Suggestions for band

Larry Beck · From: Pierre, SD

There is a group of us who are forming a new band of weekend warriors. I'm looking for suggestions about how to put together a show that will "sell" to partons and venues.

Any suggestions on booking, material, organization, practice or whatever would be appreciated. I was in one band for 20 years and another for 1 1/2 years so my exprience is wide, but not deep.
Any tips would be appreciated.

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Larry,
I don't know if this is a good way to do it but what I do is get the gig first.
I BS my way into some club and then once I have some dates I call up whatever musicians I feel like playing with. I get better players that way and don't waste everybody's time with rehearsals.

Bob

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

This is funny, because outside of Nashville I have NEVER in thirty years heard an exceptional band that didn't rehearse. I believe the reason my band is booked nearly a year in advance is we not only rehearse, but have a dress and behavior code, thirty thousand in collective equipment (and climbing!), and sound and light man. There is a world class Tele player around where I live that routinely puts throw together bands together with competent musicians that wind up being altogether boring performances from an entertainment stand point. It winds up sounding like a jam. I won't get involved with anyone who won't rehearse or whose outlook is short term.

[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 25 August 2002 at 09:55 AM.]

Tony Orth · From: Evansville, Indiana, USA

Our band leader met Jim Nabors on a vacation once. Jim gave him some advice that has really worked out for us over the years.

Always involve your audience in your performances......continually. Get to know them. Make (positive or fun) references to individuals as much as possible during the show. Make them a part of your band. The whole evening is an experience where the audience and the band feel connected.

This means that someone has to mingle a bit prior to the show, and during breaks. Our leader is a natural at that, and everybody just loves him. We are blessed.

Best of luck on your new band. Remember that it takes a while to establish your bands "personality".

Tony Orth

Glenn Austin · From: Montreal, Canada

Even if you are putting a country act together, it's important to include some good rock and roll numbers, like Pretty Woman, Stand By Me, Lets Twist Again etc. CCR is always a big hit too. In my band, we try to include a bit of everything, with a few classic Buck Owens, Merle Haggard tunes all the way to the new country Lonestar tunes like Amazed. You have to diversify. It's also real rare that a crowd will come out just to see a band play, They want to dance and be entertained, and couldn't care less that you play steel guitar. I would go with a permanent lineup, take a couple of months to work up a show, and then try to book events and weddings and things that pay well. Your band will thank you for that! Often,These types of gigs tend to score you referrals, and repeat business as well. Reputation goes a long way . Forget the bar scene, it's only good if you sell dope for a living. At least the in the places I've been

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Kevin,
I understand what your are talking about. There are just some absolutely unbelievable musicians in NYC that don't have the time for unpaid rehearsals. They show up and play much tighter, more musical, just basicly better than the guys that will rehearse. If you can get them up on stage your band will sound MUCH better.

Also I did a slew of gigs through Texas and picked up some east coast road work with some Texas guys and nobody ever rehearsed. It was by far the best country music I have ever played. The deal there seemed to be :
If you can play, get on with it. If not, it was nice knowing ya.

If interesting how if a band wears outfits and has routines it can be the coolest thing in one area while in another area they can look like nerds.

Like those guys from Nashville that wore the Mexican wrestler costumes on stage. It blows the audience away at the clubs in the city but down at the VFW it might have a different affect.

Larry,
If you trying to put together a show that you want to be able to sell in your area my advice is not so good.

Bob

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

Larry Beck · From: Pierre, SD

For most of you, there's more people on your block than there is in my whole d@m town. In other words the talent pool here is neither deep nor wide.
Bob, I wish I had the luxury of having that kind of musicianship around. BTW: were you talking about Los StraightJackets? Dressing up like mexican WWF stars and playing surf music appeals to me.

The most sucessful local groups I've gigged with in this area tend to be better entertainers than musicians.
If you're going to steel ideas, steel from the experts. Thanks gentlemen.

Steve Stallings · From: Houston/Cypress, Texas

We have an actual rehearsal possibly once or twice a year. We add new material all the time though. Since we all live about 150 miles from each other, the band leader makes a tape or CD of any new material and mails it to us. We go over it at our soundcheck, primarily to nail the harmonies.

We are busy and must be doing something right as we are making 2-3 times as much per gig as what I see folks posting here when the topic of pay comes up.

We don't wear outfits. We dress casually, dependent on the job. It is pretty hot here at present and we are in the midst of our County Fair/Streetdance season. On outside jobs, I wear shorts, tennis shoes, and a T-shirt. On inside jobs we generally go the starched wrangler/shirt and hat routine.

A set list is important as is audience banter. Some folks may discount it, but lighting is a very important component of a show. We use extensive lighting with truss fixtures both front and rear. There is a reason touring acts use lights.... it gives your show a sense of mood/drama. It also looks cool

A sound system is crucial. Do you want the sound of a polished touring act? We use a Soundcraft 40x8 FOH board and a separate 32x12 Monitor board. Everything is miked. Everyone has separate monitor mixes. This is being pushed by four large racks of QSC power amps into 8 JBL traps and 8 JBL 2x18 subs. Is it loud? Well, it could be, but it's not. It is smooth and has that "thump" you can feel.

Smoking.... None of us smoke. This may sound funny, but this is really a nice thing in a band.

Choice of material..... Well, if I could choose, we'd do mostly shuffles and feature the steel

This is not what the audience wants however, so we tailor the material to the venue. We can play virtually any of the older classic country and throw these in per request. We do a few polkas, waltzes, and novelty tunes.... again depending on the crowd. Older classic rock seems to go over well virtually anywhere we play. We almost always play "Old Time Rock and Roll" and a few others like that.

Playing in a band is something I enjoy. If it stops being fun, I'm outta there. We are all friends and that makes a difference as well. It is more of a family type feeling than anything else. Like all families, we occasionally have disagreements.... these pass.

I hope you have a ton of fun!

------------------
Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas
Emmmons/Mullen/Remington
Evans

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Always wear clean underwear

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

As far a appearance goes, tailor it to your crowd. Kids don't like suits and uniforms, and older folks don't like "urban sloppy". Dressing like a band member is often dressing unlike the audience...shocking the kids, or impressing the older folks. When all else fails, use common sense.

But I think the most important thing is to love what you're doing! If it's just "a job" to you, the audience senses it, and the lack of enthusiasm you have rubs off on them. Do it as though you really care about the music, and not as though you just "need the money". Playing music that you care about (no matter what style it is) will sooner or later attract an audience that cares about it too. No group illustrates this better than Riders In The Sky.

Don't try to do everything. I've seen plenty bands that claim..."We can do anything!" Well, they do. Problem is...they do few of them really well. If you really want to do classic country, then do mostly just that. Sure, you can throw in one or two non-country songs each set, but never forget who you are, and what you enjoy. Same goes if you do rock, jazz, or any other style. There's nothing worse than the dilemma of having someone want to hire you to do the style you hate most! You're really torn between "I need the money" and "I hate that shit!" That dichotomy can be a big problem, and it has ruined many bands' chances for success.

Finally, make sure you can all get along, and that your individual and collective goals are mapped out in the beginning. Make it clear at the onset that no one is irreplacable! You're either a band---or you're not...you gotta work together. The best musicians are poor entertainment when there's animosity between them. And that's what you are first...entertainers. If all people wanted was "the music", they'd stay home and listen to their CDs. Those "small disagreements", be they on the stage...or out in the parking lot, only hurt you and your reputation. If you want to be treated as a professional musician, you oughta act like one.

That's my 2cents, anyway.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 01 September 2002 at 12:18 PM.]

Bob Hayes · From: Church Hill,Tenn,USA

I am not going to be a moral policeman...or preach from a stump. However...I have WASTED a lot of time ,energy,years.money ,freinds,and self respect...with many bands or in the music business and have missed that Golden Key from three things (numerous times)..Drugs,alcohol,and woman!!! These may seem like they belong with or in the "Band" lifestyle...but it only last so long. Playing music Should be fun and enjoyable. It shouldn't be a task,or a party. But you should be able to do it the best that you can!
GV

Ken Lang · From: Simi Valley, Ca

I'd add my vote for the well rehearsed band. In fact, so diligent that everybody knows measure by measure where the road map goes.

That kind of band can be boring to the players, but the audience picks up right away that this is a solid front of music coming at them and they respond accordingly. A group of average musicians can sound way above their individual talents collectively.

I've done the hand shakes on the stage many times, meeting the players for the night who don't know each other and it makes for a fun, challanging gig, maybe even more fun than a rehearsed band, but it's still a cluster F and the audience can sense it.

Given the limited time available for us weekend warriors, I guess we have to strike a reasonable balance between the two.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Ken, most bar players just don't get it! They just want to show up in sneakers and blue jeans and JAM for fifty bucks. It amazes
me. Our band is booked almost a year in advance right now. Our prices are going up and our venues are getting bigger. Its all because of organization and rehearsal. No mysteries on stage. You can take the best guitar player or drummer in the world but if he doesn't know the arrangement to a particular song it just comes off as you say, a cluster F@#$%! If you just want to play didies like Ida Red and Working Man's Blues all night thats a different story, but todays country music is very arranged and produced. You're not going to pull off "Amazed" without rehearsing it. I don't care who you are. Pulling it off even with a five piece band to do it justice is near impossible.
We carry 15 thousand dollars in P.A. and 4 thousand in lights plus a sound/light man. It takes a solid hour to set up and get the monitors right, but when its done people freak at the quality. Rehearsals every two weeks. We get as much work as we want and the phone rings off the hook. I know this sounds like I'm bragging but its just professionalism. I am not a great steel player. It just sounds good because my parts in the arrangement are very rehearsed and performed clean. Same with everyone else in the band. We don't allow fill-ins either.

[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 02 September 2002 at 06:45 PM.]

[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 02 September 2002 at 06:46 PM.]

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