United States

How is the music scene out there? and can u make money??

Thanks

Bill

There's never been much of a music scene here, believe it or not.

If you're interested in joining the Union and playing covers, that's where you'll do the best money-wise. Casino gigs pay good. You seem like a good enough guitar player, you should put out ads for a working situation.

The local scene is saturated with Metal, Screamo and Emo right now. Not to say there's nothing else, but people in Vegas don't usually become regulars to see any particular local band, there's just so much else to see and do around here.

Thanks Shred for your input, I will put out an ad for a working situation, i'm just not sure if im moving in the summer or fall, still trying to find the right house, the market looks attractive. I'm in Jersey now and how the cover band scene works is you get an agent and he books you...who are the agents that work the vegas area? Thanks for your help


Bill

I honestly couldn't tell you man..I've never been in a working situation. I've only done original bands. We've always been able to just get booked by connections. I knew a few people who did casino gigs, and they made a descent living. But I have no idea where they are now.

Sorry I can't help you in that department.

That situation seems odd to me. Here in smallsville I can understand it.
But Vegas? Whats up with dat?

I agree, I thought I would have alot more people telling me of opportunities in Vegas, but I think shred and others on the form they, are doing originals and that makes sense to me. "Did it done it got the T-shirt" I'm sure cover bands do well, it's just getting the contacts and getting lucky, it's just as hard to find people who want to do originals as serious cover band musicians who understand that being a musican is also playing what people want to hear. NY and LA are great if your an original act, but Vegas has to be awsome for cover bands... atleast I hope so, or I'll be dealing Blackjack at the Sands


Bill

Well.. Let me put it to you like this.

Within a 1-mile radius of my house there are at least 10 bars. And it's like that all around the outskirts of the strip and downtown. There are at least 3 of those bars that have live local music. Weekdays are pretty weak as far as drawing a crowd. Weekends are better.

If a particular local band that I like is playing at one of those bars, cool, I have no problems going. But 10-15 miles away, most likely I won't go. Why would I risk the DUI when I can just walk around the corner and have a pick of whatever local bands are playing in my immediate area ?

And that seems to be the mindset of Vegas locals.. We're spoiled. There's a bar on every other corner of this city (or so it seems). And because there are so many of them, very few of them are very crowded, so typically your nightly draw isn't very much.

You also have to take in account that a lot of the smaller bars really rely on their gambling income more than anything else. It's also a gamble for them to even host local bands. Cause if a band comes in there that sucks, they just chased away the regular local gamblers from their immediate area for the night.

Now, cover bands that play casinos?? Their crowd always shows up. They're playing in front of the 50-billion tourists that show up every week. Casinos pay well, and they never stiff, because they seem to have more money than God, and they could care less about the small amount in their world it costs them to pay your band to keep people in whatever area of the Casino they're in happy. As long as you ARE keeping them happy. If a Casino starts to notice that people really could care less about the band and start walking away. There's another band waiting in the wings a phone call away.

So trust me man.. You won't have a problem finding serious cover musicians here in Vegas. There's certainly no shortage of that here. It's the local original bands that are the minority in Vegas.

I personally love doing originals. I've never been in it for the money. But if it wasn't for guys like me, where would all the cover bands get their songs from? You never know, maybe I'll hear one of my own songs being covered in a Casino someday.

Yea... Or maybe not. I tend to be a little on the dark side.

Thanks for the info Shred, I understand what your saying, it's not much different in atlantic city and Philly except maybe worse. DUI is everywhere and it's the same here...club owners use to pay the cops off to not bust people coming out of the parking lot, but I guess the club scene just isn't making enough money anymore lol. Good luck on the originals....you never know, it's a tough biz and you really need to find someone with connections that really BELEIVE in your music, but it seems bands come and go so fast anymore because there is no commitment in that biz anymore.

Bill

Hold up guys there is a not-so-dark side to playing in Vegas! I have been here for about 15 years and have done the Casino music scene and the local bar scene. This is a who-you-know town! Market yourself well enough and you can play full time on any stage. There are some keys to playing the casino scene. You must maintain a regiment of covers to keep people moving, but you can definately play your own music as well as long as its remotely within the same genra. Hey casino gigs are great! You WILL get laid!

The local bar scene is all about bringing people to that bar to see you. So what do you do? Call all of your friends, believe me you'll play there again.

Here is the downside though, If your music is so dark that it scares the Goth girls well you are going to have crowd issues everywhere. But hey if thats the music you write you must take a more aggressive marketing approach but there is a crowd for everyone.

Remember Vegas is all about attitude and a visual appeal. You hafta look good and leave a lasting memory with anyone who's seen you.

I love scaring Goth girls..

Actually what scares Goth girls is Barry Manilow.

I love scaring Goth girls..

Actually what scares Goth girls is Barry Manilow.

Ah, but what scares Barry Manilow?

I love scaring Goth girls..

Actually what scares Goth girls is Barry Manilow.

Ah, but what scares Barry Manilow?

Ice cream..

It goes straight to the thighs.

Thanks smooth, sounds similar to here on the east coast, hell I'll play anything as long as it pays well....hey is Barry looking for a guitar player


Bill

Very interesting indeed I have not considered the many facits of a town like Vegas.

Hey I've seen Barry! He's maintained a pretty well balanced physic for being 312 years old! But seriously those guys are always looking for local talent to open for them or to fill band slots when they are in town, so if your chops are tight and occasional use of spandex doesn't cause any allergic reactions well...