Covers vs Originals

[JRA]

Originals band for the thrill of creating and watching other people love your creations.
Function band for ££££££
Covers band for fun and some ££

i think your examples are good enough to get us into the 'ballparks', conceptually, but...

"...looking for clear lines of demarcation in some cases might miss important things to consider." @LBS-bass

Obviously both are equally valid I’m just trying to understand if the advice/experiences I’m reading here are substantially more from one camp than the other.

regarding what issue(s), for yourself, would the difference/distinction make? (genuinely curious. )

 

[arbiterusa]

I started with a cover band (enough money to cover living expenses decently) went to originals (starving artist for 20 years) now have awesome day job and back in cover band ( makes enough to cover gear and gasoline- wages for these gigs have not risen in over 30 years, and these gigs are harder to get consistently). So, if there was a poll, guess I’m “both”.

There are plenty of differences between the two kinds of gigs but as far as gear goes, I use the same basses and rigs for both.

 

[zontar]

Both can be fun, with can be rewarding, both can be frustrating.

And keep in mind I do not feel compelled to play covers 100% like the originals.
Although it may be close--it always has a bit of me in it.
Not because I can't play it otherwise, but because that's how i like it.
(Hopefully not opening that can of worms--if you want to debate that there are lots of threads already.)

 

[legalbass]

Both can be fun, with can be rewarding, both can be frustrating.

And keep in mind I do not feel compelled to play covers 100% like the originals.
Although it may be close--it always has a bit of me in it.
Not because I can't play it otherwise, but because that's how i like it.
(Hopefully not opening that can of worms--if you want to debate that there are lots of threads already.)

If I'm asked to play a cover, I like to try to track down various live versions of that song by the artists to get an idea how the musicians *really* liked to play it. Lots of ideas that way versus simply reproducing the studio recording (and I don't know why anybody would want to sit and listen to a cover band that is simply playing a carbon copy of a studio recording.)

 

[Mastermold]

Lots of people here have done originals. Lots. The thing you're probably seeing is what happens when the originals thing wears thin, which unfortunately happens to a lot of us.

Playing original music has its rewards, without a doubt, but it's very, very hard to develop any sort of success with it and most players end up moving on after a while, after the money dries up and frustration sets in and bands break up.

Some of us just get out of music entirely after that, some seek new originals opportunities, and some decide they'd rather play something than nothing, but they need to stick closer to home and work a regular job, so that usually means you end up playing covers. In other words, doing covers is what a lot of people who start out doing originals wind up with once they give up on the dream.

In my world there's room for all of it and I don't really put one above the other as there are ways to enjoy doing both.

Yep, original music scene is tough. I've never played in a cover band or tribute band, but if I was trying to make money as a musician I'd have to.

 

[instrumentlevel]

I’m in the “both” category. Did covers and originals in high school, and then multiple originals bands in Chicago in my 20s. Took a break for family/to get tenure, came back to classic rock bands, and am now in an 80’s party band, and a band (Joe Miralles Trio) that does original material gigs/recording and cover gigs. And all those years, I’ve played regularly in church—where pretty much everything is a cover. Old covers, but covers nonetheless.

My happy place is communicating with an audience, and sharing in an emotional experience with them. Love it when that’s original material. But lots of covers are popular because it is music that reliably speaks to the audience. I enjoy being a part of that, too.

 

[Ostie]

I play in two bands. One is 50/50 covers and originals. The other is covers only. If I had to pick one, it would be covers. I appreciate the songwriting ability of the two writers, but I don’t think the general public does. Frankly, I think they’d prefer covers.

 

[GreyBeard]

We play covers and a couple originals. There are no venues for all originals bands in my area.

 

[Killing Floor]

I heard Originals kept leaving the cap off the toothpaste so Covers filled the tube with hot sauce.

 

[jamro217]

Let's just say that without an original there could be no covers.

 

[51PRI]

Let's just say that without an original there could be no covers.

Well, that's obviously true, but how many folks down at the VFW on a Saturday night would rather hear your originals that they don't know and, let's be honest, probably won't like, versus your covers of songs they already know, love and will dance and party to?

 

[jamro217]

Well, that's obviously true, but how many folks down at the VFW on a Saturday night would rather hear your originals that they don't know and, let's be honest, probably won't like, versus your covers of songs they already know, love and will dance and party to?

True. I always was a stickler for providing the audience with the absolute best show possible. If that means the long version of "MUSTANG SALLY", so be it. I would rather languish in obscurity than sell out to a gang of record company cutthroats and relinquish the rights to any intellectual property of any value. Still seeking the best platform over which to debut original material. Until then it's being a pest here on TB. Have a great night.

 

[mike buzzetti]

I feel like I’ve already seen and participated in multiple TalkBass polls on this topic already, all of which showed a majority of bassists here participate in covers bands. In second place was originals bands who also incorporate a few covers. If I recall correctly.

I’m currently in two originals bands that each do a few covers, and in one brass band that does all covers but mashes them up together. Like, one song may include Dr. Dre, Lorde, Paul Simon, and Green Day all mashed together. It’s fun!

Edit to add link to Brass Band covering Dr. Dre and Lorde:

I gotta come check you guys out sometime , up in PASO ROBLES Ca. MoFunk band

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I don't understand the question.

I've played in cover bands, original (metal) bands, even tributes ( I was Ian Hill!), as well as theater pits and society bands.

I'm playing my bass. I enjoy playing my bass. I look forward to playing for other people.

Is a theater pit a "cover band" as I'm playing someone else's chart? Is working as a sideman and playing what is asked of me "cover work"? Is playing in an orchestra or '30's big band a "cover band"? It's all music, and if someone doesn't like what they're playing or the situation where they're playing, they should simply do something else.

I know plenty of players who are in multiple projects at once that fit all categories above. Looking down at any of them tells me I'm talking to a narrow minded, possibly very inexperienced musician.

It's music... Play it.

 

[Space Pickle]

why not both

 

[micguy]

I play church gigs. Most of the time, we're a cover band, but with interpretation and different arrangements thrown in a lot of the time. But I do play a couple of places where we do some original material.

I have (in the past) played clubs in both categories - mostly originals, but a couple cover bands as well.

 

[zontar]

I play church gigs. Most of the time, we're a cover band, but with interpretation and different arrangements thrown in a lot of the time. But I do play a couple of places where we do some original material.

I have (in the past) played clubs in both categories - mostly originals, but a couple cover bands as well.

I don't really see playing on the worship team in church the same as a gig elsewhere--different purpose & all that.

But yeah, mostly, if not completely other people wrote the songs.

 

[BatBasstard]

i think your examples are good enough to get us into the 'ballparks', conceptually, but...

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regarding what issue(s), for yourself, would the difference/distinction make? (genuinely curious. )

It wasn’t me that talked about “clear lines of demarcation” but in terms of what “difference would it make?” just off the top of my head:

• Financial matters are very different - in originals bands there is much more focus on investment for eventual return rather than “how much are we gonna make from playing that bar”.

• There are also issues like writing credits - The necessary depth, breadth and nature of trust between bandmates in a covers band is very different to that of an aspiring originals band and therefore would require a different approach when contemplating questions about (as I’ve seen for example within this forum) whether somebody should be showing the door or not.

• With covers bands, core competency and the ability to play a wide range of styles in order to emulate a wide range of original musicians is far more important than the unique talents, tones & abilities a specific musician brings to an originals band’s unique sound.

• Finding a band member irritating for the duration of 2 one hour sets of songs you’ve simply had to learn once a week is a very different matter to long hours discussing the merits of a specific chord progression when song writing and spending weeks cooped up with them in a tour van.

• I’ve seen posts about marital trust - that’s a whole different ball game if you’re touring


And on and on.

(I feel like some contributors to this to this thread are forgetting that we are talking specifically about posts made in this Band Management Forum around band management issues not around the types of musician or musicianship generally or the relative merits (or not) of “Covers vs Originals Bands”)

 

[BatBasstard]

I don't understand the question.

I've played in cover bands, original (metal) bands, even tributes ( I was Ian Hill!), as well as theater pits and society bands.

I'm playing my bass. I enjoy playing my bass. I look forward to playing for other people.

Is a theater pit a "cover band" as I'm playing someone else's chart? Is working as a sideman and playing what is asked of me "cover work"? Is playing in an orchestra or '30's big band a "cover band"? It's all music, and if someone doesn't like what they're playing or the situation where they're playing, they should simply do something else.

I know plenty of players who are in multiple projects at once that fit all categories above. Looking down at any of them tells me I'm talking to a narrow minded, possibly very inexperienced musician.

It's music... Play it.

The question was (paraphrased): “If you are posting a question about band management here in this Band Management Forum about the band that you are managing, is that band a covers band or a originals band because the advice for one might be wildly inappropriate for the other. Perhaps it would help to get a sense of what proportion of posts are about each scenario.”

The question had nothing to do whatsoever with whether one of the two options holds more merit than the other.
In fact the original post was careful to say that both are equally valid.

I hope that makes things clearer for you?

 

[IanStephenson]

Which large UK town is this? Just so that I know to avoid it

The large one just west of you, on the coast that is still a town (but has a major football team).

I've lived here 20+ years, and been gigging regularly most of that time. I think I've played about 5 gigs in town. My current band is based out of Southampton, and making decent money (for a bunch of weekenders). I can't think of a single venue here that would pay us even our "do it cheap to get in the door" fee.