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How to answer "How many people will you bring?"

#41
KGarrett said:
I'm pretty sure TB has players all across the experience spectrum. You have to insult people in every thread you post in, and that's strange... Did you know that? I'm guessing you don't.
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bluewine said:
No, I really don't. And I don't think anyone is insulted.

It was an honest observation .

Blue
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We get it.. You gig.. Woop Dee Frickin Doo! The pics you odly seem compelled to post are hard to miss.

Many,many others gig here on a regular basis. We just don't see the need to remind everyone in every other post we make. Or to try and boost our ego insinuating (and insulting) that someone may or may not gig and only play at home.
 
#44
JumboJack said:
We get it.. You gig.. Woop Dee Frickin Doo! The pics you odly seem compelled to post are hard to miss.

Many,many others gig here on a regular basis. We just don't see the need to remind everyone in every other post we make. Or to try and boost our ego insinuating (and insulting) that someone may or may not gig and only play at home.
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I think your making my point.

Blue
 
#45
bluewine said:
...

For example, say the bar only does 950.00 and they have to pay the band $500.00. The owner would be better off paying $100.00 to a karaoke vendor.

Blue
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Not to derail the thread, but you've pointed out something important here. There are 2 sides to every ledger: The "benefit" side & the "cost" side. The higher the ratio of benefit to cost, but more the club (or anybody) profits.

Karaoke is cheaper than live music. A DJ is cheaper than live music. All things being equal, a club can achieve a greater net benefit (profit) by reducing cost. This often means choosing karaoke or a DJ over a live band.

However (& this is what should be important to bands), driving the cost side of the ledger downward is not the only way to achieve a favorable cost/benefit ratio. The simple fact is that we (musicians) can not compete with karaoke or DJs on their level. We see the result of attempting this all the time, whenever some musician complains that they aren't getting paid enough. News Flash: The reason you're not getting paid enough is that you're not worth the higher pay (worth being in the eyes of whomever is doing the paying).

The alternative to driving costs down is to drive the benefit side of the equation up!. DJs can play 1000s of tunes, way more than any of us know, they're familiar, & they're played 100% "right" every time. Karaoke can do that, too, with the added entertainment of watching drunks embarrass themselves. We (musicians) can't touch them (DJs) on their turf, which is the big mistake a lot of bands make. We have to challenge ourselves do do something more, something that the DJs can't do, other than take up enough space for 4-5 tables of paying customers, being a bunch of demanding little b------, playing too loud, & expecting to drink free & be paid more than the house takes in, for the honor of doing it.

Challenge yourselves to find something that you can do, that will add benefit to the cost/benefit equation for your customers. That will be your unique selling point, & ultimately a heck of a lot more important than any arbitrary number of heads through the door.
 
#46
All the grandstanding and bravado is fine, but if you're in a new band that just plays originals this question will need answered. Like it or not you have to have a draw to get booked in that world.

Around my area you book a show at a local club. They'll ask what you can bring or if they don't and you don't sell lets say 25 to 35 tickets they don't book you again. If it's a bigger show with a national they might expect over 50 or even more. Almost every good venue will want you to presell tickets. Almost none make any guarantee you will be paid. A few smaller venues will give you half of your ticket money. I've found one that will give 80%.

The fact of the matter is it's a buyers market you're not playing 3 hours of radio hits If you want to get people to hear the songs that you wrote you are basically playing for exposure.

It's a little disheartening when you sell 1300 dollars worth of tickets and get $175 to split between the band. Or sell $1200 in tickets and get paid nothing because the headliner had a $2000 guarantee and they get paid first, but those are the breaks. At least you got to play for 300-500 people. I just wanted to let anybody who wants to get out there in the originals game know that they shouldn't go out and start making demands right away. The club will just book somebody else. You gotta play the game until you make a name for yourself, and the game is stacked against you. Choose the shows you book wisely. Stay away from weeknights at first and don't book too far away unless you're playing with a band with a following in that area.

However, you want to go out and play covers disregard this post. I know nothing about that world.
 
#47
I have actually had managers at private clubs ask how many people can we bring to which I reply, "How can we bring anybody when it's a "PRIVATE" club and only "YOUR" members and "THEIR" guests can come." That is when I usually get the DUH - deer in the headlights look from them.
 
#49
In 34 years of gigging (very part-time for the last 20 or so), I have never had a club owner/ manager/agent ask me that! If I ever have to start bringing my own crowd with me just to get a gig, I would probably retire from playing. Luckily, things here are not quite that bad. Yet.
 
#51
Whenever I'm interviewed for a job, I always ask the question "Convince me why I should want to work for your company." This question is always met with enthusiasm by the interviewer, as they realize it is a two way street. Not only are they interviewing me - I am interviewing them.

It's no different here. Convince me, Mr Club Owner, why I should book my band here as opposed to booking at a place that has already proven itself to be a good match for my band? There are hundreds of places within a major city where I can book - the same group of "followers" will come see me regardless. You promise to present me with an enthusiastic "regular" crowd who enjoys coming to your club/bar, and I in turn promise to keep them entertained and drinking until last call. No more, no less.
 
#52
JohnMCA72 said:
Challenge yourselves to find something that you can do, that will add benefit to the cost/benefit equation for your customers. That will be your unique selling point, & ultimately a heck of a lot more important than any arbitrary number of heads through the door.
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In my band we challenge ourselves to find venues and events that appreciate and pay bands, and avoid those that want us to provide ALL the "benefit" to their ledger. So far so good.

Oh and we're not demanding little b*****s (well the drummer is :D) but we do play too loud. :eek:
 
#53
It's a stupid question.

Granted, most clubs that ask this won't be open for more than a year. Either than or the manger will be replaced in that time.

I usually bring a copy of our schedule and show them where we play. Logically, if we can play the venues in our schedule and get repeat bookings them we're good enough to play at 'this' place.
 
#56
I know that a a lot you guys are just trying to be funny (and failing I might add),
but,
If I was hiring bands and you gave me some smartass answer like one ones
posted here, you wouldn't get hired.

Now at the same time, I don't think that I would as a question such as "how many
people are you going to bring" because there are too many variables to even try
to accurately guess a number.

However, I would ask about the bands following, some of their draws at previous similar gigs, etc...

If they were local (and any good), chances are I would have heard of them already and have an idea what to expect.
 
#57
bluewine said:
If your an originals band and your doing $5.00 at the door back rooms, nobody is going to ask, however if nobody shows and they don't sell any alcohol? ??
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For the one-set originals gigs I book, we get asked about turnout almost every time.

bluewine said:
This makes me wonder about the experience level and how many TBers are actively gigging.
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The experience level of TB'ers ranges from first-time players to top-level pros. Some gig a lot, some gig a little, and some don't gig at all. Why does it matter?
 
#58
EricF said:
For the one-set originals gigs I book, we get asked about turnout almost every time.




I can understand that, I have seen originals bands in $5.00 rooms playing to nobody.


The experience level of TB'ers ranges from first-time players to top-level pros. Some gig a lot, some gig a little, and some don't gig at all. Why does it matter?
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I'm not sure it matters, however I am not sure how I veiw gigging advice from bedroomers when their not out there sweating it out in bars and clubs.

The bedroom is relatively safe.

Blue
 
#59
bluewine said:
I'm not sure it matters, however I am not sure how I veiw gigging advice from bedroomers when their not out there sweating it out in bars and clubs.

The bedroom is relatively safe.

Blue
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And the bedroom players are most likely not doling out advice on gigging, as they wouldnt have advice to offer unless they were gigging at some point, in which case their advice would be every bit as valid. The bedroom player of today could very easily have been the guy in the headlining act at the club last month.
 
#60
JumboJack said:
We get it.. You gig.. Woop Dee Frickin Doo! The pics you odly seem compelled to post are hard to miss.

Many,many others gig here on a regular basis. We just don't see the need to remind everyone in every other post we make. Or to try and boost our ego insinuating (and insulting) that someone may or may not gig and only play at home.
Click to expand...

I believe that bluewine finds his validation by reminding everyone that he is a "gigging" musician.
Whatever, If it works for him. :eyebrow:

I was in Milwaukee last month and really would have went and seen his band but they wern't playing when I was there.
http://www.mapleroadbluesband.com/
Curiosity more than anything else!


He's still adding pics of himself with every post?
I wouldn't know, I've got him on ignore.
The only time I read what he writes is when someone quotes him, then it is not blocked.
 

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