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Dropped from Y-Rock 2005

#61
Wrong.

A promo CD is not and never has been a pre-requisite to getting gigs, particularly on the pub/club circuit. You may well be asked for a recording, but don't let the absence of a CD stop you getting gigs. :rollno:

You may even get asked for a DVD of one of your gigs. Basically, all this is just intended to put you off the scent as most of these venues have bands queuing up to play and any way of fobbing someone off is one less muso desperate for a gig (from their perspective :hmm: )

A friend of mine has recently booked 15 quality gigs for a band which is still in rehearsal and has no demo or promo material. It CAN be done although it is obviously easier to just "leave it to the promoters".

I predict a long and frustrating wait if you do though. :)

This is all down to my own experience over the last 36 years gigging/recording/rehearsing with a variety of acts, so before you discount anything I have said, remember that I was already "doing it" 20 years before you were born.

(Oh my God - I can't really be that old - can I?? :eek: :eek: )
 
#63
Nickthebassist said:
Ok. What the hell do I say on the phone? it's 125 quid round here to book most places with a sound guy. We can't afford that everytime. We need free gigs. How can we do it?
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£125 to get a gig? Are you sure that's the case for all the venues? I'm down in London, which by rights ought to be more expensive than the York area, and not had to pay anything like that - maybe £40 to hire a PA or a "deal" where we ended up getting a relatively low percentage of the door takings but not £125 to book a slot at a venue.

What kind of places are you asking? I was at Uni at York in the early 90's, although I imagine there's been quite a few changes since then. However, I'd be suprised if it's quite as moribund as you suggest. Where do you go to hear live music? Next time, how about hanging round and asking the band how they got a slot there; some will blow you off, but some may be happy to help, especially if you ask them nicely.

Wulf
 
#67
Nickthebassist said:
Ok. What the hell do I say on the phone? it's 125 quid round here to book most places with a sound guy. We can't afford that everytime. We need free gigs. How can we do it?
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You are DEFINITELY talking to the wrong venues - unless York is completely different to the rest of the UK of course. ;) ;)

Also, with respect, I would have thought that "free" gigs were the last thing you would want. :confused: :confused: How about gigs were you GET PAID?? Strange concept I know, but one I kind of like. :D :D

In cases where you are relying on audience numbers and a cover charge, I totally endorse Wulf's comments regarding a percentage "door take" to accomodate paying for the PA etc. In my experience, this has ALWAYS come out of the door takings so it has NEVER been a "we can't afford it" issue.

I thought the band had bought it's own PA? Wasn't there a lengthy thread about some sort of Peavey PA rig? If that is the case, your problem about struggling to pay for a house system is solved. :D :D
 
#68
Nickthebassist said:
At the gigs I've been noticing that our drummer's timing isn't very good, and this has also been ntoiced by other musicians in the audience(the main audience don't tend to notice these things, musicians do though).
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I just wanted to ask a question here. Does he have these timing problems at rehearsal as well? If not, it could be, to a degree, stage fright or maybe he can't hear everyone else in the monitors. Just a thought.
 
#69
Personally, if I were in a band in its infant stages and I was approached by a promoter/booking agent, I'd be rather skiddish on the whole matter. It's mostly crooks and wannabes trying to cut their teeth on new bands. When you are a name band, the crooks and wannabes are stilling going to be there, but that's also when the legit companies are going to come out and take notice. You almost have to DIY for a while in this business.
 
#70
To get gigs in York you have to hire the venue, pay for the PA+soundguy. The Junction take this out of door takings(£125), and Fibbers take £150 booking fee that covers this(I believe). Cert. 18 have a crap PA right now so they say you can gig for free, but they can't pay you as they are saving up for a new PA9which is a good thing, their present one is ****). So those are the main 3 places to gig.
 
#72
5 words:

DO NOT PLAY IN YORK. :D :D :D :D

Seriously, I have played Fibbers on a number of occasions (admittedly, not since 2002) and we NEVER paid any sort of up front fee. We just paid for the (sub standard) PA and Sound Engineer from door proceeds.

I have only EVER "hired" a venue ONCE in 36 years and that was a theatre at which we did a self-promoted gig.

I think you are having your leg pulled big time. ;) ;)

Look at "lesser" venues and take your own PA. I was right about the Peavey rig wasn't I? Don't fall into the trap of thinking that you can only gig at the venues everyone else plays at. Think "outside the box". :) :)
 
#74
Well, if you want contacts with other bands, I have TONS. I know about half the bands in York personally. The PA at Fibbers is now some kind HK self pwoered thing(it's like the standard PA for York's venues). With a good sound guy these things kick ass. Anyhow, our Peavey 696F will be big enough for most venues once we've got 6x15/12 inch speakers. It's just we gotta save our money for them.
 
#76
Nickthebassist said:
Well, if you want contacts with other bands, I have TONS. I know about half the bands in York personally. The PA at Fibbers is now some kind HK self pwoered thing(it's like the standard PA for York's venues). With a good sound guy these things kick ass. Anyhow, our Peavey 696F will be big enough for most venues once we've got 6x15/12 inch speakers. It's just we gotta save our money for them.
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That's a real catch 22.
 

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