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Booked With Bands Waaaaay Off Genre...

#43
coreyfyfe said:
The same thing has been happening in Boston, and I'm sure most other cities. The end result is that people come to see one band and then leave. Bad for the bar. Bad for bands who are just starting out/trying to build a following. My current originals band has taken to booking all of our own shows as much as we can. We work with a promoter who we contact, and do the leg work for them contact bands (often recommendations for good draw, but often just word of mouth with other bands) to build a great show. The end result is a cohesive show where the audience is more likely to stick around and buy more drinks. We've made some great contacts up and down the east coast, and have played some great shows. We've also garnered a positive reputation with some really cool promoters/bar owners/bands that have helped us to re-book out of state gigs more often. The point is, in the face of lazy booking agents and/or disinterested bar owners, someone has to step up, and it's worked for us when we are the ones to do it.
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Definitely. What I've been noticing as my band has slowly started to move up the original music totem pole is that more popular original acts and/or their booking agents will go to great lengths to make sure all the acts on their bills aren't only great bands themselves but are similar to their own band. Why? Basically, it's a lot of what you said. There's great opportunity to cross pollinate fan bases by doing this, and everyone ends up making a lot more money this way.
 
#46
DanBass said:
Please know, I am not knocking the genre at all. I respect music, period. I have my likes and dislikes, but have always been respectful.. We are just out there doing our thing, just like them.

I spent my time in speed metal bands, progressive speed metal, black metal, and doom if you will, etc.. Ah the good old "Abacinator" days. :bassist:

You make a good point, I see how both bands would feel it. You obviously want to play with bands that are similar, with fans that have similar tastes etc.

I am just surprised, if they listened (they did, right?? LOL) to our stuff and then to theirs, am I missing something?

:confused:
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Glad to hear you're going forward with the show. You'll have to check back with how it went. Now, make some friends! :D
 
#48
So here's a hypothetical:

Someone booked a newly-forming classic rock band (all members have played together before) for a 40's-themed swing gig. The band will be tight. Here's the set list. How will this turn out?

Takin' Care Of Business
Take It Easy
Born On The Bayou
Brown Eyed Girl
Listen to the Music
Long Train Runnin'
China Grove
Sweet Home Alabama
Hurts So Good
Play That Funky Music

Black Magic Woman
Back in the USSR
Twist And Shout
La Bamba
I Saw Her Standing There
Johnny B. Goode
Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)
Pretty Woman
Show Me The Way
We're An American Band

What I Like About You
Keep Your Hands to Yourself
Gimme Three Steps
La Grange
Hard To Handle
Magic Carpet Ride
Born To Be Wild
Mustang Sally
Cold Shot
Couldn't Stand The Weather
Pride and Joy
I'm Tore Down
 
#50
I would not call the promoters dumb or lazy at all. By booking bands of different genres they are hoping to maximize the draw at their venue. Apparently they don't think having bands playing only one genre of music will draw enough to make it worth their while - the venue or the bands. You can think of it as a shotgun approach to booking. Yes, people might come and go but they will cover lots of different bases and should get more people in the door this way. At least, that is what they are thinking. I have seen it happen lots of times and participated in it too. In my experience, as long as you play well and display a good attitude you will be appreciated.

I think cancelling would be a very bad idea if you ever want to play there again. Best of luck with the show.
 
#51
A while back I was playing in a prog rock band (think King Crimson) and the booking guy had a really terrible little pop punk band that sounded like a pre-pubescent Green Day opening for us. The majority of the crowd left before we even got on stage.

Now that was really a match made in hell.
 
#52
Vince Klortho said:
I would not call the promoters dumb or lazy at all. By booking bands of different genres they are hoping to maximize the draw at their venue. Apparently they don't think having bands playing only one genre of music will draw enough to make it worth their while - the venue or the bands. You can think of it as a shotgun approach to booking. Yes, people might come and go but they will cover lots of different bases and should get more people in the door this way. At least, that is what they are thinking. I have seen it happen lots of times and participated in it too. In my experience, as long as you play well and display a good attitude you will be appreciated.

I think cancelling would be a very bad idea if you ever want to play there again. Best of luck with the show.
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Regardless of genre, there are almost always prime hours for bars each night. People rarely want to see a band not playing during a prime hour - especially if it's a band of a genre they're not interested in. Fill up a whole bill of bands of a genre I like and I'll probably come a bit earlier and stay quite a bit longer.

*this is just my experience in college towns where there are definite prime hours to hit the bars to drink*
 
#53
Munjibunga said:
So here's a hypothetical:

Someone booked a newly-forming classic rock band (all members have played together before) for a 40's-themed swing gig. The band will be tight. Here's the set list. How will this turn out?

Takin' Care Of Business
Take It Easy
Born On The Bayou
Brown Eyed Girl
Listen to the Music
Long Train Runnin'
China Grove
Sweet Home Alabama
Hurts So Good
Play That Funky Music

Black Magic Woman
Back in the USSR
Twist And Shout
La Bamba
I Saw Her Standing There
Johnny B. Goode
Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)
Pretty Woman
Show Me The Way
We're An American Band

What I Like About You
Keep Your Hands to Yourself
Gimme Three Steps
La Grange
Hard To Handle
Magic Carpet Ride
Born To Be Wild
Mustang Sally
Cold Shot
Couldn't Stand The Weather
Pride and Joy
I'm Tore Down
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Like a le(a)d zeppelin? :hiding:
 
#59
Well, a third band was added to the bill - I nervously googled them and thanfully they are not a Nuclear Assault tribute band. LOL

Actually I grew quite cool to playing the show after reading all the replies and stories.. Ended up chatting with their singer on FB - pretty nice guy. Took the opportunity to mention we're "a tad different".. We joked about it.. Music is music I guess when it's all said and done.
 
#60
DanBass said:
Well, a third band was added to the bill - I nervously googled them and thanfully they are not a Nuclear Assault tribute band. LOL

Actually I grew quite cool to playing the show after reading all the replies and stories.. Ended up chatting with their singer on FB - pretty nice guy. Took the opportunity to mention we're "a tad different".. We joked about it.. Music is music I guess when it's all said and done.
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I knew you would make a friend... and the show has yet to happen, right?
 

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