NWB - Community Blog

Been playing with Whatever for 7 years and we used to play a couple of locals where a small following and friends would turn up.
We dont rehearse every week so we cant/didnt learn new tunes all the time so this got a bit stale.
We gig around for more of a variety and get the buzz if we can entertain a buch of strangers.
You know next time you go there they might remember you or not.

The best way to get a following in my opinion is a free supply of beer and women.
I will follow you where ever you go then :0)

I reckon exposure in the area you are 'targeting' is great. But by exposure I dont mean playing there too often because, unless you change your sets regularly, you have the danger of becoming 'stale' or 'boring' even.
We tend to make sure we have loads of 'interaction' with our fans, both at gigs where we will always 'mingle' for a while before packing up and through our website, Facebook, Myspace etc etc type pages. Involve your fans in the day to day business of your band...ask them for suggestions on tunes to play etc....build up a rapore (spell check!) with them etc.
Also never miss an oportunity to promote yourselves...always carry fliers, cards etc and give em away to everybody you meet/see/bump into on the street.

interesting subject steve, i think that you have to keep to your area to establish a following, we are close to many venues without dissapearing to places that make it hard for our friends and family plus the genuine regular followers of the band, that is a bonus when you are trying to get your name and reputation going, i dont know how many venues you have in colne before you repeat the circuit in no time at all, but you could pick and area with lots of venues, stick a pin in the map and say right we work a ten mile radius of it to concentrate on that specific area, word will soon spread if you are on the ball and entertaining. good luck with it.
pete

i make sure each gig is advertised on myspace bulletins and blogs, set up a facebook group,i have always made flyers to put on tables around the pub, and having a break at the end before packing up always is good to have a chat and as soon as someone comes up the end saying they really enjoyed it, i always make a point of asking whether they live around there and tell them when the next local gigs are etc etc

word of mouth is a strong tool indeed and helps too, if people like you, thats something that cant be faked or planned but all the above stuff i find helps well, be proud of what you do and it will always come across and rub off on people. :-)

Makes me laugh when people come up loving it and want a card.
Does anyone really hear back off these people?

yeah the ol' "he wants to book us for a 40th", and never hear from em again ha ha

lol...yep there's a lot of that....but if you actually only get the odd 'hit' now and then it's worth it imo.
We have just had a booking for a birthday party...after chatting to the guy at a G2R gig lol.

Top tips for getting/keeping a following

1/ Play what people want and play it properly.
2/ Play same venue no more than three times per year.
3/ Be polite and respectful to crowd.
4/ Harvey Goldsmith once said " The entertainment business is easy. Just find out what people want and give it to them"
5/ Look like you are loving it on stage even when you dying inside.

Best wishes

John

LGIT. wont like number 4 lol.

That's what it should have said.

we're doing 2 50th's and a 40th this year, along with 2 charity doo's. Massive majority of our gigs are within 10 miles of us and we have quite a good following now. It's taken a couple of years and we've made some really good friends in the process, we do the classic rock stuff that most other bands don't do so perhaps that is the secret.

OI Whatever.....I heard that....pardon.....
as to number 4.....I don't believe everyone likes the same thing, wouldn't life be boring if we were all the same, you know.....sheeple.
My humble advice is this.....LGIT are more of a 'specialist' band, a tribute to an era.
Play to your bands strengths, don't compromise and find venues (and audiences) that suit your style. You can't be popular with everyone so don't try to be. If you're good at your style word will get around and people will come to see you.
And advertise like mad, send posters to venues, network your pc, contact local media.....tell people.....make friends.....
We played in Wakefield the other week and had 'fans' travel from Leeds, Barnsley, Bradford and other areas just to see us cos they like what we do.....I believe that Yorkshire is a much better area for the old punk, better than the NW anyway in general. There are more propper music venue/bars that have stages and in-house PA and lighting etc....I know there are a few in the NW, but not as many.
The 'band in the corner' pubs aren't for the likes of LGIT.....

Where abouts in Wakefield matey?

Looking for some descent Yorkshire venues

Best wishes

John

I agree with Harvey to a greater extent Gary to be honest. You guys play classic punk rock very well and you are clearly giving the fans what they want which is why you are so popular. Wasn't meant to say " let's all play the same thing"
It's all about horses for courses for me. If you are a good band people will like what you do and follow you.
Best wishes
John

John FV
We played a shithole called The Jockey.....good Punk venue.
If you are looking for gigs in Yorkshire suggest you try www.rockthenorth.co.uk similar to NWB but for Yorkshire.....
Masive catchment area and some top venues on the 'tribute' circuit.
good luck and if I can help you further PM me.....

id say dont play in the same places, if you're playing in a town, play somwhere else and spread around but dont play too often.

do gigs all over the place and eventually people will twig on. i dont know any of my mates that have heard of you lot in burnley, it takes time, a long time! same for us in colne as we've never played, although we will do soon.

plus you want to start playing music venues, in front of people who want live music. we headlined an indie night in koko's burnley the other friday night, with over 200 people there all into indie rock. and no, they didnt all come for us...!

you wont pick up fans in pubs when the people watching you dont often leave their local to see a band in another venue. saying that though, im gonna break my fix cherry and come and see you boys in burnley sometime soon. i'll say hello!

Put on events we do three a year with a mixture of kids, nearly readys and us supporting, we tend to pinch a few fans in exchange for letting em go through a big rig and pro gear. As for pub gigs its pot luck innit, all you need is a travelling gig corresponding with united versus arsenal and you lose a few car loads. Keep pegging away and see what happens.