GOOD TIPS FOR PEOPLE IN A BAND[views:2492][posts:32]________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 11:20am - KING ""] 1. - If you're band is playing a show, get there early and stay late to support all the bands on the bill. If you guys don't support each other, then how can you expect anyone else to? DON'Tsit in your van until it's time to play your set, then race out with your gear immediately after. 2. - If your band only draws 3 people paid on the door....don't ask for a guest list. As much as we're in this for the right reasons...we still have to consider this is a business. Usually the sound person is paid off of the door split, so you can't think everyone can come in for free. The more people you want to come in for free, the more money that has to come out of the venue's pocket. When a venue consistently loses money on shows....THE SHOWS STOP! 3. - PROMOTE THE SHOWS and get people out to see your band. It's difficult as a promoter to convince people to come out and listen to local original music. We're in a day and age where people are more content to listen to cover bands because its music they know. The best person to promote your band is you, first and foremost. As a promoter, we push your music, we convince bars to allow you to play your music, and we get the bar to run drink specials to help bring in people. That's all we can do...the rest is up to you to spread the word, make some friends, and get a good crowd for yourself. 4. - You need to bring people out for your shows...friends, family, people you don't even really like. It doesn't matter. There are very few places that allow original musicians to play. It's hard enough to convince a bar owner to allow original bands to play. The only way it can continue is to show the bar that it's working and the bands are bringing people out for it. All a bar owner sees is if this is making them money in order to stay in business. If they don't make money, then they close their doors, and another venue closes for good. This is their livelyhood and the way they feed their family. If original music isn't working...they're not gonna continue it. 5. - If your band doesn't have a show scheduled one night, but a couple bands you know of are playing.....come out and support them!! Bands need to come out when they're not playing and support other musicians who are playing. Bring copies of your band's cd, talk it up with the bands playing that night, trade shows with them, and just market your band in general to people who are there at the show. The guys in Local Demise have been really good about this lately. It's awesome to see a band who is trying that hard to build their fan base up. 6. - The scene can only exist if you create it. You can't go to a bar and just expect it to be packed with people eagerly awaiting to listen to new music. People are skeptical and chances are they already think you suck before you go on. So you gotta get up there and play and change their minds. Talk to them and pass out burned copies of your cd's for them to take with them. Get their email address from them and build up an email list to announce your shows. Not everyone is on myspace, although it's a great tool to use, not everyone checks their bulletins regularly. 7 - One of the biggest reasons people do enjoy local music is because they can get to know the band individually. They can attach themselves to this smaller band and make it their own. They know they can go to their shows, enjoy some drinks with them, and build up a relationship with them. That's what starts a scene and that's what needs to exist in order for original music to survive. 8. - Don't sit back and say "Why aren't people coming to our shows". Chances are people don't know who the hell you are. Spread the word. a 100 pack of CD-R's are cheap enough. Burn copies of them and pass them out. Even if it's only a 3 song sampler. Give a copy to the kid working the drive thru at Wendy's or pumping your gas at BP. Sure, everyone wants to press some legit cd's and look professional, but that costs money and then you need to sell them to make the money back. Then you're asking people to buy your cd when they don't even know you. If you hand them a simple burned copy, chances are they will throw it in their cd player in the car and check you out. 9. - DON'T BITCH ABOUT THE SET ORDER! If you're given a show and it's the first time playing a venue, chances are that you will be an opener or a closer. Suck it up, play with a good attitude, and I guarantee you'll be invited back to play on a better spot or better show. Especially if you prove you can bring out some people. If your band brings 2 people with them, you can't expect to get the best spot on the lineup. Every promoter keeps track of this shit. We know who drew well on a show and who bitched and cried because they had to play first or last. This business is very much a "give and take" thing. If you can prove to a club that you're serious and you bring out people, we remember that and we make note of it. We have blacklists of bands who don't think this applies to them....and guess what, we all talk to each other. We have friends who promote for other venues and we share that info. 10. - DON'T DROP OFF OF SHOWS WITHOUT AN INSANELY GOOD REASON FOR DOING SO!!! If you have a cold, suck it up and play. Dropping on a show with most venues will almost guarantee you'll never play there again. Also...we all talk to each other. If a band drops on me or worse yet just doesn't show up for it...I'm spreading the word about them to several other venues and promoters in the area so they don't have the same thing happen to them. So, when you think you just bailed on a show and might have ticked off some "small time" promoter, you never know who they are affiliated with. Dropping off of one show could get you blacklisted from 5 other venues without even knowing it. 11. - EARLY, IS ON TIME ! ON TIME, IS LATE ! Be at the venue when you're supposed to be, READY TO PLAY |
| _________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 11:25am - DestroyYouAlot ""] I honestly expected to see a defense of pay-to-play somewhere in there, and it didn't happen. Bravo! |
| ___________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 11:30am - cav nli ""] yea this is pretty legit |
| _________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 11:32am - DestroyYouAlot ""] Usually when one of these pops up it's Bernie going "ALL YOU KIDS STOP HAVING SPINES AND PAY ME TO SIT DOWN AND DRINK COKES ALREADY, THIS BOAT'S NOT BUYING ITSELF!" |
| __________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 11:35am - W3 nli ""] ITS A LONG WAY TO THE TOP IF YOU WANNA ROCK AND ROLL !!!!!!! cue bagpipes |
| ___________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 11:44am - largefreakatzero ""] This actually looks similar to that 13 Winters guide to infinite success that was posted awhile ago. I recall that some wonderful pictures of the band were posted in that thread. |
| _________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 11:45am - DestroyYouAlot ""] I love that thread. |
| ______________________________ [Feb 27,2008 12:00pm - pam ""] I wanted this to say "quit" and nothing else. |
| _______________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 1:01pm - Y_Ddraig_Goch ""] pam said:I wanted this to say "quit" and nothing else. marry me |
| _________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 1:11pm - metal_church101 ""] largefreakatzero said:This actually looks similar to that 13 Winters guide to infinite success that was posted awhile ago. I recall that some wonderful pictures of the band were posted in that thread. Never saw that thread, but have read how legendary it was. As far as that list posted above on this thread, most of that stuff is relatively self explanitory, especially on how some club owners work. |
| __________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 1:42pm - largefreakatzero ""] pam said:I wanted this to say "quit" and nothing else. Best band advice ever. Music sucks. |
| _________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 1:45pm - metal_church101 ""] More best advice. The business side of music and the scene blows. |
| ____________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 1:47pm - paganmegan ""] Y_Ddraig_Goch said: pam said:I wanted this to say "quit" and nothing else. marry me Dammit, I want Pam to marry ME. |
| __________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 1:50pm - largefreakatzero ""] Hawt lezbo axshun? |
| ________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 1:53pm - xmikex ""] 12. Buy an Unearth cd in the Newbury Comics used section 13. Rip it off, and wait for the casting director of the next Battle for Ozzfest reality show to call you. |
| ____________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 2:38pm - fleshfries ""] I'd be attending [and staying at] more shows if my age didn't disallow me to do so :( |
| ______________________________ [Feb 27,2008 3:23pm - Yeti ""] 14. bands should get their heads out of the clouds and realize they are just local garage acts. don't take yourself so seriously, it'll give you gas. |
| __________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 3:50pm - brian_dc ""] I love having gas |
| _________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 3:52pm - metal_church101 ""] Methane gas. |
| __________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 6:55pm - hello2U ""] Biggest thing if you are in a band, dont show up to a show later and then expect the opening bands to let you use their equipment, because you are so stoned or drugged up to bring your how shit....hhhmmmm local bands??????? |
| _____________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 6:58pm - hello2gone ""] Or if you are in a band, and only go to your own bands shows and use your moneyt get drunk and do drugs. Why not spend it having a few beers and hangin out with other bands and supporting them... That is what a scene! |
| _________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 7:20pm - ancient master ""] yeah that is what a scene! what a scene it is! |
| ___________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 7:48pm - FuckIsMySignature ""] hello2gone said:Or if you are in a band, and only go to your own bands shows and use your moneyt get drunk and do drugs. Why not spend it having a few beers and hangin out with other bands and supporting them... That is what a scene! hey do you ummm...have any drugs? |
| _____________________________ [Feb 27,2008 8:02pm - pam ""] paganmegan said: Y_Ddraig_Goch said: pam said:I wanted this to say "quit" and nothing else. marry me Dammit, I want Pam to marry ME. Me and Megan would make a hot lesbian flesh pretzel. |
| __________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 9:22pm - DaveFromTheGrave ""] you know what goes great with pretzels? hot dogs. |
| _________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 9:23pm - Clitit ""] only if megan had some tits and not a washboard chest, so I could do my laundry on it! My female dog has more tits then her! pam you are so much more woman then her!! |
| _________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 9:28pm - W3 nli ""] pam said: paganmegan said: Y_Ddraig_Goch said: pam said:I wanted this to say "quit" and nothing else. marry me Dammit, I want Pam to marry ME. Me and Megan would make a hot lesbian flesh pretzel. can i throw out an offer to film this event and sell it at an overrated cost to the public on highclass dvd |
| _______________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 9:41pm - Dankill in Louisiana ""] What's with the useful information? Everyone knows that doesn't belong here! What next? Intelligent discussion and civility? |
| _______________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 10:00pm - the_reverend ""] someone needs to post leon's guide to touring bands ver 1.3. it's really good and I think even mentions heroin. |
| _________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 10:07pm - NIGGER ""] SUPPORT OTHER BANDS... WHAT IF THEY SUCK? BLACK POWER! |
| _________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 10:26pm - NIGGER ""] http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33250 |
| ____________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 10:58pm - FuckIsMySignature ""] heroin is an essential part of touring |
| __________________________________________ [Feb 27,2008 11:03pm - metal_church101 ""] I only tour for heroin. |