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Is the "battle of the bands" a real thing? I've never heard of or seen one.

#82
Gopherbassist said:
Well, that's not entirely true. I've read about Cliff Burton competing in a battle of the bands in a band he was in with Jim Martin (of Faith No More) in the late 70s or early 80s.

I was around kids in bands in highschool, a time when I should have been hearing about such things if they were happening.

Is this something that had its time and went the way of the dinosaurs?
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I used to run one. From a venue perspective it can be good as it creates drama and that can make crowds turn up, pay entry, buy drinks. And, as it's based on prizes, payments to bands are reduced, and the prizes were gifted by local businesses in return for promotion of the business to the crowd.

But it wasn't purely cynical as a good crowd gives new bands the chance to play to a decently-sized crowd and find new fans. These are bands that wouldn't necessarily even get a look in for a support slot for a larger band sufficient to generate a large crowd. Plus we used to bust a gut to give the bands a decent experience. Plus, to make it not just a popularity contest, it was based on votes by a panel of people from the local music scene. We might have made a little more making it just a popularity contest, but it seemed wrong to do so - give a good new band a chance to shine.

We also recorded and turned out tapes (as was the medium then) within a week of each stage. That was quite a rush to select, mix (bass, drums, vocals and everything else as those were the submixes available) and make sure copyright was correctly attributed and then replicated. That was part of keeping that buzz going over three or four weeks.

Other venues also ran competitions, and they were based on crowd votes. I once went to support a friend's band but voted for an out of town band as it was just so very good.
 
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#85
lethargytartare said:
Not sure I want to admit to this, but we're doing a BotB local here soon lol The prizes are...um...gift cards to the bar that is hosting it hahahaha It's so bad, but we didn't have anything better to do then, so we're gonna do it. BotBs were a very common theme in 80s teen movies.
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We had prizes like five sets of guitar strings, free set up, as well as drinks gift cards.
 
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#88
I was in a band made up of employees of a large (and toxic) law firm that competed annually in a charity event raising funds for music education in public schools and we won first place repeatedly. Alan White of Yes was one of the judges several times.
Ironically that band went on to compete in the Fortune 500 Battle Of the Best Places To Work Battle of The Bands but I had quit the band and the firm after a toxic partner had entered us without telling me. I refused to cooperate as we were talking to lawyers about suing the firm and they were penalized for changing the lineup after finding a new bassist. :bassist:

The event still exists
Lawyerpalooza X 2025 - Greater Richmond Bar Foundation
 
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#89
wmdj5 said:
Yep, pretty much correct, although I don't see anyone, not even the organizers, really making any money at those things. That's why the idea is dying.
I've played a few BOTBs with different groups.
Normally the "audience" is just the other bands' family and girlfriends.
Pretty much a pay to play venue for bands that can't or won't gig.
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This national showcase thing has been going on long enough, someone is making money. I bet the local folks in Memphis are able to charge a premium to feature "national" acts from all over the place, even though they are all paying their own way to get there.
 
#90
They were pretty big from the late 60s through the 80s. I still hear of one here or there, especially as fundraisers for charities. The only ones I’ve been to in the past decade were for HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians) - to raise money to help cover medical bills for local musicians. Winners get bragging rights *and* they get a showcase at Antone’s, one of them best known clubs in Austin. Clifford Antone gave so many musicians a stage — including Stevie Ray Vaughn. Of course, these are bands put together by companies from their employee pool just for this, so not exactly the same thing.
 
#91
Fuzzbass said:
The local BOTBs that I played as a teen many decades ago were actually "battles of the fans", because the winner was decided by audience voting….
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Last century around here it was simply how many tickets you could (pre) sell. Not just one night but like 5 ahows within a few months. I think minimum was ~20 to get in. Then +10-20 more each round or you were eliminated. (Looking back it was Just a twist on “Pay to Play” 🫤)
 
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#93
Who knew..?

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#94
They are common where I am. I grew up in Alberta and I'm now on the west coast, and there have been 2-3 each year for as long as I can remember. I've played in several, as it's a good way for a new band to get a gig and show what you can do to an existing audience. You don't need to 'win', you just need to bring it. And age doesn't seem to matter much either, it's never been dominated by youth. I've seen them targeting a genre (battle of metal, jazz band battle, country band round up) or just being open to all comers. Interesting thread; highlighting local cultural experiences. :)
 
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#95
Kansas said:
I participated in many BOTB since the 60's. There was always a prize, whether it be $$ or some opportunity for the winner .
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I want to add that in 1964 there were only several local bands in our area. Being in a band was a pretty big deal back then. We were in Jr High School with Silvertone amps and Kent guitars
 
#97
Done a few and did well but it can be pretty subjective.
Various prizes on offer but you need to weigh that against the reason for putting one on.

If the prize is a day in the recording studio..ok, for kids.
If a bar runs one, it probably smacks of trying to fill venue up on off nights.

Then you need to weigh all that against you not winning it for bragging rights.
 
#98
"In house" high school agency bands [Unicam - PNW] would compete once in awhile two at a time in high school gyms in the '70s. All in good fun, but serious as far as checking out the other players. Made many life long friends a few I am still in contact with [ahem - a few with whom I am still in contact].
Last 'battle" I participated in was early '90s between about 5 original bands in the Ballard Firehouse venue. Funny; my band won and it was songs about peace and love and harmony, etc etc, winning a "battle" against punk and metal bands. g00d times
 
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