Normally I would agree with you, but a band is probably one of the toughest brands to grow and I personally feel it's the wrong approach in the case of a band.
after all you are still the same group of guys playing music. and they're playing music in the same genre at that.
Agree up to a point. But despite being composed of the same group of guys and gals,
the band itself is also its own personality and identity. And despite how much we hate to be labeled or identified with one particular genre or type of venue, people do just that with a band. As anybody who tried to change directions with a successful and established band has discovered. (Remember Dylan?) Because with that, you risk alienating your current fanbase in hopes of capturing a larger or different fanbase. And it seldom works. At least from what I've seen.
Also, within the realm of originals bands (where I've mostly worked) it seems there is an issue of
credibility if your band is musically bipolar. The people that are willing to listen to originals tend to raise their eyebrows if you also play cover nights (or weddings, etc.) when you're saying you have aspirations to be an originals band. It's almost as if you're expected to choose a side and stick with it. At least in my experience.
Which is why I echoed blixild's idea of including some covers in an originals band. That was precisely what my old band did without raising too much push back from our diehards. But at no time did we ever once do a complete cover set (or night) or do the songs the way most cover bands do - which is to say a fairly accurate emulation combined with a few bits of the band's own invention. Our "covers" were close enough for recognition, but different enough that it usually raised a smile when people realized what we were playing. In intrigued some people and amused the others. But at all times we kept
our own sound and style in the forefront. And I think if you're serious about being an originals band, you have to take that into consideration.
From what I've seen, you can start out as a cover band (Van Halen, Tom Petty, Billy Joel, etc.) - but once you step over the line and basically announce you're an originals band, your fans don't usually appreciate or accept it when you try to take a step back. Like I said, it seems to be you're expected to pick a side and stick with it.
But that's just my own experience. And I'm sure there are a lot here whose band - and band branding - experience has been very different than mine. Hopefully they're chime in on how it works (or doesn't) for them. Because I'm very interested in hearing what anyone at TB with band experience has to add to this discussion. (Because I'm
still learning how to do it.)
