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Should we play in a bar?

#123
bluewine said:
I'm assuming your a younger guy, here is the point I think you missed. It's the big picture, not a bassline contest.

Yes and and The Ramones both figured it out and climbed to international fame. Something that doesn't happen for 99.9 % of us.

blue
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well you would assume wrong. I'm 52. This is a bass forum, that is why I said basslines. Just because they were famous doesn't mean they were great musicians. The point still stands the bassline for roundabout is hard. For a Ramones song not so much.
 
#125
modulusman said:
well you would assume wrong. I'm 52. This is a bass forum, that is why I said basslines. Just because they were famous doesn't mean they were great musicians. The point still stands the bassline for roundabout is hard. For a Ramones song not so much.
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Both Yes and The Ramones were musicians, and anytime creative guys can get together and make music that reaches the hearts of millions they are great musicians. It's hard to come up with that right fit bass line for any song that reaches millions like Round About or Sedated. So for me, and where my head is at and my point, while the term "hard" is relative, I'd say both are hard. I've never had a hit record and don't know anyone personally that has.

I should say fame is one measure of greatness for me musicianship is another.

Don't get me wrong, I remember when Round About hit the air waves a million years ago and I thought it was great, I flipped over it.Technically very advanced for the time

However, as an older guy 59 (and I am a self proclaimed Rock Historian) when I look back, whether it be the bass line to Sedated or Round About at the core theres not much difference, both bass lines worked.

I left the this band is better than that band, this guitarist is better than that guitarist or this bass line is better than that bass line land a long time ago. I'm enlightened.

blue
 
#126
bwardmusic said:
I play corporate gigs and clubs, and neither client seems to care whether you are in multiple markets. What they care about it in the corporate world is that you pull off the gig successfully and professionally. The bar owner will see you as a marketing organization that attracts business to their establishment.

So, focusing only on developing corporate business can be a good use of time given the focus it provides. If you don't have an agent, your time is spent networking and getting into the corporate events.

If you are a bar band, then you have to have a lot of facebook fans and social media stuff happening to attract people. So, the benefit of staying only corporate or only bar is so you can focus your limited time on what matters most to you.

One thing though, having a vibrant rehearsal schedule is important. They want to see you with lot of repeat bookings. I find corporate gigs aren't as easy to get these days in our town, so we fill up our schedule with bar gigs as needed. Plus, if the band isn't playing regularly, people get motivation problems and quit, or they join 4 other bands and then are never available. So, playing bars can be good for the musical quality and motivation of the band while you nurture those corporate contacts.
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+1 Good advice.....keep plenty of bar bookings to keep the band tight and show lots of upcoming and past gigs on the calendar for potential corporate clients.....bars are good places to debut new material and keep members motivated and in the spotlight so they don't want to play in numerous bands.
 

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