My band flipped on me.....????

[Thundertips]

Are you saying that Canadians don't become famous?

No, lots of Canadians become famous. It's just hard for bands to become famous.

 

[MynameisMe]

I would think putting a new band together to gig would be a moot point right now, but I guess not.

"The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation research center out of the University of Washington now projects nearly 4,000 deaths in Florida and nearly 135,000 deaths in the U.S. The numbers are more than double projections from just a week ago before several states, including Florida, lifted stay-at-home orders."

Orlando Sentinel Coronavirus Update May 6, 2020

Uh yeah. NOT.

 

[MynameisMe]

No, lots of Canadians become famous. It's just hard for bands to become famous.

What about Chilliwack? What you got to say about that? They're Canadians!~~!

 

[Thundertips]

What about Chilliwack? What you got to say about that? They're Canadians!~~!

I said it's hard to make it in Canada. How many famous US or UK bands do you know in comparison to Canadian.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Uh yeah. NOT.

Best of luck.

 

[Thundertips]

What about Chilliwack? What you got to say about that? They're Canadians!~~!

Forget I even brought it up.

 

[bikeplate]

Silliness. Keep what they had and do another style band in addition

 

[Liam Wald]

No, lots of Canadians become famous. It's just hard for bands to become famous.

You are right. That is pretty much globally true.

 

[QweziRider]

Enjoy empty bars and confused faces when they return to playing.

That's about all there is to say. You'll be better in the end. Better they did it now than in the middle of working, I suppose.

 

[obimark]

Warning. Semi-Long Post and a bit of a rant....

So I’ve been in a successful cover band here in North Florida for about 4 years. 3 weekends a month. Best venues in town. Played private cooperate gigs. Weddings ect. Not our primary job but we made some decent extra money doing it. We regularly had to turn down gigs.

We played a mixture of Rock, Pop, Older Rock (Petty ect), some Sublime. A good mix but definitely Top 40 stuff. Great party band stuff that ladies can dance to and have fun. And we were good at it.

Enter the Corona Shut Down of 2020. My singer and guitarist tell me that they have decided to re-tool the entire setlist while we have this down time. They want to play more obscure music. Stuff they like. (Our drummer is neutral and will play whatever) They want heavier or more alternative stuff. Basically stuff that will clear a dance floor and and a bar in most places. And at the end of the night that one guy will come up and say “I loved your version of (insert some weird B side). Never heard anyone play that before!”

Now I get it. And they have hinted at this before. But I never thought they would actually want to go through with it. So I gracefully left/got fired for telling them it was a bad idea and they will end up losing all the gigs we worked so hard to get and keep.

Once again so called “artistic integrity” creeps up and ruins a great band on a great run. If you want to be “different” and original, then write some songs. Have the courage to put yourself out there and play them for the world. Don’t expect everyone to like them. Play for you. But in my option playing obscure covers is still playing covers. It just different ones that most will not want to hear.

So clearly I’m a little bitter over this. And I am a solid player and I sing pretty well. Lead and harmonies. So I can find another band to join once things return to normal. But wow. Way to bulldoze me out guys. Enjoy empty bars and confused faces when they return to playing.

Am I wrong here??? Geez.

Rant over!

Where were you going to play at anyhow? Doubt any venues will have much live music for a year with COVID19.

 

[MynameisMe]

Best of luck.

Thanks!

 

[MynameisMe]

I said it's hard to make it in Canada. How many famous US or UK bands do you know in comparison to Canadian.

I think there are what, 200 total people in Canada so I see your point.

 

[Frank77]

Am I wrong here??? Geez.

Nope, totally agree with you.

If I'm going to play a semi-empty venue, I'd much rather be playing original songs - at least people attending these shows are either other musicians you can network with for other gigs, or people curious enough to give a chance to something totally new. Playing obscure covers to nobody sounds like a nightmare to me...I'd be looking forward to tear down / load out the whole time.

 

[OogieWaWa]

Very interesting thread here, we've been looking at where we want to go with our 3-piece band.

But we've got a lot of more minor but similar issues to clear up, and we're looking to talk about it together/apart via video conference soon. I'm definitely getting some pointers here.

 

[TheReceder]

As you said above and I will reiterate. There is a balance that needs to be struck. Many great dance bands, around here, it's country, have the ladies dancing to every song, but the bar receipts are dismal. They dance but don't drink. Sometime a mix of dance and "take a break" songs are good for the venue. Younger crowds drink on the dance floor, but not so much classic rock and country fans. Around here anyhow.

Our clear the dance floor songs used to be the "songs we wanted to play" an example, do you feel like you do By frampton. great tune that sound good, was tough to dance to, and long enough that tables could get orders in, and get theier drinks... we actually told the bartenders when in our sets they'd be getting slammed. We weren't a great band, but before we changed our setlist we not only had a following, but bar owners let us know that when we played they typically had record liquor sales. It didn't matter if we were the best band in town, or that the bar owner liked or disliked hearing sweet Caroline, or Wagon wheel yet again... as long as the cash register was ringing.... I thought we played a good mix of stuff that we liked, and stuff the crowd liked. Then we changed... biggest mistake we ever made... we lost our fanbase by the second gig and people still tell me that they wish we'd go back to the kind of music we used to play.

 

[51PRI]

Warning. Semi-Long Post and a bit of a rant....

So I’ve been in a successful cover band here in North Florida for about 4 years. 3 weekends a month. Best venues in town. Played private cooperate gigs. Weddings ect. Not our primary job but we made some decent extra money doing it. We regularly had to turn down gigs.

We played a mixture of Rock, Pop, Older Rock (Petty ect), some Sublime. A good mix but definitely Top 40 stuff. Great party band stuff that ladies can dance to and have fun. And we were good at it.

Enter the Corona Shut Down of 2020. My singer and guitarist tell me that they have decided to re-tool the entire setlist while we have this down time. They want to play more obscure music. Stuff they like. (Our drummer is neutral and will play whatever) They want heavier or more alternative stuff. Basically stuff that will clear a dance floor and and a bar in most places. And at the end of the night that one guy will come up and say “I loved your version of (insert some weird B side). Never heard anyone play that before!”

Now I get it. And they have hinted at this before. But I never thought they would actually want to go through with it. So I gracefully left/got fired for telling them it was a bad idea and they will end up losing all the gigs we worked so hard to get and keep.

Once again so called “artistic integrity” creeps up and ruins a great band on a great run. If you want to be “different” and original, then write some songs. Have the courage to put yourself out there and play them for the world. Don’t expect everyone to like them. Play for you. But in my option playing obscure covers is still playing covers. It just different ones that most will not want to hear.

So clearly I’m a little bitter over this. And I am a solid player and I sing pretty well. Lead and harmonies. So I can find another band to join once things return to normal. But wow. Way to bulldoze me out guys. Enjoy empty bars and confused faces when they return to playing.

Am I wrong here??? Geez.

Rant over!

In my opinion you are not wrong. I mean, I get it, too, and I've been on both sides of the argument, too. If you want success as a dance/party band then you have to play dance/party music and songs. If you want to be artsy and obscure then that is a different choice and the success rate will usually be a lot different.

I have a feeling that you personally will be in a position to be looking for a different band to join or organize.

Good Luck!

 

[david barnes]

Warning. Semi-Long Post and a bit of a rant....

So I’ve been in a successful cover band here in North Florida for about 4 years. 3 weekends a month. Best venues in town. Played private cooperate gigs. Weddings ect. Not our primary job but we made some decent extra money doing it. We regularly had to turn down gigs.

We played a mixture of Rock, Pop, Older Rock (Petty ect), some Sublime. A good mix but definitely Top 40 stuff. Great party band stuff that ladies can dance to and have fun. And we were good at it.

Enter the Corona Shut Down of 2020. My singer and guitarist tell me that they have decided to re-tool the entire setlist while we have this down time. They want to play more obscure music. Stuff they like. (Our drummer is neutral and will play whatever) They want heavier or more alternative stuff. Basically stuff that will clear a dance floor and and a bar in most places. And at the end of the night that one guy will come up and say “I loved your version of (insert some weird B side). Never heard anyone play that before!”

Now I get it. And they have hinted at this before. But I never thought they would actually want to go through with it. So I gracefully left/got fired for telling them it was a bad idea and they will end up losing all the gigs we worked so hard to get and keep.

Once again so called “artistic integrity” creeps up and ruins a great band on a great run. If you want to be “different” and original, then write some songs. Have the courage to put yourself out there and play them for the world. Don’t expect everyone to like them. Play for you. But in my option playing obscure covers is still playing covers. It just different ones that most will not want to hear.

So clearly I’m a little bitter over this. And I am a solid player and I sing pretty well. Lead and harmonies. So I can find another band to join once things return to normal. But wow. Way to bulldoze me out guys. Enjoy empty bars and confused faces when they return to playing.

Am I wrong here??? Geez.

Rant over!

i feel your pain. i started a band . contacted people i thought would be a good fit. the band did great. we was a opening band for many many touring acts. band lasted nearly 5 years of hundreds of shows.. one day my wife and i had gotten in to a argument. so i left for the day.called my band asked . hey wife and i are arguing can i stay the night. keep in mind all members all have their own homes. with no kids. and room to spare. no one repsonded for 6 hours... it was a sunday.. so i contacted my buddy from a town over. he said i can stay the night there till things cooled off at home. wasnt no sooner than i arrived at my friends. one of my members replied. hey ya no you cant stay here sorry.. well poopie ok. lol. i have it taken care of.the band was mad that i left town. said they couldnt trust if i was gonna leave again. since i never missed one practice in nearly 5 years and the practice spot was in my home.. so didnt wanna worry on it so they fired me. uh this is my band that i started and that i put in 2000 of my own money for merch. i was the booking manager. took care of any and all issues. hell i did it all and for real they would complain and not wanna help do nothing, so i was like youre firing me cuz of what. i needed a place to stay the night. they came and got their gear from my house when i was gone as well. and took a bunch of gear that was personally mine. these guys i thought was my brothers. but i guess not they sure turned on me real fast over something that had nothin to do with the band , and might i add my wife never caused any issues with the band ever... she supported us if anything. i can say that the band fell apart real fast after i left. its been almost 2 years they havent done anything. but literally play one show.. with my songs i wrote on the bass...

 

[MichelD]

Thundertips said: ↑
I played in a band with a guy that always blabbed about how he was gonna be a rock star and drive around in limos with chicks and all that crap! How annoying that was. Sorry to break it to ya pal, but we live in a small town in Canada and Canada has no music scene. How you going to become famous?

My freind Kevin told me about this kid who was a bus boy at the Tomahawk Barbeque in North Vancouver like that.

"I'm gonna join a band, I'm gonna be the singer, I'm gonna make hit records, yadaya..."

"shag off Bryan and just take plates okay."

His last name is Adams.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Yeah I just don’t get it. I mean I’m not saying play Jessie’s Girl and Mustang Sally all night. We didn’t. I’ve always had the mind set to play to your audience. Songs that have at least gotten some air play. Ones people know. There are so many popular great songs to choose from. Obscure and cover band don’t seem like two things that go together.

Even great bands run their course. How do you get tired of playing to full bars and dance floors, happy owners and patrons? I was never against adding new material. We had 150 songs. At the end of the day their mindset was we can play anything we want and they will love it. And I’m sorry but the cover band scene doesn’t really work that way. Not if you want gigs.

No, it doesn't work that way, and you can have all the street cred in the world but you will destroy it in an instant if word gets around that you're suddenly doing stupid and lame stuff. Some bands get a bit too full of themselves and self-destruct. This sounds like that situation.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Warning. Semi-Long Post and a bit of a rant....

So I’ve been in a successful cover band here in North Florida for about 4 years. 3 weekends a month. Best venues in town. Played private cooperate gigs. Weddings ect. Not our primary job but we made some decent extra money doing it. We regularly had to turn down gigs.

We played a mixture of Rock, Pop, Older Rock (Petty ect), some Sublime. A good mix but definitely Top 40 stuff. Great party band stuff that ladies can dance to and have fun. And we were good at it.

Enter the Corona Shut Down of 2020. My singer and guitarist tell me that they have decided to re-tool the entire setlist while we have this down time. They want to play more obscure music. Stuff they like. (Our drummer is neutral and will play whatever) They want heavier or more alternative stuff. Basically stuff that will clear a dance floor and and a bar in most places. And at the end of the night that one guy will come up and say “I loved your version of (insert some weird B side). Never heard anyone play that before!”

Now I get it. And they have hinted at this before. But I never thought they would actually want to go through with it. So I gracefully left/got fired for telling them it was a bad idea and they will end up losing all the gigs we worked so hard to get and keep.

Once again so called “artistic integrity” creeps up and ruins a great band on a great run. If you want to be “different” and original, then write some songs. Have the courage to put yourself out there and play them for the world. Don’t expect everyone to like them. Play for you. But in my option playing obscure covers is still playing covers. It just different ones that most will not want to hear.

So clearly I’m a little bitter over this. And I am a solid player and I sing pretty well. Lead and harmonies. So I can find another band to join once things return to normal. But wow. Way to bulldoze me out guys. Enjoy empty bars and confused faces when they return to playing.

Am I wrong here??? Geez.

Rant over!

Fella, I’ve been working with a band has been doing nothing but obscure B sides (or worse, no side) since 1970. Trust me, it’s a great project, wonderful music, great arrangements, awesome dudes, And exactly as you said, gigs are few and far between. Trust me, I empathize with your frustration.

What we have been doing over the last year or two, is partnering with another band that plays all of the A side top 40 and happens to have a decent following. The results have been very encouraging as the turn out is better, we are selling a lot more CDs, and we are developing more fans that come to gig where it’s just us on the bill.

Anyway, I hope things work out for you. I know it sucks starting from ground zero, but it sounds like you have some talent and vision to make it work. Best wishes.