Oh, and lest I forget, who could ever forget those fakers Creedence Clearwater Revival, they never did an album without at least one cover.
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I have a problem with cover/tribute bands.
- Thread starter T-Forty
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Oh, and lest I forget, who could ever forget those fakers Creedence Clearwater Revival, they never did an album without at least one cover.
A question came to my mind about money because it gets mentioned in every few posts.
Those of you who play in cover bands, would you continue to play gigs if the pay would minimal? I mean that you could only break-even at most after the expenses (gas, food, etc) are taken out of the pay.
If you currently make a living by playing the answer will of course be "no way in hell", but I'm more interested in answers from the weekend warrior types that have a day jobs.
Those of you who play in cover bands, would you continue to play gigs if the pay would minimal? I mean that you could only break-even at most after the expenses (gas, food, etc) are taken out of the pay.
If you currently make a living by playing the answer will of course be "no way in hell", but I'm more interested in answers from the weekend warrior types that have a day jobs.
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
The guys in the cover band I play in all have other careers and would absolutely keep on playing, even if there was no pay. I, on the other hand, would absolutely NOT play if there was no pay. Another thing that seperates the 2 of us.
Thanks for the interest! So far we've written 5 pretty solid songs, but so far all we have recorded of them is a couple of rough 3 track (vox + 2 guitar tracks) acoustic demos where the arrangements are completely different from what we ended up with.
I will gladly bump this thread when we have something more final laid down.
Actually, I currently pony up a solid $20 a week to go out and play an open jam because I don't have anything going and my time to put something together just isn't there.
But I will say that as much as I enjoy playing I equally enjoy putting something together and making it a business that is financially attractive to other musicians as well as myself. To me that's building something that will take you places, and music has taken me to some places I never would have thought it could.
The original band thing was alot of fun when I did it. But it got old for me pretty quickly. The returns weren't worth it for me' "street cred" doesn't put gas in the tank, food in my belly or extra hours of sleep when I have a day job the morning after. We got a great album out of it that I'll be proud to show my kids. But in the long run I'll likely be prouder of being able to put my kids through college with proceeds from playing in cover bands.
Pretty simple formula that has worked for every major recording original artist since... who, Duke Ellington? I know it worked for Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Buddy Holly, a little group called the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, etc., etc. Notable exceptions might be Elvis and the Doors, and I'm betting *none* of us has either the next Elvis or the next Jim Morrison in our bands.
OK - I am going to buck the trend here...
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Sorry, Joe, but there's a very important point being missed (by many) in just about this entire thread.
A person who defines themselves by the tools they use (original music, cover tunes, guitar, synth, voice) is a tool.
A person who defines themselves by what they do is a person who does stuff.
If you are in the moment and serving the music, it shouldn't matter who wrote it - that's not the point. The point is serving the music for music's sake. Anything else is ego run amok.
In my opinion, if the fact that a song was written by someone else takes away your ability to enjoy playing it, you've seriously limited your opportunities for pleasure as a musician.
Once people buy into the "two different ethos" myth, all the rest is down hill leading you further from the point.
Being a musician is a singular thing. It's not broken down into "cover" vs. "original" vs. "spontaneous" vs. "classical" vs. "jazz" vs. "industrial" vs... Those are boxes. Climb in if you like, I'll stay outside and keep all opportunities for musical satisfaction wide open, thank you!
You sir are a wise man. Unless of course you're a woman or maybe a typing dog, but whichever you are, you are a wise one.
I'm glad you added that edit... playing music, regardless of whether the songs is written by you, by your original band's Lennon and McCartney, or by the actual Lennon and McCartney, you are definitely creating and being creative. What makes performance art an actual art is the fact that it only exists in the moment, it does not exist prior to the musicians performing it, and it does not exist afterwards. Same goes with acting - no one would expect any leading actor to also be a screenwriter or playwright, and vice versa. Many great songwriters do not even perform, or rarely perform, they just write - Bernie Taupin, Randy Newman, etc.
Not like I do now. No. If I didn't make enough money to cover my expenses such as strings, PA maintenance, a new bass and or amp rig every so often, I would have a hard time justifying purchasing all those thousands of dollars worth of equipment.
So, no. If gigs didn't pay, i imagine I would spend my time amusing myself making recordings in my basement, and maybe playing the odd party once in a while.
On the plus side, my lawn would look a whole lot better!
This is the way it is for me - $400 for the band per gig, we gig once a month or sometimes twice a month, and the pay goes to gas, bar tabs, baby sitters, etc. I do it for fun. Hope no one has a problem with that, if you do, then you have a problem, not me.
This may be true for a lot of artists..particularly top 40 artists pre-1980, but I'd say more often than not the bands that are writing great music these days started off that way...writing great music. Bands like The White Stripes, Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, The YeahYeahYeahs, The Von Bonies...they got where they are by playing their local dive bars and punk clubs, not making sure middle aged drunk people have something to dance to. This also applies to more modern legends like Nirvana.
In addition to this the internet has become a vital tool in marketing your band. If you have a great band it is very easy to spread your music to hundreds of thousands of people in a short amount of time and little effort. There are now bands who are very successful who were signed before they had even played a show based on the music they had online and their appeal to the masses.
I think a lot of people on this thread are coming from a different place than me and a few of the others. There is much success to be had toughing it out and playing the indie rock and punk clubs with original material. The kids will let you know very quickly if they're interested in your material and aside from a one-off cover here and there just for fun...most of them would be appalled if you came out and played a bunch of covers. They are there to listen to and discover NEW music.
To end this thread for good - yeah there is a place for cover bands, but I think there is more to playing music than playing other peoples material. That is my point. Put yourself out there and see what happens. Playing bass is not my job (yet). If it is yours then good on you.
Re: Would you keep playing in a cover band if the money was not there?
Yes. I've always played in bands (of all types) because I love the process - all processes - writing, recording, producing, performing, honing my musical skills, interacting with like-minded people - the whole thing. Many times, because I have always had good jobs and didn't need the money from these bands, I'd return my take toward the betterment of the project if the project needed it.
I satisfy my inner artist by participating in projects (cover bands, art exhibitions, original bands, bass building, writing, recording, producing - whatever) that satisfy me artistically - and money is not a measure of, nor does it factor into that equation. Not to say that if/when we are able to make money from our art I am not happy or that I wouldn't take it - but both angles (financial gain and art) are pursued with very different mindsets.
Thanks. Now I need to get a drink... where's that toilet?
Yes. I've always played in bands (of all types) because I love the process - all processes - writing, recording, producing, performing, honing my musical skills, interacting with like-minded people - the whole thing. Many times, because I have always had good jobs and didn't need the money from these bands, I'd return my take toward the betterment of the project if the project needed it.
I satisfy my inner artist by participating in projects (cover bands, art exhibitions, original bands, bass building, writing, recording, producing - whatever) that satisfy me artistically - and money is not a measure of, nor does it factor into that equation. Not to say that if/when we are able to make money from our art I am not happy or that I wouldn't take it - but both angles (financial gain and art) are pursued with very different mindsets.
You sir are a wise man. Unless of course you're a woman or maybe a typing dog, but whichever you are, you are a wise one.
Thanks. Now I need to get a drink... where's that toilet?
This is all fine and dandy, but people often overlook the fact that Myspace cred (having thousand of friends/visits) does not always put asses on bar stools. Apart from the very select elite (that don't need Myspace), most bands money comes from merch and live performances, not record contracts since you never make much more than a few pennies on your album sales.
Also take in consideration that if YOUR band can broadcast its music to thousands of fans worldwide, all the other bands can and also do. Competition is fiercer now than it has ever been.
This is why cover bands are almost always more lucrative than original bands if you have any sort of a local draw. People already know the material and come see you out of nostalgia/need to shake their booty. And frankly, this audience outnumbers scenesters by a very good margin.
Hey, cool! Thanks man. I meant to put a "Or other original band" next to the name. Its not like we're well known or anything!
I play in a "cover band" at church. I've been there for a long time while other musicians have come and gone. Depending on who we have playing with us, I've played drums, bass, and guitar (currently playing guitar). We're set up an hour and a half before Mass starts and we pull out the songbooks and rehearse each song once. Every time we play a song, it's a bit different as we do a bit of jazz-type improv on the music, just reading the lead sheets, and we will play a song at different times in the service so sometimes they are softer or more upbeat.
This has improved my musicianship more than anything else I've done (except maybe playing in a jazz group in college). If I were playing my songs somewhere and playing them nearly the same way every time, I can't see it helping me grow as a musician.
This has improved my musicianship more than anything else I've done (except maybe playing in a jazz group in college). If I were playing my songs somewhere and playing them nearly the same way every time, I can't see it helping me grow as a musician.
yeah cool,
I don't have any personal attachment to any of the labels that have come up in this thread. I have done many or all of the gigs mentioned here one time or another. I've been with tribute bands that have made 20K in one night, cover bar bands that paid my rent for years and original bands that play for chicken wings and beer. my only real contribution to this topic is -
if you are playing your bass in any working situation at all, you should be grateful.
thanks for the reply.
Hell yeah! I play for the pure joy of it!! The fact that I'm making really good money at it now is just a bonus on the whole situation. For years, I did those $50 a man gigs in small places. And I had fun. lots of it.
That's why I do it. For fun. I have a real career, a mortgage, a family. I'm not delusional that I'm going "make it" or even want to.
Heck, some of the gigs I do now are so large and so wild, I would do it for gas money! Or even for free!
It's about fun. Ultimately.
Originally Posted by the engine
To offer a constructive opinion here goes... Please pay attention! This will save you YEARS of heartache and pain. NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR/SEE YOUR ALL-ORIGINAL BAND! I don't care what market you are in! You have TWO choices and ONLY TWO! You can get some guys together and write some originals. Then record them. Then shop your music to anyone in the industry you can get to listen. If the songs are good, you will be just fine in a few years after you bartend or work some other type of job to keep MONEY coming in. OR you can start a cover band. Write some originals. Play some ACTUAL live SHOWS and build up a FOLLOWING. THEN you can sprinkle in your originals and see who cares. Be prepared for the fact that maybe nobody cares. If the songs are good, and your band is good, you will build an even larger following and somebody important will find YOU! If I were a club owner, I wouldn't go NEAR an all-original band! For the longest time, in my market, the rule was at least 60% covers. I think nowadays it's pretty much play covers and throw in an original every now and then if you really need to. I wish you all the best. Seriously.
NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR/SEE YOUR ALL-ORIGINAL BAND! I don't care what market you are in!
Entirely untrue....
In my market which has a huge Rock/Metal scene there are more clubs that cater to original bands than cover or tribute bands....we currently do a 10 song set and only "two" of those songs are what you would call covers as they are more or less versions of the originals
and we are only 1 of two bands in the area playing in the Stoner/Sludge/Doom genre so as a result we are in demand....
you should never over generalize....
now granted there are a few bars that require more covers than originals, but most of those are sports bars and yuppie bars and we just never play those venues....not my/our scene
To offer a constructive opinion here goes... Please pay attention! This will save you YEARS of heartache and pain. NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR/SEE YOUR ALL-ORIGINAL BAND! I don't care what market you are in! You have TWO choices and ONLY TWO! You can get some guys together and write some originals. Then record them. Then shop your music to anyone in the industry you can get to listen. If the songs are good, you will be just fine in a few years after you bartend or work some other type of job to keep MONEY coming in. OR you can start a cover band. Write some originals. Play some ACTUAL live SHOWS and build up a FOLLOWING. THEN you can sprinkle in your originals and see who cares. Be prepared for the fact that maybe nobody cares. If the songs are good, and your band is good, you will build an even larger following and somebody important will find YOU! If I were a club owner, I wouldn't go NEAR an all-original band! For the longest time, in my market, the rule was at least 60% covers. I think nowadays it's pretty much play covers and throw in an original every now and then if you really need to. I wish you all the best. Seriously.
NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR/SEE YOUR ALL-ORIGINAL BAND! I don't care what market you are in!
Entirely untrue....
In my market which has a huge Rock/Metal scene there are more clubs that cater to original bands than cover or tribute bands....we currently do a 10 song set and only "two" of those songs are what you would call covers as they are more or less versions of the originals
and we are only 1 of two bands in the area playing in the Stoner/Sludge/Doom genre so as a result we are in demand....
you should never over generalize....
now granted there are a few bars that require more covers than originals, but most of those are sports bars and yuppie bars and we just never play those venues....not my/our scene
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