What would you do?

I'm kinda at the front end of this - a female singer and I are putting together a contemporary top 40 dance band but can't find a guitarist willing to play it . I was thinking we could get more and/or better paying gigs than all the classic rock bands around here but you've experienced the opposite?

 

I got money that says the dance band will get bigger gigs and better money. Classic rock/country bands are a dime a dozen and have to work for cheap to compete. Stick with ithe dance band. It will pay off.

 

Agreed. I know that’s the case around here.

Last band was classic rock, country, variety, but especially with country, there’s a definite ceiling on pay and the better rooms.

I (with other band buddy) put a new band together, had to ditch the country, and I have to stay on the case (I’m the BL but not a control freak) to make sure we’re putting more dance/funk on the setlist as we’re putting new songs together.

 

Ha… we did an annual “Coon Hunter’s Fest” (that’s “raccoon&#8221, hundreds of rednecks (actually thousands through the place the whole weekend) flea market, all kindsa games (a couple of which imo abused the poor little raccoons which kinda bugged me), hunting dogs and shotguns all ‘round, two-day gig, good pay…


We pulled out all the country tunes and put together a gang more… hell, I sang “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “White Lighting” (turns out I do a convincing George Jones)… then break comes and the fader-rider puts the “wrong” CD and the ‘Cha Cha Slide comes on… oh oh…







Ha… everybody jumped on the dance floor, chicks, dudes, every age…

Lesson learned!

 

We carry a couple of hula hoops with us to get girls involved at shows. At a recent bike night gig the bikers themselves had an impromptu hula hoop contest. Imagine 20 (real) bikers in full leathers arguing over a hula hoop, saying "you already had a turn!".

They also stole our hula hoops.

 

Playing in multiple bands is usually no problem, and I've asked people from bands I've quit to work with me in other projects, so that's OK too. I wouldn't want to play classic rock myself either, though. Last time a friend's rock band asked me to I told them I'm not a rock guy, but I can ask around and help them find a bassist.

As far as dance bands, I think that's a great idea and very marketable. I'm also trying to put together a total dance band with drum loops, no rock songs etc. That's hard, but the more dance/pop my other bands do, the better it is received. We do hip-hop, electro, dancehall, reggaeton, kuduro, even sertanejo, mostly songs from the past 4-5 years. Now working on adding some classic 90s Eurodance for nostalgia.

 

To the OP:
I'd stick with the band you started. It doesn't sound like your heart would be into the classic rock/country band which would be a disservice to your old guitarist.

 

We are primarily a classic rock band, though are starting to move toward 70s disco and dance tunes... "Brick House", "Bad Girls" and such. We get our best crowd reaction from these types of tunes... gotta give the folks what they want or play to empty bars.

 

They do love their country music in Ohio. I'd say do both if you can handle the family/job/bands thing. If not, go with what you love, which appears to be the dance band. Nothing wrong with turning down a pay-out for something you really have a lot of fun doing. Plus, the tighter you get with a dance band, the better chances you have of getting corporate parties and such. That's where the pay out comes from.

On a side note, I was in the "I hate commercial country camp" when I joined a classic rock/country band. I must admit, playing some of those bass lines really makes you think. You'd be surprised at how many "easy lines" are actually quite interesting and original.


Good Luck!

 

I would say that unless you HAVE to, you should never commit to playing music you don't like. Rots the soul, and all that.

 

Here's your answer but you may find out down the road that you payed a huge price for that money.

 

I would be all over that. My concern would be booking conflicts, and not just getting dates confused. What happens when one band feels you're booking the other band too much, or giving the other band preference in terms of rooms? There are plenty of opportunities for hard feelings...

However, if both bands want to gig only once a month, and you want to gig twice a month, you're golden. In that case I would definitely go for it. And yeah, modern country can be really fun to play.

Good luck!

 

Don't try to keep things totally totally even. The band with more demand will be able to get better gigs.

 

Be sure to establish the booking rules. Will the dance band always get preference, or will you go with First-Book-First-Play? You cannot be in two bands without having determined this beforehand. Honesty with both groups will be key to prevent any hard feeling or thoughts that you are sand bagging one band to promote the other.

 

Life is too short to not play music you like. I'm 62, what do I know?

 

To paraphrase CSN:
"If you can't get gigs with the music you love, learn to love the music that will"