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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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#501
gard0300 said:
Maybe original artists can Segway a cover band into an original band. Get out there get some stage experience playing some covers, buy some road worthy gear with the pay. Introduce a few originals in the cover band and after you've developed a following..... BAM!!! Go original on everyone. Go Steel Panther on everyone!!! ;)
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That might work.

I think bands get tight and their sound and how well we play together happens on stage, not in the basements. It's one of the draw backs to the originals model. Many of these bands don't play out live enough to get good.

I also think "no gigs syndrome" is why so many start up originals bands fall apart.

Can we be honest, is playing a 45 minute set with 5 other bands on the bill really a gig?

blue
 
#502
I'm young (15) and don't like playing other peoples music very much. Its their music, and I enjoy listening to it, and maybe I'll take a small riff or something and play it just cause I randomly figure it out one day, but I find much more joy in writing my odd instrumental songs and just throwing them on soundcloud... noone really listens to them but its one of my favourite things to do, and I'll continue to do what I enjoy because anything else would be foolish.
 
#503
SactoBass said:
Cool pic, Blue!
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Thanks, that was a pic from WI State Fair, we played 4 nights in a row. The lights make the gig look bigger than it was. However the crowds were good and we had a blast.

Blue
 

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#504
SidMau said:
I'm young (15) and don't like playing other peoples music very much. Its their music, and I enjoy listening to it, and maybe I'll take a small riff or something and play it just cause I randomly figure it out one day, but I find much more joy in writing my odd instrumental songs and just throwing them on soundcloud... noone really listens to them but its one of my favourite things to do, and I'll continue to do what I enjoy because anything else would be foolish.
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You don't want to hear a live audience applaud after playing your music live?

If no, your not a gigging guy (not yet, your 15 and everything changes) and I agree you should continue with bedroom recordings.

It is amazing how we are all different,when I was 15 I couldn't wait till my bands next gig and the opportunity to be on stage. I'm still that way.


blue
 
#506
bluewine said:
Can we be honest, is playing a 45 minute set with 5 other bands on the bill really a gig?

blue
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Of course it is... Quite smug to think otherwise. Generally speaking, almost every band I see rarely plays over 1 1/2 hours. Supporting acts generally get about 45 minutes and locals/openers get 30 minutes.

If I have to pack up my gear, move my gear, set up, and play in front of people... It's a gig.
 
#507
I play bass because my doc said my left nut will fall off if I don't.
Why take that chance?

Like to keep busy & chops up, so I bounce a couple of bands,
(some with many originals, some not so much)
host an open stage or 2, do sub work,free [DEL]basing[/DEL] lancing
and when wifey says I have some free time, mess around down in the studio,
the results of which will probably never see the light of day.
Consider myself fortunate to (almost) earn a living doing what I like best,
and whether it's a cover or not never enters the equation.
 
#508
zachoff said:
Of course it is... Quite smug to think otherwise. Generally speaking, almost every band I see rarely plays over 1 1/2 hours. Supporting acts generally get about 45 minutes and locals/openers get 30 minutes.

If I have to pack up my gear, move my gear, set up, and play in front of people... It's a gig.
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It's not so much the time on stage, but playing with 2-5 other bands on the bill?

Blue
 
#509
So you'd say by that extension that being a band at a festival in front of hundreds/thousands of people, or being one of the openers for an international act is not a gig?

Oh I forgot... this is Blue's single and correct view of the world, where unless you do four hour gigs slamming out mustang sally on your thunderbird and wearing wristbands with your one true band, you are not a real or serious bassist.

Get the hell over yourself, Blue. Seriously. It's just plain sad.

bluewine said:
It's not so much the time on stage, but playing with 2-5 other bands on the bill?

Blue
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#512
Wait... so the standards are different if you're an originals vs. cover band? And now you're backpedaling so that it's not about the set length but more about the venue and/or cover.

So if I were doing covers as an opener for a more established cover band at a club in front of 20 people for 45 minutes, that's not a gig?

Yeah... Keep on digging, Russ. Does it make you die a bit inside when Maple Road plays an original?

bluewine said:
No, I think that would be a fantastic gig.

I was referring to the originals clubs. The $5.00 cover back room thing with multiple bands.

Blue
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#513
Bob Palmer said:
Oh I forgot... this is Blue's single and correct view of the world, where unless you do four hour gigs slamming out mustang sally on your thunderbird and wearing wristbands with your one true band, you are not a real or serious bassist.

Get the hell over yourself, Blue. Seriously. It's just plain sad.
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Bob, I play bass in a bar band, it's no great claim to fame.lol

By the way, we don't play Mustang Sally, were a 70s style rock/blues band.Most of the material is on the hard side. Bob we also have released 2 cds of original material that we play as well.

The Thunderbird, that might be a generational thing, back in the 70s if you played a Thunderbird it meant you were pretty cool. It was one of the basses to have. I love it. As a matter of fact I am having new strings put on it and will start gigging with it soon,

It's almost fall so the sleeveless look will be gone till next summer However I did pick up so new wrist bands.

You don't like wrist bands, they look cool and lots of guys wear them.lol

I know serious bass players that won't leave the bedroom. They are serious and they are good, but I can't see how their having any fun.

Blue
 

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#514
zachoff said:
Of course it is... Quite smug to think otherwise. Generally speaking, almost every band I see rarely plays over 1 1/2 hours. Supporting acts generally get about 45 minutes and locals/openers get 30 minutes.

If I have to pack up my gear, move my gear, set up, and play in front of people... It's a gig.
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Right on. Seriously, who wants to watch the same band play a four hour set? Especially a cover band. With the exception of Bruce Springsteen and god-awful jam bands, the majority of touring rock bands play 30-45 minutes in an opening slot and 75-120 minutes as a headliner depending on genre and the number of bands on the bill.
 
#517
bluewine said:
I know serious bass players that won't leave the bedroom. They are serious and they are good, but I can't see how their having any fun.
Blue
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And many of us can't see how performing the same burned-out, played-out oldies and classic rock covers would be considered having fun. Especially when almost every other cover band is playing the exact same set list.
 
#518
Blue seems to again be making assumptions based on his limited view (that may be true in his area, who knows). Sure there are plenty of original bands that only play a half hour set 4 times a year for free. But guess what? There are lots of cover bands that do the same. On the reverse, there are tons of original bands packing houses and playing multiple nights per week making good money. You can't just make a blanket statement like that. There's all levels of all kinds of bands.

That said, if you're in an original or cover band and the best gig you can get is a half hour gig for free, then you're either brand new or maybe you're no good. Both my cover and original bands play full nights often and make money. Sometimes we'll split bills if we're helping someone out or it just seems like a fun gig.

So I think you're over simplifying. I think the issue is that there are individuals who don't know that they don't have a good product. Has nothing to do with originals vs covers. I'm not sure how those people have fun.
 
#519
bluewine said:
Not yet Guy, I think many don't fully understand.

I have concerns but I'm not against originals bands. I support them and love seeing and hearing them.

Blue
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Russ, the fact that people disagree with you doesn't mean they don't understand. Actually, I think it may be you that doesn't understand. People approach music for different reasons. Clearly, your reason is to play live gigs of non-original material and make money. That's great. Others choose to express themselves through their own words and music. Still others just like to play to play. There is no need to try to convince others that they are wrong and you are right........because there is no wrong answer here. We can all come at it for different reasons.

Turning the BM forum into the Blue Show is getting old and tiring. Your constant belaboring of this point isn't helping anyone, especially yourself. We get it....after years of trying to be a "pop artist", you've found your calling in a bar cover band. That's great...... now let the others find their own path.

BTW, you REALLY ought to pony up for a supporting membership.
 
#520
Bob Palmer said:
Wait... so the standards are different if you're an originals vs. cover band? And now you're backpedaling so that it's not about the set length but more about the venue and/or cover.

So if I were doing covers as an opener for a more established cover band at a club in front of 20 people for 45 minutes, that's not a gig?

Yeah... Keep on digging, Russ. Does it make you die a bit inside when Maple Road plays an original?
Click to expand...

A gig is whatever you define as a gig, not what I define.lol

I actually have fun playing our originals.

I know very little about you Bob, so I am not sure where you stand on many of these issues or what the basis is for your comments.

Blue
 
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