Attendance Concerns

[chris_b]

1 hour ago, The fasting showman said:

I was watching a YouTube interview recently ( Questlove and Ad Rock from the Beastie boys) where it was said, it's easier to be booed at by thousands of people than a tiny audience in a small venue.

 

 

I'm not sure about that. Many years ago we had a slot at the Reading Festival that was a real poison chalice. We were on between Status Quo and The Faces. Quo fans didn't want them to stop and Faces fans didn't want to waste time with us, so we were being booed by everyone in the festival! A Party 7 sailed out of the darkness, bounced off the piano and, fortunately, over our heads. At least in a small venue you can see who the enemy is!

[chris_b]

22 hours ago, RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE said:

I was in a couple of bands in the ‘90s / early 2000’s who played in the Grey Horse in Kingston

 

 

I've played hundreds of gigs at The Grey Horse. It used to be run by guys who were only interested in selling beer and didn't care about the music. Some bands could pack the place to illegal levels and others couldn't get half a dozen in. I've done both! The pub did no promotion at all. It was then taken over by a landlord/musician and things improved a lot. Our weekly jam nights were usually packed and Sunday lunch sessions in the front bar were always full.

[Franticsmurf]

15 minutes ago, Grahambythesea said:

Is this an age thing/ type of music problem?

I can only speak from my experience of cover bands. Most of the bands I've seen play have a very similar set list; if not the same songs then the same kinds of songs. It's an understandable vicious circle in that the audience reacts to certain songs so the band plays those songs. However I used to play in a band where the BL said 'we play Sweet Caroline because everyone wants it'. No one ever asked for it at any gig I played with them and yet we often played it and, of course, the audience reacted. This confirmed the BL's thinking in his own mind but if we hadn't played it then the audience wouldn't have missed it. The few bands that play different set lists are the ones that stand out for me and, I suspect, a lot of people who go to see a band (rather than go to a pub with live music).    

[chris_b]

2 minutes ago, Franticsmurf said:

I can only speak from my experience of cover bands. Most of the bands I've seen play have a very similar set list; if not the same songs then the same kinds of songs. It's an understandable vicious circle in that the audience reacts to certain songs so the band plays those songs. However I used to play in a band where the BL said 'we play Sweet Caroline because everyone wants it'. No one ever asked for it at any gig I played with them and yet we often played it and, of course, the audience reacted. This confirmed the BL's thinking in his own mind but if we hadn't played it then the audience wouldn't have missed it. The few bands that play different set lists are the ones that stand out for me and, I suspect, a lot of people who go to see a band (rather than go to a pub with live music).    

 

I gig with a band who plays Hi Ho Silver Lining, All Or Nothing, Hi Heel Sneakers and others because of the reaction. The crowd goes crazy!! The landlord loves them, other landlords see that and give the band gigs, and so it goes. We also play "better" less popular songs but the guaranteed floor fillers are always in there. If you're in a cover band maximum audience reaction should be the goal.

[TimR]

Yeah. "They were really good when they played last time. Let's go again."

 

Unfortunately, it's not how, or what you play, it's entirely down to how you make people feel. As a musician it sucks, as an entertainer, it's what makes a good band. 

[The fasting showman]

1 hour ago, Grahambythesea said:

Is this an age thing/ type of music problem?

Fair question because I can't tell if there's a generational shift in the punters you're playing to, or a saturated market of bands conforming to archetypes of genres that are getting hackneyed. 

 

I've certainly got jaded with covers. Not that there's anything wrong at all with it but I've got ground down with the repertoire, venues and the people I've been in bands with. A lot of that could be a post covid lockdown problem with my motivation!

 

I rejoined and left a band earlier this year that I've played with on and off for over 5 years. Again, it's a specific unique case in point but it was hard to see what that particular band offered as an alternative to a solo girl singer with a PA speaker and a laptop backing track.

 

Bizarrely I'm back enjoying doing originals ( in my mid '50s!!) doing less gigs but it's sustained my interest. 

[The fasting showman]

1 hour ago, Franticsmurf said:

I can only speak from my experience of cover bands. Most of the bands I've seen play have a very similar set list; if not the same songs then the same kinds of songs. It's an understandable vicious circle in that the audience reacts to certain songs so the band plays those songs. However I used to play in a band where the BL said 'we play Sweet Caroline because everyone wants it'. No one ever asked for it at any gig I played with them and yet we often played it and, of course, the audience reacted. This confirmed the BL's thinking in his own mind but if we hadn't played it then the audience wouldn't have missed it. The few bands that play different set lists are the ones that stand out for me and, I suspect, a lot of people who go to see a band (rather than go to a pub with live music).    

The band I mentioned in my previous post had somehow acquired Sweet Caroline in their set by the time I rejoined. 

Transposed up a 4th to suit the female vocalist. They use an electronic backing track in lieu of a keyboard player....the opening intro caused my heart audibly to hit the floor.

 

It's a shame because previously they'd aimed at being a pop / soul band steering clear of all the nasty songs. And they'd picked up work as a result. But identically the BL manufactured a false need for Sweet Caroline. I just thought it was indicative of a race to the bottom. No offence to anyone intended...I'd happily play High heeled sneakers for instance!

[ricksterphil]

15 minutes ago, The fasting showman said:

..I'd happily play High heeled sneakers for instance!

 

and on that note. This has to be the maddest version of that particular classic

 

 

 

[BigRedX]

31 minutes ago, The fasting showman said:

Bizarrely I'm back enjoying doing originals ( in my mid '50s!!) doing less gigs but it's sustained my interest. 

 

A few months before my 50th birthday I joined two bands. A covers band which included a good friend of mine on guitar and an originals band started up by the singer from a band I had been involved with very briefly the previous year. Two years later I had to quit the covers band because the originals band was doing more and better-paid gigs, not to mention that it was a lot more fun! I haven't gone back to playing covers since then and TBH I can't see myself doing covers in the future.

[The fasting showman]

18 minutes ago, ricksterphil said:

 

and on that note. This has to be the maddest version of that particular classic

 

 

 

They don't do a bad job of it; I could cope with the visuals but ventilation could be an issue