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Orignals Bands vs Cover Bands, Open Discussion

#41
Phineas said:
This has probably been said, but I am new to the board.

I hate most cover bands. WHY? Because of the juke box effect. If I am going to pay money to see an act, I want to see some pizzaz! not a bunch of music natzis trying to play like the record/CD note for note. This is just not musical or artistic to me. Also, there is a lack of variety as well. if I hear another cover band in a bar playing a Jimmy Buffet tune...LOL

Original bands can be just as bad. How many ways can you mess up blues, rock or folk(or anything for that matter)! Every time I think I have seen it all, I see something worse. Thank goodness for youtube where I an hit the stop button, and save the cover charge.

Musicianship, and showmanship are the real issues. They are all but lost. You can make anything sound good, and entertaining. Often, groups expect to put almost no effort nor practice into their act, and in shows on stage. Why should I pay a cover charge to go see a band that sounds like a jam session.

Lastly this whole blues movement. I like blues. Often, musicians who really suck hide behind how simple it is to play as an excuse to call themselves BLUES PLAYERS! But that is another thread!

For the most part, I will refuse to play in cover bands regularly. They are for the most part not fun to play in for me.
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1st, I like this guy^. Covers is OK but the cliche stance, gear, outfit, interaction with the crowd, slogans (Are you ready to rock!) music stands on stage, cup holder on the mic stand, lame effing business cards, boring bio with their favorite band T-Shirt on their website, pics of them posing with very average looking middle-aged women with Bud Light...etc, etc is what kills me! Can't do it, won't listen to it, damn sure won't get my cover charge.

2ndly, if Blue Wine said it, it's Gospel. Were 50/50 covers-original but we zero covers that the 'other' bands play..and we work

Thanks Blue...always look forward to your prespective on Life here on this Planet
 
#42
stflbn said:
IMHO and Experience... less talented musicians very often play their 'own' music because they can't interpret, translate and execute others music. While many cover band musicians are fully capable of, and most often do write their own music.
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And in my experience I have seen it the other way around.This is why there are crappy originals bands for those who jump from covers thinking writing their own music must be easy. I have never been with any player who could only play original music but not cover music, never seen anyone that limited musically.
 
#44
Phalex said:
Personally, I would much rather be in a great cover band than be in a great original band. I've done both, and I really don't like the original scene at all.
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This also where I'm coming from.

I'm 58, so the originals thing was always a reach for me, it is a young mans game.

The sad part is when you have an originals band with great new material and good musicians, but you live in a "Mustang Sally" region. In other word, you have this awesome originals band with no market , nobody is interested.
 
#45
I guess I am quite lucky. I have a great day gig and I don't worry about the small amounts of money from gigs. However, the rest of the members of my band do - a great deal - and so getting paid is an important factor in our booking. About half of our upcoming gigs involve guarantees.

We will do gigs that don't pay in order to:

1) Share the bill with a more established band, in order to get in front of their crowd, or just to network in the hopes of getting some more fruitful opportunities.

2) Introduce ourselves to a new venue.

3) Play a festival to get in front of new faces.

4) We did do one cancer charity event, kind of a lame-o parking lot gig.

Don't forget to put out the tip jar!!
 
#46
guy n. cognito said:
You know, I've seen a little snobbery from the originals crowd. Usually, it was coming from Blue himself, so it's gone down dramatically since his conversion to covers.
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The point here is for those sitting on the fence to take a look at the big picture and determining what's best for them, recognizing what you want out of this, then making a decision.
 
#48
Here' my position...based on my area.

I can play in an originals band. I get to play what I want to play. I get to gig maybe once a month, and usually play the same 3-4 places over and over. I wouldn't really get paid, but it's cool because I'm playing what I like.

-OR-

I can play in a cover band. I don't love all of the material, but I like a good amount of it and I like to play. I get to gig as often as I want. Once a week, twice a week, three, etc. I play all over the place, most bars/restaurants want a good live band. I get paid.

For my situation right now, a cover band is where it's at. There is no original music scene, and I want to play out regularly. More people are going to pay to see a good cover band than the small niche originals band. I could do both, and I have for a long time. I also want to make money doing something that I enjoy. I don't really care what I'm playing, as long as I'm playing and people like it. It's way more fun gigging when there is a packed venue of people that are into what you're doing, vs. 5-15 of your close friends that show up to every gig because you ask them to and they want to be supportive.
 
#49
bassgod0dmw said:
Here' my position...based on my area.

I can play in an originals band. I get to play what I want to play. I get to gig maybe once a month, and usually play the same 3-4 places over and over. I wouldn't really get paid, but it's cool because I'm playing what I like.

-OR-

I can play in a cover band. I don't love all of the material, but I like a good amount of it and I like to play. I get to gig as often as I want. Once a week, twice a week, three, etc. I play all over the place, most bars/restaurants want a good live band. I get paid.

For my situation right now, a cover band is where it's at. There is no original music scene, and I want to play out regularly. More people are going to pay to see a good cover band than the small niche originals band. I could do both, and I have for a long time. I also want to make money doing something that I enjoy. I don't really care what I'm playing, as long as I'm playing and people like it. It's way more fun gigging when there is a packed venue of people that are into what you're doing, vs. 5-15 of your close friends that show up to every gig because you ask them to and they want to be supportive.
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I also have the as long as I am out playing in front of an appreciative crowd and I go home with pay in my pocket I'm good.

It took way to long for me to figure out how limited the originals playing out opportunities were in Milwaukee.
 
#52
Odd thing in Seattle, depending on the club, if you start playing covers you run the risk alienating the audience unless your in a tribute band or its a tribute night. People actually go out to see original music here. There is a cover circuit too, but they seem to be two different sets of clubs/bars, for the most part.
 
#53
bluewine said:
You probably saw this topic coming.

While it's an open discussion, the topic is driven by what I have seen on the forum,that being, originals bands and musicians are just a little bit better than those playing covers

There just seems to be a bit of snobbery from some of you originals enthusiest.

I recently switched to more of a cover band (blues/rock) from my last 2 bands which were originals.

My position is, there are some really good originals & cover bands out there as well as marginal to poor.

Which one is for you?

I think top notch originals bands are great for young guys that have a shot at making it. (Whatever that means )

I don't think original bands, for the most part are for guys in their 40s, that want to play out a lot and are looking to get paid for their services. ( depending on the scene in their region)

Your thoughts/ opinions?
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I think titling your thread Originals Bands vs Cover bands is going to create some unwanted heat. This isnt a versus type of situation. Regardless of age, some people want to play original music, some people want to play covers, and some people want to do both. Ive seen bands both good and bad on both ends. Its really just personal preference.

I think everyone on this forum knows that most original bands dont generate a good amount of paid gigs, but sometimes they do. Ive also seen coverbands that hardly get paid anything, and to me, that wouldnt be worth it. However, if your reason for playing music is to make some money, it seems like joining (or starting) a coverband is probably your best bet.
 
#54
bluewine said:
Agreed, I wish I could impress this on my former guitar mates.

They both refuse to play covers, both are killer lead guitarist. They both complain about wanting to play out more and get paid.

Now I'm talking to them about my gigs and all they can say is, " yeah, I'm just working on some of my stuff"
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Here is a good question blue... why is it that you are so concerned about your former band mates? Why not let them do their own thing and join a band when they are ready? You seem to mention them quite a lot, and that might lead some, like me, to wonder why?

Music isnt a field of personal comparisons. We all have our different goals.
 
#55
BobaFret said:
If you are in an originals band but don't write the material it's kinda the same. You are just playing covers written by your band mate.
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I dont agree with this, though. Our bandleader writes the majority of the song structure, with some input from myself. Often times the band members give their input about the direction a song takes. Sometimes he has a song fully structured, though its still open for the band to make changes to make the song as good as it can be. Then we take the time to work individually with our bandleader and create our own parts for the song.

Not a jab at either "side" of the fence, just some insight as to how some original bands work. Some coverbands might work the same way in regards to arrangements and creating different parts than whatt was originally written by an artist.
 
#57
MatticusMania said:
I think titling your thread Originals Bands vs Cover bands is going to create some unwanted heat. This isnt a versus type of situation. Regardless of age, some people want to play original music, some people want to play covers, and some people want to do both. Ive seen bands both good and bad on both ends. Its really just personal preference.

I think everyone on this forum knows that most original bands dont generate a good amount of paid gigs, but sometimes they do. Ive also seen coverbands that hardly get paid anything, and to me, that wouldnt be worth it. However, if your reason for playing music is to make some money, it seems like joining (or starting) a coverband is probably your best bet.
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I agree with your response and vs probably was not the best word to use.

I was hoping the response might help anyone between bands and might not be sure on which route us best for them.
 
#58
bluewine said:
That's outstanding, 1 gig, 2 tops per month is the average for Originals in Milwaukee.
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Id like to hear/see this statement corroberated by another player in an original band in your area. Not because I dont believe you, blue, but rather because you have admitted over and over to make statements based off of your experience, and Id like to see if others have experienced differently.
 
#59
BobaFret said:
If you are in an originals band but don't write the material it's kinda the same. You are just playing covers written by your band mate.
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yup. So tru BobaFret. So true. My BL's both came up with new songs. Both had bass lines written for them. Both are plain simple. Both want these bass lines never deviated from. :eyebrow: ...just carbon-copying bass lines that were never constructed on a bass guitar to begin with lol. But I rewrote every other song's bass lines before this happened so I guess I foresaw what you speak of.
 
#60
original bands: how many different uses for the word "indie" can we find? can my girlfriend come to band practice and sing a few verses? hey, let's collaborate on a song about how much we all hate *insert something here*, etc

cover bands: i love this band and i love this song, now you can pay to see me loving this band and song on stage while i play it!
 

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