Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Had a new guy come over last night and we tried out a few songs and talked a bit. He's new to this area, so has no local club/bar contacts or knowledge at all. ANd he really wants to do leads on an electric guitar, rather than an acoustic. I tried to explain to him that when you're doing a low volume acoustic thing (just using a PA system), you can't bump the volume up by adding an electric guitar amp into the mix, it would need to be channeled through the PA, he seemed a little clueless about that.
But he did seem to be able to play and sing (albeit softly), so I'll give it another couple of tries.

Also been in touch with a drummer is trying to put a 'high energy acoustic trio' (his words) together, sounds more promising, if he can find a bass player.

Tonight I'm returning to the American Legion where I did my CD release Party 2 weeks ago, bringing my 72 Tele this time for the open mic/jam, and got a drummer lined up to do a few songs with me.

The duo thing is the usual 'background music in the bar of a restaurant' stuff. Classic rock, anything that can be done mellow from Eagles to Stones to Beatles to Neil Young to whatever. I've got about 300 tunes on my songlist now, at least half of which would qualify. Newer stuff too - I've done songs by Amos Lee, Ryan Adam's version of T Swift's Out of the Woods, OAR, Collective Soul ... if it can be done on acoustic guitar, I can do it.

The trio thing - leaving that up to the drummer who is trying to put it together, waiting to hear back from him. Finding a reliable bass player could be the tough part of that thing.

"Coffee house" has two meanings around here: 1) coffee shops - very few have music, if they do its Saturday afternoons or an occasional weeknight open mic (there's one Starbucks nearby who has this), super low volume (can't be heard over the cappuchino machine), but easy gig; 2) coffee houses - folk music venues, sometimes in churches, audience pays $10 to $30 to attend, so they pay attention to the players (and are quiet), but there is a select group of players who play these places - there's a whole circuit from NYC through this area, and multiple 'folk festivals' (not the big Newport, RI one), too.
There are also a few coffee/wine places (no beer, dammit!) that have weekend music, but it tends to be jazz-type stuff.
No, I'm talking about standard restaurants that have a bar area/room, where the band/soloist sets up in one corner.