rOB

very impressive stuff. Another great interview. Thanks for all your hard work bringing this stuff to our attention.

Why haven't they made a way to guarantee all venues have excellent stage monitoring so we can all turn up with DI boxes and not have to cart around amps and cabinets?

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1347638090' post='1803486'] I hate to think what that filth by the bridge consists of? [/quote] I'm really curious. fair enough, plenty of sweat but what else?

[quote name='DogHammer' timestamp='1346919958' post='1794749'] Hi rOB, I actually find it a bit difficult finding promoters to get gigs under. .... I find that around where I live, alot of the promoters seem to be purely for Metal bands, and we simply wont fit on their shows. But then again I'm thinking that we just need to 'get around a bit' and get known and I'm sure it will get better. [/quote] Hey DH, yeah it can be tough if promoters aren't putting on suitable shows. Could you maybe contact other local bands of a similar genre to you and see if you could put on some shows yourselves? Are there any local venues that put on shows of your genre? Maybe they'd be the ones to focus on? [quote name='joeystrange' timestamp='1346920591' post='1794760'] Here's something that loosely comes under the promotion umbrella... After the gig don't sit at the merch table and wait for people to come to you. .... [/quote] Very good idea. Now just need to get some merch to sell! [quote name='jaydentaku' timestamp='1346920678' post='1794762'] All in all, this makes me realize how easy we have it and yet we haven't gotten very far. When we do concentrate on promoting ourselves, hopefully we will make some waves. [/quote] Wow, you've definitely got friends in the right places. Best of luck to you.

[quote name='funkypenguin' timestamp='1346954711' post='1795343'] As far as getting gigs is concerned, look up everywhere that puts originals bands on and get on it and get your details and recordings to them. Be persistent! Most pubs want you to chuck covers in as well as originals. Get posters up in the venue, around the venue and on social network sites (FB etc.). Payment very much depends on where you are getting gigs, most pubs pay between £180-£300. Most clubs where ive played in originals bands havnt been paid gigs (though we usually get a drink or two) so unless you can do 2 sets and pull in alot of people dont expect to be paid on those types of gigs. Recording wise....depends what you want. If you're looking for a cheap and cheerful EP, it will sound cheap and cheerful. If you want quality recordings done in a quality studio with great gear and with a good engineer, be prepared to pay good money for it. Golden Rule - You get what you pay for. This goes double for production and mastering If you're hell bent on only doing originals, be prepared to do ALOT of leg work to keep the band going [/quote] Posters, yes good point we've been a little slack on the physical tools. Recording - mmm well said. I think we're edging towards a day or two in a studio, there are a fair few near us so hopefully we'll have some decent options. Has anyone gone the home recording route? Re: leg work keeping the band going. You're absolutely right, originals is hard work but for me (and I suppose others) the fulfillment of playing music you wrote to people and having them enjoy it is worth it.

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1347361634' post='1799727'] I'd add it's also nice if when booking they ask what you want and it's in the room. The number of times we're running around on our time trying to find a 3rd mic is not cool [/quote] Ooo yeah that'd be a really nice touch.

For me, its largely about the below Location - got to have decent free parking. Ideally close to public transport aswell for those that don't drive or prefer not to. Rooms - got to be decent size, not too hot, decent sound Gear - decent PA, loud enough to use for at least vocals over a drum kit. At least 2 vocal mics per room with stands and xlr leads. Guitar and bass rigs, appropriate to the size of room. Decent but obviously not expensive drum kit, I'd maybe rent cymbals and snare separately as their the bits that seem to break most often and most drummers will bring their own anyway Staff - Organised enough not to ever double book rooms. Friendly and willing to help.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1347277513' post='1798663'] Was Amazing!! [/quote] Happy days! What were you doing differently?

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1346955916' post='1795365'] Don't kid yourself. You may be playing original music, but the rest of the band didn't write any of it, so are mere cover players. [/quote] mmm don't really want to open that can of worms again! Come on, how do people promote their gigs?

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1347018687' post='1796041'] Ya just gotta do it. Again and again and again and again until you get it right. [/quote] This. Its hard to begin with but it gets easier. What I do to begin with is link the bass part with the singing so I know what notes and lyrics happen at the same time.

sounds like a good idea. A bit of cooperation can only be a good thing.

Does anyone have any good ways of promoting gigs? Does anyone do flyers before gigs? Does anyone advertise gigs?

There has been plenty of discussion around covers and tribute bands recently which is interesting no matter what kind of band you're in but sometimes things seem to differ in the world of original (as much as that term can ever be applied) music. Might be worth sharing some experiences and ideas? So recently I've put together a new band to play existing tunes (written by me for previous recording projects) and write new ones with the reasonably modest ambitions to play maybe a gig a month in our city and maybe travel to other cities once in a while, record some songs and perhaps self release an e.p. - What is your band aiming for? How are you going about it? Getting gigs has been reasonably simple so far through existing relationships with promoters and venue managers and/but they are all in local established music venues with PAs and engineers rather than pubs and clubs. - How are you approaching booking gigs? What types of venues are you playing? Are/how much are you getting paid? Promoting the band and gigs - we're focusing on social media (facebook and twitter) mostly at the moment. - How do you go about promoting? Recordings - we've struggled with finding a cheap way to record the band so far and are using some solo recordings I made at home to give promoters, venues and other bands an idea of what we sound like. - thoughts, experiences and ideas? Anything else you want to discuss relating to running your original bands?

subscribed. Will have a proper listen when I get the chance/

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1346584487' post='1790759'] I take it we're talking about covers bands here? ...what is it that sets your covers band apart form another playing songs of the same genre? Then take that one step further and ask yourself why should anyone come and see your band over staying in and watching the new episode of Doctor Who, or simply getting pissed in the comfort of their own homes? I can remember going to see a friend's 70s rock covers band for the first time. It was a fun night out and I spent the most of the time going "this is a great song!" to pretty much everything they played. However I'd have had just as much fun and probably the same reaction if I'd gone round to his house with some friends for a couple of beers and he'd had the same songs (by the original artists) playing from a playlist on iTunes... [/quote] I've got to agree with this. I don't think I've ever gone out specifically to see a covers band where as I regularly go out to see both local and "famous" originals bands. A covers band would need to be something a bit different to entice me out. Sad that fewer people are out enjoying live music though. I'd definitely have a word with your agent about promoting your events, increased revenue for the pub would encourage repeat bookings surely?

[quote name='sime17' timestamp='1346537775' post='1790438'] 1. Initial Excitement: If you get signed - stay level headed, be excited sure, but don't think it's all a done deal and you've made it. 2. Money: keep an eye on what's going out and remember it's being counted by someone. That includes studio and rehearsal room time. Don't accept every trinket and favour that comes along thinking it's genuinely 'free'. If you do need gear spend carefully on safe-ish buys - spending the advance on that brand new £2000 coffee table instrument that'll depreciate by 50+% as soon as it leaves the shop might come back to bite you. Quite quickly. If the product of the recording works out all the better, if it doesn't you've done what you can to limit the damage. 3. Trust: I may be being naiive or idealistic here (and this is aimed the OP's 'mates') but I'd also say try and stick together as a unit with bandmates who, after all, you've probly known for a while and are more likely to be able to trust(!) - on the other hand be VERY cautious, even cynical, about the motives behind record company bull$hitter$ who may tell you certain band members are boring or their image is wrong. [/quote] These all seem like good points to me. Anyone got any other suggestions?

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1346503015' post='1789978'] Betraying a friend due to their weight is really sh*t. [/quote] I agree. Very sad situation and inexcusable behaviour on your band mates part. All my sympathy and good wishes for the future. [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1346501885' post='1789961'] For all the right on outrage, image is important. I'm a fat bloke and I sympathise, but the market place has decided that image is important, so it is important. Whether that is morally right, or artistically right has no bearing. [/quote] I don't think anyone is really saying that image isn't important in selling a product but I don't agree that morals have no bearing. Decent behaviour to your friends/bandmates should really come first.

Welcome to the forum. Sorry, can't help with the bass though.

K, first gig down, 2 more booked. Full gig review in [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/7919-how-was-your-gig-last-night/page__pid__1783882__st__3120#entry1783882"]"how was your gig last night"[/url]. Felt it went well, I made a few playing fluffs that our brilliant drummer covered by skipping a few beats to catch up. I actually really enjoyed it, wasn't as nervous as I thought I was going to be. Got a few nice comments about the singing and the stage presence but not taking them too seriously as we had a pretty biased audience in. I'll continue to work on the singing and playing thing with as much emphasis on a good stage show as possible. If you get the chance to give singing a go, I'd recommend you have a go. If nothing else it'll help you understand why singers often behave in a different way to other musicians.

First gig with the new originals band Madam Fade. First gig doing lead vocals. Gig was all of 5 minutes down the road at Sound House in Leicester where I've played before and has really good sound and lights techs. Bit of pre gig drama when the jack socket on my main bass decided to die on me a couple of days before the gig, didn't have the inclination or skill to replace it myself so gave it to the local music shop and they fixed it no bother for cheap. Didn't help the nerves. Decent audience for a first gig and from the stage it looked like mostly people we'd brought. Band played ok, a few mistakes on my part but our excellent drummer saved the day by skipping beats a couple of times to catch me up. We seemed to go down well but it was a pretty biased audience so I'm taking the audience reaction with a pinch or two of salt. Lovely comments from the venue manager about having good stage presence which I was really nervous about not showing. A couple of the other bands playing were excellent and we got on really well with one of them and hopefully will keep in touch with them. A good night, roll on the next one.

another great interviewer with an interesting musician. Thanks.

Could the sounds you think of as grungey and being lost in the mix also be interpreted as contributing to a heavier overall sound? Not for me either in a band either but I do like the odd bit of downtuned guitars and bass blending.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1298328785' post='1136476'] And if you play lighter it always gives the option of digging in for effect. [/quote] What ET says and has been mentioned by some others. Surely its about having both a light touch and the ability to dig in when needed? (or hard and really hard! ). Different tools for different jobs.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1345041280' post='1772747'] Oh, I do the opposite to everyone else then, i try and stick the vocal line over the bass line as soon as I know what notes they're meant to be, so the whole thing sticks as one massive rhythmy-melodic thing in my head, and become inseperable. [/quote] This is what I do. All about practice and confidence IMO. Also I love bands with female and male vocalists. Extra versatility and possibilities

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1345020364' post='1772309'] [/quote] Everything the wise Dr says. A couple of years ago I couldn't find a band playing the kind of music I wanted to play so wrote my own music and put my own band together. Couple of years down the line a new band but couldn't find a singer who stuck. Learning to sing with the first gig in a few weeks.