General Music Chat

Hey people. Hope is well on your end.

My questions is for the bands.

How many of you already shared shows with another band? How did it go? Good or bad experience?

Were looking into that with our band. I know it can get you good exposure if the other band has a steady fan base. Gig swapping with out of town bands seems to yield great results too.

Whats your opinion?

Thanks

www.gigdoggy.com

No. But thanks for asking.

I've done this a couple of times and both went really well.

First time I was half of an acoustic duo in Austin, we played a club there regularly and they booked us to open for another local band. They set up during our last break, and had some nice comments about us. We decided to do Neil Young's "Old Man" for our last song, starting into the second verse I suddenly heard bass guitar...in key, perfect volume, turned around to look between lines (I did the lead vocal) and their bass `player grinned at me just as the drummer fell into place. We finished the song with bass and drums, it went well and sounded great, the crowd loved it. It ended up a really good night.

Second time was 4th of July, Baton Rouge, we had 3 gigs lined up for the day and night, one of them opening for another local band, their PA and amps, we had to bring one amp since they were 3 piece and we were 4. got ready to go and their guitar player plugged me into his blonde 50 watt Marshall with matching 4x12 cab. Told me to crank it to 10 and it should work great. it sounded teriffic, it was a great show and the other band liked us really well too. The only down side was we couldn't stay longer than one song when they atarted, we had another gig to set up and play.

So it's only been a couple of times, but it's worked out well for bands I've been with so far, I'm sure there are other times it really sucks...

Hey Gang,

Great stories Pete! Yeah , havin 2-3 bands a nite seems to be the norm around here for the younger bands playin the metal, and alt. venues...
If Im in the audience , Ill run up and help move stuff around ,roll up cords etc...They seem to get along pretty good..Theres a bit of healthy competitiveness and the sound guys dont show a whole lot of favoritism..
On the fairs and fest circuit ,it can some times be a cut throat deal where ya dont have any control...Thats when I started to learn how to OUTSMART the sound man...In the old days up in Cleveland OH, the botherhood for sharing venues, bands, musicians was 2nd to none..Borrowing musicans without the HINT of one "band jumping" or smearing another band or player..I hope you youngins are keepin that brotherhood going in our bigger cities...

John

Is your real name Muzicmage?

We always share the night...but we're the main act so about 2 bands go on b4 us!

Yeah, Ive played lots of shows with other bands.

I dont really know what the question is. When we used to play for the door, that was the trick to book one or two opening acts so we could get their crowds money. Worked well for a while. New Years we had 3 groups, the opener started around 9:30, the original group went on around 11 and brought in the New Year then we went on and played 2 cover sets from 1-4 am. Our singer negotiated a 75% cut of the door and we took in $2500 so I thought that show went quite well.

Younger acts typically dont have enough material to cover a full night of playing so you see a lot of metal shows with 3-5 groups playing.

I guess it depends on how the money will be split is the only issue. I would say that whoever booked the gig and owned the pa would call the shots on these type gigs.

Never shared a full show, but we've shared instruments at open mic nights.

Something I never, ever recommend.

Drummer had dents in all his drum heads from a screamo band that played, the (screamo) drummer had to take the nirvana approach to trying to kill the drums...

I had a guy rip his finger open on my bass, AND keep playing, smearing blood all over it, to the point that the strings, body, and pickups were utterly saturated. In light of concern over aids, hep B, etc.. that bass went to the dumpster.

As far as sharing the show, it was kind of 'meh' the other band being screamo kind of turned off a lot of patrons of the bar so when we got back on to do another set, 1/2 the crowd was gone.

haha

yea i know the feeling. Ive already had someone bleed all over my guitar as well. In an open outdoors jam, you know the ones where there are like 10 or 15 musicians in a park with like 5 djembes and other percusions, no one playing in rhythm, and you got your acoustic guitar so for them just to hear ya you gotta play as hard as you can. Well once a guy just played too hard.

Only time I ever shared a stage was when I opened as a solo for an act, or played at a hippie festival or charity event.

Always had a good time, but it can get a little frenzied setting up/tearing down & such, & you have to be very aware of your time slot.

Sorrry but this child got low marks for "sharing of the toys".

Bleed? lol Ah this is why we do not share anything at all.

No instrument? No play. easy and clean.

Sharing shows is pretty common these days. Almost the norm.

Or are you talking about if you have the bill solo, and you decide to let another band play with you? That is a good strategy for a local band whose fans see them often, cause the fans can see you anytime. So you get an established band to play the show with you, and you open for them. That gets all your fans out at the same time, and the club loves the business.

The better question is....

"Have you TRADED gigs?"

Trading gigs is getting pretty popular. We have had at least 3 band ask us to do it. A band from out of town takes your gig, and you play their gig. It helps BOTH bands develop a fan base in each other's states or cities. It gets you "touring" faster. As long as the venues are cool, which they usually are, it is a win-win-win for all three parties.

We need a drummer, and there is a band willing to trade gigs with us right now. They make a grand a set. They did $10,000 in merch at one of their biggest shows awhile back. That could help boost us to the next level.

yea Craig, think you're absolutely right.
Trading shows, or gig swapping as some call it, is apparently THE way to go.
I have already asked some bands what they thought of the process some time ago. I posted some quotes in my blog.

check them out:

http://www.gigdoggy.wordpress.com/band-quote-archives/band-quote-archive/the-way-bands-gig-swap-and-share-shows-1

and

http://gigdoggy.wordpress.com/band-quote-archives/band-quote-archive/the-way-bands-gig-swap-and-share-shows-2/

and so whats up with the drummer? the other band is gonna supply theirs?
Another good thing with this type of event, is that the bands can share equipment, share a place to stay at night etc.