Are you in a band/do you gig?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TelePaul
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Interesting thread and very positive responses. I used to play in a duo acoustic group but my playing partner quit on me. But it was fun while it lasted.

I was wondering what all of you play when you gig. Are you all playing cover tunes or are you playing original music?

I've been toying with the idea of getting a band together and playing original music, but I've been told that it's nearly impossible to find a venue that will allow you to play your own music. Do you find it this way?
 
cmhansen said:
I've been toying with the idea of getting a band together and playing original music, but I've been told that it's nearly impossible to find a venue that will allow you to play your own music. Do you find it this way?
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I haven't gigged before, but I've looked around at a few venues, and everywhere I've look has been the opposite. They're afraid of crappy cover bands, as well as legal issues...
 
Don't worry about it-let it just happen, Tele Paul!

I got my first guitar at 15 but didn't start learning seriously till a few years later. Started jamming with friends and one of them wanted to organize a band-so we went through several line ups and at one point I was playing guitar and bass in the band. When I realized that the other guitarist only knew 1 solo-that he attempted to use in every song-so I took over as the only guitar player and had to learn lots of lead stuff really fast!!:eek:

I also would jam a lot with musicians that were quite older than me and played lots of different music styles-I found out I could do well when I was under the gun and never had any problems with performing music to a crowd.

I've been in an acoustic band for about the last 10 years and often also been in a blues or classic rock band as well-I like the way each music satisfies me and lets me approach songs and songwriting in many different ways.:cool:
 
I love playing out with whatever band I'm in. Been playing in bands that do originals since I was 16 or 17...rock, punk, metal, whatever, its all good. I used to play bass in a band that played heavy instrumental stuff, and we tuned down to C. I loved when the sound man would sound-check my amp...vintage Gibson bass into a cranked tube amp through an 8x10 Ampeg cabinet, and when he'd bring it up in the FOH, the room would be shaking. What a feeling.
 
gbdweller said:
Then there is the best part of the night. Everyone has been chased out but the band and employees. Your gear is packed and you are drinking your free beer, wine, water or whatever floats you, while you wind down and watch the employees clean up the aftermath of another succesful gig and you think to yourself, I'm about to get handed a fistful of money for playing music with my friends, and jumping around on stage like a jackass for three hours and you wonder...Does it get any better than this?.....:cool:
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It gets a little better when that cute waitress who has been buying you shots all night gives you her phone number. :D

Fast forward quite a few years and the other day I'm telling my wife (not the waitress) I want to find another guitar player and start doing some acoustic gigs. She said "Cool".

Nice thread...
 
When I was younger (much younger) I practically lived for live gigs. Of course I had a lot more energy back then and not so much white hair. Now I have slowed down and prefer to take things a little easier. Life on the road is hard on the body and mine shows plenty of evidence of wear. Even local gigs are a lot of work, pack up gear, haul it, set it up, play the gig, break it down, haul it back, enough to exhaust an old fart like me. Reguardless of the toll it takes on my body, I still love it. The guys I play with (all in our mid to late 50s) have been playing together for years and we all agree that the occasional gig is about all our bodies can take any more. On the flip side of that, if we had more energy we would definately be out a lot more. When we do get out we all still have a blast, it's still as much fun as it was when I was in my 20s. IMO if you can get gigs, go out and play, even if it's just an occasional local gig. There is something about live performance that is extremely satisfying even when you are too tired to realize it immediately after the gig.
 
Ive been playing about 20 years, gigging out for 15. There are a couple reasons I like to gig:

In the past, we woulda been going out to the bars anyway, and we had a ton of friends, so it was a party every weekend. My 1st band was a crappy cover band who ended up being the house band for about 5 years at this trashy Milwaukee bar when I was about 20-25. We weren't very good, we were ok.. But they didnt care, they made a killing at the bar so they loved us and paid us to death. We paid for a huge PA and all our instruments with the proceeds! And all the free beer we could drink, how could you pass that up! We got a few other gigs here and there, but mostly just played that one place.

Then I met some more serious musicians who were writing original music. Got another band going at the same time with them, yes, I was a band whore :D We started playing real venues and clubs on the east side & downtown, big step up.. The very first show was at a place with THE best sound in town. Huge board, nice fx rack, tons of PA, subs, the whole 9 yards. The first song, our singer started an acoustic intro, and when the whole band kicks in, the sound on that stage was so incredible! I was feeling the kick in my chest, everything sounded so clear and good, I was so suprised I almost stopped playing! I still get goosebumps remembering that. In our old band we only mic'ed vox, so that was a trip.. I felt so pro - We were on stage, playing stuff nobody ever heard, and totally kicking ass doing it! ppl were eating it up - We had bar and club owners booking us everywhere, more loud applause than I ever got before, ppl we didnt know coming up to us telling us how much they liked our set, etc. We didn't get paid shit for a lot of it, but it was a nice rush!
 
cmhansen said:
I
I was wondering what all of you play when you gig. Are you all playing cover tunes or are you playing original music?

I've been toying with the idea of getting a band together and playing original music, but I've been told that it's nearly impossible to find a venue that will allow you to play your own music. Do you find it this way?
Click to expand...

It really depends on the scene where you are, if there is one. Here in Austin, original music is encouraged in the club scene, and the bar is very high. Unless you are a "name", however, there's no money in it.

Cover bands here play a lot of private parties and weddings, and there is money in that, if you can stomach playing YMCA, Play That Funky Music White Boy, and the Chicken Dance at every gig.

I played in a cover band here for many years, which financed the purchase of a lot of toy... er, I mean tools (are you listening, Uncle Sam?). Now I play in an original band for almost nothing, but I get a lot more satisfaction from it.

But IMO the difference between playing out and playing in your home studio is like the difference between making love with someone and masturbating. There's nothing particularly wrong with the latter, but it's much more satisfying when it's a two way communication. Like Woody Allen said in "Sleeper" when Diane Keaton remarked at how good a lover he was, "I practice a lot when I'm alone." ;^)
 
Currently I play in a band at work. We play for the staff and kids at the residential treatment center where I work. So we only play at the most 4 times a year, but we practice just about every week. I'm not the best guitar player even though I've been playing awhile and I do screw up sometimes, but sometimes even my bandmates don't notice. Recently, our drummer, who actually plays out in about 3 other bands, said he thinks we should play out and he could get us some gigs. I'm pretty psyched about that and hope that this spring he can make it happen for us. In my opinion, if I can play, then certainly anyone who has been playing even for just a few years can do it too.
 
Thanks for the replies to my query about original music. I'm a little more optimistic now. I really haven't looked around to much, so not sure how the music scene is here.

Sorry for hijacking the thread Telepaul. Just thought the question was a little relevant to your question. ;)
 
I've been gigging regurarly for the past year.

Oh yes, it's fun as hell, be it a packed house, or some bar with 5 people in it, you adjust to that and rock out!

The in/outloading a full metalband is a drag, and conditions aren't the best at every place, but it's worth it.
 
For most gigging is more about fun than $. Unless u are more successful than most, expect to pay out 2-10 times the amount you earn in any given year for equipment and expenses. Even then it’s a low cost hobby that can’t be beat.

Find friends with similar tastes. If you can’t get along with them, or they got habits you are at odds with, find other folks.

Casual giggers that play once every month or so will really enjoy it. Playing every weekend for those with families will be harder.

Try to use small gear, as it hauls easier. Allow plenty of time for setup so you don’t start already tired and sweaty.

Ed
 
I've been playing in bands for over 40 years and am still active with 3-4 bands gigging 4-10 times a month. I would not be the player I am without the live playing expereinces.
 
Do it. It's a blast. Put on a good show, and playing the music well is just bonus :D
 
For me, gigging is the best thing in the world. Nothing beats the feeling you get mid song when you look out at the crowd and they are enjoying it as much as you are, it makes you enjoy it even more.

I'm currently trying to get a band together and get ready to gig, because I haven't gigged properly in years and I really miss it.

Go do it, you'll love it.
 
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