Bemoaning the lack of an audience

[GCPENG]

Not looking for a solution. I'm just venting.

Last Friday, my band had our fifth gig. It was our first time at a bar/restaurant with a bar/music venue downstairs. It's a great venue for us - great PA, bar provides the sound guy, who also runs lights.

The show went pretty well from a performance angle. Here's the problem - there is no built-in crowd at the place and, despite inviting dozens of people myself, the place was nearly empty. This was an important gig for us to show well. I'd love to be invited back, and would love to use this performance to get into the other venue owned by the same guy. But I was embarrassed by the lack of people willing to come out. I wouldn't rebook us if I was the venue manager. Such a waste of an opportunity.

Of all the people that I invited (phone, email, text, Facebook, face-to-face), only one person showed up, in addition to my wife. Similar poor showings from friends/family of the other band members. Without friends and family to give us some support in the early going, I can't see how we develop a following.

What the heck is wrong with people? I know that on any given night, people will have commitments, but everybody? Does Netflix really have that much hold on people? I just don't get it.

Do people not go out anymore? Or maybe it's me?

Just venting. Everybody seems to have an excuse.

 

[JGbassman]

The entertainment world has certainly changed since I was in my younger days, but on that respect, live music just doesn't have the same hold on people as it once did before the Internet and all the info we carry with our smart phones.

Seems these days (assuming you are doing the cover band thing) country, heavy rock and modern top 40 bands are what is pulling the smaller crowds. Of course the other side are tribute bands, which if done well, can generate literally millions of dollars over their lifespan (I know some guys from a Minneapolis based 80's tribute band called Hairball, and they have most definitely figured out the formula of a successful cover band. Great guys and musicians as well)

Unfortunately for a generic band starting out without any pull, background or heavy friend base built in, it's hard to fill a club. If the musicianship and performers are good, then it will be just a matter of time.

As an example, I play with two bands these days. One is a very established (going on its ninth year as a band, just rotated some of the players in and out) that plays covers. The female singer is an Iowa Rock and Roll hall of fame nominee, and between her, the drummer, and guitar player, there is a definite built in in crowd. I being new to the fold and having came off touring professionally, don't have the people coming in droves. The band isn't great, but it's fun, songs are done well with three part harmonies, and we don't play one area too much to over saturate. At this time, we are currently building up a following in three different metropolitan areas at the same time. Think of it as diversifying. We rarely play in our home town at this point, being mindful to not over saturate, so we only play home every six weeks or so. This band plays a minimum of one day a week, usually three in the summer months. Everyone has day jobs so it's just a fun hobby.

The other band has a great following in its home area playing a mix of original and modified covers. They are the first call opening band for national acts making their way through the area. It too has been around for many years. Established consistent bands get the gigs, it's as simple as that.

I guess my long winded point is, both bands didn't happen over night, and it takes a while to catch the attention of a very "entertained" group of people these days, and the younger they are, the harder it is to get them out. On the other side of the coin, a good live feed on fb can bring in a good crowd if it goes a little viral. I've witnessed this in the not so distant past

Keep plugging away, get better at your craft, post a few well done and sounding vids on fb, you tube, or other social media, and get a Social buzz going. Remember those cell phones will be recording in the audience, so put on a good show. Don't give up. Just remember, many small bars know it's hit or miss, it's just not the way it used to be. You seem to be a little older so I'm sure this isn't your first rodeo, band wise. The bands are expected to generate the crowd as well, unless as you said the club has a built in following. Keep in mind many small bars use the band wages as a tax write off, so take it for what it's worth.judt remember, there is a fan to be made in every crowd, regardless of how small that crowd is.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I feel your pain, and unfortunately, I don't think there's any cure outside of just figuring out a way to get gigs in more happening places.

I feel incredibly fortunate that I'm in a band now that only plays the A rooms in my area (meaning they're always packed - by the club, not us), but I say that with all due humility as I've paid my dues, many times over. Only reason I'm in that situation now is because I got into a band that was already there. Building to that point on my own, doing covers, has never happened.

I don't want to add to your rant, but what sucks is that I know in retrospect that all of the begging I did for decades to get people to shows was useless. At best, we'd get maybe 30 people to show up (and that was rare) - and even with that, if a club didn't have it's own following, it would be a bust. The best that would happen is the club would give us another gig, we wouldn't get the same amount of people, and then they'd either short us money, or they wouldn't ask us back.

I know this sounds incredibly negative, and there are I'm sure exceptions to this rule - but I think the up side is that it might be best to accept now that dragging friends to shows isn't the best way to secure better gigs. There are other ways. I just don't know what they are ... As I said, I joined a band that was already there.

Getting tight and polished enough to get picked up by an agency might do the trick. Making friends with the right people and talking your way into happening spots? Taking crazy pay cuts until you get where you want to be? Or just get creative, and come up with something nobody ever thought of yet . I believe 100% that where there's a strong enough will, there is a way.

 

[PauFerro]

Try doing it with jazz. It's even harder. The money for local jazz is in jazz festivals, or background music at business meetings, networking meetings, weddings, etcetera. BACKGROUND MUSIC, not feature performances.

I have two strategies I've had to use.

1) Music Recitals. I get music teachers to hold a recital at a venue. Band members. They pack the place because parents come out to see their kids perform. We play after. Parents stay for an hour to hear us (and we weave in jazz wannabes from the local scene -- kids) and then leave. We then play to a few friends or people we could get there. I did that last night.

I am planning to do the recital differently next time. The band plays a few songs, and then a kid plays, and then we play a few more songs, and the kid plays, and as the night goes on, the kids get older. At a new venue where the owner hasn't figured out the people are really there for the kids and not the jazz band.

You need an appropriate venue for that.

2) Anchor and Twist. Jazz is the anchor, but the twist is a networking meeting, a trivia contest with prizes, ice-breakers so people can socialize, an open jam, or something to make it unique. We did "Celebrating Women with Jazz" and that drew a huge crowd. First 30 women got sweetheart roses, men sang love songs to their wives, and all the women got to participate in prizes. The drink raffle failed (buy a drink for a woman) and we gave away prizes to build a mailing list the owner liked.

Add something to the mix to make it different -- and don't oversaturate. Move it around to new venues.

If a place wants me to be their house band, then they darn well better have a crowd. I can't get people there anymore just on the strength of facebook postings and personal distribution.

I am with Joe Nerve -- you gotta find the A list places that already have a massive following and successful business, and they just need to add you as another feature of the establishment to augment what they are already doing.

 

[blue4]

Not looking for a solution. I'm just venting.

Last Friday, my band had our fifth gig. It was our first time at a bar/restaurant with a bar/music venue downstairs. It's a great venue for us - great PA, bar provides the sound guy, who also runs lights.

The show went pretty well from a performance angle. Here's the problem - there is no built-in crowd at the place and, despite inviting dozens of people myself, the place was nearly empty. This was an important gig for us to show well. I'd love to be invited back, and would love to use this performance to get into the other venue owned by the same guy. But I was embarrassed by the lack of people willing to come out. I wouldn't rebook us if I was the venue manager. Such a waste of an opportunity.

Of all the people that I invited (phone, email, text, Facebook, face-to-face), only one person showed up, in addition to my wife. Similar poor showings from friends/family of the other band members. Without friends and family to give us some support in the early going, I can't see how we develop a following.

What the heck is wrong with people? I know that on any given night, people will have commitments, but everybody? Does Netflix really have that much hold on people? I just don't get it.

Do people not go out anymore? Or maybe it's me?

Just venting. Everybody seems to have an excuse.

I don't think it's Netflix. 1. People work longer hours. 2. Less people are willing to pay for a overpriced beer, only to get a DWI off of 2 beers. 3. Live music is no longer the only entertainment game in town. I live in a suburb of 6,000 people. We have a place where the walls and floor are literally trampolines and an axe throwing range. Within 15 mins I have a dozen excellent places to eat, a comedy club, many venues that have bookings from actual known bands on just about every weekend, and the list goes on and on. To be honest I'm not really interested in seeing a cover band do the typical classic rock songs either, and I'm in a cover band. There's nothing wrong with people.

You also have to remember that for non musicians, being asked to show up at friend's show is not much different from being asked to show up at someone's ballgame. They're not trying to anger anyone, it's just not a priority.

 

[oldrocker]

Not looking for a solution. I'm just venting.

Last Friday, my band had our fifth gig. It was our first time at a bar/restaurant with a bar/music venue downstairs. It's a great venue for us - great PA, bar provides the sound guy, who also runs lights.

The show went pretty well from a performance angle. Here's the problem - there is no built-in crowd at the place and, despite inviting dozens of people myself, the place was nearly empty. This was an important gig for us to show well. I'd love to be invited back, and would love to use this performance to get into the other venue owned by the same guy. But I was embarrassed by the lack of people willing to come out. I wouldn't rebook us if I was the venue manager. Such a waste of an opportunity.

Of all the people that I invited (phone, email, text, Facebook, face-to-face), only one person showed up, in addition to my wife. Similar poor showings from friends/family of the other band members. Without friends and family to give us some support in the early going, I can't see how we develop a following.

What the heck is wrong with people? I know that on any given night, people will have commitments, but everybody? Does Netflix really have that much hold on people? I just don't get it.

Do people not go out anymore? Or maybe it's me?

Just venting. Everybody seems to have an excuse.

How did you draw your 1st 4 shows?
Why was this show different?
Was there a cover charge for this show?

 

[dreamadream99]

Figure on getting 10% or less based on invitations. If you send out 100 invitations, you will be lucky to get 10 people. If you want 50, you have to invite 500.

Building a following is hard work. Build a Facebook page you can be proud of, and stock it with lots of photos of fans dancing and drinking at your bar gigs, so you can direct potential owners there. Have some decent audio excerpts, and good videos of your live act. Don’t buy likes with a promotional campaign, unless it is geographic and interest based.

 

[dtripoli]

We've had more than a few practically empty bar shows this year.
They were all on a Tuesday evenings....not a big night to go out drinkin' and partying.
We have fun nevertheless and joke with the few people in attendance.
We usually get paid pretty good to play this club on weekends because you get a percentage of the bar for the evening and tips.
Our band gladly plays there 2 Tuesdays a month and see it as getting paid to rehearse. We try out new material,
work out different song arrangements and get the scant crowd involved in whether the new song or arrangement went over well, instant feedback. Obviously we make very little money those evenings but it's sure better than paying $20+ an hour for a rehearsal studio. People seem to enjoy being actively part of the show and our Tuesdays which started out with around 5 people a night now has 10-20 people.

But if Netflix is showing a rerun of the Brady Bunch episode, "Time to Change" then we simply cancel that evening and don't even try to compete with a classic performance.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I've learned also that people rarely go to see bands. They go to hang in clubs with lots of people. If given a choice to stand in an empty club to awkwardly smile at a friend's band, regardless of how great they are, or do ANYTHING else... most people will do anything else.

 

[GCPENG]

How did you draw your 1st 4 shows?
Why was this show different?
Was there a cover charge for this show?

We've not had a great draw any of the other shows either, but this was the second-worst of all five. This was the first with a cover charge. $5
Of the previous four shows, I was only able to draw friends/family/colleagues to one of them.

I'm just very disappointed in the lack of support from friends, etc.

 

[Stumbo]

Promise and give them free nachos!

Eat nachos, drink beverages.

Win-win.

 

[friskinator]

My current cover band doesn't do bar gigs anymore. The majority of the bars/clubs we used to play have closed or dropped live music entirely. Thankfully, we have an agent that gets us corporate/private shows, but there doesn't seem to be much of a market for bar bands here anymore.

 

[RickyWoo]

When I was a kid, "all age" shows were a common event. I was able to see all kinds of great bands (in bars) in my early teens. I haven't seen more than a hand full of this type of show in my area in probably 20 years. I think those shows are a direct factor in what keeps me interested to this very day. The only people that come out anymore are the veteran rockers who were there with or before me. Kids don't know what they're missing, and it isn't their fault. Venues want to make sales on booze and it squeezes out local performances directly. But that's "business". Terrible for the business of music all the same. I really feel it to be a major contributor to lacking audience numbers.

 

[40Hz]

I'm just very disappointed in the lack of support from friends, etc.

Been there. It’s a hard life lesson.

But we live in a culture where we’re taught that an honest “no” is impolite. So instead of saying “no” we learn to say “yes” - and then don’t.

The real irony comes when somebody actually does make it through dint of long and hard work despite the complete lack of support from friends and family. It’s often a modern version of the old Russian folk tale The Little Red Hen where the hen plants, harvests, and mills some corn, and eventually makes a loaf of bread out of it. But despite the hen’s repeated requests for assistance every step along the way, every other animal on the farm declines to get involved. However, once the loaf of bread is baked, they all gather round and ask her for a portion.

You see that when somebody finally makes it big and decides to get some better and more supportive friends. And that's when all the old useless friends and family immediately denounce the successful person for “forgetting who their family and old 'friends' are.”

It’s a sad old story.

I met a famous rocker once who told me how his ex-wife always used to moan about his hours and the amount of travel he was doing while he and his band were making a name for themselves. “Funny how it never bothered her having all that money to spend though.” he said. He said he once took a couple of years off. “We were already well off for money and I was getting tired of it.” But once he had to curtail some of the family's spending, his ex and his kids couldn’t get him back into the recording studio and out touring again quick enough.

His story isn’t that uncommon either.

tl:dr - People are people. Their intentions may be good, but their performance is usually spotty. Hope for the best, but expect the worst, and you’ll seldom be disappointed.

 

[73jbass]

Sounds like the venue sucks. A club without a regular crowd means the owner is doing something wrong.

 

[pigpen1]

Not looking for a solution. I'm just venting.

Last Friday, my band had our fifth gig. It was our first time at a bar/restaurant with a bar/music venue downstairs. It's a great venue for us - great PA, bar provides the sound guy, who also runs lights.

The show went pretty well from a performance angle. Here's the problem - there is no built-in crowd at the place and, despite inviting dozens of people myself, the place was nearly empty. This was an important gig for us to show well. I'd love to be invited back, and would love to use this performance to get into the other venue owned by the same guy. But I was embarrassed by the lack of people willing to come out. I wouldn't rebook us if I was the venue manager. Such a waste of an opportunity.

Of all the people that I invited (phone, email, text, Facebook, face-to-face), only one person showed up, in addition to my wife. Similar poor showings from friends/family of the other band members. Without friends and family to give us some support in the early going, I can't see how we develop a following.

What the heck is wrong with people? I know that on any given night, people will have commitments, but everybody? Does Netflix really have that much hold on people? I just don't get it.

Do people not go out anymore? Or maybe it's me?

Just venting. Everybody seems to have an excuse.

"there is no built-in crowd at the place" --- so what you are saying is that people, in general don't like to go there? It might not be your band, it might be while it is a convenient spot to play, people don't like the venue and there isn't much you can do about that. Do other bands draw there?

 

[GCPENG]

Sounds like the venue sucks. A club without a regular crowd means the owner is doing something wrong.

That’s what they are mostly like around here. On nights when there’s no band, only a handful of patrons are present. People come out when there’s a band that they know. And they don’t know us. Yet.

 

[GCPENG]

"there is no built-in crowd at the place" --- so what you are saying is that people, in general don't like to go there? It might not be your band, it might be while it is a convenient spot to play, people don't like the venue and there isn't much you can do about that. Do other bands draw there?

Yes. Known local bands draw some. Tribute bands can fill the place.

 

[Spidey2112]

We have a place where the walls and floor are literally trampolines and an axe throwing range.

If you can nail 'YYZ', while simultaneously performing the above, you may have something...

... I'd pay to see it.

 

[pigpen1]

Sounds like the venue sucks. A club without a regular crowd means the owner is doing something wrong.

Yep. Just sounds like people don't like to hang out there.