blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1501275577' post='3343823'] Of course it's the band being unprepared. They haven't done their research. There's so much more to being in a band and playing music. You can't blindly follow the promoter. Ask the questions. Look at the bands the venue usually has in. Ask the venue if you think you'll go down well. A lot of musicians are lazy (as Blue says), they just want to play the music and not get involved in the marketing side. Someone said, either upthread or on another thread, "there's loads of musicians better than Ed Sheerhan, he's just lucky he's got a decent marketing team" or words to that effect. It's not luck, he's working with his team, listening to them and talking to them to decide what works. Anyone who thinks that they can just play good music and be successful isn't living in the real (modern) world. [/quote] 70s hard rock and blues is what we primarily play along with original material. But we also do some fun novelty stuff. For example, " Them Changes" Buddy Miles and "These Boots Are Made For Walking" Nancy Sinatra, To Sir With Love " Lu Lu. Our sweet spot is the over 60 crowd and they come out to see us and they're loyal. Every once and a while there's a mix up usually a corporate party request and the crowd are folks in their 20s. It's always a disaster. They have absolutely no interest. Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1501248979' post='3343617'] I wasnt saying you did think you were better, I was simply putting it from a gig or bar owners perspective. If they can get music cheap, or free, they can and will. Thats why you can plan everything to the max, but in the end its out of your hands. [/quote] Understood Cheap is a relative term. In my neck of the woods free is unheard-of out side of charities,benefits and the few originals clubs. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1501245941' post='3343567'] You'll soon find out if the punted notice or not. They'll stop coming to your gigs. They'll walk out before your second set. You'll stop getting bookings. Even a band that plays for free won't get rebooked if they're not entertaining the audience. [/quote] Over here, if the bar is for the most part empty, you'll be paid but asked to pack up and leave. This of course is not always the fault of the band. Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1501235522' post='3343457'] Worth the try though, mate. Probably because for musicians its not a "Business", its a calling. You could have the best bar band in the state but If a bar owner wants to put on a band who will play for nothing, Instead of your band that needs to earn to live, there is nothing you can do about it. You may believe your band is better , and worth there money, but If the bar owner thinks the punters will still get drunk and dance to a free, or cheaper band than yours, he will do it. The only "Music business" is run by the record companies and promoters. [/quote] Well, I certainly don't think my band is any better musically than other regional bar bands, far from it. We are however IMO better at certain things like booking. We also have a young female front, lead guitarist and lead vocalist that sets us apart from many other blues/rock bar bands. She alone keeps us away from what I call " 4 old guys on stage" syndrome. We're also drama free and ego free.The only time we see each other is at gigs. We don't take ourselves that seriously. I've been in bands that had drama and ego issues and IMO it's laughable and a big joke. Also the main reason many bands fall apart. BTW, you guys refer to drinks a lot. We don't see much of that at all. You get a DUI over here, your looking at 10 grand minimum after all is said and done. Blue

Does she have genre experience? If not, you might run into problems. I play rock & blues, pretty easy stuff. Anytime someone shows up and works from charts it catches me off guard. You'll see this from guys with a lot of formal training. I grew up with the genre back in the 60s.listening to Muddy Waters, Albert & BB King,Hendrix, Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Winters and many others.Jamming and improvising with others for hours on end. For the most part all the riffs, and arrangements cone to me naturally and fairly easy.If you didn't grow up with it and Don have a lot of experience with the genre I guess I understand the use of charts. IMO for rock and blues, if your experienced and no the genre, why would you need charts? Right? Blue

Well If anything I've learned that business is not my thing. I failed. I couldn't come up with anything. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1501170509' post='3343063'] They are quite well known musicians tho and if you're into Jazz style playing then $30 doesn't seem too much. Should be an interesting gig. Wish i could be there. Post some pics or Vids if you go. Dave [/quote] I will Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1501102803' post='3342598'] Googled and he came after Collins right enough late 77 into 78. Barnd X started 75 to 80 and then again 92 to 99 and obviously playing again now since 2016. Think Percy Jones move to New York many years ago. Dave [/quote] Sounds right to me. I'm looking forward to their show even if $30.00 seems a bit steep. Blue

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1501103435' post='3342603'] I would suggest reading a book called something like Dangerous In Any Company before hiring consultants. [/quote] Good idea. I can't seem to come up with much of any kind of plan. Blue

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1501088564' post='3342430'] EQ is an effect. Therefore they are the same. [/quote] Maybe, but not by my definition. Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1501101367' post='3342584'] The only problem with all this planning and expenditure is.....its the music business, its art. You can have all the gear and all the musicians in place, but if the gig promoters and punters dont buy into it you are sunk. Oh, and 100k in debt. If you have the songs, on demo, and the music business likes them, everything else follows. [/quote] My band might be what I'll call a regional or national bar band. Not sure how I'll spend the money yet. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1501092319' post='3342475'] Followed them for a while when Phil Collins was with them probably late 70's tho. Percy Jones was a big influence on my playing style back then. Dave[/quote] I'm pretty sure Chuck came after Phil. Do we have a historian here? Brand X is Booked in a small bar here in Millwaukee next month. Blue

[quote name='ricksterphil' timestamp='1501091464' post='3342467'] Cool T-Bird Blue.....one of those is defo on my 'must own one day' list [/quote] Thanks, Cool looking and fun to play. I've been gigging it a lot lately. Blue

[quote name='Monkey Steve' timestamp='1501087309' post='3342413'] start from where you want to get to and work backwards: It's not "I've got $100k, how far will it get me?" it's "I want the band to be playing X nights a week at Y sized venues, getting paid $Z, how much investment do I need to get there?" It's going to be the interaction between X, Y and Z that sets a lot of the rest. And to find out realistic numbers you're going to have to do a lot of market research. [/quote] Agreed, you should know how long it's going to take to pay back the loan and turn a profit. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1501016755' post='3341880'] Who was the drummer in Brand X and Rainbow ? Dave [/quote] Chuck Burgi, he was with Brand X in the mid 70s. If you YouTube Chuck some of his work with Rainboat should come up. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1501068456' post='3342187'] I was curious to know what the drive was that made him change priorities in life. Dave [/quote] I was at least twice the age of everyone in the office,I had worked for 35 years and I refused to answer to Millennials. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1501068456' post='3342187'] When i re-read my comment i realised it didn't come out the same as in my head[/quote] Happens to me all the time. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1501066427' post='3342165'] That's not similar to blue, his house might be paid for but as he says he MUST gig to survive, you don't. [/quote] If my band folded and I couldn't find another band with work I would have to get a regular job at least part time. Blue

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1501069443' post='3342194'] Blue, does your band do weddings, functions, corporates etc? Are are you purely a bar band, with the occasional summer festival or fair gig? [/quote] We have done weddings on request only. We have done corporate/functions shows and we get our share of festival and fair business. We're playing the Washington County Fair this weekend. We're primarily a "down & dirty" bar band IMO. It's where we're most comfortable. Blue

[quote name='ricksterphil' timestamp='1501070576' post='3342209'] To get back to the OP's starting point, I once saw Gladys Knight & The Pips do a show at the local theatre. They were only onstage for about 45 minutes, but boy did they put on a show. Imagine how many times they've sung those songs and danced those moves. Not even a hint of 'dailing it in'. In our band we work to get it right, think about set lists, rehearse new stuff diligently, listen back to rehearsal recordings to see what we can improve on etc. But if we make a fubar on the night, we try not to worry too much about it. I heard a quote from Yehudi Menuhin which went something like If I miss one practice session, I notice If I miss 1 day, the orchestra notices If I miss a week, the audience notices [/quote] I can only wish I was in a band that had a professional 45 minute show like you described. Great point and example. Blue

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1501052045' post='3342001'] I think I said this before. You and I are among the lucky ones. I'd have to assume that the majority reading this aren't so lucky. [/quote] I don't think majority here are seniors. It makes a big difference. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1501058709' post='3342067'] It would have to be a tribute band. Targeting large clubs. A year would be far too long. I'd expect professional musicians to be up to speed with a two hour set within a week of whole day rehearsals. Financially you'd need enough money to pay for a solid week of rehearsals, rooms and musicians. I'd be expecting to hire a PA in for each gig if required otherwise I'd expect the venue to have PA. Couple of hundred quid for stage clothing. 5th man would be sound engineer. 1st gig would be a promo gig, photographed, videoed and sound recorded. £2k for production of materials (video, website, etc) from the gig. [/quote] I don't think anyone is off to great start, including me Tim is the only one that has defined his band and venue target. I'm not sure his research indicated whether or not there's a viable market for tribute bands in large clubs. For the sake of this exercise, let's say there is. Tim your further along than most of us. Blue

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1501058750' post='3342069'] Write, or know someone who can write, great songs. The rest follows. Its no secret that the vast majority of successful acts have great songs, thats how they become successful. If you have great songs the music business throws money and opportunity at you. The technology for making quality demmos is available to all so It can easily be done without you having to borrow anything. If you have the songs. [/quote] Good idea. I haven't defined what type of band mine is. Inn bit sure what comes first band concept or songs. Blue

[quote name='acidbass' timestamp='1501073146' post='3342255'] [color=black]I think that is even too long. If I were to hire a band of professional musicians and pay them for rehearsal, I’d expect them to know the material as per the original recording for the first play-through. The rehearsal would be necessary only for amending arrangements (which in theory could be done in advance too with demo recordings or simply performance notes the song in question)[/color] [color=black] [/color] [color=black]All the above assuming it’s a covers band type setup.[/color] [/quote] I haven't defined my band yet, however I'm thinking when I get to hireing musicians and a band manager I'll recruit from s hooks like Berklee & Juliard. Blue

Once I secured the $100,000.00 I would start researching how other successful bands started. I haven't spent any money yet. I've never done this so I'm being very careful. Finding a consultant might be where I start. Blue