Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

I played last night at a new restaurant in Guilford. I had one singer with me, and a bass player.
I gave the owner a huge break on our asking price, so he’d do good. They'd only been open for 5 days; no customers yet.
I insisted that we play soft enough so customers could talk.
Bands that play loud - drive customers out the door.
When we started, the place was 1/4 full.
So - ok - it’s a new restaurant, short notice, and no advertising. This was their first Saturday.
45 minutes later, every chair was filled - standing room only. Anyone who stopped in - stayed.
So, ok; good.
I stayed an hour after the show (last night), to see what happened.
A hour after we'd finished performing, the crowd had drifted away - there was only about 8-10 people left.
We packed the house for the restaurant's first Saturday, and they are very happy. Now he wants us back. I told him we’d do it once a month; I want to keep the material fresh.
.
Now, here’s a point:
We play ONLY original material. No one had ever heard any of the songs.
But we packed the house, playing originals.
The next time someone tells you that you HAVE to play cover songs to make any money, remember this story.
You do not need to play cover songs to make money in this business - unless you want to.

I've found this too in the past with some but not all bands I've played with RhythmMan. Once I just took along those funny looking sticks with cloth on them (Cannot remember the name, I'm a drummer).

Anyway it was one of the best gigs I've played and I'm being totally honest. It was a restaurant similar I suppose to something you are talking about. I learned much more in those evenings about tempering volume and styles than I did in the next 5 years away from that sort of thing.

We played originals too by the way. In fact in that theatre it is my belief that as a band or a muso person the material matters not so much as playing ability and knowledge which is something learned and not talked about.

We had a few people asking what it was we were playing but when the questions were answered there were favourable comments.

Kudos RhythmMan

Cool story, bro.

Your originals happen to KICK ASS. If you had weak originals the crowd would get up and leave. For that matter if you had played lame covers the crowd would get up and leave. Your holding the crowd has everything to do with how well you play. You've done this a few times before and you know what you're doing. That's all there is to it. I wish more bar owners would "let" bands play originals in this town. We play a few each set whether we are "allowed" to or not. I'm never playing a single set of all covers ever again. We play both covers and originals. They are all good and well rehearsed. You mentioned playing at a comfortable volume. That's even more important when doing originals, especially originals with vocals. If somebody is listening to some song they don't know AND they can't understand the vocals, that's even more reason to get up and leave. GREAT POST AS USUAL.

Which in some cases means that bar owners having a band in and who do not appreciate anything but a dollar should be avoided at all costs.

fisherman bob wrote:Your originals happen to KICK ASS. If you had weak originals the crowd would get up and leave. For that matter if you had played lame covers the crowd would get up and leave. Your holding the crowd has everything to do with how well you play. You've done this a few times before and you know what you're doing. That's all there is to it. I wish more bar owners would "let" bands play originals in this town. We play a few each set whether we are "allowed" to or not. I'm never playing a single set of all covers ever again. We play both covers and originals. They are all good and well rehearsed. You mentioned playing at a comfortable volume. That's even more important when doing originals, especially originals with vocals. If somebody is listening to some song they don't know AND they can't understand the vocals, that's even more reason to get up and leave. GREAT POST AS USUAL.

In the old days , albums promoted the bands,song off our last album,,,
In the not as old days, we are gonna do a song off our new album,,,,,Bands promoted the album.
Now it's more like just go out and put on a hell of a show so the people feel good about spending some money on product.[Your CD]
I think I showed you how easy it is to pull music off the I NET. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO RECAPTURE THOSE WONDERFUL MOMENTS YOU SHARED WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHEN YOU WERE PLAYING LIVE????? I'm not gonna get down on you for trying to protect your recordings, but I am am gonna try to wake you up to the fact that your live playing may be waaaay more important than you realise.

Nah.

I still think it is as it ever was. Release something that has something catchy and people will buy the album/EP/CD.

Trouble is of course that this catchy stuff may not be where you want to go perhaps?

I JUST SAW WHAT YOU DID TO YOUR PROFILE , MAN YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG!!!!!!!
CRIP2NITE SAID IT BEST "I'M OUT THERE MAKING NEW FRIENDS, I'M PLAYING MY GUITAR, I'M PLAYING MUSIC I LOVE ,AND I'M HAVING THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE" HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT??
You on the other hand seem so concerned with protecting your recordings that you have gotten to the point were your NOT GONNA SHARE ANY MORE. YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING!
Any where you post music, someone can take it down for personal use.
ONE of my favorite songs was posted up here, I play it all the time , it was free , to download.The musician wanted to share his work. every time I play it ,I get a smile on my face
MUSIC IS ABOUT SHARING. IF THATS NOT WHAT YOUR ABOUT THEN YOU JUST KICKED YOUSELF IN THE NUTS AND I CAN'T HELP YOU!

Ever hear of BROKEN ARROW? Singer blew his brains out when he thought he "wouldn't make it" DON'T GO THERE PLEASE.

Thats an interesting story Alan. I'll be you guys had a ball doing it as well.
I just cant imagine playing our originals at "talking volume" just would not work with the genre'.

ALAN, I guess you just wiped out goal # 2 . why dont you take that down also?

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING. Alan Bradley , everything you have on your site is great but you just dont get the point.
Either your an arrogant mother fffff, like DAVE from you phony productions or you just dont get it.
PEOPLE CAN TAKE DOWN YOUR MUSIC FROM ANYWHERE INCLUDING YOUR WEB SITE. I HOPE I JUST OPENED YOUR EYES, COPYRIGHT OR NOT YOU CANT PROSECUTE EVERYONE.
Commercial use and concerts yes personal use ,,get over it and go put on some more good live shows!
THATS WHAT EVERY ONE ELSE IS DOING.
PS I have songs up for sale,I also have sites listed where songs can be downloded for FREE, I am amazed when I get 20 dollar check in, when I actually I offered it FREE AT ANOTHER SITE.

Heck I could use a $20.00 check right now. Low on fuel and got a 45 minute drive to work in the morning.

WHATS YOUR ADRESS

A once a month gig for an all original band is tough to pull off for more than a few months. It's fun as anything I've ever done, though.

Sounds like you're having a great time, RM.