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Taking it to the next level?

N

Nowhereboy

Guest
Mar 3, 2013
114
0
#1
Looking for a little advice from some of you veterans out there.

Some of you might remember a few of the previous stories I've posted about our bands previous drunken antics and unorganization.

We have addressed the drinking before gigs issue and the substance use is basically non existant now, so on that grounds things are pretty good. I do feel a little stuck in a rut tho and need to get into gear and push things forward.

We gig about once every two weeks, we play the local bars in my city Newcastle. We get paid very little, the promoter makes money off us along with the venue and we lumber our gear about and go through the stress of constant gigging basically for the love of music and to get our music out there.
That is how it works for practically all the bands in the area.

We have built up about 5,000 followers on our bandpage thru gigging and promotion but getting people to actually turn up to gigs is still tough.

We have been lucky enough to support a couple of decent sized bands in the area and we have played the biggest stage in our town to a packed crowd twice now, we still didn't get paid. After that it was back to the usual clubs and bars that we normally do.

Its a massive ball ache playing a crappy bar to a few people when two weeks previous we were on a big stage with proper PA and a good crowd.

We seem to be going round in circles at the minute. I've got 3 weeks off from work coming up soon and I plan on putting a lot of time into band stuff. Any advice on what I can do to help promote us and get better gigs?

I really believe in the music we play and have never felt so right in a band in my life but it gets tedious playing loads of crap gigs and waiting for the odd good one.
 
#4
Nowhereboy said:
Tight jeans and cliche Indie music.

:D
Click to expand...

sounds like you answered your own question. ;)

Some people talk of not "conforming" or selling out, and just playing what their creative juices desire. and theres nothin wrong with that. But if you want poeple to like your music, it's kinda gotta be music that they like. I guess.

People like what they like. (and some times they like tight jeans, but that's for another thread.)

Or..if your musics good..and people will like it eventually..then you just gotta stick with it..and get it out there.

If your playing to nobody, then nobody will hear you.


Take from this what you will..or take nothing..it's free either way.


JMO..YMMV..etc.
 
#6
How long have you been playing out again? Or how long has the band been together rather? Quite honestly most bands have to pay dues for years before they "make it" anywhere. Some bands play 7 shows and get signed (tool) but most don't. It takes time, patience and dedication. I believe in what my band I'm in now as well. We've only played about 10 shows roughly and have about 200 followers on our band page. We JUST released an EP Last month and things are going good. My guitarist is always thinking big which is great but it does get a little frustrating when he gets ahead of himself. I've explained to him a few times we just have to keep doing what were doing and chug along. It doesn't happen overnight and we can't expect it to. But this may not apply to your band at all.
 
#7
So they are more marketable then you?
& your music is less "commercial" I'm guessing?..

If that's the case how is your fanbase going to grow in your local area?.writing more songs women like?..
or has it reached its potential?..

It's 2013, are there any Internet Radio stations that play your genre?..Have you contacted any?..

Do you have any decent performance videos or songs recorded?..Have you advertised them anywhere?..

The "next level" is not in your hometown, Think global..
make your own breaks..The answers are in the questions..
Good luck!!
 
#8
Great replys, thanks guys! The band has been about for a few years but it's been on and off. I've been with the band for a year now but always followed them before I was a part of it, I always knew I'd play with them eventually.

We only have an old EP recorded which was done with the original line up, I guess first thing on the to do list is to get in the studio and record some of our new tracks.

We are clearly not as marketable as an indie band but we always get the crowd moving which can't be a bad thing. I'm proud of the fact that we have a pretty unique, kind of old school, upbeat rock sound, our frontman uses an acoustic. A few people have told me we remind them of led zeppelin so it could be worse haha.

I really feel like we need to travel more and branch out of our city, we have some met some cool bands from manchester recently who said they would get us gigs and put us up for the night so I guess thats a start. It's just hard to find the time as we all work fulltime at the minute too.
 
#9
Yeah the all band members working full time is a tough thing. I'm grateful we can all some together and once a week to practice and play out at least once a month. I'd like more but it is what we've got to work with so we do. You DEF need to put out an updated EP man. That may be the thing that gets you to that next level. I mean, the old EP probably isn't that accurate of your band now if you're calling it the "old" EP. And get that thing out to as many people as you can. Get it on fb, band camp, reverb nation and the like. You come from a small yoke it sounds like which can be a good thing in some ways but a death sentence to a band in ither ways. A. My band gigs in Chicago so bands are a dime a dozen around here.
 
#10
Sorry, iphone TB app sucks. Anyway, I'd suggest you get a new EP out and promote that on every social platform you can. Other than that, keep gigging. And keep trying to step out and get more gigs outside of your area. All it takes is the right person to hear it. But they have a lesser chance of hearing you if you're not out there.
 
#11
Nowhereboy said:
Tight jeans and cliche Indie music.

:D
Click to expand...

I can't stand the genre chiefly due it being labelled indie... independent? Really? Are these people naïve, ignorant, in denial? Whats wrong with our current chief-popular culture who claims to be independent and hipster? Sorry, just a little rant. I dont get these people. Maybe they should listen to real independent music...
 
#12
It's Artisam, right?

If it is, I like the Cluny version of Lime Light on the bandpage, but that's already 3 years old and, there's no video. Do you have anything at all that's more current, especially as you've changed line-up. Would you say that track is representative of the band as it stands now?

The biggest thing you need to consider, I think, is if you're prepared to travel. I can't think of anyone who has "made it" (though someone might), by staying in their home town. It's really hard to do if you work, you have to make some sacrifices, like use up holiday to get away on Fridays but weekend gigs are generally better attended and pay should cover you travel costs at least. Do you even have transport? How much of your kit can you move?

The recording at the Cluny was pretty good - infact I thought the mix was better than the EP, which I thought was a bit "thin" tbh, especially on bass. Could they be persuaded to record something live off the desk there, one Sunday morning or something, that you could run alongside a video, maybe? DON'T be tempted to shortcut and post video from a handheld with onboard mic sound though, especially not off an iphone or whatever - they always seem to be really poor quality, especially indoors, and let down the performers.

I have some contacts who put on gigs and festivals locally (there's always a sofa to crash on), and I'd be happy to pass something along - on the basis of that 3 year old song, but as it stands there's not much to show them, and that's a problem generally if you want to get bookings out of town.

So, to recap, work on your FB page, get up to date music and video, some decent pics, and decide as a band if you can, or even want to, travel. If you can do that and get me something current, I'll pass it along.

all the best - pip
 
#13
I think it's a great idea to always be looking for how to get to the next level. I also think that it's important to be realistic about just what that next level is. The next level should be something that is reasonably achievable, by you, in some reasonable time frame. If you're a local bar band, the next level is not selling out arenas - not a reasonable next level, any way. There might be 50-100 "next levels" between local bar band & a world arena tour. Don't expect to jump 50 levels at once - concentrate on the real next one, then the next after that, etc. & keep moving and growing.
 
#14
You started off bad like most bands do by setting a precedence that its ok to play for no money so now the promoters dont feel like they need to pay you anything.

Heres what you do. You tell them your planning a massive show on X day. If necessary collab with a couple other bands to guarantee a crowd. Twell them that you need at least 1000.00 for that gig. It sounds like alot but tell them you can have the bar at capacity.

If they say well no show them the pics of the crowd you pulled and simply say to them look all these people came and bought drinks and gave them business because of you gys. Nobody in town can pull that kind a business, and you want to help them out but you guys gotta eat as well.

Then say ok what would they consider a fair price.

They will low ball you say you cant do that then offer them a price you think is reasonable plus 25% of the bar sales for that night then tell them thats the lowest you can do and their killing you.

If that doesnt work. Spend 200.00 build a stage out of 2X4s rent a PA buy a 6000W generator off craigslist and throw your own festival. contact your local civic center to rent a park, their fees are usually commically cheap.

Lots of small mom and pop businesses will jump on board and sponsor you guys either service i.e. food, or free pa and lighting or a generator for the event, or they will come out there and setup a boothe you can charge them something stupid like 100 that will help recoop some of your costs and from their perspective its a steal 100 bucks for guaranteed 200-300 potential customers. They will also help you pull an even bigger crowd

I'm with you man its time we musicians fight back bars have had it WAY too easy.
 
#15
The up and down of playing a huge place that is packed and then crap joints isn't all that uncommon. I didn't say it was common, but it can happen to some bands.

I like the first few posts here... do what the successful bands are doing. It's kinda like dancing. If you don't know how to dance, find the best dancer and do what he does. :hyper:
 
#18
Also I slightly disagree with some of the statements about changing. rarely is the music the issue. If you think about it a Crowd is simply a gathering of like minded people to support a common interest, or to complete a common goal. In this case the common goal is that they want to hear your music. If your playing in front of a new crowd in a bar from my experince your only going to get about 10% of those people to really like your band. If you get more your pretty lucky. Most people come to a bar to drink not listen to some band they've never heard worse if your doing originals. Humans are naturally resistant to change.

But if you can get that 10% to do the next step which is to like your band then when you throw an event thats properly promote you should be able to pull your own crowd. Your after show updates are also critical. If you pulled a crowd you need to post pictures and tagg people in the crowd. You want your fans who didnt come to feel like they missed something huge. That way they will have the desire to come to the next major event. People always want to feel like they are part of something huge, even if they might not really be into it. THis is especially true for girls. Most women like to be in the Scene vs actually be into the music.

If you had a situation where you were doing this thing for a year and had no fans, couldnt get booked, id reconsider the music. For now keep the variables simple, and focus on the basics, promotion, networking, building a following, and negotiating with venue owners
 
#19
pipFunk said:
It's Artisam, right?
Click to expand...

Yea thats right pip, I presume I must have posted some tracks up on here a while back or something?

I've booked two weeks off work from the 7th and have just txt all the lads to arrange some studio time to record a new EP, the sound has changed a fair bit since the original recordings, its more upbeat and focused.

Where are you from fella? I appreciate your input, I'll get back to you once we have something produced.

We are willing to travel by the way! :)
 
#20
West Mids... there's a pretty decent live scene around here if you can get on the circuit. It may be a bit far for you during the week, unless you put together a tour, but Saturday nights are pretty good and get a fair turnout, so you could reasonably make a weekend of it.

I'm hearing a lot of promoters are finding it hard to get a crowd in anywhere at the moment though, some thoughts are that everyone spent all their money outside getting a tan at the festivals this summer!

Let me know when you've got something and I'll pass it along to a couple of guys and see what happens...

Cheers - P
 

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