Black Sheep on the Gig Lineup

[HolmeBass]

Sounds like a showcase gig of bands of many different styles. So you’ll fit in by being different. Seems like a great gig to me.

 

[jamro217]

There may be one person in that audience that loves your band. Play for them, even if you can't pick them out of the crowd.

 

[Vanceman]

Is this pay to play?

Is there another kind?

 

[MDBass]

Hey all! Wanted to get some input.

So my band landed a gig in Hollywood. The thing is, we will DEFINITELY stick out compared to the other bands. As in we will not fit in. We play mellow indie rock (think Tame Impala) and are on the same bill as a grunge band with guttering vocals, a tech death band that probably plays 8 string guitars, a punk band (although they said they're playing an "acoustic" performance), and a metalcore band. There are like 2 artists that I'm not sure of the genre, and a stand up comedian. Should we just suck it up and play? Or do we pull out to avoid any potential negativity or unwelcoming crowds?

Sounds like a classic pay to play bill at The Whiskey to me...

Which is to say, a total waste of your time. Pass.

 

[Spectrum]

My band did a house show a couple of years ago for a Halloween party. Turned out to be a metal show. We are not a metal band; our level of heaviness runs at about the REM/Smithereens/Cure level.

So metal band after metal band play and then we set up and killed it. The audience liked it. We didn't try to be something we weren't, and we went all in to play some rock and roll. That gets appreciated.

Definitely do it, go all in and own it.

ETA: we did get paid for the house party gig. Wasn't much, but it wasn't less than zero, either. If it's pay to play like some folks here are saying then it's ALWAYS a pass. I'd rather play to my bedroom wall than drag my gear out there and pay some jackass to be on a stage.

 

[Liam Wald]

As a listener I would rather see two bands that are very different from one another than two bands that are the same. Take the gig. You might be surprised at how it turns out.

 

[punchdrunk]

How much does it pay?

 

[Rojd]

Yeah, it's an eclectic lineup, but so what? Go out have fun.

One of Black Sabbath's very early gigs when they were called Earth, was some kind of fancy party in front an older black tux type of crowd. Absolutely not their scene, but they went out and killed it.

We all know how they ended up.

 

[five7]

My band gets put on odd bills all the time. I use to worry about it but now I don't. It's good for people that wouldn't normally hear you to do.

 

[micguy]

Different is good. What you never want to be is the 4th band in a bill of all the same genre - you WANT to stick out and get noticed.

 

[Jim622]

You can be the black sheep on the bill or stand outs that showed up to play. If your getting paid - its a no brainer - go for it.

 

[bass12]

Reading the thread title I though you were actually doing a show with Dres and Mista Lawnge, and that would have been pretty cool.

 

[friskinator]

Back in the 90s, my original band opened for Sir Mix-A-Lot. We were a radio rock type band (think Matchbox 20, Goo Goo Dolls, etc). Long story, but we didn't even know we were opening for anyone until we were on the way to the venue. I don't remember if the crowd was into us, but they clapped and didn't throw things, so we considered it a success. We played, loaded out, then had a fun night watching his set.

We also opened for Ratt at that same bar. I miss that place.

 

[aldaa]

Hey all! Wanted to get some input.

So my band landed a gig in Hollywood. The thing is, we will DEFINITELY stick out compared to the other bands. As in we will not fit in. We play mellow indie rock (think Tame Impala) and are on the same bill as a grunge band with guttering vocals, a tech death band that probably plays 8 string guitars, a punk band (although they said they're playing an "acoustic" performance), and a metalcore band. There are like 2 artists that I'm not sure of the genre, and a stand up comedian. Should we just suck it up and play? Or do we pull out to avoid any potential negativity or unwelcoming crowds?

punk band doing an acoustic set is the odd one out here in my opinion. i've been to and played some weird mixed genre shows, most people were receptive or at least tolerated everything, and that was probably 14 years ago. you'll be fine

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Okay, don't talk about money.

Play the gig. Be who you are. Absorb the experience. Allow for the possibility of serendipity.

 

[Siggy]

Play the Gig like when

Jimi Hendrix opened for the Monkeys or when My wife went to see Jose Feliciano in Athens Ohio and Led Zeppelin opened.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Hey all! Wanted to get some input.

So my band landed a gig in Hollywood. The thing is, we will DEFINITELY stick out compared to the other bands. As in we will not fit in. We play mellow indie rock (think Tame Impala) and are on the same bill as a grunge band with guttering vocals, a tech death band that probably plays 8 string guitars, a punk band (although they said they're playing an "acoustic" performance), and a metalcore band. There are like 2 artists that I'm not sure of the genre, and a stand up comedian. Should we just suck it up and play? Or do we pull out to avoid any potential negativity or unwelcoming crowds?

That kind of show happens all the time here. There’s not a ton of original bands playing the same genres here in NC.

 

[Dougflores]

Thing is, the promoter never told us about the lineup. We were just eager to play. And then he dropped the bombshell of the lineup. I’m pretty sure every band was not aware who was playing until the flyer released. And money is not an issue. We play because we love to play and hopefully make friends along the way. So wether we get paid or not, that’s not a dealbreaker for us.

 

[slobake]

Stevie Ray Vaughn at the Montreux Jazz Festival

Jimi Hendrix opening for the Monkees.

 

[dan1952]

Go ahead and do it, and play your asses off. Stay for all the bands, and show your support for them. We're all in this together!