is band culture changing?

[Dantreige]

I'm in a perfect spot with the band I'm in. We play a couple times a month. We do weddings, festivals (street dances), and a few bar gigs so people know who we are. (Holidays are good times to play bars. Labor day, Fourth of July etc.) We have four members who have families and full time jobs so it is the perfect balance for us to get out and play, get good pay, and still have some weekends off to spend with our spouses and children (and grand children for a couple of us.)

Next month is the busiest one of the summer for us. We have three festivals, a wedding and one tiki bar gig. Everyone will put a grand(+) in their pocket, then we get a few weeks off to do whatever we want to do. We'll all have some extra money to do fun stuff with the families.

We also never have "practices." We all learn our parts at home and then we'll get together and have a rehersal. Sometimes we will soundcheck with a new song and it goes on the list. We also practice our harmonies before shows and sometimes during breaks.

Nothing is ever perfect. People don't always get married when you want them to, but I think we have a great balance playing vs. time off.

It can be really hard to find three to five people who want the same thing. I feel blessed that I have that. It's tough out there. The economy is still poor and it's hard on new bands. I empathize with everyone of you that does not have their perfect situation.

TLDNR; I would not change a thing.

 

[Marial]

Why?

If we're keeping this strictly to cover band culture, I'll butt out since I can't speak to it. I've never been in one. Well, I will say my originals band has been crazy busy this summer and we're already booked into October.

 

[MatticusMania]

Why?

Asking a question in regards to band culture, and then narrowing down your sample size by maybe 50% or so, isnt going to get you accurate results.
Your thread may as well be titled "is cover band culture changing?"

Ive only been playing out for 11 years, so I wasnt a part of the original band scene 15, 20, 30 years ago, and cant speak with first hand knowledge on it, but from what Ive heard from others its not been quite so different than how it is now.

 

[Bert Slide]

And that also means that successful bands now have to appeal to a fairly low denominator. When there's a huge audience for live music, even a band with a smaller niche appeal can still find enough people to play decent gigs fairly regularly. But when that audience shrinks, the small niche gets even smaller, and so if your band doesn't play one of the few still-working formulas, you can end up playing just a couple times a year.

I think it can work out to go niche in a down economy. The people that support niche genres tend to be loyal fans and find a way to get to the show. Two of the drummers I have played in bar bands with are now opening for national acts in psychobilly and alt country bands. Maybe they don't count because they both may be doing more than 50% originals now but they didn't start out that way.

I think it's sorta like a smiley face eq: Succesful variety rock/pop/country/dance bands who get weddings and corporate gigs on one side and the niche bands with core followers on the other. It's the rest who get lost in the mix.


I come from a longtime retail and now wholesale background in sporting goods. The current trends in a down economy have really magnified an old adage:

"There are two kinds of successful businesses: the CHEAPEST and the BEST and you better decide early which one you aim to be!"

Small retail shops can still compete if they offer better and unique services and product. The ones who refused to adapt and wise up and continued running their stores the same as the old golden days are no longer in business. This can be applied to bands too.

 

[bluewine]

Asking a question in regards to band culture, and then narrowing down your sample size by maybe 50% or so, isnt going to get you accurate results.
Your thread may as well be titled "is cover band culture changing?"

Ive only been playing out for 11 years, so I wasnt a part of the original band scene 15, 20, 30 years ago, and cant speak with first hand knowledge on it, but from what Ive heard from others its not been quite so different than how it is now.

Matt it was a lot cooler. Or maybe it seemed cooler when I was 25. That was 34 years ago.

 

[jaywa]

I was just talking this weekend to the bassist in a very good originals band based out of the Upper Midwest. I would consider them a "niche" band so I was curious as to where they were finding their audiences. He said they've been keeping busy (primarily with outdoor festivals), but have had to do a lot of traveling to keep their gig calendar full. I didn't ask how that's working out for them financially and I don't know if they are doing this full time or supplementing it with day jobs but it didn't seem like they had been hurting for gigs.

I also observed that on top of being a very accomplished and tight band, these guys were also very personable and on top of their game marketing-wise and I think that's really where bands make or break themselves in a tight market.

 

[hrodbert696]

I think if you do that, youre not going to get an accurate response as to whether band culture is changing or not.
IMO, band culture starts with original bands.

Kinda, kinda not, I think Blue's distinction is valid. From the perspective of talking about musicians' culture, if you take a guy who wants to write and record a bunch of original music, I think there's a built in assumption that he's going to want to play it out and find an audience for his creation.

But if you take a guy who's not going to write, but likes to play the music of the Rolling Stones or U2 or Slayer or whatever he likes, I think you ARE dealing with a distinct sector of musicians' culture that one can discuss separately. You certainly can as far as whether he's motivated to go gig or will be happy just playing with his buds in the garage.

 

[bluewine]

I guess the other part of the cultural change might be how people access and consume music.

It use to be, you had top 40 radio and the record store.

 

[Dantreige]

"There are two kinds of successful businesses: the CHEAPEST and the BEST and you better decide early which one you aim to be!"

Excellent point! I've always tryed to be in the latter group. During the 90's I was in a three piece that got payed as well or better then 4-5 piece bands. We played what girls wanted to hear, had a great lightshow, and a concert like p.a. We went all out, and got compensated for it.

People who pay more for something, often feel they are getting more for their money. Go figure. Use that to your advantage.

Back to Blue's OP, I'm not sure things have changed all that much. Things go up and down all the time. We went through the DJ blight in the 90's. We kept playing while other bands tanked and hung it up. In my area, things tend to go in cycles. It always comes back around. Good bands keep plaing and new bands that work hard make a name for themselves and get the best gigs. It just takes time.

 

[bluewine]

The band I'm in now gigs once every other month. :/

I like the other guys in the band, but no, that is not enough for me. You guys who are gigging 3 times a week are where I want to be!

In the DC area it seems like everyone is in more than one band, so I guess that's how you solve that problem. I'm looking for another band to up my gig rate.

I am not sure the being in multiple bands is the answer.

One band that has the amount of bookings you desire is the best model.

 

[Bert Slide]

I am not sure the being in multiple bands is the answer.

One band that has the amount of bookings you desire is the best model.

Ah...therein lies the eggs in one basket conundrum.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I guess the other part of the cultural change might be how people access and consume music.

It use to be, you had top 40 radio and the record store.

Yep it is more interesting for consumers now because they aren't tied to only listen to Top 40 radio station and go to the record store that only sell the top 40 records ...

Now you can find music from all around the world and listen to talented musician that don't appeal to the mass.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I am not sure the being in multiple bands is the answer.

One band that has the amount of bookings you desire is the best model.

But it happens a lot to find musician of a big original band doing other projetc as well ... one band can't give you all. If you look in the jazz realm there is a solo artist that invite some musician and in the next album it won't be the same people.

 

[bluewine]

But it happens a lot to find musician of a big original band doing other projetc as well ... one band can't give you all. If you look in the jazz realm there is a solo artist that invite some musician and in the next album it won't be the same people.

I have read about these guys in multiple bands. And maybe 1 out of the 5 bands their in gets a gig per month.

The rest of the month your in the basement rehearsing.

No thanks


Blue

 

[bluewine]

Ah...therein lies the eggs in one basket conundrum.

Yes, one band, the right band. The band that provides you with most of what your looking for.

Not wasting your time trying to manage being in 5 bands where maybe one of them will be productive.

 

[seanm]

T
Every band is different, I do notice most cover bands do not stay together 12 months if they have not gotten over the hump of playing more than rehearsing, unless they are bottom feeders that take the low paying gigs.

Ouch.... I didn't realize we where bottom feeders. That hurts

We gig about once a month, no more than twice a month (band decision). I wish we gigged more. So we practice about twice a month.

We always get at least $100 per person per gig.

Is this really true? My anecdotal observation is that smokers still go to bars, but smoke outside, while non-smokers who would never have gone to those bars before will now do so.

The smoking bylaw definitely hurt a *lot* here. We have never completely recovered.

The big problem is that corporate gigs have all but disappeared.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I have read about these guys in multiple bands. And maybe 1 out of the 5 bands their in gets a gig per month.

The rest of the month your in the basement rehearsing.

No thanks


Blue

I don't know Les Claypool seems very active ... and not gigging doesn't mean you don't make money of CD or mp3 on Itune or without merchandise.

 

[bluewine]

I don't know Les Claypool seems very active ... and not gigging doesn't mean you don't make money of CD or mp3 on Itune or without merchandise.

You know the rules, les "made it " he's famous.

He doesn't count.

Blue

 

[bluewine]

The originals blues band I played with for a year+ had one paying gig in a year. Rehearsals once a week for a year cost me $50 each 'cause I had to leave a paying job early for reh. The one gig we did paid me $50. You do the math... Now I'm in a classic rock covers band and we get a few more gigs but still not enough for our taste, would like to do at least 1-2 a month.

I've been there.

You might have to wait a while and go out to shows of the bands you like and that gig a lot. Network!

Don't be shy, introduce yourself to one of the guitarist, tell him a little about yourself and ask for a card. Stay in touch, be cool, don't stalk or do anything weird.

You never know when they might be looking at new bass players.

If it happens make sure your ready and positioned to win an audition.

 

[mellowinman]

Today there are a lot more gigging bands that are absolutely terrible than there have ever been before. Everybody and his brother is in a band, and a whole lot of them simply aren't very talented, or don't practice enough. I used to go see band in the eighties, and bad bands were few and far between. Now I hear some where the vocals are off-key; players are not in time; even sometimes the instruments are not in tune!

What has happened? A lot of nepotism and good old boy networks. Most of the successful bands in this town work for our local music stores; radio stations; music paper, or even for the venues themselves. And the scene suffers for it! I am shocked how often I go into a club, and there's almost nobody there.