Sharing info on good venues : poll attached

[The Admiral]

For those of you you may have missed it, there has been a thread running (started by The Dark Lord), talking about his second set being cancelled at a recent gig, due to no-one in the pub.

You can catch up here : [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/185735-tonights-second-set-cancelled-nobody-in-the-pub/"]http://basschat.co.u...ody-in-the-pub/[/url]


There has been a lot of chat in that thread about how pubs etc aren't what they used to be crowd wise since the smoking ban etc, and some general gloom about how hard a good gig is to find. This has been punctuated by a few posts from people with no such problem - all good where they play, etc.

I made the point on that thread in an earlier post today that in summary, the prevailing themes coming through seemed to be :

1. Good places to play are hard to find, and

2. Some people seem to have a circuit of good gigs, whilst others are struggling....



So, on to my suggestion - and your chance to vote :

How about we take the 'community' aspect of BC seriously and share some intelligence on the good venues - and the not so good?

I appreciate that in the way that Carp anglers jealously guard their 'secret pools', we may have some members who are reluctant to share details of their good gigs, but - in the weeks when your band isn't playing at your full up and firing on all cylinders venue, somebody else will be, and surely you would rather it's another BC'er than not? Or is it me?

By instigating a 'Good gig guide' thread, where you can share details of your good venues/landlords/promoters etc, other members can use it to make contact with either other BC'ers, or venues. It will mean that everyone on here has an increased chance of a good gig and a big crowd. That said, if there are concerns about giving out information too freely, it could work on an 'area - contact me' classified ads type basis. For example "Pub in Oxfordshire : Rock covers/some originals/no tributes - good landlord and circa 75 - 100 in on a Saturday" contact (member name) by PM if you are interested". Control then stays with the member who has the details, and can 'vet' the band of their fellow BC member by exchange of MP3 s etc if that's their bag.

Also, the word will get around BC immediately if anyone starts trying to stiff the band etc or the punters start taking a turn for the rougher/less numerous. Equally - from gig to gig - the band playing this time can be bigging up the next band, because they know how great they are - from BC! ie ; "We'll be back in 4 weeks, but make sure you come in next Saturday, because (insert name of band) are on and I can tell you, they're a great night out" etc

It would also mean that a circuit of good gigs could be built where 'out of town' bands could be brought in, perhaps making up a nice little week long tour in a different part of the country for them - in venues they know will at the least be OK, and they'll get paid.

Needs to go in a thread which isn't available to non members too!

So - cast your votes - and maybe the 'community' can really begin to share the love!

A

[EssentialTension]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/170887-venue-reference-guide"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/170887-venue-reference-guide[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/162394-venue-review-wiki-whats-your-next-gig-going-to-be-like"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/162394-venue-review-wiki-whats-your-next-gig-going-to-be-like[/url]

[The Admiral]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1346962827' post='1795495']
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/170887-venue-reference-guide"]http://basschat.co.u...reference-guide[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/162394-venue-review-wiki-whats-your-next-gig-going-to-be-like"]http://basschat.co.u...oing-to-be-like[/url]
[/quote]

Hmmm - they are actually both aiming at a different question in my view.

The first is broadly looking at the issue of reviews of venues and the second also had a review element, but was primarily aimed at the gear/load in etc. Both good ideas - but with their challenges.

By contrast, (and again, not without it's challenges) I was suggesting that members might post up details of venues which were good to play - as in they had a good audience and were payers - in order that other forum members might approach them for a gig. More specifically, I had in mind a situation where forums members might work cooperatively with others, to spread the reach of their own band to venues that were known to other members, and then receive the same guidance and help in return. If this were done effectively, one could have a situation where 8 -10 bands circulated around a network of 8 - 10 venues over a 3 month period (depending on frequency of the venues gig schedule of course) - and all of these could have BC forum members in the bands - cooperating to help each other secure the gigs.

There is no libel issue for the forum I would have thought if this is done on a private message basis, kicked of from a 'classified ad'.

For example : "Manchester band seeking gigs within 50 miles : Liverpool/Preston/Leeds etc we play - Rock/Punk covers. We can put you in touch with our regular venues in return. Please PM and we can see if we can help each other".

Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but this just seems to me a simple case of cooperating for mutual benefit, but 30 views and 3 votes suggests otherwise! Oh well.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1346972203' post='1795665']
Hmmm - they are actually both aiming at a different question in my view.
[/quote]
I didn't take them to be exactly the same, just about related issues and so relevant to this thread.

[rOB]

sounds like a good idea. A bit of cooperation can only be a good thing.

[bertbass]

Everyone knows where the good local gigs are but it's a lot harder to find gigs not in your area. This a great idea for bands who travel to find gigs around the UK and possibly abroad.

[pietruszka]

Great idea, a bit of guidance is always handy, especially in areas you're travelling to, as bertbass says.

Perhaps one for promotors to? I know 1 I'd avoid at all costs and a couple who have been rather good with us.




Dan

[dave_bass5]

I always thought/hoped the How was your gig thread would have some good venue info in ti but it never really went far enough.
Im all up for naming, and if necessary shaming a venue. If it gets taken seriously enough maybe venue owners will take note.

Saying that, i'd personally be more interested in function venues (sound meters, gits running the place etc) as opposed to pubs, mainly as we dont play pubs, although we might one day.

[bertbass]

I'd see it as all venues in an area, pubs, clubs anywhere bands play. We have venues that are great for covers and others that only do heavy or metal and a few that you'd be out of place without your cowboy hat and as previously said, good or bad agents and promoters and also venues to play and not to play, infact, everything you'd want to know in advance when approaching a new venue.