Venue Options:

[Tony Bennett]

Ok so were putting a new band together, its been a few years. Problem is Im really not looking forward to playing in smoke filled bars to the same old drunks. My goal is to play only occasionally and at special events such as fund raisers or out door parties with other bands etc. I got to thinking maybe I could be a bit more proactive in looking for a decent venue, or somehow create the need for a band in a venue I wouldnt mind playing at. Do you know what Im getting at? Have any of you come up with a creative way to maybe get your band into venues that normally wouldnt have bands? Just trying to do a bit of brainstorming.

[Joe P]

Tony,

I can sympathize. We host an open mic once a month and we're there until 1:30 playing to a bunch of drunks. One time a woman was berating us, and then she fell down. She is falling down drunk in public and she's abusing US???!!! What a loser. We auditioned for a gig at a local place on a Wednesday night. A woman was dancing on the bar. It was 11:30 on a Wednesday night. Who are these people? Don't they have jobs? I've always thought that the bar band scenario is flawed. It's generally not a music appreciation environment. But hey, they're playing the bill, right?

 

Sorry for the rant. We played a firehouse fundraiser this spring, couple hundred people. We'll also be doing a town "Pride Day". Both are two-hour mid-day gigs with sober (for the most part)audiences. Good gigs. Just a couple of ideas for you.

 

Regards,

Joe

[Prague]

No drunks may also mean no alcohol. No alcohol means less, or no, money. No smoking and no alcohol will also limit your opportunities. So, tell us whether or not money is part of your new scenario.

 

Outdoors is out of the question for MN until about late April. Evenings still can get a bit chilly as you and I know. I did an evening outdoors as late as Sep. 30. Once. I did a private barn dance in mid October.

 

What's the genre of the band? If you are a more or less duplicate of other bands, you might have a bit more difficulty.

 

Renovated small theaters are good for concerts as opposed to bar gigs. But, concerts need to be more of a show.

 

Maybe the once-great malls that are now in the shadow of Mall of America (Southdale, Rosedale, etc.) would be able to accommodate a band for some type of crowd draw. Saturday afternoon would be an ultimate time slot for retail.

[David Loving]

The way I see it you're going to have to market - sell the band, event by event and only book those events you like. So promotion - the thing most of us hate to do - is necessary. Get an agent, get a demo, get a pr package, get a website, get a book of tunes that covers pop, country, stanbdards, etc., get a sound system, get a van, and on and on. If you are picky about venues you'll have to be less particular about music genre to play a lot. Or you can do just like my band Work Release does. We just lumber along and only do what we want, play what we want, when we want. We have been at it 15 years and it works - you just can't make a living that way. Luckily for me, though, having spent most of my life in smoke filled beer joints, teeming with drunk women, I like them! It feels just like home. So I never turn those down either.

[Jazzman]

I'll tell you what is neet! I played a long time ago a a place called "The Varsity House" in Oakland PA. It was a dance hall for High School and College folks. It was a blast. 3 nights a week, and we were paid a flat fee plus a % of the folks that came in over 500. We used to pack them in the house.

 

We played covers and a nice stage was set up in a corner of the main dance floor. I was elevated in the back with my drums. Awsome!!

 

Anyway it would be cool to have a natural building more in the country for kids to hang out and listen to some really popular bands.

 

It was always packed, and everyone had fun.

 

I know what you mean. I used to do the circuit too. Frat houses with the beer kegs, girls dancing in their ......a....well you get the picture. I played in a lot of established clubs too. I've played at VFW's, Weddings, Nightclubs, Knights of Columbus, Frat Houses, Colleges, Highschools, Hotels, etc.

 

However, Daviel said it all..I agree.

 

Jazzman

[Tony Bennett]

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind people getting looped up, it just get's old real quick. Personally I'm not playing for the money, I imagine my band mates will have a different take on that. Our music is pretty middle of the road, the singer is a cross between Dylan/Lennon. I think the correct idea would be to promote ourselves to the powers that be, chamber of commerce, visitors bureau, downtown committee etc..to get involved in some of the local events. I don't mind playing in a few bars, but I'd like to see the light on occasion and have a few sober people appreciate some good music.

[AUSSIEKEYS]

Your thoughts are a breath of fresh air at least I had hoped

I am presently wishing to find fresh air venues as due to 25 years of gigging my lungs gave up and are totally scarred by passive smoke.

Last duo I was in a few years back now,playing 3 nights a week,coughing up black tar like sh@t for 3 days after and finally blood,fortunately from my throat not my lungs I quit outright with solid bookings ahead.

I finally had got where I could survive and with 3 full suburban gigs a week.Made it good enough for me.But my lungs didnt,now i am out of breath just carrying my keyboard onto a stage,which I did last night at a song writers open mic,I had to talk to the audience to get my breath back before I could sing.

recently one of our country legends [well they always become legends when they die here]actually passed away due to the smoke in clubs and we have lost countless others

In a year and a half smoking will be banned outright but presently its confinned to a smaller area as a trial period....but smoke just gets reintroduced thru the air conditioning anyway.

 

Whats needed is more people putting on venues for the sake of the music,and taking the aproach that there are people willing to pay or see music for its own sake.Not just as a background to their binges.

most pubs and clubs are worried they will lose patrons because of smoking bans.no they wont eventually they come back because gambling is a bigger drug then smoking ,musos will be again sought after as the clubs will be looking for something to get the patrons back in after the initial dropoff,so things maybe better in a few years for all musos but in the meantime how do you interest people in gigs for the sake of it.

People are too needy of alcohol and smoking to enjoy their nite out.Music now is a second consideration.Are we really only jukeboxes????

[Prague]

Originally posted by AUSSIEKEYS:

Music now is a second consideration.Are we really only jukeboxes????

Yes. It's been that way for a long time. You are not famous, so you are not the center of attention. Hundreds of thousands of musicians, famous or not, owe their livelihood to alcohol, tobacco, and gambling.

 

As the saying goes, "When you raid a cathouse, you take the piano player, too". Those patrons weren't there to just hear music.

[AUSSIEKEYS]

True Prague

And I never mind being a jukebox either,i just cant justify dying for such a cause,

maybe if it was my original music, but jukeboxes in these joints dont carry original music.

If it was never a hit then it doesnt fit in bars and clubs.

well our health authorities will have a prohibition on smoking here in a year and a half

it will stunt the joints for a while but soon they will fill with desperate gamblers willing to race outside to puff their cigs while a hold is on their machines.

And so a new dawn for the struggling jukebox muso will arrive as clubs try to attract the new club goer that has up to this point avoided smokey joints [and yes they exist].

It will happen,,,but in the meantime anyones attempts at their own music nites should be at least greeted with a "good on ya"

yea but i agree greed,indulgence,and booze have been hand in hand with music and who am i to want it different?

[DanL]

Where I live they enacted a smoking ban 3 years ago. It's been the best thing that ever happened for a live musician, especially a non smoking one. No more stripping down in the basement or garage so my house didn't smell like smoke, no more having my vehicle stink because of my smoky gear sitting in there.

 

We never saw any kind of drop off in crowd (even though the pro-smokers said every bar in the state would go under). It's also nice to go out to eat at a restaurant and not have to inhale the old bag at the next table's smoke while I'm eating.

 

Not sure what to say about the drunks, you have to live with that if you play in a bar. As far as the girl dancing on the bar on a Wednesday, maybe she works all weekend and Wednesday is her night out?

[BluesKeys]

While we are ranting I'll add my 2c's worth.

 

I like the non smoking clubs we play, some of which only have it on one night a week (usually Friday).

 

My next rant is to start the music at 8pm and end by 12pm. The followers of both the bands I play in are more my age (old as dirt) and they aren't going to stick around for the last set, or till 1-1:30am. There for they miss some of our best material, like Layla in the Clapton tribute. We have play our sets reversed on occasion but that's a little strange.

[Les Mizzell]

My goal is to play only occasionally and at special events such as fund raisers or out door parties

Nobody here uses a booking agency?

 

Sure, there's some crap agencies out there, but if you're careful and pick the right one for you, you'll end up with better jobs, better venues and better pay because of it.

 

Once you've picked the right agency though...

 

Specify the type of venues you're interested in playing and let them do the work. To not have to worry about that part of it is almost worth the percentage they get.

 

There are other advantages as well, assuming you choose a reputable agency. First, most clients you end up playing for are going to be pre-qualified by the agency. After all, the agency wants to be sure they're going to get their money, and won't book you into a situation where they might lose out. Second, if there is a problem with the money, then you've got the muscle of an agency behind you to help you collect.

[ITGITC]

Originally posted by dream:

We have play our sets reversed on occasion but that's a little strange.

And it sounded just like this:

 

 

PAUL IS DEAD... PAUL IS DEAD... PAUL IS DEAD...

 

 

Hi Jim.

[Prague]

Originally posted by AUSSIEKEYS:

True Prague

And I never mind being a jukebox either,i just cant justify dying for such a cause

Like Keith Richards? People sure have become extremists. Fer chrissake ... musicians are dying, now?

[Spaceboy92]

Booking agency is definately the way to go. Even if you have a crappy gig here or there, the money is still gonna be decent, because they make money based on how much YOU make. If you have a good reputation and good package to sell, you'll do well. We have a good press kit, promo kit, college write up (colleges are the best - they start and end ON TIME, and pay VERY VERY well. They also feed you, and put you in a hotel if you need it). It's all about having organized promo materials - sell sell sell! unfortunately...

 

Oh, and good music.

 

We're a younger band, that plays mostly originals. We do pretty well in the Northeast and beyond. (IE I only work a day job to buy more gear!!) )

[AUSSIEKEYS]

Well I guess i will presently settle for attending a few song writer's nites and "have a go nites" until I can get back into live work when the "smoking prohibition" kicks in [will that mean illegal Speak Easys will operate}

dont mind performing my originals again,so not alls lost.

and cheers to those finding there own way/gigs/venues to satisfy their needs.

[Byrdman]

Originally posted by DanL:

Where I live they enacted a smoking ban 3 years ago. It's been the best thing that ever happened for a live musician, especially a non smoking one. No more stripping down in the basement or garage so my house didn't smell like smoke, no more having my vehicle stink because of my smoky gear sitting in there.

 

We never saw any kind of drop off in crowd (even though the pro-smokers said every bar in the state would go under). It's also nice to go out to eat at a restaurant and not have to inhale the old bag at the next table's smoke while I'm eating.

 

Not sure what to say about the drunks, you have to live with that if you play in a bar. As far as the girl dancing on the bar on a Wednesday, maybe she works all weekend and Wednesday is her night out?

What state was that?

 

We've had a few clubs go non-smoking here (Portland) but not enough. I really hate opening gear two weeks later and having it smell of smoke!

 

Never had drunk womaen dancing on the bar. Not even fully clothed. Must play in the wrong sort of bands. Had drunks come up and sing. I actually find that fun because eveyone knows they're drunk and if you can get your ears on and help them hack their way through the song (usually its been a regular who everybody knew) its kind of cool.

[Spaceboy92]

yeah smoking bans are definately a hindrance, but I can think of at least one club in NYC that we played at that paid NO ATTENTION to that law..........

[resigned]

I used to call up my local parks department and get permission to put on some free concerts. I would get a couple of other bands together also and we'd have freebie Sundays In The Park. The idea was to share gigs, fans, music in a family-friendly environment. You might can get a radio station involved in promoting it a little, plus put free announcements in newspapers etc. Just watch the volume and try to have fun... often you'll get people in attendence who know people that hire music for events or parties or other gigs.

[hawkan2580]

Originally posted by Prague:

Originally posted by AUSSIEKEYS:

[qb] Music now is a second consideration.Are we really only jukeboxes????

Isn't it funny with some peoples memory in terms of songs when mixing in alcohol into the equation?... the more drunk they are, the fewer and fewer band names they can recall... in the end, it seems like there are two band names that remains in their memory: CCR and Beatles.. with two songs per band highest on the memory recall screen... Bad moon Rising and Proud Mary for CCR and Imagine (*Yes, I Know it wasn't the Beatles.. just saying how it is often requested...can you play Imanehigen by the Beethleeaschh) and Come together with the beatles...

 

Now to the jukebox thing...

I used to work doing a bar gig together with a vocalist... needless to say, there were songs constantly requested we had no joy whatsoever from playing.. so we came up with the idea:

Hey, why not make a list in a folder of all the songs we can do and let people choose.. so if they come up to make a request, we let them look through the folder.. what we also did was to put a fee on some songs... most were labeled free but the more we disliked to play the song, the higher the price LOL

 

Bad moon rising cost more then the whole gig would pay us for us to perform.

 

And the best part, we didn't have to say, No sorry, bad moon rising have just too many chords.... we just never got requests for songs with a $ behind them LOL

[AUSSIEKEYS]

hawken

that's a brilliant idea let the user pay

it embodies the true expression of being a jukebox too

if they gotta have it then.like with a jukebox...

"they's pay's their money's"

 

and who knows you get richer or less bored.

you have made my night

keep em' coming

cheers aussiekeys

[Tony Bennett]

Well, we had a brilliant thought. As getting 5 people together to play is such a pain anyway, why not just make it a trio? And why not name the trio after our last names so people know who we are? We can play in local restaurants, coffee shops & select cocktails clubs. Places you dont have to play from 9-1, more like 7-9 or something. It wont take long to be ready to play as each of us can do some songs on our own, and then learn 20-30 together. We dont have to haul a bunch of crap around. And I made up the logo this a.m.

http://a7.cpimg.com/image/93/91/54350227-d3f3-024000F7-.jpg

[DanL]

What state was that?

 

We've had a few clubs go non-smoking here (Portland) but not enough. I really hate opening gear two weeks later and having it smell of smoke!

 

Never had drunk womaen dancing on the bar. Not even fully clothed. Must play in the wrong sort of bands. Had drunks come up and sing. I actually find that fun because eveyone knows they're drunk and if you can get your ears on and help them hack their way through the song (usually its been a regular who everybody knew) its kind of cool.

Sorry I missed your question Byrdman. I'm in Delaware.

 

We don't get a lot of girls dancing on the bar (they wouldn't let that happen anyway) but we see plenty of skin!

 

The best thing about the non smoking venues is you can actually smell the girls- clean hair, perfume, etc. Much better than smelling an ashtray.