Are you billing yourself as an original band? If so, you should probably be gigging at venues that books original acts. If you're gigging at venues that pay you to play covers, you need to play covers. Pretty simple.
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I think it’s up to the audience to decide for themselves how awesome they think the band is. And FWIW, in most originals bands I’ve been in or known, their approval shows itself early or not at all. If you’re doing originals and you haven’t clicked solidly with the crowd by the second or third of the (3-minute long) first three songs in your very first set, then it ain’t happening for them. And it’s sure not going to happen for your band either.
Yep. Been there. “Genius is pain!” Yadda-yadda. And from my experience it’s a sure fire prescription for failure. The problem your bandmates have is that any form of performance art, be it music, dance, theater, or sports is entertainment. So whatever they may think they’rve been hired to do isn’t what the people who paid to get in are hiring them for.
Once you get rich and famous the balance of the equation shifts and it starts getting to be a little bit more about you. But until that happy day it remains all about them as far as your audience is concerned.
Good luck. If your bandmates don’t come around and stop thinking it’s all about “the art” you’re gonna need it.
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It didn't sound to me like the OP wants to play originals, though. It sounds to me like the OP is in an originals band, but the OP wants to play covers. So my suggestion was to join a band that does what the OP wants to do.
Look, I'm in several bands that mostly play originals. If I didn't want to play original music, I wouldn't be in those bands. But it won't be fun for me if people who come to see us don't like the music. Luckily, they do.
I also played in cover bands for many years. It's where I honed my chops. So I appreciate both sides, have been there, done that in both situations, and I don't have a greater respect for one versus the other. Both have upsides, both have downsides.
Internet discussion, though? There's where you tend to see things get polarized in a very black vs. white manner where people don't often look for the middle ground. I don't know why that is, but I try to look for that sort of thinking in my own posts and stop myself short of posting absolutes. We humans, when electronically enhanced, appear to be argumentative, as a general rule.
Play the first verse to introduce the audience to your original, then segue into a cover with a similar beat. For example, Chainsaw Dreams: play thru to “Hit me in the head with an 8 pound maul” (about 1 minute in), followed by the instrumental break which segues into a cover by Neil Young (chorus: Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World) ... or Dylan, Tom Petty, Hendrix, REM... something familiar.
The Jetzons made a career doing 1 minute originals.
Also, Don’t go to hell in a bucket. Don’t use don’t in your lyrics because people don’t like being told what to do. Don’t give up on your dreams.
The Jetzons made a career doing 1 minute originals.
Also, Don’t go to hell in a bucket. Don’t use don’t in your lyrics because people don’t like being told what to do. Don’t give up on your dreams.
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i play in a 70/30 original-to-covers band
we have 26 originals, we can go a bit without having to cover
we did a 33 song 3-setter last weekend
that being said:
if you want to play weddings n bars, play covers
if you want to fill arenas, you gotta play originals
imho
I'll take 'arenas' for $500, Alex...
I have a fever and the only cure is more arenas
we have 26 originals, we can go a bit without having to cover
we did a 33 song 3-setter last weekend
that being said:
if you want to play weddings n bars, play covers
if you want to fill arenas, you gotta play originals
imho
I'll take 'arenas' for $500, Alex...
I have a fever and the only cure is more arenas
Hey look! A covers-vs-originals thread! How unusual!
I think this is a really important point - originals only thrive where there is a scene for them, and not just a scene for original music in general, but for THAT band's genre in particular. I listened to a bit of the OP's tracks he shared, and while there's nothing bad about any of it, I can easily imagine that it's not the style of thing that a crowd seeking fresh original music is looking for.
The genre principle can apply to cover bands too, for that matter. Six Cowards plays contemporary alternative stuff. We had a couple early gigs at bars where the locals HATED us. We're playing Arctic Monkeys and a guy at the bar is calling out, "You guys know any Guns N Roses?" Errr.... no. Even if it matched anything else we're going for, sir, can you HEAR my singing voice? Do you imagine I'm going to attempt Axl Rose? EVER?
This post makes no sense to me. If you cover a song, the lyrics, riffs, rhythms are all still there... and unless you're having one of those godawful meandering jam-band sessions, the audience at the gig doesn't get to witness your songwriting itself, they only see the end result... and decide if they like it or not. Composition is not "most of the art that is with music," it's ONE of the skills that goes into creating music.
I have often encountered the polar opposite - guys who only play originals because, although they usually won't admit it, they lack the musical skills to master a cover song. They compose to their own level and don't push beyond it. As some have posted, even with aspirations to write originals, cutting your teeth on covers is a great way to develop your craft. That's what the Beatles and the Stones and many other bands did.
While people like to joke about it, I don't think most guys here who play in cover bands are actually doing it for the money - there just isn't that much money in it any more. Maybe you get a hundred bucks or a bit more but hardly anyone is paying their bills that way unless they're in a serious wedding/corporate function band, which is a different animal from the average bar band.
I think I can speak for a lot of the cover band guys when we say that 1) we LIKE the music we play, and 2) we LIKE our audiences and enjoy ourselves when they enjoy what we're doing. The audience is not the enemy to be defeated and subjected to our genius or condemned as philistines, they're a kind of community that we belong to and bring joy to and that's a noble pursuit in my book.
Some people on the thread have been very fond of the false dichotomy, that there's EITHER covers or originals and EVERYONE should be doing one or the other. That's silly. Some people have a talent for song writing. Others have a talent for performance. Of course with no originals bands, ever, there would be no songs to cover. But that's no reason why the cover bands shouldn't celebrate great songwriting by covering good tunes. And a lot of people do both.
I went to a friend's cover band gig a couple weeks ago. A couple of times in the set they broke out originals... that I had done the bass lines for originally in another project! There was actually something kind of satisfying in listening to his current bassist interpret the lines I had done (one was very close, the other I thought missed some key bits).
I think this is a really important point - originals only thrive where there is a scene for them, and not just a scene for original music in general, but for THAT band's genre in particular. I listened to a bit of the OP's tracks he shared, and while there's nothing bad about any of it, I can easily imagine that it's not the style of thing that a crowd seeking fresh original music is looking for.
The genre principle can apply to cover bands too, for that matter. Six Cowards plays contemporary alternative stuff. We had a couple early gigs at bars where the locals HATED us. We're playing Arctic Monkeys and a guy at the bar is calling out, "You guys know any Guns N Roses?" Errr.... no. Even if it matched anything else we're going for, sir, can you HEAR my singing voice? Do you imagine I'm going to attempt Axl Rose? EVER?
This post makes no sense to me. If you cover a song, the lyrics, riffs, rhythms are all still there... and unless you're having one of those godawful meandering jam-band sessions, the audience at the gig doesn't get to witness your songwriting itself, they only see the end result... and decide if they like it or not. Composition is not "most of the art that is with music," it's ONE of the skills that goes into creating music.
I have often encountered the polar opposite - guys who only play originals because, although they usually won't admit it, they lack the musical skills to master a cover song. They compose to their own level and don't push beyond it. As some have posted, even with aspirations to write originals, cutting your teeth on covers is a great way to develop your craft. That's what the Beatles and the Stones and many other bands did.
While people like to joke about it, I don't think most guys here who play in cover bands are actually doing it for the money - there just isn't that much money in it any more. Maybe you get a hundred bucks or a bit more but hardly anyone is paying their bills that way unless they're in a serious wedding/corporate function band, which is a different animal from the average bar band.
I think I can speak for a lot of the cover band guys when we say that 1) we LIKE the music we play, and 2) we LIKE our audiences and enjoy ourselves when they enjoy what we're doing. The audience is not the enemy to be defeated and subjected to our genius or condemned as philistines, they're a kind of community that we belong to and bring joy to and that's a noble pursuit in my book.
Some people on the thread have been very fond of the false dichotomy, that there's EITHER covers or originals and EVERYONE should be doing one or the other. That's silly. Some people have a talent for song writing. Others have a talent for performance. Of course with no originals bands, ever, there would be no songs to cover. But that's no reason why the cover bands shouldn't celebrate great songwriting by covering good tunes. And a lot of people do both.
I went to a friend's cover band gig a couple weeks ago. A couple of times in the set they broke out originals... that I had done the bass lines for originally in another project! There was actually something kind of satisfying in listening to his current bassist interpret the lines I had done (one was very close, the other I thought missed some key bits).
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You want to make them get up and dance? If they don't get up within the first 10 seconds.......you've already lost them! Like it or not, if the songs don't don't have booty shaking qualities of some sort...they're just going to sit there and watch.....or leave.
For you guys who play heavy music......pretty much folks will either rave or head bang.....or...same as above.....
Ya gotta give them something that peaks their interest. Just my opinion.
For you guys who play heavy music......pretty much folks will either rave or head bang.....or...same as above.....
Ya gotta give them something that peaks their interest. Just my opinion.
It's interesting to see people here saying that there's no value to a player in doing covers. I don't know about that. I learned a whole lot of licks by deconstructing lines written by others. I tend to agree with Hrodbert that too often people "create" original music only to their own level and don't challenge themselves. I like challenging myself and that's one reason that, when I sit down for practice, I often pull out things to cover that are a little outside my comfort zone. I don't really do that when I'm writing music with others, though. In that context I'm usually playing it safe. Just some food for thought.
I have oodles of cassettes full of songs I wrote and created. I have a couple problems. First, I can't get musicians to play them the way I want. No matter how much I tried. They can't understand MY vision. Secondly, if I were to play and perform them.....I want to be paid. Period. Art is art, I get it but I ain't playing for free even if it's my own original music. If it's not profitable for me, I'm not wasting my time. To those who won't do covers.....I get it. I'm with you in spirit. If it weren't for y'all, there'd be no covers for me to play. So I appreciate y'all. But if your music doesn't move folks...you can't get upset. It's your music and it's for you.
some audience members like originals and some like covers.
some musicians like playing originals and some like playing covers.
i think what has been said a few times in this thread, and others, is you need to have an honest conversation with yourself and your band.
do you want to be a cover band where you play 4 sets, the audience knows the songs you are playing, and you make some cash? does playing covers scratch your artistic itch?
do you want to be in an originals band where you play one 1 30-45 minute set, the audience is smaller, and you might not lose money? does the creative process make up for the hardships (that might pay off one day)?
do you want to be somewhere in the middle?
there is no wrong answer.
some musicians like playing originals and some like playing covers.
i think what has been said a few times in this thread, and others, is you need to have an honest conversation with yourself and your band.
do you want to be a cover band where you play 4 sets, the audience knows the songs you are playing, and you make some cash? does playing covers scratch your artistic itch?
do you want to be in an originals band where you play one 1 30-45 minute set, the audience is smaller, and you might not lose money? does the creative process make up for the hardships (that might pay off one day)?
do you want to be somewhere in the middle?
there is no wrong answer.
Not sure why it's so complex. If you don't enjoy playing your band's originals, but your band insists on playing 90% originals, and you'd prefer to play in a covers band that gets the crowd going ... then join a covers band. And let the originals band find someone who'd rather play their originals.
Likely the same people that see no value in reading music, no value in good technique, no value in learning theory; i.e. no value bettering themselves.
I've never liked cover bands unless it's something unique like Black Sabbitch, the all-female Sabbath tribute. Therefore I can't see myself playing in one. You can't fake it. If it's just to make a buck, people will see right through it. OTOH, if it's fun for you to play other's people's songs and people dig it, then have at it.
Intro, verse, chorus to Johnny B Goode. Once everyone is on the dance floor, break into Digging in the Fertile Dirt.
Keep ‘em dancing with Elvis’ Ring Around Your Neck, with a mid song break to Chainsaw Dreams.
All you need now is 28 more covers and a bar room full of misogynists.
Keep ‘em dancing with Elvis’ Ring Around Your Neck, with a mid song break to Chainsaw Dreams.
All you need now is 28 more covers and a bar room full of misogynists.
I don't get this originals vs covers debate.
Yes, it's easier to get paying gigs playing covers.
However, there are thousands of jobs that pay more than being in a cover band. Why are you cover band musicians wasting your time playing covers when you could be programming computers or plumbing for way more money?
Oh? Because you like playing music? You're willing to do something for less money because you get enjoyment out of it?
Well idiot, that's why people are out there playing originals. They enjoy creating their own music, whether or not it's the most profitable option.
Yes, it's easier to get paying gigs playing covers.
However, there are thousands of jobs that pay more than being in a cover band. Why are you cover band musicians wasting your time playing covers when you could be programming computers or plumbing for way more money?
Oh? Because you like playing music? You're willing to do something for less money because you get enjoyment out of it?
Well idiot, that's why people are out there playing originals. They enjoy creating their own music, whether or not it's the most profitable option.
