We all know there's a lot of free and low paying gigs out there. Today's crappy economy doesn't help, but these gigs will continue to be around even after the economy recovers, believe me. The problem is that too many venue owners expect the band to promote their venue and also bring the crowd. Based on my own gigging experience, I think this assumption started around 1978 for original bands, and about 1990 for cover acts.
We must realize that many clubs and restaurants are struggling to make it, just like everyone else. But they don't hire a lousy chef who then cooks lousy food which therefore scares away customers, so why is it ok to hire a lousy band? Plus, the chef is not required to bring a crowd to the venue, even though musicians seem to be required to do so. And yet they are both technically employees of the venue. So is the soundman, bartenders, waitresses, etc. Why aren't they all required to bring in customers just like the band?
The club owner is trying to attract loyal customers that will turn into repeat business. That's why he hires a quality chef, waitresses and bartender. The bands he hires should therefore be of the same good quality for the same reason. The music is actually just another product for the venue to offer, no different than good food and drink.
It is important for the club to market itself well. Should they leave something as important as this up to the band? Club owners need a shot of reality - it is THEIR reputation on the line, not the band's. Remember, the band can just move to another place. If the owner complains that the band didn't bring enough people, his usual reaction is to get another band with a larger following. But the club owner may not understand that the new crowd he sees is following the band, not his venue, so the next night he does the same practice. Result? He is not building REPEAT customers.
If he hires bad bands just because they may have a decent following, any person that might begin to be considered a repeat customer is now turned off to the venue. So the owner is not building a fan base for his club using this method. Band members must convince the owner or manager that it is not in the club's best interest to operate in this fashion.
Since venue owners and managers fancy themselves as good businessmen, bands need to relate to them as businessmen and not as available talent willing to do anything to perform. Decades ago, owners were always older than the musicians playing in their club. These days, many band members are older and wiser than the club management, so it should make convincing them easier, not harder!
Musicians must make it clear that it is impossible to expect that their friends and family are going to come in every night. Does the chef's family and friends eat there every night? Do the bartender's own family and friends come in and drink every night? The bottom line is that musicians must communicate more with venue operators so they both can see how everyone will wind up on the same page with the same goals as opposed to being at odds with one another.
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Martzician Productions / Blog
Rock n' Roll Trivia of the Day!
Rock n' Roll Trivia of the Day!
Question: The Beach Boys were originally called what?
Answer: The Pendletones
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Rock n' Roll Trivia of the Day!
Question: The song, "Born to Be Wild", was a 1968 hit for Steppenwolf. In the lyrics, how do they take the world?
Answer: In a love embrace.
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Rock n' Roll Trivia of the Day!
Question: In the song, "I'm a Believer", sung by The Monkees, what was their philosophy on love?
Answer: It happens only in fairy tales.
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Rock n' Roll Trivia of the Day!
Question: Bill and Hilary Clinton named their daughter Chelsea after which of the following songs? A. Chelsea Dawn B. Chelsea Morning C. Chelsea Sunset Answer: Chelsea Morning by Joni Mitchell
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Rock n' Roll Trivia of the Day!
Question: In the lyrics to, "Good Vibrations" by the Beachboys, what is their girlfriend giving them?
Answer: Exictations
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Trivia question of the day.
The Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show on feb. 9, 1969. On what date was their second appearance?
Answer: Feb. 16th, 1969. One week later!
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Musicians vs Venue Owners
We all know there's a lot of free and low paying gigs out there. Today's crappy economy doesn't help, but these gigs will continue to be around even after the economy recovers, believe me. The problem is that too many venue owners expect the band to promote their venue and also bring the crowd. Based on my own gigging experience, I think this assumption started around 1978 for original bands, and about 1990 for cover acts.
We must realize that many clubs and restaurants are struggling to make it, just like everyone else. But they don't hire a lousy chef who then cooks lousy food which therefore scares away customers, so why is it ok to hire a lousy band? Plus, the chef is not required to bring a crowd to the venue, even though musicians seem to be required to do so. And yet they are both technically employees of the venue. So is the soundman, bartenders, waitresses, etc. Why aren't they all required to bring in customers just like the band?
The club owner is trying to attract loyal customers that will turn into repeat business. That's why he hires a quality chef, waitresses and bartender. The bands he hires should therefore be of the same good quality for the same reason. The music is actually just another product for the venue to offer, no different than good food and drink.
It is important for the club to market itself well. Should they leave something as important as this up to the band? Club owners need a shot of reality - it is THEIR reputation on the line, not the band's. Remember, the band can just move to another place. If the owner complains that the band didn't bring enough people, his usual reaction is to get another band with a larger following. But the club owner may not understand that the new crowd he sees is following the band, not his venue, so the next night he does the same practice. Result? He is not building REPEAT customers.
If he hires bad bands just because they may have a decent following, any person that might begin to be considered a repeat customer is now turned off to the venue. So the owner is not building a fan base for his club using this method. Band members must convince the owner or manager that it is not in the club's best interest to operate in this fashion.
Since venue owners and managers fancy themselves as good businessmen, bands need to relate to them as businessmen and not as available talent willing to do anything to perform. Decades ago, owners were always older than the musicians playing in their club. These days, many band members are older and wiser than the club management, so it should make convincing them easier, not harder!
Musicians must make it clear that it is impossible to expect that their friends and family are going to come in every night. Does the chef's family and friends eat there every night? Do the bartender's own family and friends come in and drink every night? The bottom line is that musicians must communicate more with venue operators so they both can see how everyone will wind up on the same page with the same goals as opposed to being at odds with one another.
Reply
Rock of Ages vs Aged Rockers
Originally posted on Echoes
by Scott James of the Independent Rockstar Blog
Most musicians I know hold a dream to someday ‘make it’ in the music business. To play in front of huge crowds and live a lifestyle that they can only imagine. Many of us believe that we’ll someday get there. Unfortunately most of us find ourselves growing older with an ever increasing fear that we’re missing the boat.
We’re conditioned to believe that if we’re going to make it then we have to do it at a young age. I had already started to have this feeling when I was in my early 20′s. I felt like I was slacking because I hadn’t ‘made it’ yet.
So how old is too old? Well, I think what we need to look at is the fundamental equation the whole business boils down to. It’s a value exchange between the audience and the artist. The audience pays money for the value they get from the artist. So ask yourself: how old would a performer have to be before you stopped receiving value from them? Would you not pay for a great artist who was 65 years old? I would. One of the best performances I’ve ever seen was a rock and roll band of men who were all in their 80′s! So if people are willing to pay for good music then what’s standing in your way?
I saw an artist last night who didn’t mention her name once. There were no visual cues to let me know who she was. She never mentioned anything about CDs or merch for sale. No website. No mailing list. Nothing. When the show was over, she walked off the stage and into the dressing room.
It’s easy to look at her and see what she did wrong. What’s more difficult to see is that to one degree or another, most of us are making similar mistakes. A lot of musicians fall into the trap of thinking that either they’re going to be ‘discovered’ or nothing is going to happen at all, so there’s no real need or urgency to actually do the right things to grow an audience and a career.
So I urge you, instead of having your head in the imaginary future all the time, to take an honest look at where you are now. You have positive things going for you right now. It’s time you capitalize on those things and make the most of what you’ve got in front of you. Success is created in the present, not the future. You may never get to play Wembley Stadium or sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, but you can absolutely have more and more fans coming to your shows. You can have a room full of people screaming your name. It may not be a 60,000 seat venue, but believe me, it will feel good.
What you need to do is let go of the belief that someday someone is going to make it easy for you and instead take 100% responsibility for your career. Have CDs and merch for sale and take responsibility for learning how to sell them. Have a mailing list and learn how to get people on it and how to use it. Take responsibility for letting people know who you are and how they can stay connected to you. Good things will happen in the real world when you step up to the plate, and believe me it will feel even better than when they happen in your imagination, no matter how old you are.
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All True.
New Songs Posted!
OK fans. We have our newest covers posted and ready for your approval. Only a click away.
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Coming Soon!
We just wrapped on a five hour recording session and the mixing should be done by next weekend. New tunes will be posted that will be much higher quality than what we are currently using. A new fan exclusive will be included so make sure to download, "Wild Night", while it's still available.
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