This can be frustrating for sure. There are two places we play that hire bands every Friday and Saturday night. They pay OK, but not great. When you look at their web sites, the band calendars are a year old. Their Facebook pages haven't had activity in weeks. One place had, on the day we played, a sign outside that listed as the night's entertainment the band that played there a month ago. We never get a lick of promotion from either of these places. We bring in as many people as we can, but damn, they need to at least put in a few minutes per week to help themselves.
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Bemoaning the lack of an audience
- Thread starter GCPENG
- Start date
This can be frustrating for sure. There are two places we play that hire bands every Friday and Saturday night. They pay OK, but not great. When you look at their web sites, the band calendars are a year old. Their Facebook pages haven't had activity in weeks. One place had, on the day we played, a sign outside that listed as the night's entertainment the band that played there a month ago. We never get a lick of promotion from either of these places. We bring in as many people as we can, but damn, they need to at least put in a few minutes per week to help themselves.
As a music lover I only go out and see music I want to see.
This can also be hard to understand for non-musicians.
For a lot of people, seeing a band is one of a multitude of choices they have. For me, from a young age, I get a thrill just seeing gear set up on some stage. When the band comes out and is genuinely good, it's an experience I can't explain. Nowhere else I'd rather be.
For a lot of people, seeing a band is one of a multitude of choices they have. For me, from a young age, I get a thrill just seeing gear set up on some stage. When the band comes out and is genuinely good, it's an experience I can't explain. Nowhere else I'd rather be.
As someone else said it takes time. Current band I play with has been around about 5 years, band members are older, but we work a lot and have a loyal following. Most venues we play can probably hold between 100 and 250 people. They are never full. Many of these are private clubs where membership is required. We play these same venues over and over and everytime, we see the same faces, people who always frequent the same place. Sometimes it's 30 to 50 people and they pay us a fair amount of money. Can't understand business wise that works for them, but they all seem just fine.
Social is your brand.
Use intelligence to drive your output to the loudest users in a given genre.
Play to the crowd that you can service best/easiest.
Mutate from there, preferably based on #'s.
Use intelligence to drive your output to the loudest users in a given genre.
Play to the crowd that you can service best/easiest.
Mutate from there, preferably based on #'s.
The harsh reality is, most bands suck to someone, at any level.
I am sure to many my band sucks, but, it is my band, I like the dudes, I like the music and don't understand why the rest of the world doesn't think we are as marketable as we think we should be. We're all 44+. Not poster material (at least those guys aren't. Hi Guys!). Nothing EXCITING. Just good. And not annoying.
Sometimes when you have a working mix of folks you can make music with, it is hard to let it go even if it isn't tops in the area.
TRULY AND HONESTLY KNOWNG what your entertainment value is to everyone not in your band of brothers and sisters helps keep the reality check in-check.
I know what we are. If we could only practice more together, we'd be amazingly competent in our craft.
I've had the same neighbors for 10 years. 3 of the are musicians I have played with. They don't gig out. I do. FIRST TIME they came out to a gig of mine was 2 months ago.
That's a hard way to eke out a fan base =p
I am sure to many my band sucks, but, it is my band, I like the dudes, I like the music and don't understand why the rest of the world doesn't think we are as marketable as we think we should be. We're all 44+. Not poster material (at least those guys aren't. Hi Guys!). Nothing EXCITING. Just good. And not annoying.
Sometimes when you have a working mix of folks you can make music with, it is hard to let it go even if it isn't tops in the area.
TRULY AND HONESTLY KNOWNG what your entertainment value is to everyone not in your band of brothers and sisters helps keep the reality check in-check.
I know what we are. If we could only practice more together, we'd be amazingly competent in our craft.
I've had the same neighbors for 10 years. 3 of the are musicians I have played with. They don't gig out. I do. FIRST TIME they came out to a gig of mine was 2 months ago.
That's a hard way to eke out a fan base =p
- Oct 6, 2009
- 151
- 294
- Disclosures
- My opinions may offend you. Get a thicker skin and grow the f up.
Not knowing who your customer base is, lack of a marketing plan and failure to promote, will kill any business venture. Friends & family will not change that.
One thing that can help is making friends with some of the people who do go out and see music one the weekends. It will involve going to support some other bands on nights you aren't booked, but there is still an audience out there, but it's a narrow one. Still better to concentrate on the right demo (people who do go to shows) to begin with.
Also focus on each person drawing one more each show. If you can actually do that, the numbers will start adding up. There really aren't any easy answers if you are past the age where your friends go out every weekend night
Also focus on each person drawing one more each show. If you can actually do that, the numbers will start adding up. There really aren't any easy answers if you are past the age where your friends go out every weekend night
The music scene is not what it used to be. If one of my two bands get 30 people at our gig it's a good night. I find the outdoor festivals more fulfilling. Built in crowds are where it's at.
Sorry to hear that. My band is hoping our first outing doesnt go this direction. A band came down from San Francisco and put on a dynamite show in a venue that probably holds 200 and I went because I had only heard about them that week and what they gave me was a fantastic introduction into their music and instantly turned me into a fan. I was embarrassed for them since there were probably about 30 people in total that showed up. I felt even worse for them when I asked if it was their first time there and they said it was their 3rd. Probably be their last time here and I wouldnt blame them. In the 80's bands that nobody heard of came through all the time and played to big crowds. What in hell has happened?. I blame much on technology with most of the current music being created with computer technology rather than human talent and conveniences that are dehumanizing people and the fact everyone is scared to venture out due to unforeseen safety concerns. My 2 cents.
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Hi grinx, please don't be offended, but your band does not have to be amazing. Most people who go out to see most bands is not because they are amazing, but they will come to see you if they like the music you play. Doesn't have to be played at the highest level, just at a reasonable level. The people who come to see you don't know a good band from a bad one. But they do know if they like the material you do or not. Hell your first name could be Jaco and your guitarist's last name could be Hendricks, but if they don't like the songs your toast. The best bands don't always get the gigs, the one's that make their audience feel good do.
It's a night and day difference since I started playing in the 60's. Young people do not participate in playing instruments like we did and older folks don't go out as often as we used to. I play with a few bands one that had 5 albums out in the late 70's and 80's and that work has really tapered off. I also play with a local Detroit band that can only work a few times a month or we cant get an audience. It's just the way things are and Joe is right if the place isn't happening to begin with good luck. I tell the guys in my age group that it's basically over and they agree.
I guess if you are looking to get a better "draw" as a cover band...a lot of the same tenets original acts have to follow still apply. Find a "Schtick" that is entertaining and keeps people coming back, then Promote the hell out of it. Instead of being an Upgraded Jukebox competently playing a few hours of well-known standards, you are providing an Event for people to come be a part of. I'm not saying become a Tribute Band...but I believe that is why they are much more popular draws than Cover Bands.
It used to be that my favorite part of promoting a gig was going out & whacking our posters to telephone poles and message boards around town. We barely do that anymore!
We used to do the above postering in conjunction with FB invites, email lists, personally texting acquaintances, netwoking, and promo-ing via other social media, as well.
Before I started giggjng, I was told by an experienced player > "Everybody will come to your first show, but after that, you're on your own", which was fairly accurate
Also, the Facebook 'formula' I observed & count on from personal experience is that for every 10 people that click 'going' on your event page, 1-3 will usually show up
You might get a few of the 'interested' crowd as a bonus. (Can't say with certainty how many bodies the old school postering method might be bringing in, if any, in this online age... but it's fun, and they make great wall art for the rehearsal space 
)
+ I don't know what your local market is like, but here the going-out-for-live-music crowd have multiple choices every night of the week as far as where to go to get it, so you better be darn good and keep it fresh to attract people who've already seen you once.
Good luck!
We used to do the above postering in conjunction with FB invites, email lists, personally texting acquaintances, netwoking, and promo-ing via other social media, as well.
Before I started giggjng, I was told by an experienced player > "Everybody will come to your first show, but after that, you're on your own", which was fairly accurate
Also, the Facebook 'formula' I observed & count on from personal experience is that for every 10 people that click 'going' on your event page, 1-3 will usually show up
You might get a few of the 'interested' crowd as a bonus. (Can't say with certainty how many bodies the old school postering method might be bringing in, if any, in this online age... but it's fun, and they make great wall art for the rehearsal space )+ I don't know what your local market is like, but here the going-out-for-live-music crowd have multiple choices every night of the week as far as where to go to get it, so you better be darn good and keep it fresh to attract people who've already seen you once.
Good luck!
I can only address my local market, but you are correct. I would not want to be the new guy on the block. Everything said about social media promotion is correct. Building a new brand/band is like building a new business. But just like building a new business you need to know your target audience. After doing that, add some new material to your show (music that will attract younger folks) and figure out where you go from there. Our band has a great (by today's standings) following we realize we have probably maxed out our following, meaning age group 45 to 65, who by the way seem to be very loyal, have identified what will draw an age group that is a bit younger maybe 35 to 50 and try to reel them. While we are older, we have a few players who nail it if someone will listen.
Low turnout nights can work both ways.
Was at a low-turnout event ( due to Chicago weather ) and got to talk 1-on-1 with Larry Coryell for like 30 minutes.
A year or so later, he is jammin' above. Saw other great acts where the local tastes did not match the great talent provided.
Players' loss - but if you are an audience member actually there to listen to the music - fans' gain sometime.
( says a guy who would weight 2 lbs vs. 200 if I had to rely on gigs for a living )
Was at a low-turnout event ( due to Chicago weather ) and got to talk 1-on-1 with Larry Coryell for like 30 minutes.
A year or so later, he is jammin' above. Saw other great acts where the local tastes did not match the great talent provided.
Players' loss - but if you are an audience member actually there to listen to the music - fans' gain sometime.
( says a guy who would weight 2 lbs vs. 200 if I had to rely on gigs for a living )
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Much like this ^, I'm gonna go ahead and say that market saturation helped to kill the local cover scene in my area. People got tired of hearing the same 40 songs butchered in 40 different ways.
Much like this ^, I'm gonna go ahead and say that market saturation helped to kill the local cover scene in my area. People got tired of hearing the same 40 songs butchered in 40 different ways.
I know what you're talking about and it is a tough situation to play through, but we must.
I've realized over the years that gig survival is not always about your friends / fans but the other bands on the bill. It helps to play shows with bands that draw a crowd; especially younger bands (if you happen to be older guys like we were) because their fans usually show up in good numbers.
I've realized over the years that gig survival is not always about your friends / fans but the other bands on the bill. It helps to play shows with bands that draw a crowd; especially younger bands (if you happen to be older guys like we were) because their fans usually show up in good numbers.
