Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I have a problem with cover/tribute bands.
- Thread starter T-Forty
- Start date
- Status
I'm very successful. I'm also a fat old nobody that gets his rocks off playing in a cover band.
Somebody please put this thread out of out misery!
the enjoyment of the misery is the one thing everybody can agree on.
How so?
Is playing originals "idealism" because you're making music for its own sake and not for money, or is it "realism" if you know you're never going to make it big but enjoy doing it anyway? Is playing covers "realism" because you get paid better than doing originals, or is it "idealism" if you measure musical success in purely financial terms and ignore creativity?
Somebody please put this thread out of out misery!
I was just going to post "This damn thread is STILL going on???"
What is it folks have against working musicians?
Ok, to start, I don't know if someone said this before...there just WAY to many threads to read.
But this is my take on cover bands.
Cover bands play, and get paid. I'd love to get paid for playing the bass, as I get pennies compared to some GOOD cover bands. On the lower levels....cover bands get paid **** ( 200.00 dollars and what not)
Maybe, when im fifty, I might be in a cover band too. Who knows?
Cover bands have to learn others music, note by note. Its hard, for sure. I've seen other cover bassists do a song wrong, more than a couple of times. But then again....they still make more money then us "original" guys.
Now for original..... I guess it comes down to why you picked up the bass to begin with. Me personally, I picked it up as a way to express things I felt, but couldn't say. I play in only original bands to express my inner most feelings (be it demons or angels). The one thing cover bands lack is the ability to express themselves. We, being an underpaid, underappreciated group, play to how we feel. Rather then to what sounds good. I'm not puttin cover bands down, its the truth. You can't express yourself in someone elses song.....only agree with how THEY express themself.
Every song in an original group can have a bassline that is truely yours. Don't forget that original peeps! Don't play something that is allready out there! Learn some music theory, learn the emotions behind them....and tell the world ( or local bar) what you think of the world.
If its a happy song, and you don't feel happy....you as the bassist can play minor chords off the major scale (or something similar) to express your distain for the happy and "pop" music. If you have a happy feeling, and it matches, through it in.
As the bassist, you can do so much more than people expect from you. You can change the whole feeling of a song the guitarist wrote, just by keeping in time, in rhythm, and in key.
Keep on rockin either way bassists, no matter what, it's music!
-Troy
But this is my take on cover bands.
Cover bands play, and get paid. I'd love to get paid for playing the bass, as I get pennies compared to some GOOD cover bands. On the lower levels....cover bands get paid **** ( 200.00 dollars and what not)
Maybe, when im fifty, I might be in a cover band too. Who knows?
Cover bands have to learn others music, note by note. Its hard, for sure. I've seen other cover bassists do a song wrong, more than a couple of times. But then again....they still make more money then us "original" guys.
Now for original..... I guess it comes down to why you picked up the bass to begin with. Me personally, I picked it up as a way to express things I felt, but couldn't say. I play in only original bands to express my inner most feelings (be it demons or angels). The one thing cover bands lack is the ability to express themselves. We, being an underpaid, underappreciated group, play to how we feel. Rather then to what sounds good. I'm not puttin cover bands down, its the truth. You can't express yourself in someone elses song.....only agree with how THEY express themself.
Every song in an original group can have a bassline that is truely yours. Don't forget that original peeps! Don't play something that is allready out there! Learn some music theory, learn the emotions behind them....and tell the world ( or local bar) what you think of the world.
If its a happy song, and you don't feel happy....you as the bassist can play minor chords off the major scale (or something similar) to express your distain for the happy and "pop" music. If you have a happy feeling, and it matches, through it in.
As the bassist, you can do so much more than people expect from you. You can change the whole feeling of a song the guitarist wrote, just by keeping in time, in rhythm, and in key.
Keep on rockin either way bassists, no matter what, it's music!
-Troy
I'm not surprised that people that have little or not success in music - make little or no money, play in front of few people -- put down those that have had success and recognition. There is always comfort in pretending that what you can't have isn't worth having!
success and recognition from playing covers is not the same as success and recognition from playing originals. let's get that straight.
and although i definitely haven't had, say, Nickelback-level success from playing my own songs...i wouldn't feel right taking home all that money after putting autotune on my voice during a live show, anyway.
oh god why do I keep reading through this thread?? I really must be some sort of masochist or something.. It's pretty infuriating and stupid as heck.
SO - is there anyone here that has the basic common sense to realize that both originals and covers have merit and positive aspects that make them both unique and even mutually supportive?
You may not like something, but what high and mighty magical mystical all-knowing kind of being are you to proclaim that something "sucks" or is "stupid" simply because you cannot look past the asinine us/them mentality for even a split second to realize that you're a moron?
DAMN!! why do I keep reading this thread?? It's driving me crazy with the amount of stupidity.. of course, there are some great posts and obviously intelligent folks posting and I'm not aiming this at any one in particular, it's moreso the whole argument, but as I read through this, I can't believe that BASS PLAYERS - you know, the guys who chose an instrument to play that's about foundation, quiet strength, team work, confidence, playing for the song and not the ego, can argue about something as stupid as cover bands vs original bands for 25 pages.
Flame me, go ahead bring it, it doesn't change the fact that this is stupid..
SO - is there anyone here that has the basic common sense to realize that both originals and covers have merit and positive aspects that make them both unique and even mutually supportive?
You may not like something, but what high and mighty magical mystical all-knowing kind of being are you to proclaim that something "sucks" or is "stupid" simply because you cannot look past the asinine us/them mentality for even a split second to realize that you're a moron?
DAMN!! why do I keep reading this thread?? It's driving me crazy with the amount of stupidity.. of course, there are some great posts and obviously intelligent folks posting and I'm not aiming this at any one in particular, it's moreso the whole argument, but as I read through this, I can't believe that BASS PLAYERS - you know, the guys who chose an instrument to play that's about foundation, quiet strength, team work, confidence, playing for the song and not the ego, can argue about something as stupid as cover bands vs original bands for 25 pages.
Flame me, go ahead bring it, it doesn't change the fact that this is stupid..
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I've played to packed houses doing originals and packed houses doing covers. There is a huge difference in how it makes me feel and it pretty much boils down to this. When it's original music - the fans, accolades, applause, smiles, etc. are something I know I earned. It's sincere, it didn't come easy, and it's directed at me an my music. Regardless of what anyone wants to argue here it is clearly millions of times easier to get what seems like the same kind of praise from a cover or tribute thing. The band who originated the work has already set the path. There's no arguing that, although lots of people will and are. One of the things that I think is fueling this thread however is the whole I'm smarter or better than you attitude. People who brag and pat themselves on the back and think they've achieved something awesome by playing in front of a packed house at a cover gig act as though they earned it, and while it does take a certain amount of work - sorry, it's nowhere NEAR the work the bands put out that originated the stuff you're copying.
I wish ya'll lived in the NY area because I could show you such gleaming examples of what I'm talking about. I make lots of money with some really horrible sounding bands - and I'm sure any one of you on this board can fill my sneakers in those bands. They in fact get subs in a moments notice when I have other gigs. I get no feeling of musical or artistic accomplishment with that. I have fun, I make money, and I get to stretch my skills and have paid practice with my instrument.
The whole, "hey look at me, idiot, while you're playing to empty houses in an original thing" is terribly obnoxious yet great fuel for this 500 post thread. it takes a lot more perserverence, creativity, money, effort, skill, talent, faith, luck, work and balls to make an original band happen and it's real easy to get defensive when people are bragging while riding on all the work someone else did for them.
Last note - I'm putting together a tribute band as I type this. I'm doing lots of thinking, planning marketing strategies, learning songs that are NOT easy, coming up with ideas, creating a web presence, organizing rehearsals, bla, bla, bla... it's different than the other work I do with originals though. It costs a lot less and I know it's going to make me money. There is no question about it. Doing the original thing is a huge gamble, but none of you cover guys would be making a cent if the original guys weren't out there paving the way.
I wish ya'll lived in the NY area because I could show you such gleaming examples of what I'm talking about. I make lots of money with some really horrible sounding bands - and I'm sure any one of you on this board can fill my sneakers in those bands. They in fact get subs in a moments notice when I have other gigs. I get no feeling of musical or artistic accomplishment with that. I have fun, I make money, and I get to stretch my skills and have paid practice with my instrument.
The whole, "hey look at me, idiot, while you're playing to empty houses in an original thing" is terribly obnoxious yet great fuel for this 500 post thread. it takes a lot more perserverence, creativity, money, effort, skill, talent, faith, luck, work and balls to make an original band happen and it's real easy to get defensive when people are bragging while riding on all the work someone else did for them.
Last note - I'm putting together a tribute band as I type this. I'm doing lots of thinking, planning marketing strategies, learning songs that are NOT easy, coming up with ideas, creating a web presence, organizing rehearsals, bla, bla, bla... it's different than the other work I do with originals though. It costs a lot less and I know it's going to make me money. There is no question about it. Doing the original thing is a huge gamble, but none of you cover guys would be making a cent if the original guys weren't out there paving the way.
Wahhh, wahhh, wahhh.
Sorry. Your post rubs me the wrong way.
You know, most of us in cover bands also bring in originals to our sets. We play covers to get the people in the bar and to get paid. We play the originals to see if the people like them, and if they do, we keep them in the set. Lots of people do two separate bands...a cover band for money, and an original band for love. Many of them have the exact same players in them.
You have a very narrow and naive idea of what cover bands are and do. And how do you know that someone in a cover band can't play your originals, or doesn't want to?
If you are this close-minded, it is no wonder you are having a hard time finding someone to work with you.
Cherie
I wasn't being derogatory with the comment you responded to. As I said before, I can see merits of playing originals and playing in a cover band. There's no sensible reason for anyone to knock somebody for choosing either, or to dictate to anyone else what they should or shouldn't play, or to think somebody's mistaken or stupid because they choose a different musical path to your own. There may indeed be some sort of tension between idealism and realism in practice, but they both make the world go round and anybody who possesses either one exclusively and not the other is missing part of the picture, imo.
Great post, Relic, by the way.
Been leaving this thread alone for the past few days, but I thought I'd chime in with an experience from last night.
I've been doing a bit of work with a local band, and the time had come where we thought we should try some of the material out on an audience. So we went up to a local open mic night, where they allow original bands to get up and play short sets.
We were all polite and professional, just wanting to get up and play, but the organiser/promoter could hardly contain his contempt for the original bands who turned up, and made backhanded insults to us and the other original bands all night, over the microphone. He cut the sets short, was aggressive and personally insulted me and a couple of other people. There was nothing different about us compared to the other bands, other than we wanted to play our own stuff. This is the sort of musical zealotry I despise - people who think all the best music's already been written, and show barefaced contempt for people who are trying to add to the lexicon. Unnecessary and uncalled for. Plus, I get enough of that kind of attitude on here.
A lot of people accuse original bands of snobbery, but, in my experience, I've seen it a lot more the other way around.
Needless to say, we won't be going there again.
I've been doing a bit of work with a local band, and the time had come where we thought we should try some of the material out on an audience. So we went up to a local open mic night, where they allow original bands to get up and play short sets.
We were all polite and professional, just wanting to get up and play, but the organiser/promoter could hardly contain his contempt for the original bands who turned up, and made backhanded insults to us and the other original bands all night, over the microphone. He cut the sets short, was aggressive and personally insulted me and a couple of other people. There was nothing different about us compared to the other bands, other than we wanted to play our own stuff. This is the sort of musical zealotry I despise - people who think all the best music's already been written, and show barefaced contempt for people who are trying to add to the lexicon. Unnecessary and uncalled for. Plus, I get enough of that kind of attitude on here.
A lot of people accuse original bands of snobbery, but, in my experience, I've seen it a lot more the other way around. Needless to say, we won't be going there again.
I generally agree with you, Joe having done originals for the past 15+ years and having a fair amount of success with it, I can honestly say that it's hard work that takes a mountainload of blood, sweat and tears to make it pay off and when it does, there is no other feeling like it on earth. And it's chock full of heartache too where the "faint of heart" give up and quit rather than persevere.. Last week, I was sitting in a line of cars at my bank and one of our tunes came on the radio - what an absolute high that is!! Sure, we've played to empty bars in the middle of nowhere to people that hated us, but at the same time we've also opened for some big names and played in front of a lot of people. So the whole "play to no one" thing is BS, work hard enough and it's a moot point.
But, I also have done cover band stuff in the past and just started up a new covers project. It's a whole different vibe, it requires a different mindset, a different outlook and angle but putting together the right bunch of people, choosing songs that would work best, publicizing, managing, etc etc aint no easy task either, and I basically respect the hell out of ANY band, covers or originals that can pull their sh*t together enough to be out there playing.
So, that's all I'm saying to folks here - your opinions are valid - everyone here has the right to think what they want to think and say what they want to say, but for the love of god realize that what we all do, be it covers or originals, requires work for it to be done right and therefor a little bit of mutual respect goes a long way.
Been leaving this thread alone for the past few days, but I thought I'd chime in with an experience from last night.
I've been doing a bit of work with a local band, and the time had come where we thought we should try some of the material out on an audience. So we went up to a local open mic night, where they allow original bands to get up and play short sets.
We were all polite and professional, just wanting to get up and play, but the organiser/promoter could hardly contain his contempt for the original bands who turned up, and made backhanded insults to us and the other original bands all night, over the microphone. He cut the sets short, was aggressive and personally insulted me and a couple of other people. There was nothing different about us compared to the other bands, other than we wanted to play our own stuff. This is the sort of musical zealotry I despise - people who think all the best music's already been written, and show barefaced contempt for people who are trying to add to the lexicon. Unnecessary and uncalled for. Plus, I get enough of that kind of attitude on here.
Needless to say, we won't be going there again.
That guy was a USDA prime Grade A jackass.
Too bad y'all don't have a jam like ours. Covers, both "hits" and "B-sides", ***and*** originals are not only allowed, but encouraged. Our local crowd is very involved and passionate about the music, and they wanna hear it *all*, man. They want "Gimme Three Steps", and your latest original tune, and that obscure-but-cool tune from your fave band, and if you can put 'em back-to-back, even better. The players are always calling each other up..."Hey, can you get familiar with this tune? I wanna try and bring it to the jam."
Its been wonderful for building skill playing in different genres. I never know what we'll be doing from one week to the next, so it makes me good at flying by the seat of my pants. Our little local bar is becoming a popular place for bands to come and get their originals to an audience, test-drive new songs of all kinds, and network.
We had a new band come in last night. They were so pleasantly surprised that not only would they be allowed to do originals, we were excited to hear them. They had a great time, booked a paying show later this season, and will be back to jam with us again.
Maybe I've found the jam equivalent of a unicorn? Dude, I hope you find your unicorn. Sounds like y'all need a truly good, open-hearted jam.
Cherie
It depends on the place I guess... I've had experiences remarkably similar to Rusty's.. I'm wondering if we may have played the same place at one time or another.
At any rate, we used to actually host an open mic night place at a local place for about a year. It was a completely cool and fun experience and we definitely had the "unicorn" thing going. All were welcome, covers, originals, comedy..it was awesome. At the same time it was brutal too - Tuesday nights from 10 to closing...made for painful Wednesday mornings..
Thanks Cherie.
Yep, the guy was a prize douchebag. I'm incredibly laid back and almost never lose my temper, but I wanted to deck this guy by the end of the night. I guess that's Jersey for you. 
Stop making me think about moving to Austin, it's already crossed my mind more than once!
Apropos very little - Relic's comment about hearing his song on a car radio reminded me of a night out I had recently where I heard a band covering one of our own (original) songs. They did a pretty good job of it too, really brought a smile to my face.
- Status
