How Has Your Year Been?

[farmer61]

No bad in terms of quantity, in fact my best year (mind you new band), prob in excess of 45 gigs.

Some venues are really struggling, and we're finding we're having to play later, quite often starting at 10pm.

But we've got 30 odd sorted for 2011, so with rpivate work we'll be there or there abouts. Got two big ourdoor ones lined up so can't complain, however we are expecting some cancellations if trade doesn't pick up.

Over all I'd say a 7 out of 10 year!!

[jezzaboy]

We only play localish pubs and have done about 20 this year. We could have done more if the singer`s wife allowed him to out more!! We must have knocked back around another 10 and a couple of functions. Our last gig is on 11th of December as the singer has a couple of night`s out to go too. Yes I am slightly pissed off.

Most of the gigs have been busy except for a couple in the last week of the month before pay day.

As for next year, we have 26 lined up the now. Dinky doo!!

Jez

[WonderHorse]

I joined the current band in February/March I think and gig-wise it's been the best yet.

We've done five or six I think. Which doesn't sound many, but considering when I joined the guitarist was also new and the singer became a Dad in the summer I don't think we've done too bad.

[wombatboter]

Just a message from over the canal..
Depends on what you consider as "playing a lot"..
I have a friend and he has around 15 gigs at least every month (probably more) but for a lot of people that's a lot (he plays everything : from kids shows to crooners, not always at his liking but he has a family to support)
The last twenty years I've had nothing to complain about : I combined it with my steady job as a receptionist and I had around 70 gigs a year.
Since two years it has gone downhill... maybe a bit because I'm a bit of a freelancer and I don't promote myself a lot.
I'll never ask for a gig, people have to ask me...
This year has been the worst with hardly twenty gigs so far..
I hear musicians complaining around here everywhere : the crisis, dj's who take over, a lot of musicians are teaching again and the prices for bands gave gone down..I've heard of bands playing huge festivals for around 200 euros (for the whole band).. If you refuse, they take someone else who accepts the price..
The musical scene has changed a lot, I've experienced the really great years of clubs and bars where you could play and have a great time.
I have the impression that it used to be reason for the public to go to a pub because there was a band playing and that nowadays they stay away because there is a band playing.. A lot more DJ's like I said : saves pub owners soundchecks and drumkits and loud amps.

[Bilbo]

Poor - 120 in 2008, 50 in 2009, 40 in 2010

Better quality gigs, though so not all bad news!!

[Pete Academy]

The common denominator seems to be a lack of venues, as many are closing. I used to play in a covers band in the 80s and we used to do 3 or 4 gigs a week in Stoke-on-Trent alone. We had at least 15 local regular venues, plus private gigs. That is now down to one venue. Scary stuff.

[Mog]

I think that people are less inclined to go to a music venue nowadays. The superpub is slowly taking over. Maybe 3-4 floors with a bar on each and a dj/jukebox for different tastes on each floor too. Hard to compete with something like that. The average punter is definately not going to pay X ammount into a venue if they haven't heard the band(s) before.

[BigRedX]

I think it depends on what kind of music you play and what sort of performance you put on.

Dick Venom And The Terrortones have managed to get a lot of gigs very quickly by:
1) Fitting into a niche genre with a ready-made audience. We picked up several gigs simply because of our MySpace page.
2) Our singer spent the last two years getting to know the local venues and promoters in his previous band and now all that hard work is paying off.
3) By being entertaining and professional with it. Without being too immodest we're bloody good at what we do and we want to put on a performance that people will talk about rather than simply standing on stage playing our instruments to each other like so many bands do.

There's plenty of gigs out there for those prepared to put the work in - musically, visually and socially.

[Mog]

To a point BRX. There still needs to be specialist venues in many cases. I mean, a sepultura tribute band for instance may be as good as the real thing and have a following but how many clubs/pubs will give them a slot?
You're absolutely right about being professional and putting on a show etc but again its a case of where and when its possible.
Assuming people are not putting the work in because there is not may shows coming up is a bit off. Many have been around the block and built a reputation only to suffer the same result.

[cetera]

It's been a great year for us. Attendances up, 'money' up and support from fans/venues/Promoters is better than ever

Being polite, friendly and proactive with the above has kept our great reputation intact and enabled us to reach a larger audience.

The excellent recent KISS tour helped as well... and better targeting of advertising through social networks, mailing list etc etc has also paid dividends.

[dave_bass5]

Busiest year in our 7 year history. Lots of social clubs but the weddings were also up a lot on last year.

Already got 20 gigs booked for next year.

[Adrenochrome]

We've had a very steady year playing just as many gigs as we'd like. To be honest though the phone hasn't been ringing as often as previous years and we have had to go out and get a few gigs which we haven't had to do in previous years.

Next year is looking okay. We want about 50 gigs and have 17 booked so far which is about right.

Jon

Edited November 16, 2010 by Adrenochrome

[Jamesemt]

14 Gigs played this year although a few have been cancelled (pubs closing down or landlords leaving). Could probably have done another 10 on top of that if the keyboard player had been available...
Got a few bookings for next year and we are negotiating a residency

[bluesparky]

I played 4 gigs this year (which seeing as i'm not in a band is a lot for me!).
2 in pubs in Bucks, 1 at a very close friend's wedding by request and lastly, yet most importantly at my wedding, with my closest mates, which will never be topped.
A great year!

[casapete]

129 so far this year, will be around 145 by end of the year, which is a little down on 2009.
(These are a combination of 3 setups I'm in though - 7 piece function band, 4 piece country rock band and acoustic duo, along with some
dep stuff here and there.)
Next year not looking great as of yet though, with mainly pub gigs taking a bashing due to people not going out as much etc..
Thank God people still want to get married!!

[lojo]

Doing roughly 1 a month with 2 bands, got 2 in december, one corporate gig in the Savoy and one in a small pub 2 mins walk from my house

Love to do more, but this amounts suits me as its only a hobby and I do other stuff on top of work and family


Edit : 10 mins walk to be more accurate

Edited November 17, 2010 by lojo

[Telebass]

60 last year, 65-ish thi, so not bad. Very few charity gigs. Quite a lot of private work, and a good bit of that in the diary for 2011. Considering the guitarist became a dad and I've had two spinal ops (third one for Christmas...), we've done well.

[lazzer]

My years been pretty good to be honest & by year end will look like this.....

Main Band gigs ( Bad Dog) 70 gigs

Other live stuff & Deps 15 gigs

Original recording sessions 3 projects (not all paid)

I'm reasonably happy with that & expect next year to be even better, 25 bookings for 2011 in the diary already & rising weekly