Yeah I don't get it either. I think a lot of these mostly-empty dump bars are trying to follow the model of the few successful joints that are packed/have a line of people waiting to get in.
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Why are the bar gig always so late ?
- Thread starter jtroska
- Start date
I never really understood this either seeing as a majority of the audience that come and see us usually clear out around midnight. Young and old alike.
No.
I can't think of a bigger waste of time than either listening to some cover band playing a bunch of lame tunes that every other cover band plays and claim to be the "ultimate" party band, or actually playing in one of those "bands".
Unfortunately that music and those time frames to play it in are all that seem to get booked.
Makes it tough to play music that I like to play, so I'm gig-less.
They can have their crappy bar set lists and getting home at 4AM. No thank you. Theres NO fun in that.
Depends. I went to the club near me last night where we're booked in January. Mediocre band but they are well-known. Place was packed at midnight when I left and there was a line to get in at that point...
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtroska
I'm 42 and getting too old for this. But does anybody really want to be out, listening to songs that went out of style 40 years ago, from 11 pm - 2am?
I agree about the time, but not the 40 yr old music comment. I think more and more younger kids have realized most of " their music "sucks. And that classis rock is just that, classic Probably wont go out of style in my lifetime.. Im 48.
I play in a local cover band that usually plays until 1 am ( closing). No more than 1/2 the crowd is there than at 10-11( maybe its us!!) i see this even when i go out to see some bands too ( yes i enjoy a GOOD, fun cover band, sorry elitists)
Several friends complain about the late starts, around 9:45. Thats my mon-fri bedtime. I do love the gigging but getting home at 3 am is getting tougher and tougher.
Originally Posted by jtroska
I'm 42 and getting too old for this. But does anybody really want to be out, listening to songs that went out of style 40 years ago, from 11 pm - 2am?
I agree about the time, but not the 40 yr old music comment. I think more and more younger kids have realized most of " their music "sucks. And that classis rock is just that, classic Probably wont go out of style in my lifetime.. Im 48.
I play in a local cover band that usually plays until 1 am ( closing). No more than 1/2 the crowd is there than at 10-11( maybe its us!!) i see this even when i go out to see some bands too ( yes i enjoy a GOOD, fun cover band, sorry elitists)
Several friends complain about the late starts, around 9:45. Thats my mon-fri bedtime. I do love the gigging but getting home at 3 am is getting tougher and tougher.
We have a few venues that have bands 8 to 12 and the crowd really stays. The 10 to 2 gigs people start to clear out after the 2nd set. Some venues are 9 to 1. Midnight seems to be the magic hour that people disappear. DWI laws, drinking age laws, smoking laws have really put a damper on the bar scene. Back in the day in NY when the drinking age was 18 some counties had bars open until 4am and you actually had people in them.
I am 63 and I still slep gear out at 2:30am. I love it too much to stop.
I am 63 and I still slep gear out at 2:30am. I love it too much to stop.
You're 42 and ready to give it up? My music career just started to take off when I was 40 and I'm still going strong over 20 years later with no end in sight. New Jersey and surrounding states are still comparatively good as far as getting decent gigs. I play regularly inNJ, NY, CT, and RI.
Yep, around here that are a lot a of places that aren't busy until after 11:30pm...and they stay busy until close. In Stamford (where we usually play), a lot of people go to NY after the CT bars close. In CT close is 2am and in NY it's 4am.
In NYC there are venues that have the bands start at 1:30am!
Eh, I dunno. There's something about it that still occasionally calls me. But then I get the same tired set lists where the newest song is. "Man In The Box"; Volume wars still lead to feedback and nobody seems to have learned that they don't need to be so loud; And then the ungodly hours that ensure we're playing for empty rooms... I'd like it a whole lot more if everybody learned from the error of their ways and progressed..
I guess I'm lucky. I have an every Monday 7:00- 10:00 gig. We usually quit about 9:45 to clear the stage for the band that plays every Monday from 10:00 to 1:00. The late band is mostly college students from the University of North Texas. Our band is all older guys in our 50's.
????
Maybe in your Active Adult Community but in the college town I live in lots of areas just get really cranking between 10p-11p.
On weeknights its a little different but not that different.
I sometimes think I should get my reading up to speed and try more theater gigs.
1, I wouldn't have to deal with petty band drama because we'd have a music director to smack people around;
2, I wouldn't have to deal with ridiculous volume levels because see number 1 about music director.
3, Shows end by 10:30.
4, Limited number of shows per run guarantee I'd never get bored by stagnant progress.
BTW: Please understand that I'm not actually as much of a stick-in-the-mud as my posts may seem. I put them in the Humor section and they're intended as such. They're truthful but meant for people to relate to and grin a bit.
Hi,
Yes, I enjoy an early gig too. I really enjoy pit orchestra gigs. Most of my gigs are events and private/corporate parties rather than bars and that helps. But it seems more clubs are having earlier hours around here. There's a roadhouse near me that is 8pm-Midnight on the weekends. Some places have earlier live music on Sunday, 4pm-8pm or so. That's nice.
The one nightclub that I play regularly is 8:30pm-1:00am (only four 45 minute sets). It's not bad because the crowd usually stays all night. Plus there's a really good back line and high end sound system that makes it a plug-n-play gig, quick in and out, no schlepping gear. And that's always good for these 56 year old bones.
Once in a while I'll pick up a gig as a side man in some honky tonk and schlep my gear, play until 1:30, and then drive over an hour home. It helps me keep my "dive cred".
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Yes, I enjoy an early gig too. I really enjoy pit orchestra gigs. Most of my gigs are events and private/corporate parties rather than bars and that helps. But it seems more clubs are having earlier hours around here. There's a roadhouse near me that is 8pm-Midnight on the weekends. Some places have earlier live music on Sunday, 4pm-8pm or so. That's nice.
The one nightclub that I play regularly is 8:30pm-1:00am (only four 45 minute sets). It's not bad because the crowd usually stays all night. Plus there's a really good back line and high end sound system that makes it a plug-n-play gig, quick in and out, no schlepping gear. And that's always good for these 56 year old bones.
Once in a while I'll pick up a gig as a side man in some honky tonk and schlep my gear, play until 1:30, and then drive over an hour home. It helps me keep my "dive cred".
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
My cover band has a wide ranging age group.. singer in her 30s, the rest of us 45-52. Our main audience are our neighbors and work friends... generally our age... with kids. The earlier we play the easier it is for our friends to come see us. Getting sitters for the kids is expensive and we need to deal with the kids in the morning. Our best turn outs are 8-11 9-12 we even lose people before midnight.
As for covers vs originals. Maybe younger crowds like originals bands.. still expanding their musical horizons etc. Our crowd like to dance and sing along to songs they know.. stuff from the 70s 80s 90s and contemporary. When we see that we picked too deep a cut and people are not dancing or singing.. it gets dropped. It's not what we want to play, it's what they want to listen to.. and enjoy. I've always wanted to write some songs.. but I'm guessing I won't get around to it. New bit hits with the crowd?
Never been to spain, Hanson version ( believe it or not )
Give a little bit , ( GooGoo Dolls version )
It's good there is room for all types of bands, but I'm assuming most bar bands have ALWAYS been cover bands. It's hard to get people exited about music they have never heard. Too much to think about..
As for covers vs originals. Maybe younger crowds like originals bands.. still expanding their musical horizons etc. Our crowd like to dance and sing along to songs they know.. stuff from the 70s 80s 90s and contemporary. When we see that we picked too deep a cut and people are not dancing or singing.. it gets dropped. It's not what we want to play, it's what they want to listen to.. and enjoy. I've always wanted to write some songs.. but I'm guessing I won't get around to it. New bit hits with the crowd?
Never been to spain, Hanson version ( believe it or not )
Give a little bit , ( GooGoo Dolls version )
It's good there is room for all types of bands, but I'm assuming most bar bands have ALWAYS been cover bands. It's hard to get people exited about music they have never heard. Too much to think about..
Why so late? Bars are drug dealers- they want to keep the buyers thee until the last legal minute. It makes sense from a profit stand point.
If grandpa is too old too pry his eyelids open, he can by all means leave the gigs to those are ready and willing to play them...
Around here, most gigs are 9-1, and there's a simple economic reason for it; most of the "bars" are also "restaurants." The dinner crowd is there from 6-8 and does not want a band intruding on their dinner conversation. The owners keep it open to try and roll in a second wave of customers seeking nightlife, so as the dinner crowd leaves the band sets up.
I don't enjoy being out till all hours either, and I've had older friends say they want to hear the band but balk when they hear the hours of the gig. But the scene is what it is. Good luck getting a place to book a rock band at 7:00 in the evening.
Around here, most gigs are 9-1, and there's a simple economic reason for it; most of the "bars" are also "restaurants." The dinner crowd is there from 6-8 and does not want a band intruding on their dinner conversation. The owners keep it open to try and roll in a second wave of customers seeking nightlife, so as the dinner crowd leaves the band sets up.
I don't enjoy being out till all hours either, and I've had older friends say they want to hear the band but balk when they hear the hours of the gig. But the scene is what it is. Good luck getting a place to book a rock band at 7:00 in the evening.
Play in New Orleans for a while. A lot of gigs start at 10:00. Things don't get rolling until 11:00PM anyway. My last gig there started at 1:00AM and ended at 5:00AM.
Ya, I also play in a concert band and occasionally sub for a big band, and I love that there's a music director for exactly those reasons.
- Nov 1, 2009
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- Peavey Cirrus#47, BAM & Versarray, G&L basses, Genz Benz amps
I guess I've played for different crowds, start at 9 or 10 PM, go for 4-5 hours, & if they really pay well/like us, then on until 4 or so. Happens a fair amount, actually. Casino gigs are more restrictive, but you're out at a set time, like 12:30 or 1:00 after starting at 8. Keeps your chops up too.
