Promoting "competing" bands

[pcake]

OP, i, too, believe in supporting other bands/artists. for one thing, if everyone speaks well of other bands, some bands will talk about your band, so if FB or twitter work at all to get the word out, everyone can be even. besides, speaking well of other bands/artists can help build the scene.

The music scene isn't a restaurant.

exactly! once you hear one band, you're not "full" - you can check out other bands in the same venue or others the same night.

 

[ScrewDevil]

We try to be cooperative and supportive of other cover bands in the vicinity. Occasionally, we not only share the bill but promote them as headliners and us as a supporting act (even though we're in general veterans to the game moreso than a lot others around) with a smile. We, as musicians, definitely have to stick together. We've gotten various gigs just because we were friendly with other bands at the time.

 

[LowActionHero]

Are they really 'competing' bands? If someone digs their show they might be apt to check out another band (yours) next time, especially if the other band reciprocates and plugs you on Facebook. Ya know? Working together to promote live music in general and stuff. And two good bands in the same night is a plus for the audience. Unless you have the same set list, you're not really competing!

 

[foolforthecity]

Nothing but good comes from supporting your brethren. Period.

 

[MichelD]

Nice to know there is still a place on earth where you can actually work playing music. Not my cup of tea and I recently turned down a bar-band-cover tune gig, because I just won't do it, but whatever floats your boat.

 

[StatesideRambler]

Last night I was at a weeknight show at a local venue. The crowd was mostly millennials. So can we skip the generational bashing, please.

I knew when I composed it that someone would not "get it" and therefore be offended. Since you interpret my statement as bashing millennials I can only say, "Oh, well." and move on.

 

[40Hz]

Bunk I get your business model and why it works for you., but as you mention at the end "It's about running the band as a business, doing the things that will bring people to the joints we play in." Think of it like this you have restaurant your goal is to pack the place and make money one of your waiters gets up and announces that the food across the street was really good you should go check it out sometime, does that help your business by sending your people across the street. LOL

Think of it like this then. That is a deliberately faulty comparison you're making. And I have enough respect for your intelligence to believe you also know that.

Be careful when making analogies. A lot of times they may seem to prove a point. But many times they also don't hold up for a second once you think about it a little more. Like right now.

 

[40Hz]

The day anyone in my band tells me what I can put on Facebook is the day I quit. I don't tell them, they don't tell me, and that's just the way it is.

Yep. You sign me on, you get my talent, skills, brains, and commitment to seeing the job through. And I will deliver. But at no time do you own me. You're just renting the tools so to speak.

 

[asands]

Most of our competitors are friends anyway so we like to help when we can. The ones we don’t know as well are nice to have on your side if you have a last minute cancellation or something along those lines. It helps to have the relationship so you can refer

 

[Richland123]

I have helped out competing bands with gear when something breaks last minute too several times. I went to see a band and the bass player's amp head blew during sound check. I lived 3-1/2 miles away and ran home and grabbed an amp head and brought it back so he could get through the gig. He greatly appreciated it.

 

[ScrewDevil]

I live just outside of Podunk and local bands all scramble to play in the same crappy bars. Still, I think it's good to give a shout out to another band. It's good sportsmanship and who knows, you might be playing with them next month.

Exactly this.

 

[bigboy_78]

Because people here use references to dads playing music as a pejorative.

For the record 4/5 band members are parents and I think the term “DadBand” on Talkbass has more to do with product being presented than the actual existence of children.

The point was good, professional, bands supporting each other and encouraging crowds to enjoy live music is a counter-act to the negative view some people have formed of live music due to venues paying $0 and expecting to get any sort of quality.

As for the restraurant analogy....it’s moe like someone saying they don’t like beef because they had it in a Big Mac once, then Gordon Ramsay & Jamie Oliver saying check out these quality restaurants. I don’t care if another band pulls a bigger crowd, as long as some band is pulling a crowd and making the $$$ they charge worthwhile for the venue, then the venues will keep booking & paying for quality bands.

 

[JimmyM]

I totally resent when someone calls my band a "dad band." We're a "granddad band." Get it right!

 

[Wisebass]

Promoting live music on the whole is good for everyone. More people checking out bands at venues, means more venues putting on bands, means more gigs for everyone.

Hi bigboy_78

I always was a big fan of live music.
(that' s why I started playing in bands)

I go to see other bands, whenever I have the time.
That' s why I know other musicians and they know me.
They show up to my gigs too.


When it comes to booking for new year' s eve
or any other event, where the house is packed,
who do you think the owner of a bar or venue will ask to play?

The guy who' s sitting at home bashing other bands on Facebook and
complainig that there are no live music fans anymore?

Or the guy, who knows the bouncer and the barmaids by their firstnames.
And of course knows a lot of people that go to concerts in that bar or venue?

I know the answer,

because I get that gigs!


Wise(b)ass

​

 

[bolophonic]

+1

Most of us would much rather play originals in the basement, or in a club filled with our five closest friends for a big time take of $10 for the night!

Seriously though, I don't understand this putting down cover bands. How about we do our thing and let other people do their without being all judgmental about it. Being in an originals band doesn't make anybody special, and putting other people down because they don't agree with you just makes you a ...

I pretty much only play (and attend) tiny basement shows, but we (usually) make sure that we aren't playing to an empty room most of the time. On the other hand, a few years ago, the band I was in decided to try breaking into a neighboring scene and wound up splitting $40 between five of us as the opening act for a bigger band. Definitely never taking that show on the road.

 

[40Hz]

I totally resent when someone calls my band a "dad band." We're a "granddad band." Get it right!

Yeah. I’m there. Kinda like a Dead Band - but with more focus.

 

[bolophonic]

OP, I agree that bands need to support each other. It's the only way to build a music scene. Rivalries are for simpletons.

 

[40Hz]

In Mike Dean’s book $30 Music School he tells a story of how one band in his local music scene (Seattle IIRC) came up with an idea for all the local bands to encourage and bring their fans to each other’s shows. That would boost attendance (and the door), get people in the habit of going out to hear live music, and get some synergies going.

Dean said that since his band was pretty much the “hot band” at that point, they decided not to join in on the effort.

The guy’s band that proposed the mutual promotion idea eventually went on to getting a major recording contract and became very successful.

Dean said that although the guy was always very friendly and polite towards him whenever they met afterwards, he never once lifted a finger to help out Dean (or any of his other bands) despite actively doing whatever he could to help and push for every other local band in his home town.

As Dean put it - I deserved it. Lesson learned. Be nice. To everyone.

 

[waveman]

Your guitarist needs to get over his insecurities. Too many good things come from being positive, hardly anything good comes from being negaitive.

 

[Korladis]

In Mike Dean’s book $30 Music School he tells a story of how one band in his local music scene (Seattle IIRC) came up with an idea for all the local bands to encourage and bring their fans to each other’s shows. That would boost attendance (and the door), get people in the habit of going out to hear live music, and get some synergies going.

Dean said that since his band was pretty much the “hot band” at that point, they decided not to join in on the effort.

The guy’s band that proposed the mutual promotion idea eventually went on to getting a major recording contract and became very successful.

Dean said that although the guy was always very friendly and polite towards him whenever they met afterwards, he never once lifted a finger to help out Dean (or any of his other bands) despite actively doing whatever he could to help and push for every other local band in his home town.

As Dean put it - I deserved it. Lesson learned. Be nice. To everyone.

Yep. People remember that sort of thing. For a long time.