Nothing motivates me to play in an originals band. I prefer playing music the audience actually wants to hear.
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What Motivates You to Play In An Originals Band?
- Thread starter bluewine
- Start date
Interesting thread.
I just recently left an originals band. We started off as a cover band, but midstroke, the rest of the guys decided to go all originals.
Let me start by saying I am 43. I am at a point in life where I have to justify what I am doing. I have to make money doing it. I have a family and based in Michigan.
I am an average player, but believe if you are in a band, everyone has their part and say in what they do. I also prefer playing music the audience wants to hear. If the audience is not enjoying themselves, I am not enjoying myself.
I love a great original song. Most original bands are younger, than I. Which means they get to spend more time together crafting themselves, I dont have that time anymore.
Most younger players have a dream of being a rockstar. I pretty much aleady lived the lifestyle of a rockstar without being one. I'm good now.
Playing in the band I was in would have been great as a cover act, but just average as an originals band. They have good originals. Music, I can understand, but it just was not my thing and they sensed that. To me, good oiginal music would be mainstream, which means reaching out to the rest of the world through the radio. It is great to acomplish a recording and call it your own. There is something to say about that. I have yet to do this, but will. Just playing something I created is not good enough, unless everyone else around me is digging it. Your close friends will generally say "Yeah, it sounds awsome", but only saying that, because they dont want to hurt your feelings. I have not experienced this myself, but have been around long enough to see it happen to many others. Personally, I cant stand going to these shows where they might have 3 or 4 original bands performing. Most is garbage. An occasional glimpse of hope pops up.
I am not a song writer myself, but have never really tried. When I do put a recording out, it will most likely be my own interpretation of some cover songs that mean something to me. Who knows, maybe try and put an original one or two in there.
In any case, it is good and refreshing to hear what some of the musicians here have to say on, what drives them to perform their originals. Some, not so much.
I just recently left an originals band. We started off as a cover band, but midstroke, the rest of the guys decided to go all originals.
Let me start by saying I am 43. I am at a point in life where I have to justify what I am doing. I have to make money doing it. I have a family and based in Michigan.
I am an average player, but believe if you are in a band, everyone has their part and say in what they do. I also prefer playing music the audience wants to hear. If the audience is not enjoying themselves, I am not enjoying myself.
I love a great original song. Most original bands are younger, than I. Which means they get to spend more time together crafting themselves, I dont have that time anymore.
Most younger players have a dream of being a rockstar. I pretty much aleady lived the lifestyle of a rockstar without being one. I'm good now.
Playing in the band I was in would have been great as a cover act, but just average as an originals band. They have good originals. Music, I can understand, but it just was not my thing and they sensed that. To me, good oiginal music would be mainstream, which means reaching out to the rest of the world through the radio. It is great to acomplish a recording and call it your own. There is something to say about that. I have yet to do this, but will. Just playing something I created is not good enough, unless everyone else around me is digging it. Your close friends will generally say "Yeah, it sounds awsome", but only saying that, because they dont want to hurt your feelings. I have not experienced this myself, but have been around long enough to see it happen to many others. Personally, I cant stand going to these shows where they might have 3 or 4 original bands performing. Most is garbage. An occasional glimpse of hope pops up.
I am not a song writer myself, but have never really tried. When I do put a recording out, it will most likely be my own interpretation of some cover songs that mean something to me. Who knows, maybe try and put an original one or two in there.
In any case, it is good and refreshing to hear what some of the musicians here have to say on, what drives them to perform their originals. Some, not so much.
I am also motivated by our music and standing behind it. It takes allot of guts to perform your own music to people live and never know what the reaction will be. Some people like this and feed off of it others can't/won't do it and will never be able to so they perform covers etc and stay in a safe zone. There is nothing wrong with that at all but I like the freedom to express myself and the music I play.
Originals take allot of motivation since you have to put in allot of work to be even decent at them and stay booked often for little money. Covers on the other hand reward many musicians and that is great. They appeal to more people, pay much better and still require motivation to perform right. I guess it comes down to what music motivates you?
Originals take allot of motivation since you have to put in allot of work to be even decent at them and stay booked often for little money. Covers on the other hand reward many musicians and that is great. They appeal to more people, pay much better and still require motivation to perform right. I guess it comes down to what music motivates you?
I agree with "matchete's" post regarding originals bands and older players.
Believe me, I totally get this is a touchy subject.
A lot of TBers don't fully understand the value and the rewards you can get from being a member of a cover band and like wise for originals bands.
Originals bands are great for the under 25 guys that have that remote chance of moving from local to national.
I got to the point where I decided to play in an eststablished cover band playing music that people want to hear.
I've played in originals bands where the material really rocked and people still didn't want to hear it. Material that IMHO was a lot better than what I'm playing now.
We played to over 800 people last Thursday night and I had requests to take photos with fans, signed one or two CDs and had people requesting our show schedule.
In the original band the crowds were marginal as for most originals bands here. I never had anyone aproach me, to even say hi.
My cover band has fans that follow us all over se Wisconsin. Most originals bands here don't gig enough to develop a fan base.
Believe me, I totally get this is a touchy subject.
A lot of TBers don't fully understand the value and the rewards you can get from being a member of a cover band and like wise for originals bands.
Originals bands are great for the under 25 guys that have that remote chance of moving from local to national.
I got to the point where I decided to play in an eststablished cover band playing music that people want to hear.
I've played in originals bands where the material really rocked and people still didn't want to hear it. Material that IMHO was a lot better than what I'm playing now.
We played to over 800 people last Thursday night and I had requests to take photos with fans, signed one or two CDs and had people requesting our show schedule.
In the original band the crowds were marginal as for most originals bands here. I never had anyone aproach me, to even say hi.
My cover band has fans that follow us all over se Wisconsin. Most originals bands here don't gig enough to develop a fan base.
What motivates me? Ever had a crowd sing the lyrics of a song you've written back to you while you're performing?
It's by far one of the most satisfying feelings I have ever felt.
It's by far one of the most satisfying feelings I have ever felt.
I enjoy the music. It is that simple.
My main band nowadays we are at a mix of 50/50 original and covers (eventually getting to fully original). However, most of our originals are songs most folks have never heard of (We play a mix of zydeco, cumbia and forro along with some others - new orleans blues, reggae, etc). We are currently in a massive gig push - doing 3-5 shows a week for the summer to really get the name out there.
it helps that folks seem to really enjoy the music, but what is most important is that I like it.
My main band nowadays we are at a mix of 50/50 original and covers (eventually getting to fully original). However, most of our originals are songs most folks have never heard of (We play a mix of zydeco, cumbia and forro along with some others - new orleans blues, reggae, etc). We are currently in a massive gig push - doing 3-5 shows a week for the summer to really get the name out there.
it helps that folks seem to really enjoy the music, but what is most important is that I like it.
bassbully said:
Bass I usually agree with your positions and comments, however I'm going to have to take issue with your post.
I have been a full member of several originals bands. So, I can do it and am able to do it. For me at 59, there was no reason for me to stay on that path. For what, a gig every month with little pay?
Being in a cover band is not a saftey net, it was the right thing for me to do.
My cover band meets my current needs;
Lots of gigs
Nice appreciative crowds
Decent compensation for something I have invested a life time to.
Blue
Jmattbassplaya,
That would be motivaing. There was a band out of Detroit that was a cover band and played a few originals throughout the evening. They were good enough, that they were the house band as well. Whenever they broke out an original, the crowd, danced and sang along. It was awsome.
That would be motivaing. There was a band out of Detroit that was a cover band and played a few originals throughout the evening. They were good enough, that they were the house band as well. Whenever they broke out an original, the crowd, danced and sang along. It was awsome.
I'm 56 and have played original music since I was 16. I've been in a national (& Canada, love Canada) touring band (on trumpet) and we did shows for over 5000 people, festivals, down and out joints in the wastelands, won awards etc etc. I've played bass in locally performing bands & projects that long too. There Is No Choice for me, it's all about creativity.
To me, being in a cover band would be about the same as working as a bartender in a place with a jukebox, and I've had Much nicer (and better paying with benefits) work environments without the music/bar business sleeze. I'd even rather do landscaping work than play in a cover band.
Disconnecting art from the need to make a living allows the art to prosper as It wants. This is true of my photography work also. I'll retire early and do music full time soon!
To me, being in a cover band would be about the same as working as a bartender in a place with a jukebox, and I've had Much nicer (and better paying with benefits) work environments without the music/bar business sleeze. I'd even rather do landscaping work than play in a cover band.
Disconnecting art from the need to make a living allows the art to prosper as It wants. This is true of my photography work also. I'll retire early and do music full time soon!
BassBrass said:
I'm 59, I can't speak on a national touring originals band , I don't know anything about what genre you're playing.
I think your post is an example of " broad stroking" cover bands. There not all the same.
My blues rock cover band gives me just as much of a creative outlet as your originals band.
Blue
I never get the need of cover band ... where I live I never heard of any cover band. I feel like if I want to listen to a song, I'll just buy the CD/mp3 on Itune or go on youtube to get my fix instead of hearing a band of nobody that can't reproduce the original voice of the singer or the effect of the guitar etc. I think that what I'm trying to say is if I want to hear an old tune, I prefer the original, cover are great to learn and having fun but that is about it to me.
The genre was gothic-americana with a dose of klezmer, circus and Balkan gypsy music. Hows that?
I'm glad your blues band gives you a creative outlet. I personally would become bored playing blues changes all the time. I like Stravinsky and Ornette Coleman, the use of electronic loops and effects, and African/Indian polyrhythm. Bill Lazwell meets Throbbing Gristle. I LOVE the original blues artists of the 30s, I love Miles Davis playing a blues, but the new commercial and jam stuff doesn't do anything for me. sorry.
I understand this but for me the only value and reward of being in a cover band is the money ...plain and simple. I have been there done that. If I did it ever again it would be for the money only. I get no charge out of playing covers and covering other peoples music. I find it limits my creativity and passion two things originals give me that I need and love in my music. Covers would maybe reward my wallet, but leave me and my soul empty.
Again, I understand this fits you and your needs but not all of us are the same. I know of a few musicians who write music that are too affraid to perform it live in fear of rejection...sad.
There's a handful of those proverbial fountains of youth in life, such as exercise, love, humor, giving, etc. Selfishly, originals bands serve up several fountains of youth concurrently -- creative outlet, collaboration, taking a risk by producing something new in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and impacting others. Maybe I'm just an adrenalin junkie, but whether in the studio, on stage, or at rehearsal, I feel so alive.
On the giving side of the fence, complementing other musicians' creative sparks and in turn, providing them with inspiration, is huge. In a similar vein, seeing others get into your music and appreciate the lyrical message feels equally amazing as at least in some way, and maybe for just a fleeting moment, you've made the quality of someone's life just a little bit better.
Of course, that's in the best of all possible worlds. Try making a solid go of it while balancing egos, baggage, ulterior motives, conflicting agendas, differing musicianship philosophies, different songwriting & arrangement preferences, communication challenges, logistical issues, and financial obligations. Can't help but appreciate an originals band even more when you're in one that has a handle on these elements.
On the giving side of the fence, complementing other musicians' creative sparks and in turn, providing them with inspiration, is huge. In a similar vein, seeing others get into your music and appreciate the lyrical message feels equally amazing as at least in some way, and maybe for just a fleeting moment, you've made the quality of someone's life just a little bit better.
Of course, that's in the best of all possible worlds. Try making a solid go of it while balancing egos, baggage, ulterior motives, conflicting agendas, differing musicianship philosophies, different songwriting & arrangement preferences, communication challenges, logistical issues, and financial obligations. Can't help but appreciate an originals band even more when you're in one that has a handle on these elements.
Playing covers is like being parrot.
But if playing for money is your goal, then you have to do it. I am glad I have other skills to sell. If I had to play in a cover band for a living I would soon grow to hate my job. Even when just jamming for fun I don't want to play the same crap I played 30 years ago. I'd rather pick a chord progression and just improv to it.
To me, playing originals is much more satisfying than playing covers.
But if playing for money is your goal, then you have to do it. I am glad I have other skills to sell. If I had to play in a cover band for a living I would soon grow to hate my job. Even when just jamming for fun I don't want to play the same crap I played 30 years ago. I'd rather pick a chord progression and just improv to it.
To me, playing originals is much more satisfying than playing covers.
