How Has Your Year Been?

[bumnote]

I play in an old farts covers band and we play Working Mens Clubs etc. We have been together for 15 years and we have got/done 37 gigs this year and we have the best year ever next year with 46 confirmed saturdays.

We dont normally look much for other dates as there is not many around, and when Im working, Im too knackered these days to do fridays.

I also play once a month in a pub with some different musicians playing Shadows tunes although we do that for nothing.

We have found over the last ten years there has been a general drop off in attendance, smoking ban etc, some have closed down, some have duos/discos only, but the well run ones still do OK although I dont know how much longer for.

We have picked up some new venues this year through persistance and hopefully a good reputation. We do almost exclusively our own bookings, rather than agents. I find that way we have a bit more control over whats going on.

[AndyTravis]

Really bloody quiet.

Played a staff do, and a 50th birthday party; neither with my actual band, which is utter D.S.

The band has been recording loads, which is no substitute at all.

20th December 2010 will change that, here's to hoping that 2011 will be busier.

Bestival/Camp Bestival/Greenman and Glastonbury slated in, and Manchester Academy 3, Deaf Institute, Ruby Lounge and RNCM all to be arranged and booked, as well as other gigs around the UK.

[arthurhenry]

Was doing 90 gigs a year 5 years ago, but has become fewer and fewer since. Down to 20-30 per year now. Every musician I know is in the same boat. Is there anyone out there still playing every Fri and Sat?

[icastle]

[quote name='arthurhenry' post='1024102' date='Nov 14 2010, 10:42 PM']Was doing 90 gigs a year 5 years ago, but has become fewer and fewer since. Down to 20-30 per year now. Every musician I know is in the same boat. Is there anyone out there still playing every Fri and Sat?[/quote]

Most Saturdays and about two Fridays per month.

[risingson]

I've done 50 gigs this year dead on, by the end of December that will be 60. All covers which is killing me right now, but from January onwards this will be significantly less cover gigs and considerably more original work as our band have our debut album coming out and we'll be touring the country. It's been a good year, we've been busy recording weekdays and busy playing weekends so actually we've had to turn down a lot of work to compensate for studio time!

Edited November 15, 2010 by risingson

[Delberthot]

about 30 odd between wedding band, rock band and depping with other bands. Still not enough. There have been quite a few quiet spells.

Only about 20 odd last year and about 20 confirmed for next year for the wedding band.

We're going to be doing a lot more promoting next year, updating the website so we don;t look like a country and western band. We've been lucky in that all gigs are either people seeing the website or being at gigs we've done.

The quiet times are the dangerous times for me cos that's when I forget how good my gear sounds and start looking for something else.

Edited November 15, 2010 by Delberthot

[Lozz196]

Been gigging approx twice a month this year. We hit a dry patch in the summer, when it seemed nowhere was booking gigs (we usually get ours booked well in advance) but by the end of autumn, everything back to normal, and already got about 10 for next year sorted.

Think the recession, whilst affecting some venues with the pubs we play at, the lure of music is what makes these pubs their money, so they seem to be happy to spend on bands, just to get the punters in. In a fair few of these pubs, if you go to them on a non-music night, they`re empty.

[bassbloke]

Dire.

Started the year well with a few local gigs with respectable turnout. Then one big gig at the O2 Academy Islington, after which our singer left. Got a new singer, did one reasonably big gig at the Scala, one crap local gig and new singer left and band decided to split up.

The gigs where we got a decent turnout, we really put in the effort to sell advance tickets. That is the only way you can guarantee numbers.

[dbass]

It's not been to bad really. The tribute band is still pulling in the gigs although a few venues have had to lower the price and it's a lot harder getting the good guarantees now.

Still, I'm a band whore and this seems to keep me busy a lot with more rehearsing.

eventually it will come full circle. We've gotta ride out the storm but I think it will start to pick up again when we start crawling out this economic mire.

[LiamPodmore]

My years been pretty good. About 14 gigs so far, 3 more to come and they are steadily getting bigger.

Liam

[Musicman20]

Ive got better as a player, and Ive found 'my' sound I think, but gigs and bands have been rubbish this year. Its actually made me want to quit bands for another year and just practice at home to my iPod.

Current band is fun, and decent lads, but taking FAR too long compared to what im used to. They are also now discussing a cheaper/dirtier practice room which Im not happy about, as Im a snob. It also has a poor PA, no heating whatsoever, and its just plain manky. Im not a student anymore and I cant be bothered with £2ks worth of gear in a s*** room.

Sorry, rant over!

Edited November 15, 2010 by Musicman20

[Low End Bee]

The Jetsonics have racked up 11 so far this year. This is about as many as I want. If we do too many there's no time to write and record so I'm happy with how it's going.
We've performed better at each one too which is good.
We've already got 4 booked for next year with another 3 or 4 to confirm. Almost time to get some (part time) management on board?

[charic]

Same as previous years for me...

No gigs because no band stuck it long enough to go that far. Hopefully next year will be more promising with the current band

[martthebass]

Picked up a bit this year with about 20 by the time I hit year end (only played 6 last year - verrrrry quiet). That's only because I've done more depping and decided to play in 2 bands 'full time' rather than one. Can't see me gettng back to the 40-50 of a few years back anytime soon.

[KevB]

Having not been in a band at all last year I was just doing jam sessions to keep my hand in. Then I got taken on by a promising looking established blues rock covers pub band in April, first gig was in May. They took me on to hopefully push themselves on to a new level as I was a better backing singer than the guy who I was replacing. However it seemed all my suggestions to improve the band and get a more professional mindset in place were either ignored or met with outright resistence. I banged my head against a brick wall over the next months and a dozen gigs or so then a few weeks ago they gave me the opportunity to leave and I jumped at it even though I didn't have a new project in place. I notice from their web site they have cancelled 2 booked gigs since I left. Same old same old...

[crez5150]

just over 60 Weddings this year with the function band.... not sure how many other gigs I've done probably around another 20 or so.... Next year looks ok'ish but 2012 looks to be record year for us at the moment

[JTUK]

Difficult to say as I took myself out of gigs for a while and when you do that, things move on and there are other people who fill your place. A lot of my contacts still don't know I have been back playing for over a year so ...????
I do have a regular band now and I would say I work as much as I did without one..so more band gigs, way less pickups etc etc .
Money is the same or slightly up on 2-3 years ago but veneus have changed and we need to work at getting people along to gigs more so now even though we are a much better band, IMV..
What we do, goes down well, but I think people want more what they know and are less inclined to pitch up at many places for the band alone, if they don't know them.

I would say things are slow..and would have thought it was us as a new band, but am now inclined to think that this is the current climate. Of course, I might be kidding myself and we are indeed crap..!!!

We left Xmas quiet and still have not picked up what we thought...so I will be talking to an agent soon.

[JTUK]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1024479' date='Nov 15 2010, 11:50 AM']Ive got better as a player, and Ive found 'my' sound I think, but gigs and bands have been rubbish this year. Its actually made me want to quit bands for another year and just practice at home to my iPod.

Current band is fun, and decent lads, but taking FAR too long compared to what im used to. They are also now discussing a cheaper/dirtier practice room which Im not happy about, as Im a snob. It also has a poor PA, no heating whatsoever, and its just plain manky. Im not a student anymore and I cant be bothered with £2ks worth of gear in a s*** room.

Sorry, rant over![/quote]


yep...you old git..

seriously tho, what do you save...?
I tend to look at how comfortable the room is and what tea making facilities they have so now way am I putting up with a lot of c*** with no heating..!! that applies to gigs as well...look after us and make us feel welcome or who needs it..??

[Musicman20]

[quote name='JTUK' post='1024620' date='Nov 15 2010, 01:47 PM']yep...you old git..

seriously tho, what do you save...?
I tend to look at how comfortable the room is and what tea making facilities they have so now way am I putting up with a lot of c*** with no heating..!! that applies to gigs as well...look after us and make us feel welcome or who needs it..??[/quote]

Probably looking at £10 saved AT THE MOST each a month if we go to the cheaper room.

Ive tried it for three nights, and hated it. Absolutely hated it. The vocalist doesnt mind because he doesnt have any gear to bring, so turns up and uses the poor PA and mics.

The drum gear is awful!

I will not in any way leave cabs or amps there. I dont really want to take a decent bass (hence looking for a a budget bass is another good idea here) because it is SO cold and damp.

Ive been there and done it, and spending more to be warm and comfy is whats its about.

If anyone in Newcastle (city) area knows a good reliable room with cabs and a half decent PA/2-3 mics, and they need a slot filling, let me know!

Edited November 15, 2010 by Musicman20

[JTUK]

Talking of which...they rent out cabs as extras at some places.
Drums are always extras.
We ship in all our gear as the hire-in gear isn't worth it, IMV, and want a decent PA, basic recording/playback and a decent warm room.
If they have a lounge/tea-room, even better. Between £8-10 ph max

[TheRev]

Been a good year for me. Done 32 gigs so far, including a handfull of weddings and functions through word of mouth & events agencies so it seems that we're building up a decent reputation. my drummer has now committed himself and has recorded our new demo and is using his contacts with previous bands to get into some better venues, so it's looking pretty positive for next year.
On the down side, two of our regular (4 gigs a year with one and a regular monthly slot at another) venues have stopped putting on music as it's not commercially viable. They weren't well paid (£100) but they were nice little local pubs and the money mounted up over the year.
Still, onwards and upwards.

[Musicman20]

[quote name='JTUK' post='1024639' date='Nov 15 2010, 01:57 PM']Talking of which...they rent out cabs as extras at some places.
Drums are always extras.
We ship in all our gear as the hire-in gear isn't worth it, IMV, and want a decent PA, basic recording/playback and a decent warm room.
If they have a lounge/tea-room, even better. Between £8-10 ph max[/quote]

The previous place we went to was about £5.00 (if that) each for 2 hours. Thats with cabs, heating, drums, PA, and nice friendly staff.

I would say thats a bargain!

If we wanted 3-4 hours (a good idea at the weekend) its say £7.00-£10.00 max each....so that a max of £10 a week each....usually we cant do every week so I dont see what the problems is with costs. Ya get what ya pay for

[xilddx]

Been a good year really. play about once a month in the Camden Crawl circuit and a few others with Kit Richardson. Always a good turn out and we have a few followers at almost every gig. I suppose it's because it's a reasonably inexpensive night out for music lovers. No money because we do it for the love and promotion.

Done little with Krupa apart from a couple of bigger venue shows, she's been very busy touring with Transglobal and working on their new album. Playing a big cancer charity event on Saturday though. But Krupa's album is out shortly so I guess we may be gigging more in the new year.

Haven't noticed any real difference, if anything our audiences are getting bigger and bigger. Quite encouraging.

[Bottle]

I think this year has been the best year so far for me (in terms of playing). I'm in a Christian P&W band, and we've steadily increased in size over the last couple of years, as the congregation has grown as well, so I'm playing every other Sunday, plus a few extra events here and there. We've gotten to the point where there's enough people to fill every slot in the band at least twice over, so we've split our rehearsals and practices into two sessions, so that at least everyone gets to play over the course of the day.

Last year was good - we recorded and released our own album here in Cambridge (with a little help from our colonial friends), we put on a couple of events, including the Guildhall, but this year has had a few ups-and-downs.

I went through a phase of not playing for a while, whilst I got back in the saddle playing-wise (had a few self-confidence and personal issues), but have been back playing with the band for the last six months or so, including an outdoor gig in one of the villages over the summer (bit of a blast - took the whole stack with me, got some incredulous looks ), so I would say it's been pretty good, overall. Looking forward to 2011.

Also been getting to know some other local bass players through the funk jam nights, which have been good for my playing ability, as well as making some new friends. One comment I received about my playing was: "Gosh, it sounds like the music for a low-budget porn movie", which is a bit of a back-handed complement, but knowing the person in question, it made me giggle a lot

Ian

[Marvin]

My year?

Well some ups, some downs. Some swings, some roundabouts. No gigs, maybe a band. So so.