Considering Putting a Band Together

[mellowinman]

Just looking for a little input/opinions. Doesn't have to be founded on anything at all; just brainstorming.

I'm considering putting together a band doing a main focus of 60's/70's pop hits. I don't think I would play an instrument; just be the front man.

I'm kind of feeling my oats as a front guy right now, based on a video I did yesterday:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PhruK12psg


Is this just a recipe for disaster? Who is my audience? Can I sell this stuff? There could be some rock of that era; Doobie Brothers, Bowie, you know; just big hits. I'm not looking to become a millionaire, but obviously, I want to gig enough to make it worthwhile, and have some small success in the Minneapolis area scene.

What do you think? Let me have it. Don't be shy.

 

[PauFerro]

Just looking for a little input/opinions. Doesn't have to be founded on anything at all; just brainstorming.

I'm considering putting together a band doing a main focus of 60's/70's pop hits. I don't think I would play an instrument; just be the front man.

I'm kind of feeling my oats as a front guy right now, based on a video I did yesterday:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PhruK12psg


Is this just a recipe for disaster? Who is my audience? Can I sell this stuff? There could be some rock of that era; Doobie Brothers, Bowie, you know; just big hits. I'm not looking to become a millionaire, but obviously, I want to gig enough to make it worthwhile, and have some small success in the Minneapolis area scene.

What do you think? Let me have it. Don't be shy.

I think it has legs. There were a couple pitchy spots, but with the right songs, I think you could sell it. I like the harmonies you used. And the video looks simple but professional enough. The third song was in the wrong register for you, I think "I am the sun, you are the moon..." that one. You need to be in a higher register.

To answer your questions, as a part-time semi pro band leader, I now you don't have time to do massive market research.

Here are some options for starting -- I'd get three videos together, and good looking website, business cards, and then start pounding the pavement. Clubs are the easiest place to start. Play it on your phone to potential clients. This will tell you whether your concept sells. If you think you can do multiple concepts, then do two, three video sets. One say, of 60-70's music, and one of 80's and 90's, or a hair metal -- etcetera. Provided you are confident you have talented musicians who can play the backing tracks on your video and sound like that, I would sell the band first and get a gig on the books 3 months out. Add the musicians later when there are gigs on the table. That'll get you over the hurdle of experienced musicians refusing to join a new startup due to no guaranteed gigs. This is actually good when clubs say they are booked for the next two months. You have an open schedule to pick dates from.

On your website, list all the places you have performed, to give a credible history. Don't say it's the band performance history, just a list of all the places you and your musicians has played. Credibility is the biggest obstacle when starting out -- overcome that with this list.

If the video and sales concept is too much effort, then you can go to the clubs around town and ask them what kind of music you can count on if you bring a crowd there. Don't tell them you are starting a band, as that means it's a sales call. I just ask that question and make note. You'll learn what the community wants quick and then form a band into that concept using the video idea aboce.

You can also learn by doing searches at home and seeing what venues are advertising for live music.

There is so much I had to learn to run successful bands, good luck. Ask questions as needed as you get a lot of good ideas from people on Talkbass, even to sound off ideas...

 

[mellowinman]

I think it has legs. There were a couple pitchy spots, but with the right songs, I think you could sell it. I like the harmonies you used. And the video looks simple but professional enough. The third song was in the wrong register for you, I think "I am the sun, you are the moon..." that one. You need to be in a higher register.

To answer your questions, as a part-time semi pro band leader, I now you don't have time to do massive market research.

Here are some options for starting -- I'd get three videos together, and good looking website, business cards, and then start pounding the pavement. Clubs are the easiest place to start. Play it on your phone to potential clients. This will tell you whether your concept sells. If you think you can do multiple concepts, then do two, three video sets. One say, of 60-70's music, and one of 80's and 90's, or a hair metal -- etcetera. Provided you are confident you have talented musicians who can play the backing tracks on your video and sound like that, I would sell the band first and get a gig on the books 3 months out. Add the musicians later when there are gigs on the table. That'll get you over the hurdle of experienced musicians refusing to join a new startup due to no guaranteed gigs. This is actually good when clubs say they are booked for the next two months. You have an open schedule to pick dates from.

On your website, list all the places you have performed, to give a credible history. Don't say it's the band performance history, just a list of all the places you and your musicians has played. Credibility is the biggest obstacle when starting out -- overcome that with this list.

If the video and sales concept is too much effort, then you can go to the clubs around town and ask them what kind of music you can count on if you bring a crowd there. Don't tell them you are starting a band, as that means it's a sales call. I just ask that question and make note. You'll learn what the community wants quick and then form a band into that concept using the video idea aboce.

You can also learn by doing searches at home and seeing what venues are advertising for live music.

There is so much I had to learn to run successful bands, good luck. Ask questions as needed as you get a lot of good ideas from people on Talkbass, even to sound off ideas...

Thank you. That is helpful.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Check and see what the bands making decent money around you are playing. I don't think the people who listen to that are the people buying beers in bars/clubs now. It seems either 80s, or more modern is what is popular.

The band I joined plays mostly stuff I would not listen to (3 Doors Down, Kings of Leon, Pink, Lady Gaga) with some 80s and a few classic rock tunes. But it gets gigs. My other band (jazz) plays what we want to play, and as a result we play more for funzies at home than gigs.

Like any other business, research your market.

 

[bassbully]

Ummm... is the song choice in your video for real or a joke? Never the less go for it add Muskrat love, Convoy, that pina colada song you know all those soft pop, crappy songs of yesterday that would be a hoot.

To keep costs down and more bank in your billfold start an acoustic group doing this maybe guitar, bass, bongos or one of those wooden boxes the hippies all bang on. This way you can travel light, minimal PA and play from coffee shops to wineries etc. People love those stupid old songs.

 

[mellowinman]

Ummm... is the song choice in your video for real or a joke? Never the less go for it add Muskrat love, Convoy, that pina colada song you know all those soft pop, crappy songs of yesterday that would be a hoot.

To keep costs down and more bank in your billfold start an acoustic group doing this maybe guitar, bass, bongos or one of those wooden boxes the hippies all bang on. This way you can travel light, minimal PA and play from coffee shops to wineries etc. People love those stupid old songs.

I was seriously leaning towards stuff like, Brandy (you're a fine girl,) Billy Don't be a Hero, I Woke up in Love this Morning, and other such gems. Muskrat Love, Convoy and Pina Colada Song are a complete other end of the spectrum, for my money. It's just an idea; I'm seeing that I could do a pretty good performance of some of these, and wonder if I can find an audience. No, I Love you More today than Yesterday is NOT being considered, as it is obviously out of my range, unless transposed. SERIOUSLY transposed.

I would want to put a band together, and not strip them down. Electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and backing vocals at a minimum.

If the idea is just crazy, I need to know!

 

[bassbully]

I was seriously leaning towards stuff like, Brandy (you're a fine girl,) Billy Don't be a Hero, I Woke up in Love this Morning, and other such gems. Muskrat Love, Convoy and Pina Colada Song are a complete other end of the spectrum, for my money. It's just an idea; I'm seeing that I could do a pretty good performance of some of these, and wonder if I can find an audience. No, I Love you More today than Yesterday is NOT being considered, as it is obviously out of my range, unless transposed. SERIOUSLY transposed.

I would want to put a band together, and not strip them down. Electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and backing vocals at a minimum.

If the idea is just crazy, I need to know!

Why not? The only reason I mentioned the down tooled acoustic act was I have a buddy in my band who makes more with his acoustic duo then he does with our 5 piece band. They use two acoustics, two stools, a little mixer and power amp and two mains and clean house at clubs that don't want a full big band setup.
If I ever start another band the acoustic "fools on stools" is what I will do.

 

[mellowinman]

Why not? The only reason I mentioned the down tooled acoustic act was I have a buddy in my band who makes more with his acoustic duo then he does with our 5 piece band. They use two acoustics, two stools, a little mixer and power amp and two mains and clean house at clubs that don't want a full big band setup.
If I ever start another band the acoustic "fools on stools" is what I will do.

For me, the thing that works about those songs is the electric guitar, bass and drums banging away like it's rock and roll, while the vocal/lyrics keeps it light.

 

[DirtDog]

I was seriously leaning towards stuff like, Brandy (you're a fine girl,) Billy Don't be a Hero, I Woke up in Love this Morning, and other such gems. Muskrat Love, Convoy and Pina Colada Song are a complete other end of the spectrum, for my money. It's just an idea; I'm seeing that I could do a pretty good performance of some of these, and wonder if I can find an audience. No, I Love you More today than Yesterday is NOT being considered, as it is obviously out of my range, unless transposed. SERIOUSLY transposed.

I would want to put a band together, and not strip them down. Electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and backing vocals at a minimum.

If the idea is just crazy, I need to know!

With that setlist, you're so close to "yacht rock" territory, you might as well go "full yacht rock". As long as you, you know, do it ironically.

There's a band around here doing this type of thing in a tongue-in-cheek manner. They're full time musos but have this act they pull out (ironically) once every month or two for the right audience at the right venue (private parties and golf/yacht clubs, booze cruises). They also dress the part and have the marketing down cold.

 

[MrLenny1]

Limited market. I left a similar project becuse we could
not sell it.

 

[mellowinman]

With that setlist, you're so close to "yacht rock" territory, you might as well go "full yacht rock". As long as you, you know, do it ironically.

There's a band around here doing this type of thing in a tongue-in-cheek manner. They're full time musos but have this act they pull out (ironically) once every month or two for the right audience at the right venue (private parties and golf/yacht clubs, booze cruises). They also dress the part and have the marketing down cold.

What do you mean, "dress the part?" Do you have their name/website?

I don't want to do it ironically, but I might want to put some "teeth" behind it. Is that possible?

 

[Jimmy4string]

I love Yacht Rock Stuff like Dirt Dog mentions. Not so much Muskrat love though. But *shrugs* hell i like mostley Moltey Crue and Buck Owens -so who am I to judge. Go for it!

 

[10cc]

I thought you just got a band up and running?

 

[mellowinman]

I thought you just got a band up and running?

I fired those guys last fall. Their work ethic left a lot to be desired.

 

[gln1955]

To keep costs down and more bank in your billfold start an acoustic group doing this maybe guitar, bass, bongos or one of those wooden boxes the hippies all bang on. This way you can travel light, minimal PA and play from coffee shops to wineries etc. People love those stupid old songs.

A friend of mine has been doing exactly this for many years. They play a regular rotation of restaurant gigs. Not much money to be made doing that around here, though.

 

[bassbully]

A friend of mine has been doing exactly this for many years. They play a regular rotation of restaurant gigs. Not much money to be made doing that around here, though.

In my area it has taken off. We have small bars, pubs and wineries the want fools on stools and pay well for them. If you have a couple good singer's and play clever songs people will stay and watch, low volume + fun crowd singalongs =$$$$

My buddies duo gets just a little less than our 5 piece country covers bands does and we have to haul and set up full PA and pay five members. I tell ya if I was forming a group the 'fools on stools" would be my only interest.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

The market is different in different cities. Here in the Fort Worth area, it still sells. The trick is finding the venues.
To do it correctly, you would want to go full tilt with period correct costumes and gear.
You might consider doing a mix. In the mid 70s I worked with a band that did the current stuff, but we also put together a full set of 50s do wop. We only did it on specific nights and it would be the 3rd set.
That would, at least, give you an idea of how it would be received.

 

[gln1955]

In my area it has taken off. We have small bars, pubs and wineries the want fools on stools and pay well for them. If you have a couple good singer's and play clever songs people will stay and watch, low volume + fun crowd singalongs =$$$$

My buddies duo gets just a little less than our 5 piece country covers bands does and we have to haul and set up full PA and pay five members. I tell ya if I was forming a group the 'fools on stools" would be my only interest.

These kind of gigs also tend to start and end earlier than your typical rock band bar gig, which would be a big plus for me.

 

[mellowinman]

OK, so I think I might do this, but here are some random thoughts:

• I am not interested in gigging out at bars. Period. I will do some networking, and see if I can get on some multi-band summer fest gigs, and try and brainstorm other gig ideas. There is no reason a crowd of drinkers/partiers/wannabe hookup people should want to see a band such as this
• I don't think I'll go full out "yacht rock," and I am certainly not wearing a gimmicky getup. I want to dress as my 70s self, and push showmanship, performance quality, and see if I can rope 'em in that way.
• It's going to be VERY difficult to get willing players of the quality I need, so the project will take a long time.
• I think the quality of my contribution is about to go up quite a lot. I been PRACTICIN'!

 

[Haunted House]

Hey Mellowinman, I know its been a couple of years, but whatever happened with this? Anything? Mark...