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[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1363781689' post='2017436'] I was 46 when we formed the Jetsonics. [/quote] Hoorah! Another Me, you and Clarky, all three of us nearly 50, in great originals bands and loving it. There has got to be hope in here somewhere!

[quote name='fumps' timestamp='1363781664' post='2017435'] The thing with struggling originals bands has always puzzled me, you need the crowds but are finding it hard to gather these crowds, so I have no idea why bands don't gather together & create gigs, take it in turns to headline the sets. but a few live bands of the same style will have more of a chance to lure a crowd than one band. I mean why do originals bands bother playing some heavy stadium rock in the Duck & Drake on Wednesday ? it's pretty obvious that the punters will be scarce at best. A couple of my past bands would often support & be supported by the same bands & we always had great nights doing it, the crowd would be fans of our music & everybody had a great time. if there is no scene create one There used to be a venue in Leeds (The good old Duchess of York) where they would have several bands on in one night all of the same style, they would bring in large crowds simply because if you don't like band A, the chances are you will get into band B. I used to go to these nights all the time because you would always be guaranteed a decent night. [/quote] We have promoters that do this for most of our gigs, and we are putting on a EP launch gig with another band (at a venue holding 300) and choosing two support acts that fit the scene. It's all about gigging and building an audience, if the band is good, the word gets around. I think people expect far too much from originals audiences. You have to work to get to the tipping point where the audience starts promoting the band for you.

Christ, I'm starting to feel like the exception here, there hardly seems to be anyone really enjoying being in an originals band so far. Art doesn't pay, too demanding, too busy to practice, too many crap writers, too many prima donnas, no appreciative audiences .. blimey. Where's the cover material going to come from in ten years? EDIT: Thank god, Clarky Dudes, Clarky is a VERY f***ing busy man with a ton of sh*t on his plate, and he manages to play in a great originals band. he's also the same age as me so it doesn't have to be a 'young man's game' either

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1363779854' post='2017390'] I do covers and originals. I couldn't give a stuff who wrote the tunes. They're either good or they're not. [/quote] That's fair enough, do you write? Do you get a kick from presenting your own creations that transcends playing other people's music?

[quote name='thunderbird13' timestamp='1363779803' post='2017388'] when I started off trying to get back into bands about 5 years ago I felt that a lot of original bands were too precious about their material. I had one " artist" stop playing halfway through an audition becaue I had the audacity to play a note beyond the 12th fret. Perversely covers bands give me more freedoom to play - [/quote] Of course they are precious! If you wrote a bunch of good songs, would you not be protective of your artistic vision?

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1363779739' post='2017386'] That's the key though, isn't it? Cover bands often allow you to bypass all that hard work. Which works for a lot of hobby players as their job takes up a lot of their time. I speak from experience on that one! [/quote] Lazy Whoreclown Seriously, areyou saying covers bands are normally hobbyists?

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1363779613' post='2017384'] Call me defeatist or lazy if you like, but I totally agree with this. You can hit the ground running with a covers band as everyone can learn the material at home and then a few rehearsals and off you go. The infrastructure is already there as there are far more venues to play when to do covers. Audiences know what to expect, so are more easily entertained. [/quote] You Whoreclown Entertainer, you!

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1363779419' post='2017378'] Some. That's the thing, really. In a majorly mixed metaphor, the cream will always rise to the top but you've got to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince. [/quote] That applies to all aspects of life

[quote name='mike257' timestamp='1363779257' post='2017375'] I'd never done it until about 12 months ago - had always played original music. One of my regular clients in my splitter van was a function band and they asked me to do a couple of dep gigs on lead guitar, then to join the band. It's actually massively improved my musicianship as I'm learning and playing things I never would have before, and the gigs are enjoyable as the band are such nice guys to be around that it's a pleasure to do. The end result has been that between the function band, my splitter van and some other odd jobs, I've been able to take a redundancy package from my increasingly depressing day job and I now make my living entirely from music. I've got slightly less free cash (but surprisingly not [i]that[/i] much less, so far) but get to spend a lot more time with my young son, and I'm a lot happier for it all round. I'm still writing and recording original music and will be throwing a new band together soon to play it, but I also get to play music to appreciative audiences with good people whose company I enjoy, and improve, learn and grow as a musician while I'm doing it. I appreciate that it's not for everyone, but it's working for me right now! [/quote] There's a story full of hope Great stuff mate!

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1363779117' post='2017370'] Interesting. I guess I'm just resigned to the fact that these days it's impossible to make your own music heard. Covers are a good way of bypassing the years of struggle and getting a decent audience and adoration relatively instantly. Nothing more soul destroying than performing your own music to barstaff Truckstop [/quote] I disagree, you can get your music heard if you work hard at it.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1363778830' post='2017359'] I like the idea of playing a distillation of the past 50 years' worth of music, to try and select the best of the best and play them to people who know and appreciate it. Originals stuff is, for me, too hit and miss - most of what I have heard I don't like. There aren't too many gifted song writers out there. [/quote] Fair comment. But in defence of the originals acts, I have to say there are some great bands we've played with over the last few years, some of whom are doing well.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1363778272' post='2017345'] Have you never listened to a song and wished you were there playing it? My old band used to do loads of Elbow, My Morning Jacket and M83; no-one knew the songs but we were up there playing awesome music. Truckstop [/quote] Yeah sort of, when I was young, but aft a few years I grew into wanting to make other people feel that way by playing great original music if that makes sense. I guess it comes down to me needing to be creative, rather than just playing an instrument well. The creative side is the real pleasure for me. And I honsestly can't imagine being in a covers band replicating other people's music. I get lots of kicks learning other composers' music but that's because I learn from it and I can steal stuff from it, I wouldn't want to do it on stage though.

I'm interested in why so many players on here seem to be in covers bands. Is it because you enjoy it more than originals? Can find a good enough originals band? Doing it for the money? The challenge of having to be so versatile? You are in both originals and covers - why? The crowds are better than originals? Not meant in any way to be inflammatory, but I can't ever imagine wanting to be in a covers band. We do a few covers in a couple of bands, but they are vastly different to the originals, apart from Walking on the Moon which we did for fun once, and it wasn't that much fun anyway Another thing I find hard to understand is covers bands who chuck in a few originals into the set. What does that achieve?

What a sadness. There are too few innovators in the instrument world and we've just lost another.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1363766191' post='2017093'] In other words, your £20 opens "mordors"... [/quote]

Frightful Nazi

The Bigmouth and Gastric Band

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363728153' post='2016778'] Nigel, for God's sake come away from that mirror! [/quote]

Gland Banger

You Selfish Twat

Sausage Command Centre

Dread Pudenda

The Shits That Passed in the Night

Blundersuck