why they are leaving and what you could improve as a band ?

I know I would not deal better than you with that situation.
I know I would quickly express anger and negativity, unfortunately for me.

 

[richntiff]

To be fair, that ramped up considerably when SRV hit circa ‘83. Then came a host of similar acts, but that entire scene ran itself into the ground by the 90’s. Since then, there have been people like Samantha Fish occasionally propping up the popularity, but attention spans keep getting shorter every day.

That's probably a more accurate take on it than my rather disinterested one lol! Although - I could watch Samantha Fish play and sing for hours - she's wonderful.

 

[Pocket Dave]

To be fair, that ramped up considerably when SRV hit circa ‘83. Then came a host of similar acts, but that entire scene ran itself into the ground by the 90’s. Since then, there have been people like Samantha Fish occasionally propping up the popularity, but attention spans keep getting shorter every day.

There's a niche market for 3-piece guitar-oriented blues/blues rock here in the DFW bar scene where a handful of venues are full for good acts, though the pay scale is still sucks.

 

[pepj]

Yep, agree, but the gtrs are no slouches.
You cant do blues without one, imv.

 

[51PRI]

There's a niche market for 3-piece guitar-oriented blues/blues rock here in the DFW bar scene where a handful of venues are full for good acts, though the pay scale is still sucks.

There is a 3 piece band here that does very well, but they aren't a blues band.

60% of restaurants go out of business in three years. Luckily you will have another crop of business owners!

3 of the 4 places in town where we have been playing are under new ownership. Two of them are restaurant/bars.

To be fair, that ramped up considerably when SRV hit circa ‘83. Then came a host of similar acts, but that entire scene ran itself into the ground by the 90’s. Since then, there have been people like Samantha Fish occasionally propping up the popularity, but attention spans keep getting shorter every day.

We opened a show for Samantha Fish a few years ago. She's great, but she will never be the household name that SRV became. When SRV came along the world was ready for something new, a new guitar hero. That era seems to be over.

So what you are looking for is strategies to make them realise they must change their approach ?

Do they see people leaving ?

Can you ask someone to ask members of audience to write in a notebook why they are leaving and what you could improve as a band ?

I know I would not deal better than you with that situation.
I know I would quickly express anger and negativity, unfortunately for me.

Not the anger, but I feel like any time I express that we need to change, fix things, or learn new songs it's perceived as my being negative, and that is not my intention. Maybe the best thing is to keep quiet and be as positive as possible.

They HAVE to know that people are leaving. It's not difficult to see.

 

[Pocket Dave]

...I feel like any time I express that we need to change, fix things, or learn new songs it's perceived as my being negative, and that is not my intention. Maybe the best thing is to keep quiet and be as positive as possible.

They HAVE to know that people are leaving. It's not difficult to see.

They may know, but do they:

1. Care enough to change something? I'm guessing not.
2. or Blame it on others and keep doing the same idiot s***. This is kinda what you've been telling us.

If #2, which it probably is, then they're not going to change no matter what you say or do. That leaves two choices:

1. Do like you say and keep quiet.
2. Leave.

I can only guess what most would do; Me, I'd rather not pollute something I love doing with that much idiot s***.

 

[pepj]

I can let some things go, but playing ability is a high pick, so if the gtr is hard work but damn good, thats a trade I'll take.
But for people who go through the motions and settle on a low bar..which is definitely how I interpret this situation.. and also don't care or can't see it, then I'm out of that.
I wouldn't care to go see a band like that ..and I certainly wouldn't be in a band like that.
And the newsflash is, I very very much doubt this situation will change in a million

 

[basseux]

Not the anger, but I feel like any time I express that we need to change, fix things, or learn new songs it's perceived as my being negative, and that is not my intention. Maybe the best thing is to keep quiet and be as positive as possible.

They HAVE to know that people are leaving. It's not difficult to see.

But we want to see the issue fixed, either by you leaving or finding ways to steer things your way

 

[pcake]

There is a 3 piece band here that does very well, but they aren't a blues band.

3 of the 4 places in town where we have been playing are under new ownership. Two of them are restaurant/bars.


We opened a show for Samantha Fish a few years ago. She's great, but she will never be the household name that SRV became. When SRV came along the world was ready for something new, a new guitar hero. That era seems to be over.


Not the anger, but I feel like any time I express that we need to change, fix things, or learn new songs it's perceived as my being negative, and that is not my intention. Maybe the best thing is to keep quiet and be as positive as possible.

They HAVE to know that people are leaving. It's not difficult to see.

they don't care. they're happy as things are. you're the only one who's unhappy. as they're happy with what they're doing, they have nothing to fix.

 

[gln1955]

they don't care. they're happy as things are. you're the only one who's unhappy. as they're happy with what they're doing, they have nothing to fix.

After umpteen posts in umpteen threads, this sums it up.

 

[BassGuyFL]

they don't care. they're happy as things are. you're the only one who's unhappy. as they're happy with what they're doing, they have nothing to fix.

This is the unfortunate truth. They don't see a problem and you're a nuisance for pointing out the problem they feel doesn't exist. Time to move on my friend

 

[ole Jason]

Trying to book a "blues band" in 2024 is brutal. Especially if it's the typical bendy noodly electric guitar variety. I think the genre has rightfully earned its reputation, especially among people who don't play guitar, of being the most bland and boring thing imaginable.

People I play with who are into that stuff have done a lot better playing earlier material from the 20's-40's and focusing more on the songs/vocals and less on solos no one cares about. I think electric guitar based blues can be interesting and compelling but it's an incredibly high bar to get there.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

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.

I love TB. The OP is in a blues band, playing venues that book blues bands. What advice is given? Play hip-hop or rap!

 

[1st Bass]

“Doctor, it hurts when I do this!”

“Don’t do that!”

 

[pcake]

I love TB. The OP is in a blues band, playing venues that book blues bands. What advice is given? Play hip-hop or rap!

i thought they were playing bars / clubs / restaurants that were not blues-focused, but i could remember wrong.