Bluewine

Your still going to need someone that can sell the band to a pub or bar owner. It's really not about how good a band is as long as you can generate new customers andvnew alcohol sales. Convincing an owner that already has a stable of bands in rotation to add your band to the list will not be easy. Blue

There are a myriad of reasons new bands can't get gigs. It might be they live in an area where there aren't any places for a band to play. Or, all the methods you mentioned is too much work. You might have a band of great Musicians but not one of them has any business sense. Sort of off topic, but I've also seen super talented pro like bands that should be playing to 500 + crowds but instead their playing to 35 people in a bar. That's poor management. Blue

With the same all due respect. Sorry if I've given the wrong impression, that's not my position or point. Blue

I joined a band once because their material was great in my opinion. Found out after a few months the band leader was only interested in playing the part of "rock star" in his basement. Blue

Agreed, age is a factor. If I was a young guy a "start up" would be fine. But at my age, too horrible to think about. Blue

I've been around for a while. A lot of these guys absolutely love the idea of gigging, but at the end of the day don't have what it takes to get gigs. Most start ups never see their first gig. Blue

In my area finding a band with gigs would not be easy, more like impossible. As a matter of fact when and if my band folds I'm prepared to step back from bands. Finding a band with weekly gigs in my area would be impossible. Blue

Guys, does this make any sense? If you want gigs don't join bands that don't have gigs booked and scheduled. Blue

Yeah, it's weird, I never see us the way he described. Blue

Found this today. "Marie and I had a second fun-filled day at Summerfest yesterday which was also the last day of Summerfest 2018. Bands we saw included Paper Holland, Soccer Mommy, Aleem, and Bad Boy. The day ended with Cheap Trick thunderously rocking the house filled with adoring fans. Surprisingly, they were not, in my opinion, the best band we saw yesterday. That was reserved for the local Maple Road Blues Band. https://www.facebook.com/Maple-Road-Blues-Band-181086306205/ We had never heard of them before, but went to see them because we had noticed that they hail from the same suburban/rural county north of Milwaukee where we live. They played to a much smaller venue than Cheap Trick with hundreds instead of thousands in the crowd. Yet their excellent musicianship and passion for their craft captivated the audience with both original music and standards. I think Stevie Ray Vaughn was smiling down. Sometimes the best is indeed right in your backyard." Nice, I don't see very many of those. I'll take it. Blue

I can't debate that one. I'd love to see another "Killers" emerge on the scene Blue.

You guys are not going to like my response. Yes, giving the green light to a guy who arrives at the audition hungover would definitely be a red flag to me. However, the other red flag was l"ooking to start an originals indie band" Depends on what your looking for, but in my neck of the woods this sort of opportunity never goes any further than a few partial rehearsals. Blue

Being a known commodity has it's advantages. After 12 years we don't chase after gigs anymore. Blue

You guys don't have stage lions in the UK? Blue

SUMMERFEST 2018 I felt a lot better about this year's show. Respectful size crowd. We played from 5:00-6:00. So, nice and easy to manage as oposed to our bread & butter 4 hour US bar shows. Blue

Too many variables, what type of band, the goals of the band and how much time members agree they can commit to rehearsing. Blue

Corporate gig, 5:00-9:00 Pros 1. Above average pay. 2.Paid in cash as soon as we arrived. 3. Load in was fantastic. ( See pic ) 4. Brand new large stage Cons 1. We're not a corporate/ functions band. We're a bar band. 2.Band wasn't playing up to my standards tonight. 3. The guests had absolutely no interest in the band. SUMMERFEST tomorrow; MAPLE ROAD! SUMMERFEST 2018 Sunday July 8th at 5pm on the ULine Rock Stage. The weather is going to be fantastic, and It's going to be a great night with Seven Dust as the 10pm headliner! Blue

Fun! Love the quality of those backing vocals. Blue

Guitar players and me. Blue

MRX Bass Octave Pedal, plenty of low end up in that 13th fret box. If I'm not using open strings I'm all about playing up there without sacravicing low end. As a matter of fact I'm enhancing the low end. Blue

For me; 1. Thankful after 50 years, I'm still gigging and having fun. 2. Being able to pay all my bills from money earned from gigs. I have low expenses. 3. Not complaining about stuff, bringing fun to rehearsals and gigs. Blue

Great pics, I have that strap too. I never thought much about that strap but I saw a video from the 70s and Alvin Lee had one. And now seeing yours I'm going to start sporting my Fender Strap. Mine came with my American Standard Telecaster, which I never use and should sell. It looks very cool especially with the color of your P Bass. By the way, love the blazers and ties look, Smooth! Blue

I been using the Black Cat for years, it's great unless your doing a lot of outside gigs. You can't read the display in sunlight. Blue

Getting a full band pic is difficult. I'd rather see good individual pics like this one. Thumbs Up! Blue

I wish I was more aware of my house sound. I'll sacrifice low end for sustain for some songs. I'm after what Tom Petersson does for Cheap Trick making the band sound bigger with bass octave , overdrive and even a little modulation from my TC Electronics Hall Of Fame Reverb. For those interested you check out some of Pertersson's rig run downs on YouTube. Hard to believe for so many years I was a Precision straight to amp stand back by the drummer finger player. Blue