NWB - Community Blog

02 Jul 2011

What would you do if....

Filed Under : Music , Other

Posted By : Hero Syndrome | Comments : 6

Poor turnout at venue

Hi all,

Just want some opinions on our current situation.

We have been played a venue a few times now, not local, and the turnout has been pretty poor. However, they pay pretty good expenses. The guy who does the bookings obviously likes us as he keeps re-booking us.

The band is divided as to whether we should play this venue again.

What would you do?

Hero Syndrome

Comments

# Posted by Smiler, Route66 - 02/07/2011, 17:40 (GMT)

one thing is you are getting the money, but it's a bit depressing playing to no one isn't it... depends on how much it costs you to get there, as it's not local, plus time etc, then again, we are used to playing to no one LOL...bill

# Posted by The Dawg - 02/07/2011, 17:52 (GMT)

Use it as a sort of paid rehearsal but remember that even if there are only 2 people listening you should play like you mean it.

It's part of the learning process.

# Posted by The Wes Paul Band - 02/07/2011, 18:37 (GMT)

We played at a Conservative Club once a week on a Friday for about a year and a half, and the most people we ever got was about 10. Most weeks there were around 3 or 4 people, some weeks it was just the landlady and her husband and no matter what we did to try and promote the night, no one ever came! In the end the place closed down (perhaps not surprisingly), but we used our time playing there as a live rehearsal. We didn't like stop and start numbers or anything, but we often tried out new material that we'd be nervous to try to a packed audience in case it all went pear shaped. It gave us a lot of confidence and helped us in the early days, and it's good to get used to playing to no one too, it's character building!!

If you're getting your expenses paid then I wouldn't worry about it too much, but obviously if you're all depressed and despondant about playing there then that's not much good either - stop as soon as you're not enjoying it any more.

# Posted by Drum Bloke™ - that bloke that... - 02/07/2011, 20:56 (GMT)

Paid rehearsal it's not... i think that's a poor reason.

You don't stop and start a song or start practicing one you have not played before when playing a gig.

But if your getting money for your time then cannot be all that bad.

Though:
I used to do a gig to about 5 (inluding 2 barmaids) at a pub. We got paid enough to by a pint and cover about half the cost of fuel.

It was a mis-match though musically and the locals that were there seriously could not be arsed to watch /listen, they would rather sit outside and have a fag. Did it twice - it was disheartening to spend all that time rehearsing and then no actual return on the investment even with exspense.

I reckon you discuss as to why your ACTUALLY playing gigs.

# Posted by Hero Syndrome - 03/07/2011, 00:53 (GMT)

Some very interesting points guys.

As an original band (and feel free to check out our stuff) we would like to prioritize building our fanbase, so being paid only softens the blow really.

# Posted by The Villains - 03/07/2011, 10:05 (GMT)

As an original band it's very tough building a fan base. The best way I've seen is to network with originals bands across the NW and get support spots for their home gigs (and vice versa). That way you are playing to a good crowd. You've got to network with the crowd as well as the bands to build up fans and keep going back. This is an ongoing process but once you've set up a network of bands that compliment each other then you can start to build momentum and put on your own nights bringing the fan base from each band together in one venue. We did this in 94 and sold out the Academy 3 way before any unsigned bands thought about playing there. We sold at £7 a ticket and got it in the evening news. We built our audience up from 300 to 900/1000 ish in about a year and that was before Facebook, Myspace etc.

Biggest mistake an unsigned band can make is thinking the music industry is like it used to be. There's no stretch limo full of girls and drugs that will screech up with Mr Big ready to sign you to a 5 album deal and an immediate tour of the states. Nowadays you've got to work twice as hard to build up contacts etc.

Soooooo, coming right back around to the point! Don't play empty venues, rehearsal time is for ironing out mistakes, working on those niggles in your songs and putting together an interesting live show. You can't do that in front of other people. Don't expect money as an unsigned band and then anything you do get is a bonus.

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