My band doesn't do covers

[RustyAxe]

A while ago, people were asking what 'typical Talkbass' is.

This. This is typical Talkbass.

People rag on you from all sides because you want to play originals and if you decide not to play that game, you're ignorant and condescending. *slowclap

What is "typical TalkBass" is players who want it both ways. "I want to maintain my artistic integrity so I play only original compositions, but I want to play to big, lively audiences". One CAN have it both ways ... but not usually in the same project. I play in a five piece country cover band. And an acoustic classic country cover trio. Both play to decent audiences, often enough to keep me happy. And then there's a great singer/songwriter for whom I've been singing harmony and playing bass for about 9 years, 99% original, he gives me free rein. We've done many concerts (two hours, usually). Pay for each gig is usually pretty good, but gigs aren't very frequent. And another writer with whom I do the same things. I've recorded with both of them.

Works for me ... on all levels.

 

[dtsamples]

1) Write originals they will like and 2) Figure out a way to introduce those originals to them.

*2) herein lies the rub. So you wrote good songs. Do you also have a look, a stage presence, a charming personality and rapier wit? Does your smile make people feel important? Do you seem like the group of guys or gals that everyone wants to hang out and have a good time with? Are you fun? Are you relevant? Do you have a niche carved out, no matter how small, that no one else does?

Man, if anyone thinks cover musicians are a contrived bunch, successful original bands are a friggin caricature.

 

[Broke]

Exactly. I get so tired of musicians being mad because audiences don't like their originals. 1) Write originals they will like and 2) Figure out a way to introduce those originals to them.

I hear over and over that starting in a cover band and introducing originals won't work, but I never hear what will work.

If 1 way worked, everyone would be a rock star. That's kind of the purpose of my thread. To find things people have done, to see if this issue has been talked about (most certainly has), and see what direction we could take to really have the best of both worlds. It's incredibly complicated and geographically specific. I admit that I don't have the answer but maybe I'll find the answer here or a spark that will lead us in a direction that everyone is happy with.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Musicians (at least those getting paid to play in front of live audiences) are entertainers. They are there to make the people watching them happy - not satiate their own egos. What is so obtuse about that?

 

[lfmn16]

If 1 way worked, everyone would be a rock star.

No, because not everyone can write songs people want to hear.

Actually, almost nobody can do it.

 

[QORC]

play what you wish, but if you don't play what people want to hear it will be difficult to get bookings. so I guess you have a choice to make - either give the people what they want, or stroke your own ego by playing your own music to nobody

 

[lfmn16]

Musicians (at least those getting paid to play in front of live audiences) are entertainers. They are there to make the people watching them happy - not satiate their own egos. What is so obtuse about that?

Musicians are there for the audience? Could you go over that again, this time type slowly?

 

[dtsamples]

Musicians (at least those getting paid to play in front of live audiences) are entertainers. They are there to make the people watching them happy - not satiate their own egos. What is so obtuse about that?

Entertaining people and making them happy does a metric f-ton for my ego, believe you me.

 

[MegaSwing]

FWIW, I used to play with a husband/wife songwriting team that wrote some cool songs. If they had gotten a couple of breaks, they might’ve made it. However, it was an easy scene to tire of, learning all this music that had zero utility outside of the group, then gig after gig in rooms full of weak songwriting prima donnas, where I was consistently spending more than I was getting paid after having two beers.

It’s a labor of love, and that love will get tested nightly. It had better be a deep abiding need burning in the pit of your soul, or you will come to loathe it.

 

[aledeville]

This. My understanding of the originals scene in Atlanta (where I live) is that they have band nights at places like the Earl, where they have up to 8 originals bands, that get maybe 20 minutes each.
Now that I think about it, this is smart because most originals bands would bore people after 20 minutes.
For pay they get whatever tickets they can sell.

Life. It isn't always fair. But if you want to be an all-originals band, you better have an audience.

8 bands with 20 min each... what a horror story.

Well then, tell Chris Stapleton to stop doing Tennessee Whiskey. Good luck.

Did I do something wrong?

 

[DoctorZee]

Screw people. Playing is about you, not them, unless you're there for the $$$.

Goodness gracious, I don't even know where to begin with this. Do you play gigs? If so, why?

 

[SmokinJoe992]

Exactly. I get so tired of musicians being mad because audiences don't like their originals. 1) Write originals they will like and 2) Figure out a way to introduce those originals to them.

I hear over and over that starting in a cover band and introducing originals won't work, but I never hear what will work.

I am familiar with several bands in my area that started out primarily as cover bands that gradually began working originals into their acts. To me this is the way to go if you are a past your prime musician that is looking to get your originals out there, and still play to a receptive audience. There is no reason why a cover band couldn't mix in one original song a set, and promote their original music while still playing primarily covers on most gigs. There is no reason why you couldn't play some originals only shows once you had enough original material. Why does it have to be one or the other?

 

[aledeville]

Don't be to harsh with that "screw the people" statement, sometimes you just have to give what you have and look what's coming back. Don't be those bands who have a nice album and radio-tune the second one to the extent that it's becoming really shallow and mainstream.

I'd rather fail setting a trend than selling myself completely.

 

[Biggbass]

If we had 18 hip hop dancers, multiple costume changes, brainless repetitive lyrics, and
equally repetitive grooves, along with a 15 pc band that is staged on a Jailhouse Rock cells & bars set, I bet we could get some audiences for our original Americana music.

Or maybe the answer is to ditch the real banjo and get a 6 string banjo!

Or grow long hair, put on a cowboy hat, get a Marshall stack, add 3 female blue wigged back up singers, and change guitars for every song.

Surely there is a formula that works for attracting larger audiences for original music.

I've got it.....Smoke machine!

 

[dtsamples]

I am familiar with several bands in my area that started out primarily as cover bands that gradually began working originals into their acts. To me this is the way to go if you are a past your prime musician that is looking to get your originals out there, and still play to a receptive audience. There is no reason why a cover band couldn't mix in one original song a set, and promote their original music while still playing primarily covers on most gigs. There is no reason why you couldn't play some originals only shows once you had enough original material. Why does it have to be one or the other?

Shoot, a cover band from my area ended up forming a band with Greg Howe. They moved out to Vegas, recorded and released an album, and the music was killer. Playing covers quickly teaches you that you have to have a hell of a lot more than just good songs to keep people entertained.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Screw people. Playing is about you, not them, unless you're there for the $$$
I would not even pick up the bass to play covers.

So you are saying that you don't gig much (has nothing to do with covers, just you ignoring the audience...).

 

[Kingmixer325]

I just hope I don’t have to play that funky music ‘til I die...

 

[lfmn16]

I am familiar with several bands in my area that started out primarily as cover bands that gradually began working originals into their acts. To me this is the way to go if you are a past your prime musician that is looking to get your originals out there, and still play to a receptive audience. There is no reason why a cover band couldn't mix in one original song a set, and promote their original music while still playing primarily covers on most gigs. There is no reason why you couldn't play some originals only shows once you had enough original material. Why does it have to be one or the other?

It doesn't have to be one way or the other, you can do whatever you want, provided you are OK with the results. I just don't see you reaching nearly as many people play 100% originals as you will reach doing cover/original mix and the way to build a following is to reach as many people as possible.

 

[dtsamples]

If we had 18 hip hop dancers, multiple costume changes, brainless repetitive lyrics, and
equally repetitive grooves, along with a 15 pc band that is staged on a Jailhouse Rock cells & bars set, I bet we could get some audiences for our original Americana music.

Or maybe the answer is to ditch the real banjo and get a 6 string banjo!

Or grow long hair, put on a cowboy hat, get a Marshall stack, add 3 female blue wigged back up singers, and change guitars for every song.

Surely there is a formula that works for attracting larger audiences for original music.

I've got it.....Smoke machine!

Well, let's say you've got the afternoon off and want to go catch a flick. You going to see the low budget indie noir film with a compelling story or you going to see the latest blockbuster?

 

[micguy]

Screw people. Playing is about you, not them, unless you're there for the $$$
I would not even pick up the bass to play covers.

"I'd like to thank both of you for coming out tonight to our CD release party. Mom, Sis....."