Gigging is not enjoyable anymore

[Jeztone]

I've been playing in bands for oooh off and on 20 years. Original Stuff, Rock/Indie I guess.

When I started,it was usually a 2 or maybe 3 band bill

About 4 years ago I was doing a lot of 3 band bills. These were fun, usually well attended, with proper soundchecks and reasonably priced door. We were'nt making money, but having a good time plying our wares.

I've just had an email from a promoter telling me my band wont be getting a soundcheck at our next gig as they have a policy of only letting the headliner and the opening band soundcheck. The 2 bands in the middle get fuck all,maybe a linecheck at best, but last time we did a gig like that we got a shit sound.

This promoter sends you a big letter explaining how you have to sell tickets at £5 a pop in advance in order to be seen as a good band for him to work with.

I'm fed up. I love playing my guitar I love the music my band does. But I'd have a much easier life playing in a bluesband/Tribute Act/ Covers band right now.....I'd also make more money, get a proper soundcheck and not be treated like a **** by "da Industry".

Every gig is 4 bands, theres never time for proper soundchecks cos someone in the other bands always takes their fucking time.....we are always on time proffessional and nice....ooh and some **** always wants to borrow an amp....even if they have one, then they complain that my amp isnt like the one they usually use......

So are promoters killing music ?

I'd run a night by charging less, having a 3 band bill or 2 bands and an acoustic act.........I think the quality would be higher and people would enjoy it more. Everything is so against the clock now and the first thing to suffer is the quality of sound.

[RobDavies]

Could you not try becoming a promoter yourself?

[mobypaterson]

I couldn't agree with you more mate... I never really understood having to sell tickets to gigs on behalf of promoters, most of them do sweet F all to promote the show anyway!

Better off out of it to be honest and do your own thing, set up your own shows and promote your own wares. . .

[thereformant]

Originally Posted by Jeztone

I've been playing in bands for oooh off and on 20 years. Original Stuff, Rock/Indie I guess.

When I started,it was usually a 2 or maybe 3 band bill

About 4 years ago I was doing a lot of 3 band bills. These were fun, usually well attended, with proper soundchecks and reasonably priced door. We were'nt making money, but having a good time plying our wares.

I've just had an email from a promoter telling me my band wont be getting a soundcheck at our next gig as they have a policy of only letting the headliner and the opening band soundcheck. The 2 bands in the middle get fuck all,maybe a linecheck at best, but last time we did a gig like that we got a shit sound.

This promoter sends you a big letter explaining how you have to sell tickets at £5 a pop in advance in order to be seen as a good band for him to work with.

I'm fed up. I love playing my guitar I love the music my band does. But I'd have a much easier life playing in a bluesband/Tribute Act/ Covers band right now.....I'd also make more money, get a proper soundcheck and not be treated like a **** by "da Industry".

Every gig is 4 bands, theres never time for proper soundchecks cos someone in the other bands always takes their fucking time.....we are always on time proffessional and nice....ooh and some **** always wants to borrow an amp....even if they have one, then they complain that my amp isnt like the one they usually use......

So are promoters killing music ?

I'd run a night by charging less, having a 3 band bill or 2 bands and an acoustic act.........I think the quality would be higher and people would enjoy it more. Everything is so against the clock now and the first thing to suffer is the quality of sound.

Ive been seeing more of this focus on ticket sales recently as well. To be honest for small bands its difficult to consistently get 20 or 30 people to come out to every gig especially if its on a weekday night and its raining. Few people want to take a risk of a fiver on a band theyve never heard of so there's precious little passing trade. Even worse places in places with the bar in a separate room I notice most of each bands crowd only comes in to see their mates and then retires to the bar meaning you dont even get the opportunity to impress some new faces.

I really dont know how you make the jump between bringing friends down and having an actual established fan base of people who don't know you. Ive never managed to really get to that stage with any of my bands.

[manicguitarist2]

I agree with you 100%

The person isn't a promoter if they want you to sell the tickets - they are a gig organiser. A promoter would promote a gig and thus keep the profits from ticket sales etc. They are transferring the risk and effort onto the bands - and it sucks. I hate that kind of gig - cos the only folks that come to watch are usually the fans of one of the bands that happens to be at 6th form - and then the whole college seems to come along - and then go as soon as that band have played.

[roundthebend]

+1 to everybody's comments here

There's a "promoter" in our fair city who is very vocal about this subject. He argues that a band will only be successful if they promote themselves and if you want to play a gig at his venue (he owns it) then you usually have to sell 25 tickets. Actually, I think he used to make bands buy the tickets themselves for a £1 discount each then sell them on. We'd end up passing on the £1 discount to everybody to help shift them.

Thing is his venue also rips people off at the bar. Cans of beer instead of pints, and then it's usually £3 a can! Coke is £1.50 a can.

I would never play there again.

I totally understand his business plan but what I find irritating is how he thinks he is helping the local music scene. He could do so much better if he charged a nominal door fee to cover costs of his soundman and DJs.

I'm thinking of getting into a covers band just so I can play pub gigs and have some fun. Trying to do a serious band is pointless, unless you use the internet to best effect and then hit the more "musically interested" towns.......anyone know what they are?

[manicguitarist2]

We have about 4hrs worth of material - 1 1/2hrs of our own stuff and 2 1/2hrs of covers. So we can play either kind of gig. We generally stick about 7 or 8 originals in with a covers set.

However at some pubs where we play the landlord refuses to us play originals. Gah. Thing is, he wouldn't know if it was an original or a cover - unless of course he is familiar with all things rock!

[Guitar_Slinger]

Originally Posted by manicguitarist2

I agree with you 100%

The person isn't a promoter if they want you to sell the tickets - they are a gig organiser. A promoter would promote a gig and thus keep the profits from ticket sales etc. They are transferring the risk and effort onto the bands - and it sucks. I hate that kind of gig - cos the only folks that come to watch are usually the fans of one of the bands that happens to be at 6th form - and then the whole college seems to come along - and then go as soon as that band have played.

+1, plus to this and almost everything else.

The last gig I played with my first covers band was at The Standard in Walthamstow, where the singer's girlfriend signed an agreement like the one above but never read it and didn't tell us about it (including 50 tickets she had to sell).

That "promoter" sounds like some useless people I know and they usually make losses on gigs, because they're useless.

[thereformant]

Originally Posted by manicguitarist2

We have about 4hrs worth of material - 1 1/2hrs of our own stuff and 2 1/2hrs of covers. So we can play either kind of gig. We generally stick about 7 or 8 originals in with a covers set.

However at some pubs where we play the landlord refuses to us play originals. Gah. Thing is, he wouldn't know if it was an original or a cover - unless of course he is familiar with all things rock!

Thing is I dont want to play typical cover band type fayre. I doubt its as lucrative covering that there noisy metal music.

[musophilr]

Surely the job of a promoter is to, er promote the gig? Or am I being far too naieve here?

BTW I don't think that absolves a band of any responsibility to publicise itself ...