What if there was only original band

[JGbassman]

if the music was satisfying to play, I could play on my terms, and the venues were exciting with people enjoying the music, then absolutely. I'm assuming there wouldn't be any money being made, and at this point I have no interest touring or living in hotels again. I certainly wouldn't be interested sleeping in a van and eating every few days to promote the music. I did that in my youth, and not interested these days. Neither am I interested being on a ten band bill, where each band is treated like poopoo by everyone from the promoter to the sound engineer, and with a following that only comes to see the local band do their opening slot. I've been there.

I've also had the privilege of playing big stages with major label billing, and all the trimmings of higher end touring as a hired gun. Regardless of how much fun that sounds, playing close to 700 shows in two year spans will wear on even the most seasoned or motivated individual.

So in the end, I have enjoyed the original scene when it was good, but have paid just as many dues to have got there. eventually I quit that lifestyle to enjoy a home life. While I still play these days, I don't aspire to be on the big stages in front of adoring fans. Id rather have fun, play reasonably close to a home base, and enjoy a fun weekend playing music....getting paid to do so.

 

[mark roberts]

Around here, if you are in an all-original music band, you are automatically relegated to the venues that are multi-band billing and have to manage the quick load in, set-up, tear-down, get gear packed and have a person (maybe even more than one person, possibly armed) stay with the locked up gear while one or more band members stay at the club until "it's all over" to fight for peanuts because of no guarantees, tip jars, or dividing up cover charge money.

There may be local venues that cater to original music presented by any mix of acoustic players, but the same money grab rules apply...just maybe not so early in the morning of the next day.

At my stage of the performance game...it would be cool to be in an all-"original" music Rock band that had it's roots in early '70's guitar Rock...but, I learned something from one of the last bands I had a good local run with. We did covers. The covers that were recognized and dance generators. The lead singer (5-pc.: two guitars, bass, drums, lead vocals) was a chick magnet. We all had chops. We made good money for the local area for about 6-8 months then, things started to wane...new material added or otherwise.

Witnessed other long time players, likely with better connections, doing covers and having their cult-of-personality work for them not only getting gigs with the best timing (collegiate sports, etc), but having a personae that's can command a substantial boomer audience, "because" they have been here, are talented and came from previous local, recognized musical talent (I am talking generational, as well as previous bands going back to the late 60's.).

So yeah, probably a band management thing. But local band management success seems to rely on certain attributes.

Maybe someday, before I am no longer, I may just have those attributes align, for even a short period of time.

 

[LT131]

it seems the majority of talkbassers are from USA and are in covers band. You don't see covers band gigging often over here unless you play in a wedding band.

Honest question. What genres are most popular in Scandinavia?

 

[LT131]

It all depends on whether the music is any good. Too many people can't write good songs but play them anyway.

It's really awkward when someone , or two someone's, drags in a real stinker. I've had to leave a band because I refused to play some of them live.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

I refuse to play in cover bands. I love learning other bass players lines and what not but my bands are all original and we write our own music. It's just more fun and creative that way.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

It's really awkward when someone , or two someone's, drags in a real stinker. I've had to leave a band because I refused to play some of them live.

Haha. You got to find a band that excepts constructive criticism. If I bring a song to my band and they don't like it or want to change it I'm completely cool with it. I'm also completely comfortable telling my guitar players when something isn't to my liking.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

I find this very interesting. Many here say that original is pointless because they can't make it big... I'm not into rock or any popular music and still ... everyday I find new band with their own original music and without any cover. I also listen to a lot of video games music. Also, I'm a French Canadian and so where I live, no one is playing cover. We have a ton of original band or solo artist always creating new music. We also have insanely good musicians for a small populated province. Alain Caron, Uzeb, Beyond Creation, voidvoid...

I also see that for many, playing music or having a hobby is more acceptable if they can make a buck or two doing it.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

pretty much all bands play some covers

Not all I can point to you many band with no cover.

also original band who does cover, do them with their own flavour. To many cover band don't put their spices on it

 

[Wood and Wire]

I know that feeling (crowd singing). First time I experienced it was a mid sized bar with my RHCP tribute band, playing "Under the bridge". Our singer stopped and the whole bar sang... powerful stuff.

However, having people dancing and singing your OWN songs... that's hard to beat.
When you play a new song, and you don't know if it's going to go down well or not... and people get into it despite not having heard it before... it's magical.

It's the difference between not loosing an audience, and having to win an audience over in the first place.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

Playing originals IF you really think they are good is as good as it gets as far as I am concerned.

 

[MichelD]

I refuse to play in cover bands. I love learning other bass players lines and what not but my bands are all original and we write our own music. It's just more fun and creative that way.

Me too.

Been there, done that.

Being in a cover band now to me would be like being sentenced to a penal colony.

 

[ArtechnikA]

There are more than enough modern composers who would love an opportunity to have their work performed.

And would people pay to hear them?

 

[gln1955]

And would people pay to hear them?

No.

No good music was made after 1900. Now, get off my lawn.

 

[bassbrad]

Both of my regular bands are originals plus I play for several singer songwriters that song pretty much their own songs.
Gravelwhip - Freedom For The People -original rock is on most streaming platforms ,
Fredy Argir - Last Time Around - is also on most
Clear Picture is my instrumental group and someday we will finish our record.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

And would people pay to hear them?

There is a rise for orchestra that play video game music.

 

[Eilif]

I assume "you created" includes music created by your bandmates.

I'd be fine playing original music. Without cover music bands to compete with maybe small time original bands would even pay.

If it's only music created by myself I'm screwed.

 

[SubHuman]

I live near Akron/ Kent State college towns and it has several clubs that the bands play originals. I have heard some pretty good songs from some of the bands...well pre Covid
Anxiously waiting for them to re-open!

 

[LBS-bass]

Haha. You got to find a band that excepts constructive criticism. If I bring a song to my band and they don't like it or want to change it I'm completely cool with it. I'm also completely comfortable telling my guitar players when something isn't to my liking.

I would not do my own originals with my main band. It it completely out of place and we don't have the instrumentation to do the songs well. Those guys have some folk-rock/alternative flavored originals that are great. But they would not be able to pull this off in any sense that I would be happy with.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Music has its place. It isn't always for everyone or everywhere.

Here's that band doing a band original that really does work for all of us.

 

[Downunderwonder]

That'd put just about every symphony orchestra out of business...

Or create a lot of work for composers and computers.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Would I but could I? That's the rub. I have been to a few original band gigs where the hit rate was not that flash.