I both play in a band and bookfor a venue. If you'd like to hear the venue's take I'll give it.
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Bemoaning the lack of an audience
- Thread starter GCPENG
- Start date
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
hey, at least you get to practice your crowd-pleasing one-liners:
"geez, I've had more people than this in bed"
"careful, if it gets any livelier in here, a funeral's going to break out!"
etc
(Bill Hicks / Rodney Dangerfield i believe)
"geez, I've had more people than this in bed"
"careful, if it gets any livelier in here, a funeral's going to break out!"
etc
(Bill Hicks / Rodney Dangerfield i believe)
Not reading through all the posts...but essentially I have the same issues. Whether it's a long running band ive been in, or an open stage jam i host, no matter how much advertising, promoting, consistently delivering, etc....just can't seem to draw them in anymore. Many places are booking DJ's and/or acoustic type duo's rather than full bands.
whether or not it's "5 years" or 3.5 to 7 years or 10 years, it makes no difference = it's hard work in an already showy business. folks need to apply themselves and have commitment. this thread was started with an OP that read: "Last Friday, my band had our fifth gig."
be my/our guest: the view from the 'other side' could enlighten those with little experience. thanks.
Indeed. It's not unlike selling Amway or any similar direct marketing scam.
No one likely mentioned that because it's not even remotely as simple as that. Just get an opening slot with a well known band? Like it's just sitting there on the floor and you have to just go pick up and pocket it? If it were that simple, there wouldn't be a need for threads like this.
Inconveniently, I also just can't "get" a new higher paying job when I'm unhappy with my paycheck from time to time.
I don't intend to sound coarse, but in my experiences, booking is a game that needs to be played from many angles. You need to get your name out there for sure, and yes, you NEED to target gigs with more well known bands to get your band's name out there, but no reputable promoter is going to let you open for well known bands if you haven't established yourself first.
It takes time more than anything. It certainly helps if you know the right people in the right places...
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the reality is we're selling an outdated product. there is not much of a market left for live music beyond the A list bands/artists. it's the equivalent of trying to sell black and white TVs. there might be a niche market for them but the reality is no one finds them useful or entertaining.
I guess the public is taking their savings out by not paying our cover charges and listening to a playlist instead. And the owners are taking our willingness to do free labor for them by making people play for free. To be honest, musicians have no moral ground to complain.
"Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production; and the interest of the producer ought to be attended to, only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the consumer." - Adam Smith, 'The Wealth of Nations'
Happy May Day, y'all.
"Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production; and the interest of the producer ought to be attended to, only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the consumer." - Adam Smith, 'The Wealth of Nations'
Happy May Day, y'all.
That doesn't have anything to do with what my post was about.
I believe there always be a market for live music - the variety of music people want to see a band play may drop but if you build your band to focus on what people want to hear as opposed to what you want to play- you will be busy. Country band, 80's band - or the right tribute band I think there will always be a market out there. A lot of musicians simply don't like the limited musical options out there right now ie they dont want to play country to get gigs. That is fine - but it is a choice. Not wanting to play the music that people want to hear is different then simply bemoaning the poor state of the live music scene. My two cents
When I first started to see live shows in the early 70’s there were very few covers being played.
Is lack of original music part of this phenomenon?
Is lack of original music part of this phenomenon?
LOL
in most cities, there is almost zero interest in existing original bands. So I don't think it's that. I don't know anyone that wants to go and hear original music. and when cover bands throw those in, the dance floor clears and the bathrooms fill up. By far the bands with the biggest followings in my city play covers, and mostly 70s-90s covers. it's not even close.
there is a market for covers but fewer and fewer venues. and far more entertainment options for people than in the 1970s. Live music in general is dying except for older people, to be honest. You want to be a success? Shoot for the 45-55 age group and learn the older and popular music. they are the ones with the time, the $$, and the interest in live bands.
Actually, it does; and it is in near-complete agreement with your post. Let me break it down for you...
"Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production..."
Production, in any form, including playing music, or running a bar, is about the patrons of the establishment. It's not about the interest of the "artists" or the barkeep’s business.
"...the interest of the producer ought to be attended to, only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the consumer."
If the band does not provide a service that the barkeep, as a consumer, is willing to pay for, then he/she will not pay for live music. But, it our choice regarding "our willingness to do free labor for them". No one is "making people play for free".
If the bar/band, as a packaged consumable, do not provide a service that is valued, then the public will take "their savings out by not paying our cover charges and listening to a playlist instead.".
This is basic economics in the real world. And, as you say...
"To be honest, musicians have no moral ground to complain."
Hope this helps.
QORC is correct. Older people do come out to see live music because it's what they did when they were younger. They do have the time and the money as well. This crowd really likes their 70's to 90's music and don't have much interest in anything else. I'm not sure why someone would expect to pack a venue with only 5 gigs under there belt. Some venues do a brisk food/dinner business. If you book this kind of venue, you have the dinner crowd there already and many stay for the music.
Bars and clubs book bands to sell drinks. People go to bars and clubs to get laid. It has always been thus. For the venue, it's easier and more lucrative to book a DJ. The only times I've made real money was spinning records. The kids are listening to EDM and hip hop. Look at this year's Coachella lineup. None of the headliners were rock acts.
