General Music Chat

Right on Bob.

Just because YOU didn't write a truly great piece of music doesn't make your crap any better. A great song or composition withstands the test of time. And they don't get worse with age. If most originals were that great wouldn't someone be knocking on your door for the rights to record them? A sucky song on the other hand....

Of course you can perform both - but whatever you are doing, you need to tailor your song list to the venue you are playing - or you probably won't get booked again. Unless of course you are bringing in a good paying crowd!

There is one other argument in this that I haven't heard from anyone so I'll add it - and note, I've played both over the years...

But now I'm running out of time. "Runnin' out of time - Life has it's boundaries..." if I may quote one of my originals. (no I'm not planning to croak but I'm not blind to reality either)

Am I going to spend the top end of my life doing covers? No. Sorry - not enough time. With one caveat - I do occasionally play with a friend's band and yeah, I can still bang that stuff out and sure, it's fun once in a while.

But I'm on a creative roll - I'll describe my new project here in the next couple weeks - just waiting to finish up a first release. You'll be surprised I think - I certainly was - but it includes and entire script I've written plus a computer game and hopefully much else. hint - I'd never even heard of "app delivery" but I've heard of it now!

But a disclaimer - I care little about playing clubs these days - I'm shooting a bit higher. Done it before and failed but I will confess - I've rarely believed in a product more and I'm having a blast.

That said - play whatever the heck makes you smile. And I reserve the right to contradict myself - sometimes hitting a club sounds pretty good. I'm sure sitting in with JimmyD or Mr. Haley would be a blast.

Talbot

Bob, I say play the music you want. Personally I think it best to do both covers and originals that way you can play both type of venues. We use to play covers and slip in originals. Doing it this way warms an audience up to your originals. Here in Houston you can reach more people thru covers. You can build a following this way.

so this topic has got me wondering about the consequences when me and Bruce will be playing at Big Momma's this coming monday night... playing my originals solo without backup, will be no problem, but say I want to slip in Mood For A Day or Ramblin' Fever will there be ASCAP or BMI people in the audience?, and I get the bar owner in trouble? or will they even recognize my "versions" of those cover tunes? it will be scary... a consummate pro..

Is this actually a real thing? Sounds like paranoia to me. Isn't it more like volunteering to pay taxes on an Amazon purchase?

Back when I was gigging a union rep would come into a club and sit near the bandstand. As soon as we sat down on break he would card everyone. Fortunately most of the clubs didn't require union membership but that didn't stop them from trying to strong arm us anyway. There is always someone hiding in the bushes attempting to get their cut.

I agree about not playing covers if the club says so. But I always get a kick out of the clubs that say 'no covers' - it just so happens all my released originals are BMI-registered (Bob just joined, too - have you registered your songs yet?) So a BMI suit could come in and nail the club owner for the license. The club owners never ask the performers 'are your originals registered with a PRO?'
If music is bringing people into the club, then pay for the licenses. The cost of them is pennies on the extra drinks being sold because there is entertainment.

If you want to play bars the rest of your life, do what they want you to do.

It takes longer to get off the ground playing original music but once you're flying, it is your plane to take wherever you want. The only secret is that you have to do it enough to know what works.

Playing bad originals is no worse than playing bad covers, and vice versa

Play what you want
If YOU arent happy THEY are probably not too happy