Why Bands Dont Make it?

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d_squad54

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I dont know if I should post this here but I thought it would be cool if we could start a list of reasons why bands/musicians dont make it. (to a point where they can afford to do music for a living) I wanted to make this post so bands can get an idea of what they might need to be doing in order to improve/expand/ect....if this is a bad idea, my fault, peace.

1. Lack of dedication.
 
4. Bad or no marketing.

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I posted this blurb on another forum some time back... Since we are on this subject here, I'll post it here as well...


I've played music for quite a few years... I've been in bluegrass, gospel and country bands... My friends and family were always asking, "When are you gonna make it...?". I always tried to explain it to them in a way they could understand by saying:
If the "Music Business" was a yard stick, 3 inches of it would be the music... The other 33 inches is the business...
Bottom line is, these days you have to be able to play to a certain level... BUT you also have to be marketable. You must have a product, a complete package: stage show..etc. that can be sold before a record company to take you on, or even a booking agent for that matter. I've watched the audience, say, at an instrument competition. All super pickers coming across the stage... After about 4 songs, the crowd are not interested anymore... They're turned around in their seats talking to one another. Audiences want entertainment.

If you think back over the years in all genres of music and focus on the 'ones that made it' and the 'ones that didn't', the reason will be obvious. Take Randy Travis for instance. I particularly don't care for his voice, but when they play him on the radio, I know who it is, just by the sound. In this day and time, most everybody sounds the same or they are attempting to imitate another successful performer.
In country music most of the 'cover bands' out there are trying to be another Garth Brooks... In the bluegrass realm, from what I've observed, a lot of groups try to imitate Doyle Lawson, IIIrd Tyme Out..etc.

If you are looking to take your music somewhere, my advise is: BE YOURSELF. Originality is key. That don't mean you have to have all original tunes, just have an original way of doing them, and a stage show to support them. Try to do something no one else is doing. Take this for instance: If a DJ has 2 CD's on his desk one of a popular group and one that he's never heard of, who do you think will get the airplay...? Regardless of content, the more popular group will get more airtime.
If you send a press pack to a promotor, make it so interesting that he won't just toss it in the trash... Most blugrass publicity photos I see, look like a family portrait... Make it interesting, different...

Like I said, I've played for years... but over the past 2 years, I've worked really hard on the concepts I've stated here... Being original and most of all entertaining.

Last year my band was signed to a 'national' recording contract with national distribution in retail shops like Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Tower Records, Best-Buy, Curcuit City..etc.

Bottom line is, take your music where you want it to go. If you only want it to be a hobby treat it that way... If you want it to be a business, treat it that way. Like I said before: If the "Music Business" was a yard stick, 3 inches of it would be the music... The other 33 inches is the business...


Must my .02 worth...
 
They give up
They don't believe in themselves
Too much talking it, not enuff walking it
 
Murdock is right on the money. Giving up is the #1 reason.

Assuming you're open to change and working to improve, you'll eventually get where you want to go...if you don't give up.
 
It's not just music; a lot of businesses (of ALL types) don't make it.

Many for all the same reasons listed above.
 
the number one reason is business. i mean, time and time again everyone in all walks of life hear a plethora of songs on the radio that can usually be hands down all agreed--song X is wack, horrible, terrible etc.

the wackest songs get played on millions of radio stations on EVERY dj's play list -- WHY?

THERE CAN BE BUT ONE REASON - BUSINESS SAVVY!!! WHETHER YOU HAVE IT, FIND IT, OR PAY FOR IT - BUSINESS ACUMEN WINS OUT OVER LUCK, GOD'S GRACE, ETC. EVERY TIME!!!
U EITHER HAVE THE PLAN THAT WORKS, AND WORK THAT PLAN OR U ARE LOST!!!
 
Reliance on unreliable people - I'm in a band right now, and I can almost guarantee that I will have to start over with a new band almost immediately after college because most of these guys aren't dedicated. When you get a band together, make sure everyone has the same intentions and work ethic. If only one guy cares about the band as a potential business, he's going to be sorely disappointed.
 
Band gets signed, the band records a CD with a big time producer, the CD gets mixed by a big time engineer, the market changes, the label never releases their CD, they get dropped, and turn into dirty laundry that other labels won't touch.
 
VomitHatSteve said:
If only one guy cares about the band as a potential business, he's going to be sorely disappointed.
Click to expand...

--HOLLA-PHUCKIN--LEWE-YA!!!! DAMMICH!!! :mad: :eek: :o :confused: :( :p ;) :D :cool: :rolleyes: :) :mad:
 
I think the ultimate reason honestly, is just their music isn't that good. I've been involved in online music mags doing reviews of various acts for over 3 years, and honestly, out of the 1000's I have heard, I can remember 3. One has since been featured in an Ozzfest type reality show on VH1...they came in 3rd. They are still active and are playing with some names now in their local town. The 2nd broke up "due to creative differences" after having some of their music featured on a few TV shows on the WB...and the 3rd just never got out of the local bar scene.

The great, great bulk of music out there is not fit for human consumption. Look at all the tone deaf folks that try out for American Idol...all of them believe they are great...and claim they will never give up...its fine to never give up as long as you're doing something to improve.

I've been guilty of the same thing. 3 years ago my band was actually talking to 604 Records out of Vancouver...I realized much too late that what we thought was great, the majority of the rest of the world thought was just another rock band with a bad demo. That is why I have switched my interests toward writing, recording, and producing...instead of playing a blazing solo no one will ever hear. Life moves on. I find myself in my home studio happily recording some original stuff with friends now, spending time with my wife and daughter, and going to work in the real world. Life is much more enjoyable, music is much more enjoyable now, without that pressure of 'making it big'.

Just my longwinded 2 cents,
6
 
I don't mean to hijack a thread, but which do you think is more likely to make it, a solo act or a whole band? or do you think maybe a middle ground has the greater chance, say a duo.
 
I think it would depend on the genre of music. Rob Thomas would not have made it without matchbox 20...but now he's out there on his own. G-unit would not have made it as a band, but thanks to Fiddy, the have.

Who knows,
6
 
3 reasons.

1. They don't have enough creativity.

2. Their music is not good

3. Lack of dedication.
 
In today's market, they aren't all that attractive, the music is irrelevent.
 
They have nothing that people automatically grab onto. I don't care what it is, but for any band to be sucessful, there has to be something about them that will almost immediately appeal to a mass quantity of people. You'll know it when it happens. I think you can sit around all day and name specifics, but it's really about some sort of collective talent to generate immediate excitement of some kind. Lyrics, songs, hair, pyro, whatever. It just has to work somehow. I'm constantly amazed at the staggering amount of local types who play for years, can only draw their friends, and still don't recognize that they might be missing something. I think bands in general put way too much stock in promotion, which is completely meaningless if no one is jazzed by your actual band. People would waste a lot less time if they would know when it's pointless to be so persistant. Accept the fact that whatever you're doing might not be working, and try something differently perhaps. Knowing when to give up is actually a talent unto itself. I'm just not feelin' that never give up stuff. It tends to make people not take a critical look at what they might be doing wrong.

This all of course, pre-supposes that you're trying to "make it". If you do it for yourself and your friends out of the pure enjoyment of doing it and nothing more, then all of this is irrelevant, and you can do whatever the hell you want to do.
 
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Yeah but, have YOU made "it" yet?
Don't worry. "making it" in any business is an entirely subjective consideration. Some visably "successful" artists don't even think they've "made it". Conversely, some superbly gifted and talented artists are making "it" every day without any broad recognition what-ever.

Then, you get the monitary issue. At what point (amount of money) in your personal bank account is the determining factor that says you've made it?

With out being too philosophical about this, it seems this question should be answered in one or two statements. The measure of success can be financial, personal, both or either. This in no way should be considered a "cop-out" because "Making it" or your "success" does not happen by chance. It is a result of having firm goals and sticking with them until they are achieved.

However! That stated, these "goals" must be atainable. Meaning, a series of small targets need to be executed. Success and failure can only be measured by setting goals and targets. Too many musicians fear failure. You need to take risks and make mistakes toward the achievment of your goals for ultimate success. (Making it)

Remove the safety net. "Making it" means taking the leap. Crashing, getting back up again, taking another leap, crashing, getting up again and again until the fear of crashing dissapears. Eventually you find yourself making artistic contributions you never imagined you could. Then, you begin helping others. Then, you've "Made it".

NEVER! make money and recognition goals to achieve but instead, the ability to make a contribution and to help others. ;)
 
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BMWerks said:
The measure of success can be financial, personal, both or either. This in no way should be considered a "cop-out" because "Making it" or your "success" does not happen by chance. It is a result of having firm goals and sticking with them until they are achieved. However! That stated, these "goals" must be atainable.
NEVER! make money and recognition goals to achieve but instead, the ability to make a contibution and to help others. ;)
Click to expand...

succes = earning the same amount of money off of my music that i earn in my salary paying job -- such would quench it for me!!!! then i'd give up my day job and jus do music
 
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