General Music Chat

Called a local dive, looking for places to perform. They used to have nothing but classic rock bands. Now the new owner wants nothing but original bands. Talked to guys I play with, bar's not paying much but worth a try. Just have to work up three sets of originals. He doesn't want to cough up the BMI ASCAP fees any more, don't blame him. I would love to do an all original show.

Called a local dive, looking for places to perform. They used to have nothing but classic rock bands. Now the new owner wants nothing but original bands. Talked to guys I play with, bar's not paying much but worth a try. Just have to work up three sets of originals. He doesn't want to cough up the BMI ASCAP fees any more, don't blame him. I would love to do an all original show.

I Just had a nice chat with one of our local DJs...and we were talking about that very same thing. He was blown away to learn how many of the local venue's he's been plugging and rooting for are asking musicians to pay the venue to play...
So help me Gawd, i will levy a revolution on all those assholes...but i gotta be very careful and smart about it...

which means it will never get done...! Bwahahah!

. I would love to do an all original show.

You can do it, Bob. Pull it off.

My band got fired for partying backstage at a bar in '79. A week or two later they got shut down by ASCAP for not having a licence and the club had to hire us back (with a raise) because we were the only band in town that could pull off 3 sets of originals while they sorted out their licensing issues.

Go for it!

Seconded, seems to me that you guys would do very well, Bob.

Don't want to piss in your lemonade Bob but the original scene is just as f'ed as the cover bar scene. Usually you work for the door, with at least two other bands, and unless you have a good following you won't make anything. The only reason to even consider it is if you have product to market. Without at least a CD to sell it's just a big party (at your expense of course). I've been doing original music for many years (this is The Farleys 17th year as a band) and it's a blast as long as you're not trying to make any money.

Well BOB I think all of us here have come to realize we arent in it for the money anyways, get your originals together and get out there and do it!


Good Luck

I just didn't want Bob to have delusions because I know he expects to get paid.

I know, in my band Aint Yo Mama, this past weekend when we got together, we talked about all of that, it was suprising cause the guys told me they would play free in our band! I guess I would too, if I didnt have to move and set up PA sytems and lights.

Of course we do get paid, I had been answering some ads locally and ran across some guys that do weddings, coporate stuff, the guy was saying yea we make more money than most bar bands, so I asked him what they were getting a night. $1000 to play some seriously cheesy music, he said after expenses I could expect $150-200 a night. I said Im doing that anyway, hell I think I will pass.

If you want money this isnt the thing to be doing, I know of one guy who does casinos, and he runs the band, he bought a board from me a couple of weeks ago, and we talked about money, he said he can make around $250 for himself playing casinos, he suplements it with local club gigs where he says he ussually clears around $100 a night, but I think he takes a bigger cut than the rest of the band, In my band we just split everything equally, just makes more sense, and there arent any hard feelings.

Im getting sidetracked here, Bob just get out and play your music man, thats what its all about anyway, if your good and people like you then you might be able to figure a way to make a little money out of it.

"Well, it's no trick to make a lot of money...if all you want is to make a lot of money." - "Citizen Kane" (1941)

3 sets of originals ain't easy - take long guitar leads! "DRUM SOLO!"

There's little money to be made anywhere doing covers these days. Small acoustic acts seem to have a better opportunity than full bands to make some $ aroudn here.

I don't think Bob or any of us here expect to make a lot of money playing music, but many do want at least their expenses covered, and a lot of guys want to make $100 (or more) a night. And doing original music that is difficult to achieve. Let's do the math.

Most original clubs have a $5 cover charge; usually three or more band split the bill but for this example let's say there are three bands. Let's also say the club has a house PA and a soundman who gets $75 off the top of the door. If each band draws 25 paying people, that's 75 x 3 = 225. Subtract the soundman's $75 and you're left with $150, which is then divided among the three bands based on their draw (in this case $50 each). That $50 must then be split between an average four people - $12.50 a piece!

So the reality is that unless your band can draw 100 or more people you probably won't make much, at least from the door. You might be able to make it up selling merchandise; many bands make more money selling t-shirts than they do CDs but as long as you have something to sell you might make it work. Of course eventually you will have saturated your following, everyone will already have a CD.

Its funny I just got a call from a club that wants our band to play and she said she would pay what I asked for, but evidently a lot of people have been coming in there and recomending us, plus two bands that I have set in with, who havent even heard my band recomended us to her.

So all of the sudden Aint Yo Mama has a gig this weekend, and then one at the end of March and April. Im hoping we can squeeze one more in before our bassist leaves.

I think whatever you are playing covers or originals you have to build up some sort of word of mouth about your group, this can take time.

I agree with Jimmy, if you cant bring more than 100 people thru the door to a show, then its an uphill battle, and the older we all get the harder it is to motivate people to come to gigs, excuse me shows!

I don't think Bob or any of us here expect to make a lot of money playing music,

at least one of us does....

And doing original music that is difficult to achieve.

...and yet the only way to make real money in the long run

You might be able to make it up selling merchandise; many bands make more money selling t-shirts than they do CDs but as long as you have something to sell you might make it work.

This is true. You have a license to set up a store wherever you play. Sell as many items as you can carry with you

Of course eventually you will have saturated your following, everyone will already have a CD.

Next year always comes...be ready with a new C.D.

That's how the pros do it

YOD I like your post, I think if you want to make money doing anything you have to make a plan and work the plan, start with small expectations, but over time move your expectations up.

I dont think you can put together a group and immediately set the world on fire, you have to start small and go from there.

In YODs case from what I read he hits the road and is constantly building new markets for his "brand".

YOD I like your post, I think if you want to make money doing anything you have to make a plan and work the plan, start with small expectations, but over time move your expectations up.

I dont think you can put together a group and immediately set the world on fire, you have to start small and go from there.

In YODs case from what I read he hits the road and is constantly building new markets for his "brand".

thanks for the props, bro.

It doesn't pay very well while you're in the "creative" process but once you've gotten tight, it pays as well or better than being in a cover band.

If you can add a good C.D. to the mix, you're making more than the cover band now. Once you've got 3 or 4 CDs out, you're making a decent living doing what you want to do.




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