Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Bar band Gigs are too long
- Thread starter glenb73
- Start date
I'm cursed with being literate enough, musically and lyrically, to know when an "original" truly is original and if it's any good. people who write rarely have anybody tell them if it's not good while their mothers and girlfriends tell them how good it is. I play mostly because I'm addicted to the synergy of a tight band and the crowd's reaction on the dancefloor just ramps it up and validates me. I've been paid to play for "original" bands. No more. There isn't enough money to get me to play to an empty dance floor with the crowd sportin' a *** look on their face wondering if the set will be mercifully short. *How* you do a cover is all the difference in the world. Some bands make them sound like they're reading a phone book while others can burn down the house playing the most played to death cliches. The crowd isn't there to have a cerebral experience with your music, they're there to have a visceral reaction that hits them squarely between the belly button and kneecap. I deliver.
I think the OP should entertain joining (if there's any around that he likes) a tribute band.
They aren't a "cover" or a "bar" band, nor are they an "original" band.
Those kind of bands have a chance at getting decent money, playing for an audience that comes to the gig because they want to hear that specific music and they can play more of a "concert" with two sets.
I'm looking for a tribute band to join but there aren't many around Chicago (that I'm interested in musically) to get into.
I want nothing to do with the "bar" or "cover" band thing.
Life is too short to do everything the way someone else wants you to do it.
They aren't a "cover" or a "bar" band, nor are they an "original" band.
Those kind of bands have a chance at getting decent money, playing for an audience that comes to the gig because they want to hear that specific music and they can play more of a "concert" with two sets.
I'm looking for a tribute band to join but there aren't many around Chicago (that I'm interested in musically) to get into.
I want nothing to do with the "bar" or "cover" band thing.
Life is too short to do everything the way someone else wants you to do it.
Exactly! That's what I love about my band. We are doing a tribute and usually have openers. Our next show we're doing a 3 hour show though. Too much material now to share a night and I love every second of it.
I think that is the key. I'm not a big fan of playing what "they" want to hear. Play what you love and do it well and the right people will come see you. That's where the magic is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdFq2yXkTQU
I'm 46 ( as of 2 days ago ),
I play in a cover band with folks my age
we all live in the same subdivision
all our crowd are friends in the subdivision and nearby
we play all covers
our friends love to come out and dance to old favorites and current songs
we have fun, our friends have fun, the bar makes money
we get paid $500/gig for a 5 piece band.
My hobby pays for itself ( or would if I didnt constantly have GAS and buy too many basses ). My hobby also makes my friends and family happy as well.. two things most hobbies don't do.
A packed dance floor is just soo much fun.. I'm having fun, I can tell the audience is having fun.. it's awesome. I have expanded my musical tastes so much from playing covers. I was a Rush, Yes, REO, Kansas, and other 80s bands ONLY guy. Said I'd NEVER play country and other types of music. Some of my favorite songs we play are Gretchen Wilson country/rock songs.. We play some Pink and Katy Perry. Never would have thought I'd go there. Chicks dig it.. they get out and dance.. And when you get the ladies on the dance floor, the guys follow..... we are such sheep LOL.
I can see wanting to play originals.. there is a market for it.. It's just that most people WANT to listen to music that they know. They have jobs that make them think all day.. most people want to have some drinks, sing along to old favorites, laugh at cliche 80s songs etc. Bar owners just want lots of happy patrons. They don't care WHAT you play as long as you bring in people that drink and don't bust up the bar. I don't think original bands are screwed, I just think, as a whole, that they have a harder time bringing the crowds that are needed for the bar. There are plenty of original bands doing it, there are just more cover bands doing it. Face it, you get a bunch of 40-50something adults out, few of them are ready to start learning new songs to like. THey are set in their ways and just want to hear the old favorites that remind them of college etc. that's my 10c.
I play in a cover band with folks my age
we all live in the same subdivision
all our crowd are friends in the subdivision and nearby
we play all covers
our friends love to come out and dance to old favorites and current songs
we have fun, our friends have fun, the bar makes money
we get paid $500/gig for a 5 piece band.
My hobby pays for itself ( or would if I didnt constantly have GAS and buy too many basses ). My hobby also makes my friends and family happy as well.. two things most hobbies don't do.
A packed dance floor is just soo much fun.. I'm having fun, I can tell the audience is having fun.. it's awesome. I have expanded my musical tastes so much from playing covers. I was a Rush, Yes, REO, Kansas, and other 80s bands ONLY guy. Said I'd NEVER play country and other types of music. Some of my favorite songs we play are Gretchen Wilson country/rock songs.. We play some Pink and Katy Perry. Never would have thought I'd go there. Chicks dig it.. they get out and dance.. And when you get the ladies on the dance floor, the guys follow..... we are such sheep LOL.
I can see wanting to play originals.. there is a market for it.. It's just that most people WANT to listen to music that they know. They have jobs that make them think all day.. most people want to have some drinks, sing along to old favorites, laugh at cliche 80s songs etc. Bar owners just want lots of happy patrons. They don't care WHAT you play as long as you bring in people that drink and don't bust up the bar. I don't think original bands are screwed, I just think, as a whole, that they have a harder time bringing the crowds that are needed for the bar. There are plenty of original bands doing it, there are just more cover bands doing it. Face it, you get a bunch of 40-50something adults out, few of them are ready to start learning new songs to like. THey are set in their ways and just want to hear the old favorites that remind them of college etc. that's my 10c.
No. I was a fulltime musician back then. When I was 21 I did play in a band that had a 6 week house gig one summer playing Tuesday through Saturday 9-1:30. My day job was working Monday -Friday as a hod carrier. Those kind of hours would kill me now.
I never understood this kind of attitude in players. If you don't enjoy playing then find something else to do. Friends would tell me about parts of Africa where the band would play all night and I always thought that was cool. When I go out to play I go out to play. Playing just one or two sets, to me, is a let down.
Here on the Cape, my previous band started gigs at 10:00 PM and quit around 1:00 AM. We were a 4 piece and each guy usually took home $100. I am now in 2 bands; one that is currently playing bar / restaurant gigs, the other is mostly original and not ready for prime time yet. In the current gigging band- Most places give us free food and beer & I never walk out with less than $150 - due to it's a trio, and, we are all grown ups who've been doing this a long, long time.
Why would you even do a gig for $25? I can see a fundraiser for free; I will do any decent gig for a good cause for free if it comes my way and I have the time, but a bar gig for peanuts where the drunks don't even notice you? Not so much.
Believe me, after playing bass for over 27 years, I have played a lot of crap shows, but also been apart of many magical ones. So if you are new at the gigging process, pay your dues or quit.
Why would you even do a gig for $25? I can see a fundraiser for free; I will do any decent gig for a good cause for free if it comes my way and I have the time, but a bar gig for peanuts where the drunks don't even notice you? Not so much.
Believe me, after playing bass for over 27 years, I have played a lot of crap shows, but also been apart of many magical ones. So if you are new at the gigging process, pay your dues or quit.
No. I was a fulltime musician back then. When I was 21 I did play in a band that had a 6 week house gig one summer playing Tuesday through Saturday 9-1:30. My day job was working Monday -Friday as a hod carrier. Those kind of hours would kill me now.
Gotcha. Makes sense. It would seem that a lot of bar bands like to play Fri, Sat, and Sun. Turnover might suggest that it's hard to do. I know after working an extra 5 or 10 hours at work, I'm fairly tired.
Number 6 on my bucket list is to do a full bar gig (9-1:30 or 2:00), the full deal, load in-load out, eyes hurt from the smoke (although not as much now), watching women dance, wish the guitar guy would stop screaming, amplifier hangover, sleep until noon the next day etc.
Agree, it's always fun waking up Sunday morning / early afternoon after a long gig and have the pads of your fingers sore from a long, carpel tunnel-filled gig. It makes me feel like I have done my job
Agree, it's always fun waking up Sunday morning / early afternoon after a long gig and have the pads of your fingers sore from a long, carpel tunnel-filled gig. It makes me feel like I have done my job
My fingers are fine, but my back KILLS me after every gig for about a day. And the arthritis in my right elbow hurts after lugging gear...
God I feel old sometimes..... LOL
If you aren't enjoying it, it's not worth it . Back in the day it was 5-6 nights a week, 9-1:30, and I had a day job most of the time. As others have said, that would kill me now...But I'm still up for the current standard 2-3 nights a week. I'm 57, and I hope I can keep going until they carry me out of the club feet first.
Many of the bars around here are still 9:30-1:30. Getting home at 2:30 AM kind of sucks, especially when you have a two year old who is up at 6:30 in the morning, regardless.
Frankly, I think if some of them would have us start earlier, it would bring in people who'd be willing to spend a bit more money. We have one regular place we play, and usually go 8:30-12:30. I love it.
Frankly, I think if some of them would have us start earlier, it would bring in people who'd be willing to spend a bit more money. We have one regular place we play, and usually go 8:30-12:30. I love it.
Back in those halcyon pre-disco nights... I remember playing 5-6 sets, 40 on 20 off if you were lucky, smoke so thick you could see it swirling around the ... loading out at 3 or 4 am into a 73 Dodge van... maybe the gig was downstate with a two-hour haul home... queue up Tom Waits "Putnam County" here... that rain-slick anaconda of a two-lane. Getting a cheese omelette breakfast at some greasey spoon along the road.
Good times... We had one memorable gig where we alternated sets with a stripper. Simone Deville was her name and her act included a bear rug and a lot of writhing.
I think I would pay to have that gig again.
Good times... We had one memorable gig where we alternated sets with a stripper. Simone Deville was her name and her act included a bear rug and a lot of writhing.
I think I would pay to have that gig again.
I've noticed more in the past few years many newer venues offering a earlier music schedule. Played one back in Nov. they had us start at 8pm sharp. At first I thought well "I wonder how this is gonna go?" Normally we don't even touch the stage until ten and folks don't start getting out an about till 9:00-9:30 but man I was surprised! We got there at about seven something and the place had a big crowd. The night went extremely well and the venue had a three band bill wrapped up just before midnight. It was great I still had time to jump in the ride and hit it 45 minutes down the road to catch a friends band play in Atlanta.
Another trend I've seen is where the bands that you'd expect to headline a club are opting to go on second or sometimes first because the crowds do not want to stay out all night to see a particular performance. In the town I'm in you can go out any night of the week and have a choice of any genre at any of the 20-30 venues. I feel real fortunate to be living in the middle of a thriving music community.
Another trend I've seen is where the bands that you'd expect to headline a club are opting to go on second or sometimes first because the crowds do not want to stay out all night to see a particular performance. In the town I'm in you can go out any night of the week and have a choice of any genre at any of the 20-30 venues. I feel real fortunate to be living in the middle of a thriving music community.
Theres a place here that seems to do pretty well with a "jazz" night on Thursday. 7-10. It's my favorite gig. It's geared for a bit more of an older crowd but I like that. Most are actually there for the music. I think if they (or another venue) did the same for a "cover band" night they'd be successful as well. I know lots of people that want to hear live music, just not from 10-2.
I am done with cover bar gigs. That's my choice. If other people want to do them that's fine.
I am done with cover bar gigs. That's my choice. If other people want to do them that's fine.
Surely there's someone on TB who will let you take their place for a plum gig like this!
