What's wrong with 2023 audiences?

[Pocket Dave]

Sounds fun, but I don't think we, or any band that I know, would do all of that for $100-150 each per night, and I doubt that any venue here would pay much more than that. Do you guys make a lot more for doing that kind of a show?

None of the guys I work with do costumes or props in order to engage the crowd for that $100-150 a man, even for $150-200.

They still do a great job of audience engagement though. IME it's been more about reaching out and acknowledging people in the crowd, using whatever approach is truest to someone's personal style, be it friendly ribbing, doing call outs in lyrics or just letting them know how valued they are to the show.

IME, to do that where people respond best is all about first being comfortable in your on skin.

 

[bassicmike]

I have been in that situation a few times. Once, during playoffs which the Patriots were playing, we were forced to wait until the end of the game before they would let us play. Another time, we re told to go home because it was a night game.

Years back, I was in that position for a Bruins playoff game. The game went to OT, the Bs lost, and were bounced from the playoffs. Then we started to play. Yay.

 

[gln1955]

Years back, I was in that position for a Bruins playoff game. The game went to OT, the Bs lost, and were bounced from the playoffs. Then we started to play. Yay.

Last New Years Eve we played a bar gig concurrent with the Buckeyes v. Georgia in the BCS semi-finals. The Buckeyes missed a field goal to lose at almost exactly midnight. Most everyone packed it in at that point, so we quickly wrapped it up and got out of there too.

 

[51PRI]

None of the guys I work with do costumes or props in order to engage the crowd for that $100-150 a man, even for $150-200.

They still do a great job of audience engagement though. IME it's been more about reaching out and acknowledging people in the crowd, using whatever approach is truest to someone's personal style, be it friendly ribbing, doing call outs in lyrics or just letting them know how valued they are to the show.

IME, to do that where people respond best is all about first being comfortable in your on skin.

"Back in the day" when all of the bars here had bands six nights a week it became like a mini concert in the corner of the bar. Bands dressed up, did dances, comedy skits, had banks of lights, fox machines, sometimes even costume changes. And this wasn't for a wedding or event, just a regular bar. Of course now there are not 6 night a week gigs, at least not here, and no band dresses up or carries lights or does any kind of show. Band members just show up, seemingly, in whatever they happen to be wearing that day, and stand and play songs. And we're as guilty as anyone. It's really changed a lot.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I have been in that situation a few times. Once, during playoffs which the Patriots were playing, we were forced to wait until the end of the game before they would let us play. Another time, we are told to go home because it was a night game.

Back n da day band I was in, The Reef Aires, we were hired to play NYE at a bar. It had two sections, the bar, and the pool table-dance floor stage area. it was a mom-and-pop operation we'd played before and was surprised they asked for us to play NYE as they always complained we were too loud and it seemed to me our choice of music, 60s psychedelic in 1970 vs the clientele that looked more Merle Haggard.

Anyway so they hired us and as usual they all sat on the bar side, we are on the dance floor side playing to two couples and us. The bartender, mom, complaining we are too loud, and can't hear the TV as usual. So at about 10:30-11 pm, they ask us to stop so they can hear the TV and watch Guy Lombardo and the Ball Drop. So we went out to the panel truck and smoked up a bunch of Colombian (70s ) The Cuervo Gold The fine Colombian Make tonight a wonderful thing.

The Ball dropped, they came out and got us, we came back in and played a set. They were happy and drunk and paid us our full agreed amount plus tip.

 

[LBS-bass]

None of the guys I work with do costumes or props in order to engage the crowd for that $100-150 a man, even for $150-200.

They still do a great job of audience engagement though. IME it's been more about reaching out and acknowledging people in the crowd, using whatever approach is truest to someone's personal style, be it friendly ribbing, doing call outs in lyrics or just letting them know how valued they are to the show.

IME, to do that where people respond best is all about first being comfortable in your on skin.

Yep, agree 100%. If you have the budget, there are elaborate things that you can do to create more of a stage show and get the audience involved. But you don't need a lot of props. What you need are people in the band who are willing to engage with the people who come out to see you. You need to tear down the wall that separates musician from audience to a degree, so that people who come to see you feel valued for being there.

It's not difficult. Lucky for me I learned this early on, because I was fortunate enough in the mid-eighties to work with a guy who did this very well. He was friendly and engaging, and at every single show he worked the tables on breaks and talked for a few minutes with every single person there. That was the first band I was ever in that had lines around the block at resort shows. People would plan their vacations around our resort appearances.

If you do this, before long you're going to see those same people coming back, and if you keep doing it you're going to have a lot of people coming who feel like they're friends with the band. This is especially true if you're also giving them a good, solid show.

So many times I see musicians wander off to their own little corner on breaks, never saying a word to anyone. I have done it myself, when it's not my band and I'm not sure if I'm stepping on someone's toes if I make myself visible. But when I go out to play with my main band, I try to make sure the audience feels appreciated and included in whatever way I can.

 

[Pocket Dave]

"Back in the day" when all of the bars here had bands six nights a week it became like a mini concert in the corner of the bar. Bands dressed up, did dances, comedy skits, had banks of lights, fox machines, sometimes even costume changes. And this wasn't for a wedding or event, just a regular bar. Of course now there are not 6 night a week gigs, at least not here, and no band dresses up or carries lights or does any kind of show. Band members just show up, seemingly, in whatever they happen to be wearing that day, and stand and play songs. And we're as guilty as anyone. It's really changed a lot.

That was a long time ago here too. In my little small-to-medium venue circles these days people respond best to honest & fun engagement. The BL's on a couple of my regular gigs each have their own style of doing this. (Mine is to rib people good-naturedly from the stage.)

 

[HolmeBass]

dont be mad you thought i was serious.

I am not mad.

 

[ChrisB2]

I'm still working on another rididulous anecdote to post. Maybe the one about the outdoor wedding at a country club where as soon as we started playing everyone went into the clubhouse to drink and we played to nobody?

Thanks for reminding me of one my worst gigs ever, preceded by anxious hopes of drunken bridesmaids dancing lewdly, which never transpired....

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I think there can be considerable creativity involved in taking apart and reconstructing
well-written songs in new and interesting ways.

I don't know if what we do is "considerable creatitivy" but since we are 3 pc with guitar/bass/cajon we are forced to take some liberties with our versions of songs sometimes. Usually that falls to me to add more to a bass line to fill a void during a solo or something like that. But since all 3 of us sing we can do well in that department in keeping the "essence" of the song similar. May not be far enough off the norm for what you were mentioning though.

I have been in that situation a few times. Once, during playoffs which the Patriots were playing, we were forced to wait until the end of the game before they would let us play. Another time, we re told to go home because it was a night game.

We stopped playing at a well paying bar for this reason. With 10 TV's around the bar there always seemed to be a game/match/event on that we had to wait to finish before we could start. It was just painful to always be ready and then wait, wait..... I'm not a fan of any sport so that made me doubly impatient waiting.

 

[LBS-bass]

We stopped playing at a well paying bar for this reason. With 10 TV's around the bar there always seemed to be a game/match/event on that we had to wait to finish before we could start. It was just painful to always be ready and then wait, wait..... I'm not a fan of any sport so that made me doubly impatient waiting.

Yes! I can understand the occasional scheduling snafu when there are unanticipated playoff or championship games happening. I've been in bands that tried to compete with the TV on those nights and that's never worked. For the places I play now, it's not really a problem, but I think if there were a really big game scheduled and I know the venue has big TVs there I would probably contact management ahead of time and volunteer to reschedule.

 

[pepj]

Doing spins or mashups can be off the cuff if pretty basic or a real body of work if a serious reworking.

What is not good is being caught in the middle.
Singer called Constant Craving which is not an easy busk...especially in another key...plus chords the singer has decided 'work' harmonically, but aren't much use at all to anyone transposing the intervals from an original chart.
Why do they do this..? Its a roasting at best.

 

[Free Bassing]

I have always disliked playing shows where the bands aren't the main draw.

when people go to bars, parties, and outdoor gatherings to have fun with their friends or engage in other activities, a loud band playing covers they don't like or know becomes an annoyance really fast.

I also see cover bands kind of dying off and tribute bands are filling the void.
Instead of one cover band half-assing 4 hours worth of songs that have no reason to be played together, a few tribute bands playing a few band's material exceptionally well for the same amount of time seems to be much more popular anymore

When looking at upcoming events at the local venues I'd be much more apt to see a tribute band playing music that I actually liked, then going to see a cover band where I might be lucky to hear two songs I kind of like

 

[pepj]

I'm not precious about audiences need to be taking notice...I think that's the band remit to make them do that..but by the same token, if the venue only puts bands on as an afterthought, then I'd rather not do those gigs.

I understand the very rare conflict with a major sporting event and the need to work around tv screens but you are either an event itself or not.
If the latter, I've got better things to do than play to a distant pre occupied audience.

Same goes for getting in the way of diners..for me and if its not thought through, I'm out.

 

[Bullitt5135]

With all due respect, you're doing it wrong. If you are going to take wallpaper gigs and act like wallpaper, then don't be surprised when you are treated like wallpaper. On the other hand, if you take a wallpaper gig and treat it as an opportunity to network and make connections, it will pay dividends in the long run. It's also an opportunity to up your game – to work extra hard to win over the audience. You could have gotten the family involved...bring the kid up on stage and give her a tambourine.

My band plays a fair amount of charity gigs. We've done two walk-a-thons in the past couple of weeks...both up at the crack of dawn to set up for an 8AM start time. Several hundred people in attendance, and nobody is there to see us. We have fun and we play like we're on a big boy stage. A few people clap, a few people stop by to say some kind words, and a few people ask for our business card. We get to know the organizers and the hosts (typically people on the board of directors for a lot of big organizations, local media celebrities, university presidents, and prominent philanthropist$). Gigs like this have led to private party gigs that pay double our normal rate, and we are growing a fan base faster than any band I've been a part of in the past 10+ years.

Before joining our band, our drummer was in an average (his words) cover band on the other side of the state. They started out playing backyard BBQs for friends. Somebody saw them and asked them to play a charity gig. Fast forward 20 years, and that band was the best-known band in town, eventually playing mainstage events at the local arena and amphitheater, opening for major acts. That contact they made at the BBQ gig was a wealthy philanthropist with a lot of über-wealthy philanthopist friends who don't bat an eyelash forking out serious money to hire a band for their event. Over the past 20 years, this community they became part of has raised close to a million dollars for local charities – with countless well-paying gigs along the way. But hey, if you're just in it for $100 and a trip through the buffet line...

 

[ChrisB2]

Before joining our band, our drummer was in an average (his words) cover band on the other side of the state. They started out playing backyard BBQs for friends. Somebody saw them and asked them to play a charity gig. Fast forward 20 years, and that band was the best-known band in town, eventually playing mainstage events at the local arena and amphitheater, opening for major acts. That contact they made at the BBQ gig was a wealthy philanthropist with a lot of über-wealthy philanthopist friends who don't bat an eyelash forking out serious money to hire a band for their event.

Yep, the ol' "it's not what you know, it's WHO you know." Universally effective everywhere/everything.

 

[Pocket Dave]

We stopped playing at a well paying bar for this reason. With 10 TV's around the bar there always seemed to be a game/match/event on that we had to wait to finish before we could start. It was just painful to always be ready and then wait, wait..... I'm not a fan of any sport so that made me doubly impatient waiting.

We were cancelled twice, albeit with some notice, on a weekly jam recently when the Dallas Stars were in 2nd, and then divisional rounds of the NHL playoffs. Before that, we were told to stop playing during a prior playoff game so the 4 people at the bar could watch the game, while the 25 or so people who were there for the jam were completely sidelined. I looked across the room and noticed drinks and food on all but a couple tables, so these were paying customers.

And while I don't know enough about hockey tactics and strategies to fully follow it, I enjoy watching, and count myself a fan of other sports.

Problem is these cancellations reveal a bigger issue, that live music is seen as an after-thought. As evidence, the venue does not participate in live music promotion, there are no mentions on their website or on social networking.

I don't mind doing social network promo - I'd do it anyway because we work for both a guarantee and tips, and the more people that show up, the fuller the tip jar.

IME the venue really should be seen as a more-than-willing participant & live music destination on nights it's supposed to be scheduled; Cultivating that impression should include both promotion and consistency.

While the venue's content to have us play there, live music fans in our area are more inclined to go places where they feel truly welcome by the venue.

EDIT: Not whining. We already know what needs to happen here; We're looking to move.

 

[pepj]

The best venues work their patrons hard to turn out and this builds a very desirable gig.
So, if they don't or cant be bothered with that, neither can we.
Plenty of other places to target. You wont work 3 nights a week, but tbh, dont wont that either.

3 gigs a year at 5 cool venues plus the summer season which always kicks in last minute outdoor events and you are looking at 2 to 3 gigs a month average with a slow down in winter. 24 a year is cool to start with.

 

[mike o]

Standing on stage like a rock star will get you nowhere. Honestly, most of us are not that amazing. LOL. The audience has seen plenty of old people on stage doing tired old tunes. Nothing special is happening if you are just playing well. The audience wants to be entertained. If you do that, you will win them over. You better bring something better to the plate to get those faces off the phone. Ha, I could have just said “better more entertaining than a cell phone”.

 

[Marko 1]

Last gig, super high-energy dancing crowd.

Gig this weekend (two of my band played there before), the folks play pool/whatever and don't seem to care about the band. Maybe the owner likes having a band, I dunno...

but I don't care (well, I care, but not enough to pass on the gig).

If noboybody even knows we're there, it'll be a paid rehearsal.