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is band culture changing?

#101
Jools4001 said:
Don't worry about it, we Brits have got a very robust sense of humour and that's how I took it - with a wry smile.

Just as long as you guys all realise that any gold medals you win in the forthcoming London Olympics won't count as real wins :smug:
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Cool,

Blue

Btw, I stole that line from little Stevie vanzandt. He used it when he inducted. The Rascals into the rock and roll hall of fame.

I know, I know, half of you have never heard of The Rascals. They are one of the best rock bands to come out of long island.
 
#102
jaywa said:
1) Smoking bans have been enacted in many states, including my home state and at least one of the states adjacent. As a non-smoker this has made my gigging environments FAR more tolerable, but in terms of sheer business at bars it has been a negative.
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I have always considered smoking ban laws a good thing. I don't think it's stopped people from going out; just made it more attractive to a whole lot more people who wouldn't have gone out otherwise. I often go out for a drink and to catch a band set where I wouldn't have before non-smoking laws were introduced.


jaywa said:
3) Drunk driving enforcement has gone way up, in the form of sobriety checkpoints, cops laying in wait during bar rush to ambush drivers on the way home, etc. Again, incentive for people to stay home or if they do come out to a bar, buy less alcohol and leave sooner. The risks are just way too high and people aren't gonna go to a bar and drink water all night no matter how good the band may be.
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While this may be a concern to some, I don't see reducing drunk driving as a bad thing. I hope there's not too many people thinking they cannot have a night out because they can't drink and drive.

I am not sure that band culture is changing; more that you need to be involved with a band with like-minded players with the same set of goals and similar playing level.

I do want to play out, however playing 1-3 (payed) shows a month would be a good amount for me. I want it to be more than a hobby, but less than a full-time commitment of a heavily gigging band.
 
#103
Smallmouth_Bass said:
I have always considered smoking ban laws a good thing. I don't think it's stopped people from going out; just made it more attractive to a whole lot more people who wouldn't have gone out otherwise. I often go out for a drink and to catch a band set where I wouldn't have before non-smoking laws were introduced.
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When smoking was banned in Madison, the folks who had been deterred by the smoke didn't suddenly start going to bars. Non-smokers had already arranged their lifestyles in ways that did not include bars. For instance: Having kids.

Meanwhile, the "regulars" stayed home, and bars depend deeply on a core of regular customers to keep them going.

Things began to turn around, as some bars went out of business or got sold, and other bars started up with new "regulars."

Then the economy tanked.
 
#104
I would gig more if I could keep a band of what I would like to call professionals together. Where I happen to live, (hell) there are just very few musicians that live in the same musical world as I do. Plus there are a limited number of clubs to play in and most decent musicians work day jobs and are sick and tired of all the band DRAMA and general crap you go through. Pay is usually just enough to get by and doesn't warrant endless practice hours with wanna be musicians. I hate doing all the work for a band and making little extra to show for it.

For years I always said "I play for free. I get paid to set up and tear down"

I recently just called it quits with gigging, especially around here. I'm plenty happy building basses and guitars plus teaching Bass, Guitar, and Drums and a full time job. Hell, I want some time to ride my Harley, lol
 
#106
I've forgotten what the original question is but, after reading the last 6 pages, I think I'm supposed to rag on the Brits and Texans.

The fraternal organizations are our stock-in-trade. Not the greatest pay but there's always somebody in the crowd who wants a business card afterwards. We pick up a lot of private parties and the like that way. Not bad for a bunch of 50 year olds!

There is a demand for live music, you just have to identify the appropriate markets and resign yourself to the fact that 99% of us are not going to get rich in the process. I've found a sense of satisfaction knowing that somebody is enjoying our band....and I'm actually able to use some of the stuff I've purchased from TB classifieds over the past 10 years!

Riis
 
#107
As a bottom feeder band, one of the reasons we can get private gigs is because we are cheap: $600, same as a DJ. But we provide live music and have programmed music between sets (via my mp3 player).

However, if somebody comes up and ask if they can play something from their laptop and/or mp3 player between sets... no problem. It is semi-weird (in a good way) how people will be up and dancing to all our classic rock songs, then want electro club music between sets. And then be happy to go back to classic rock.
 
#108
bluewine said:
From the responses and replies I have read from my threads, it seem like gigging is not much of a priority with many bands.

Outside of family or health reasons and lets keep this from a cover band perspective because it will go all over the place if we consider originals.


Are you and your band working enough in your opinion?

How often are you gigging during s month?

If you are unhappy with the amount of gigs your band books, is there anything that can be done to improve bookings?

Blue
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We run a jam every Sunday, so we're working a bit. We probably do 1-2 other gigs a month. With the exception of the BL we all work full time, so we couldn't do much more. We do have to calm down the BL when he starts wanting to book us for mid week gigs, especially low pay gigs.

We could do a better job of marketing the band. We have a web page, on FB and Twitter. We also need to keep the line up consistent. The catch is that will probably mean more traveling for gigs. Given the price of gas and what clubs in eastern Ma/southern NH are paying it limits how far we're willing to travel.
 
#112
ChrisB2 said:
...yet you still gig.

What existed then, that has diminished, that made it more exciting?

Why do you still want to gig in light of this loss of excitement?
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I should have said a certain type of the excitement seems to have diminished for players.

For me, and I don't know why. I still feed off of the excitement generated by the culture of the 60s. This was when there was still an innocents to the business.

Many newer players are coming into bands and learning their instruments a lot latter in life and have no personal, emotional, political or philosophical conection to rock.

For example and going back a few years;

Buck Cherry, not my idea of rock or anything that has anything to do with rock. I remember last year when I was auditioning that Crazy
B---- song was one I was asked to audition. I listened to it and my reaction was ; "Rubbish", child like lyrics and musically worthless.

I declined the audition.

Another example, when my last 2 bands broke up, none of the members ( younger guys ) ever persued opportunities with other bands. I thought that was just plain weird.

If it's not in your blood, it's not in your blood.
 
#114
ChrisB2 said:
...yet you still gig.

What existed then, that has diminished, that made it more exciting?

Why do you still want to gig in light of this loss of excitement?
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Line ups to get into the bars. Crowds existed then. In 1982, Wednesday was busy, Thursday thru Saturday was packed from 8:00 on. Encores every night, man.

Why do I still do it? Because I still pine for that special gig when people show up and appreciate us, and I still love to play.

Although I don't think smoking bans had much to do with it, around here it was the drinking/driving laws. Even restaurants are down 30% since the .05 came in a year ago.

What's also happened , IMO, is that most the older crowd that loved live music no longer goes out. The people that do all go to the same bars. Not as many bars are needed for the people who like live music.

Plus, the quality of the bands have gone down. A lot of them are doing most the same set list they did in 1978. It's a PITA to learn a song that falls off the radio before you get a chance to even get it tight. Also, they're not playing 6 nights a week anymore so they're not as tight as they used to be. A lot of that has to do with the new top 40 being so produced and disposable it's tough to stay current.

More bands of lesser quality fighting over fewer venues equals fewer gigs and price and quality go down. Club owners wind up staying loyal to the bands they know do well.

Most of the younger generation does not appreciate live music. I still am reeling from the fact that my 22 year old daughter is into dubstep, and actually goes to shows that feature specific DJs. :rollno: Even in the disco area, DJs didn't have followings... now they're frikkin' rockstars. :scowl:

Has the culture changed? IMO, yep. I know true, established pros that have never had a weekend off that are now advertising on CL "Band For Hire".

We had a good run, though.
 
#116
bluewine said:
Exactly, bands were a novelty back then.

People literally went nuts even over the mere sight of a few guys standing with electric guitars.
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Or was it a relief that for once music was more accessible to the mass that doesn't have the musical background to understand Bebop or Serialism ? Also that the instrument were less expensive and easier to play.
 
#117
Okay. The big excitement was the crowds, the line ups to get into bars to see the band, and the general "electric buzz" caused by the novelty of R&R music and all that came with it.

The question remains... With all of that "gone," why do you still want to gig?
 
#118
ChrisB2 said:
Okay. The big excitement was the crowds, the line ups to get into bars to see the band, and the general "electric buzz" caused by the novelty of R&R music and all that came with it.

The question remains... With all of that "gone," why do you still want to gig?
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I still have the same level of enthusiasm. Plus, I still think it's 1969 :)
 

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