Tonight's second set cancelled - nobody in the pub

[Lozz196]

Smoking ban, plus price of beer. Easy to see why a group of people buy 48 cans from a supermarket for less than £30, then drink them round someones house, rather than go out and spend £3.50+ on each pint. Must admit, I wouldn`t do this, if I were still a drinker, as like(d) the pub atmosphere, but I can appreciate why others do it.

So with regards to pub gigs, well one thing my covers band do if we`re going to play a new venue is check it out a few times, prior to even asking about a gig. If it`s usually busy (and trouble free) we`ll then make enquiries. If empty, then chances are we`ll leave it alone.

Agree with the comments about bands being too loud - a lot of people like to go to a pub, watch a live band, and have a natter. With many bands, that is impossible to do, so a good few people think "there`s a band on tonight, find somewhere else to go". So yes, up to us to make sure this doesn`t happen.

[The Dark Lord]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1346584487' post='1790759']
I take it we're talking about covers bands here?

IMO playing covers is a double edged sword. On one hand you're audience should know most of the songs you are playing and therefore you're not trying to win them over with material they've never heard before. On the the other hand 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]

Yep. I sorta agree with this. We play about 27 cover songs and three or four of our own in a set.

I think there are so many other things you can do with your leisure time / money nowadays - why should you spend it in a noisy pub with questionable furnishings/company and expensive alcohol.

We don't do it for the money. The three of us a relatively wealthy business owners - we do it for the art and the buzz of entertaining people (although, as I've said before - we're concious that other people do it for a living, so we will not spoil the market by playing for free or cheaply).

We're not getting the "buzz" of entertaining people as much as we'd like ... especially when you play to no-one at all.

We may be more selective (a bit like Lozz said) playing only serious music pubs which aways have a crowd ........ but they are becoming less of them.

[jaydentaku]

6.4 million people tuned in for Dr Who last night. Might have something to do with it?

[rOB]

[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?

[TimR]

Fair point but that's mainly families.

Drinking canned beer? I'd rather poke my eyes out.

People who want to see live music will come and see live music.

I think FaceBook and forums have a place in this with people staying in and chatting on line rather than meeting strangers in pubs.

[rogerstodge]

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1346567768' post='1790548']
had a very similar experience fri night, 1st set had a decent enough crowd, some dancing too. we cut short the break as we could see people sloping off, just time for a pee and a fresh drink, finished 2nd set to bar staff and about 5 punters, who were, to be fair, very enthusiastic. Been with this band for close on 2 years now, and this is the worst I've seen it, Maybe we'll try for gigs round St Albans!!
[/quote]try the blacksmiths arms..01727 868845

[Beer of the Bass]

Take this with a pinch of salt, as I've no covers band experience, but it seems that some of the best received covers bands I've seen have been the ones who react quickly and include a couple of this months (or even this weeks) hits in their set. It doesn't even seem to matter if the style is totally inappropriate, as forty-something rock dudes doing Lady Gaga or whatever can make for an entertaining night. If Pulp, Ocean Colour Scene, Oasis and the Stone Roses (which could be 10-20 years old depending on song choice) are the more recent stuff in your set, this might be worth a try.

[arthurhenry]

Ultimately, you either carry on regardless, or you don't. You have busy gigs, quiet gigs and some inbetween. The idea of some golden age when every gig was packed is a fantasy. Ask Ian Anderson, or Robert Plant, Paul Rodgers or Tony Iommi, they'll all tell you of many gigs they played to almost no-one, in the 60s/70s.

[BigRedX]

Those of you blaming the smoking ban:

Is it a reduction in the number of punters coming to the pub in the first place, or is it that people are going out for a smoke while you are on stage playing?

If it's the former, I suppose there's not a lot you can do except stick it out until the economic situation improves and smoking becomes less of a social activity. If it's the later then really you need to be asking yourself why is your band less compelling to your potential audience than standing outside in the cold and wet in order to feed their addiction?

[TimR]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1346591653' post='1790877']
Take this with a pinch of salt, as I've no covers band experience, but it seems that some of the best received covers bands I've seen have been the ones who react quickly and include a couple of this months (or even this weeks) hits in their set. It doesn't even seem to matter if the style is totally inappropriate, as forty-something rock dudes doing Lady Gaga or whatever can make for an entertaining night. If Pulp, Ocean Colour Scene, Oasis and the Stone Roses (which could be 10-20 years old depending on song choice) are the more recent stuff in your set, this might be worth a try.
[/quote]

You're right.

That and they're not responsive to their audience. If the pub is full of 18-30s play recent stuff. 30-50 70s and 80s, 60+ and play 60s music.

[gub]

I can remember playing a us air base on the Azores and no advertising had been done before we flew in, literally just the bar tender and us alone in this pretty big club ! We played and then next day went round the base handing ut flyers for another gig 2 days later , when we played this one it was packed and they wouldnt let us buy a drink all night also thy had a BBQ which started about 1.30 am! Needless to say it was a late night !

[BILL POSTERS]

Did a door money gig once at what used to be a large and popular pub gig. There was a fairly big stage, a really nice hired PA with an engineer, door security etc. What we didnt know at the time was the promoter had quit a few weeks before. The gig which was booked months and months before hadnt been advertised [i]at all. [/i]Not even a poster in the pub, even though we had supplied them a month before the gig.

There were two punters in, neither of who had paid as they were mated of the landlord. Didnt even bring a dog Most of the regulars thought they had stopped putting bands on.

Just have to be philosophical about it and treat it as a rehearsal. Shyt happens.

Edited September 2, 2012 by BRANCINI

[spinynorman]

I really haven't that much of a difference over the last few years, there's good pubs and bad pubs, always has been. My observation is that it's really down to the landlord, whether they put the effort in to create a friendly, pleasant atmosphere where people feel welcome, and whether they've been able to put in the investment to make the place clean and comfortable.

That, and we've changed our set to cover quite a wide range of style and era, so if anyone doesn't like one song, they probably will like the next one. That's definitely improved our ability to keep an audience, compared to in the past when we just did air guitar rock.

The only way to build an audience that I can see is to get repeat gigs in the same pub, and if you're good it spreads by word of mouth. As a cover band, you have no chance of taking a "following" from one pub to another.

[Lozz196]

[quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1346589882' post='1790853']
try the blacksmiths arms..01727 868845
[/quote]

Agree, good venue - will be there on 29th to see you guys -are you playing this time, and not Glam-Rock Glen?

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1346594426' post='1790933']
Those of you blaming the smoking ban:

Is it a reduction in the number of punters coming to the pub in the first place, or is it that people are going out for a smoke while you are on stage playing?

If it's the former, I suppose there's not a lot you can do except stick it out until the economic situation improves and smoking becomes less of a social activity. If it's the later then really you need to be asking yourself why is your band less compelling to your potential audience than standing outside in the cold and wet in order to feed their addiction?
[/quote]
It's not really like that, the smokers are happy to stand outside, have a drink, have a smoke, have a natter and hear the music all at the same time. It does not matter how good you are they can't come in and do all of those things at once. We have all been told after the gig how good we were and that everyone outside was loving it, are you booked in again etc. winter will help send them back inside but that might be back into their own homes? Pub covers bands are just human jukeboxes, it's easier to get people to watch your originals set where they smoke between bands if they have come to see you specifically.

[fretmeister]

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1346545569' post='1790512']
Old Git (former member RIP) would have had some advice here. Although the first thing he would have asked would probably have been 'what did the band do to advertise the gig?'.
[/quote]

For a band fee of only £200 the venue does the advertising. When the band fee gets to £400 or more then the band can start being responsible for bringing in punters.

[BigRedX]

I would have thought that it would be in any band's interest to do as much promotion as possible irrespective of whether the venue/promoter/booking agent had done any.

These days it's quick, cheap and easy to use social media to get the word out that you are playing. Even a thread in the gigs forum here could bring a couple of extra faces in the audience.

[bertbass]

There's certainly less people in the pubs now than there used to be and in a pub or club that's taken the trouble, smokers are not standing outside in the cold and wet. they're sitting at tables, under cover and in front of heaters. In fact, it's just like it used to be in the pubs before the smoking ban. The only time the customers go back in the pub is to buy more ale or to use the loos. They're enjoying the band it's just that we can't see them.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1346604488' post='1791097']
They're enjoying the band it's just that we can't see them.
[/quote]

Then maybe you should consider giving them something worth coming inside and looking at?

Otherwise you might as well just stick on an iPod.

[rogerstodge]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1346604627' post='1791101']


Then maybe you should consider giving them something worth coming inside and looking at?

Otherwise you might as well just stick on an iPod.
[/quote]Could always turn down.. We have non smokers sitting outside cos we're too bleeding loud

[Oopsdabassist]

[quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1346589882' post='1790853']
try the blacksmiths arms..01727 868845
[/quote]

Very kind of you sirrah, is that the one at the top of the high street?

[BILL POSTERS]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1346604627' post='1791101']
Then maybe you should consider giving them something worth coming inside and looking at?

Otherwise you might as well just stick on an iPod.
[/quote]

Or play outside.

Pubs are closing down fast. Some parts of Brum there not a pub you'd want to go in for miles. When you do get there you cant smoke, cant drive there, theres hardly anybody else there, and its too expensive. On the other hand, you can get beer in cans for under a pound a pint from a corner shop.
Over the last few years, every corner shop sells beer cheap, all day long, Almost every customer who buys a paper or a packet of fags also buys a few cans, regardless of the time of day. Wonder if theyre just too pissed to go out by the time the pubs open.



.

[uncle psychosis]

The problem is much more than just the smoking ban and the economic situation.

Fact is that people have far more choice when it comes to entertainment than they used to. 20 years ago, what was there to do in the UK on a Saturday night? Not a great deal---stay in and watch something like the Generation Game on one of the three, four, five (not very many!) channels, go to the cinema, or go out to a pub or a gig.

Nowadays, people can stay in and watch live sport on the TV, they can watch pretty much any film they want from their couch thanks to the likes of netflix, sky, etc, they have hundreds of TV channels to choose from, they have TV shows that hook you in and keep people watching week after week (X factor etc), they can socialise and chat to people online, most houses have dvd collections, etc etc. Most towns have bowling alleys, cafes that are open at night, karaoke bars, yadda yadda yadda...

Live music and pubs just don't have the same market share that they used to. There's so much more choice now.

[rogerstodge]

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1346605191' post='1791112']


Very kind of you sirrah, is that the one at the top of the high street?
[/quote]Yea that's the one

[arthurhenry]

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1346605403' post='1791120']
The problem is much more than just the smoking ban and the economic situation.

Fact is that people have far more choice when it comes to entertainment than they used to. 20 years ago, what was there to do in the UK on a Saturday night? Not a great deal---stay in and watch something like the Generation Game on one of the three, four, five (not very many!) channels, go to the cinema, or go out to a pub or a gig.

Nowadays, people can stay in and watch live sport on the TV, they can watch pretty much any film they want from their couch thanks to the likes of netflix, sky, etc, they have hundreds of TV channels to choose from, they have TV shows that hook you in and keep people watching week after week (X factor etc), they can socialise and chat to people online, most houses have dvd collections, etc etc. Most towns have bowling alleys, cafes that are open at night, karaoke bars, yadda yadda yadda...

Live music and pubs just don't have the same market share that they used to. There's so much more choice now.


[/quote]

Don't forget, they can also pretend to be in a band via a plastic guitar and a video game. Oh the irony!