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Booking Gigs Against UFC
- Thread starter jz75
- Start date
- Jun 3, 2009
- 3,330
- 398
- Disclosures
- Bassgearu, Music Industry Consulting and Sales. Tech 21, NBE Corp, Sonosphere.
Apparently Jz you don't live in my neck of Jersey. I have had to wait and have had to watch other bands wait for games to finish before they can start. Those that start before are just ignored.
Also, many clubs don't book super far in advance anymore with the economy. Especially if there is a contract involved.
My gig tonight I got with about a weeks notice. I tried to book this club in the summer for around now and they wouldn't even think about it.
Wow! First it was karaoke then DJ's now the UFC. It really show's where local live music rates today and why my band doesnt play the bar/sports bar scene
Yeah... I think UFC is one of those things like NASCAR... you either get it, or you don't. I'm in the "don't get it" category, but I could say that about a lot of things that are a big deal these days.
Possibly... although just last weekend my band locked down two weekends at a bar for summer 2012. One weekend in July and the other in August. But this is a place we've played several times before and have a great relatiionship with the owner so that may be an exceptional case.
One of the joints my cover band plays regularly will reschedule for UFC nights. They book 6-8 months in advance (we're already scheduled through mid 2012) but if a UFC fight conflicts with your date they move the gig and usually hire a DJ for the rest of the night. We've had gigs both moved (usually a saturday to friday night type of thing) or cancelled altogether in the past.
This is why my band books as many street dances, fairs and outdoor festivals as possible during the warm weather months here. Outdoor gigs have their own challenges but at least you're not competing with all the crap on TV like when you play bars.
That's what we do as well as book clubs that cater to music and musicians not skirt chasing, pool, darts, NASCAR ,UFC sports and the like.
I did those clubs when I did covers and dont miss them. It was like nobody cared what you played and then every once and a while you play some girls song and they dance then go back to the Tv's and talking etc.
Yup. Small town street dances are a blast because the whole town turns out (and surrounding towns) and a lot of them don't get to see live music very often so when your band rolls into town you are literally the only game in town. And they just eat it up.
Wow! First it was karaoke then DJ's now the UFC. It really show's where local live music rates today and why my band doesnt play the bar/sports bar scene
+1
Hmm, guess it depends. In my cover band we usually have people dancing continuously. In fact last weekend they were dancing to our sound check!
Usually I would try not to book or play shows on or around a date when something big may be going on. Now sometimes there is no choice and it cannot be helped, but it is both smart by and venue to coordinate to their best and also smart by the band to try to get the biggest crowds possible. I have played a few shows in the past where a nationally known band is playing in the upstairs of the venue and we are playing the basement on the same night. Care to guess what band most went to see?
Hmm, guess it depends. In my cover band we usually have people dancing continuously. In fact last weekend they were dancing to our sound check!
Consider yourself lucky. Like I said in another post if some of the bands on TB made the demands in both pay and attitude that say they do in their markets they wouldn't get gig one in my neck of the woods. Not all markets are the same, I have seen great bands both cover and originals play to nobody or to room full or people more interested in the TV's or guys interested in girl's butts to many times. Thankfully my area has been known for great original music and has a dedicated scene... but its small.
