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The Official Covers vs Originals Thread

Original vs. Copy

  • I rather play with an original band.

    Votes: 84 46.9%

  • I rather play with a copy/cover band.

    Votes: 42 23.5%

  • It doesn’t matter.

    Votes: 53 29.6%
  • Total voters
    179
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#221
I think cover/tribute bands can be great fun, sometimes easier to get work in some areas, and you can still learn a lot about your own playing by playing other people's stuff, if you remain open to it.

On the other hand, if you can swing it and get gigs, or you just play for yourself, there's just nothing like doing your own music, especially if you CAN get people behind it.
 
#223
MatticusMania said:
What elaboration needs to be made? I want to play in an original band... can't that be reason enough?

I want to be in an original band because I want to make original music. That, to me, is no different than "Because I want to".
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Matt

I know you want to make and play original music. I am assuming that means you want to play and make good original music.

When I was in an originals band I loved the material and loved playing it.

Do you like your bands material?

Blue
 
#224
bluewine said:
One thing I will give to originals bands is their conviction.

I have seen originals bands that will play one empty room after the other. It doesn't seem to phase them.

Blue
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..and I've not walked into plenty of bars that have crappy cover bands playing. Hell, I've avoided plenty of bars that have decent cover bands playing. You can only hear so much Mustang Sally and Don't Stop Believin before you want to puke.
 
#225
Summit said:
Times have changed.

In my city the clubs that do original music are just not pulling in the business as those that DJ or hire cover bands.

We can whine all day (and believe, I whine about it a lot) but at the end of the day the available audience has shrunk dramatically in the past 50 years. We are now competing with Netflix, Hulu, video games, blockbuster movies, easily available music on Youtube/iTunes, etc. None of my friends (I am in my mid 20's) go out to original music venues unless I bother them all week to come check out my band. It's just not on their radar. My single friends wanna go where the girls are dancing, my coupled friends wanna relax in a quieter place where the beer is good.
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There are a select few spots in the Denver area that have consistently good local and some national bands (I usually listen to indie, punk, metal) and if I'm out with my musician friends we're usually at one of those places.

You're right though. Outside of that circle of musician friends we usually end up at a quiet place where the beer is good... Usually a brewery, actually. I hate dance music so I never go to dance clubs.
 
#226
zachoff said:
..and I've not walked into plenty of bars that have crappy cover bands playing. Hell, I've avoided plenty of bars that have decent cover bands playing. You can only hear so much Mustang Sally and Don't Stop Believin before you want to puke.
Click to expand...

Well me, I am not going to label all originals bands as having marginal musicianship and boring self indulgent material based on 3 chords. Because it's not true.

Labeling all cover bands with Mustang Sally and Don't Stop Believing is also inaccurate in my opinion.

Blue
 
#227
zachoff said:
There are a select few spots in the Denver area that have consistently good local and some national bands (I usually listen to indie, punk, metal) and if I'm out with my musician friends we're usually at one of those places.

You're right though. Outside of that circle of musician friends we usually end up at a quiet place where the beer is good... Usually a brewery, actually. I hate dance music so I never go to dance clubs.
Click to expand...

When I go out I try to see as many genres as I can especially genres I know little about. It's how I gained a more intelligent perspective and understanding of metal.

But I fully understand I am more open minded than most.

Blue
 
#228
bluewine said:
Well me, I am not going to label all originals bands as having marginal musicianship and boring self indulgent material based on 3 chords. Because it's not true.

Labeling all cover bands with Mustang Sally and Don't Stop Believing is also inaccurate in my opinion.

Blue
Click to expand...

OK, Livin' on a Prayer, One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, and some horrible Nickelback song. :D

I'm kidding man. The point of a cover band is to attract a crowd and to do that you have to play popular music. I generally dislike popular music. That's why I don't go see cover bands too often & definitely why I don't play in one. Actually, the last cover show I saw wasn't even a band. It was a dude w/ acoustic guitar doing Townes, Waylon, & Willie covers and I loved it.

...and it's sometimes 4 chords for my original songs. Sheesh. At least I'm not fronted by an iMac. Haha.
 
#229
bluewine said:
Well me, I am not going to label all originals bands as having marginal musicianship and boring self indulgent material based on 3 chords. Because it's not true.

Labeling all cover bands with Mustang Sally and Don't Stop Believing is also inaccurate in my opinion.

Blue
Click to expand...

+1

Some ( if not most) of the best musicians I know are in cover bands. And being from a cover band myself, I can easily say that the disdain of Mustang Sally and Don't stop believing is quite palpable.
 
#231
If I could write really good songs, I wouldn't be playing in an originals band, though. No way. I'd be a producer. And I'd feel even more totally superior to originals bands, LOL.
 
#232
MarkMgibson said:
Most musicians just can't write great songs; that's why we play covers. More a matter of talent than choice.
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While I would agree that most of us can't write great songs, I would disagree that that's why most of us play covers; not sure that's a reliable assumption...

I can't write good songs (not to say that i couldn't if i applied myself; never really tried), but that's not why I play covers. I play covers because I like to gig out with a band to entertain people and the most efficient route to realizing my goal is by playing covers. I have no desire whatsoever to embark on any type of writing venture... to do that would lead me away from my goal.

My choice is to play covers.
 
#233
Im sure this has been touched on, but I have this question.

Should not cover players be paid equally?

I always ran the cover bands I played in until this one. My policy was equal pay. It's just bar gigs, so we do our own sound, and maybe the place will have basic lighting. This new band I am in is basically the same thing. No one is a star, and all are easily replaced. Being in Los Angeles there are many talented musicians available. Two of the members have been doing the gig for 18 years, while the other two recently (4 years and 2 years) joined. One of the founders told me that they make a certain amount from one of our regular monthlies, and it seems they skim some from the top and split it between them then distribute the rest evenly. I have known one of the founders the longest, but I am the newest member. I kind of let it slide because I thought maybe he was boasting to another band about how much our band makes and threw in an extra bill, but when i saw it first hand last night, making only 25 dollars more for a NYE gig as they seemed to make a lot more, with a unknown bonus amount, i seemed to have been paid less than others.

So if they consider me a contractor, okay fine. Does that mean I should be paying out of my pay once a month "web fees"? Does this mean I should be responsible for the sound operation? Does this mean I should be expected to help set up the PA? I would think my job would be show up on time, play and bail. But I always thought i was a member, where i gladly helped with loading and unloading everyone else other than me, where that help is rarely if ever offered.

I have 2013 booked for this club, and knowing two members make more for any reason bothers me. I agreed to the shows, under the mindset we were equally paid. Now that I know we are not, i am torn about my future with it and need to consider a contract.

Any thoughts?
 
#234
shenager said:
Im sure this has been touched on, but I have this question.

Should not cover players be paid equally?

I always ran the cover bands I played in until this one. My policy was equal pay. It's just bar gigs, so we do our own sound, and maybe the place will have basic lighting. This new band I am in is basically the same thing. No one is a star, and all are easily replaced. Being in Los Angeles there are many talented musicians available. Two of the members have been doing the gig for 18 years, while the other two recently (4 years and 2 years) joined. One of the founders told me that they make a certain amount from one of our regular monthlies, and it seems they skim some from the top and split it between them then distribute the rest evenly. I have known one of the founders the longest, but I am the newest member. I kind of let it slide because I thought maybe he was boasting to another band about how much our band makes and threw in an extra bill, but when i saw it first hand last night, making only 25 dollars more for a NYE gig as they seemed to make a lot more, with a unknown bonus amount, i seemed to have been paid less than others.

So if they consider me a contractor, okay fine. Does that mean I should be paying out of my pay once a month "web fees"? Does this mean I should be responsible for the sound operation? Does this mean I should be expected to help set up the PA? I would think my job would be show up on time, play and bail. But I always thought i was a member, where i gladly helped with loading and unloading everyone else other than me, where that help is rarely if ever offered.

I have 2013 booked for this club, and knowing two members make more for any reason bothers me. I agreed to the shows, under the mindset we were equally paid. Now that I know we are not, i am torn about my future with it and need to consider a contract.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

That seems wrong, but I think you should maybe start a new thread about this, as it didn't really seem applicable to "covers vs originals"
 
#237
It's not unreasonable for whoever books a gig to get 10% and for whoever owns/transports/stores the PA/Lighting to get 1/2 to 1 share for that. I've been on both sides of that situation and had no problems as long as everyone knows what's up. You should calmly approach them and mention that you never asked how the money is split up and would like to know. If they won't tell you and/or get all weird about it I'd split.
 
#238
backup said:
i like original more. because i dont need to play other peoples bass lines while i can make my own.
and the end result is always a surprise and is more unique.
but then again im young and need creative output. i can completely understand when people in their late 20s stop caring for these things
Click to expand...

+1 this is so true.

The best thing you can do is try to write as many songs as possible now because soon the only thing you will care about is the days game show schedule and which mothballs smell best.

Stay home with mum because once you leave the basement it is over. Never leave the basement.
 
#239
zachoff said:
..and I've not walked into plenty of bars that have crappy cover bands playing. Hell, I've avoided plenty of bars that have decent cover bands playing. You can only hear so much Mustang Sally and Don't Stop Believin before you want to puke.
Click to expand...

Original bands don't have this problem though, because nobody hears them at all. :smug:

----------------------------------------------

Disclaimer: That was a joke, meant to illustrate the ridiculous battle being fought by people who have the insecure need to declare that whatever they do is somehow better than what others do.

Whether you play covers of someone else's songs or covers of your own songs, who cares, you are making music on a stage in front of others with the same instruments, same chords and same ugly bass face. Get over yourself. :)
 
#240
ChrisB2 said:
While I would agree that most of us can't write great songs, I would disagree that that's why most of us play covers; not sure that's a reliable assumption...

I can't write good songs (not to say that i couldn't if i applied myself; never really tried), but that's not why I play covers. I play covers because I like to gig out with a band to entertain people and the most efficient route to realizing my goal is by playing covers. I have no desire whatsoever to embark on any type of writing venture... to do that would lead me away from my goal.

My choice is to play covers.
Click to expand...

You'll get no argument from me. I spent years trying to not only write songs myself (which sucked), but to find band members who could write songs.

I couldn't be bothered any more. As you say, I also "choose" to do covers, as there's just so many great songs to play. We do throw in the occasional original song, but those songs are just spac-filler: they're just not very good.
 
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