What Will Take The Place Of Gigging?

[Mattpt85]

In my experience when I'm not in a band I barely pick my bass up, I need that incentive of playing with others and gigging to keep playing and improving.
I find playing bass on my own is pretty boring, might as well play acoustic guitar

[Marvin]

It's probably a mixed bag.

The band I've just joined (originals) were talking about getting some gigs booked and whether to approach a very popular hard rock band for a support slot. The gig would be packed, they always attract a crowd. It's about building the band up again. The guys have had a year without a bass player, so a lot of work getting their name out there has been somewhat lost.

Differentiating your band from the crowd seems to be key, standing out a bit, having a sound, some character. I'm afraid, and it's going to be an unpopular thing to say, but there are a lot of covers band who look and sound very similar. A lot of that seems to be down to people of my age+ who in their 20's and early 30's were in originals and now still want to play and start a covers band. 4 middle aged men playing the music of their youth in lots of pubs up and down the country is going to wear thin over time.

I love the band I've just joined, I've only been in it for 3 weeks. It's not only about playing live to get your stuff out their but about writing and recording, getting that idea in your head out there and working with others to get what you hear in your head to become a reality.

If I wasn't in something creative, in a band or collective who was writing music, then the bass would get sold off. It doesn't have to necessarily be gigging. Gigging isn't the be all and end all. I wouldn't be as enthusiastic about sticking at playing and gigging if it were a standard covers band. People can regard that as snobbish if they want, but I don't get my musical kicks from playing Sex On Fire to whip a crowd up.

[Stylon Pilson]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1453889074' post='2963747']
The worst thing about being a non-dancer is that even though everyone knows you are a non-dancer and have never danced in the 20 years they have known you, they still think that you are going to dance if they ask you...

No... I haven't danced for the previous 100 times you've asked me so why on earth do you think I'm going to this time?
[/quote]

Because they've watched too many films, and they think that when they get you up on the dancefloor, and take off your glasses and let your hair down, you'll transform into some kind of stud. Turns out that you could dance all along, you just needed to believe in yourself.

Reality, of course, is far more gruesome, and involves spilled drinks, sprained ankles, and a fight with a biker gang, and oh dear it looks like I've been watching too many films.

S.P.

[Guest Jecklin]

As always BigRedX is totally on the money:

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1453888742' post='2963740']

There are plenty of great paying gigs available provided that:

1. Your band is entertaining

2. Your band is prepared to put in the effort to go and get them

I was going to write a whole load more explaining the above, but TBH if you need it explaining, you are probably never going to get it.

[/quote]

Edited January 27, 2016 by Jecklin

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1453852399' post='2963556']
1. Many bass players don't gig.

[color=#ff0000]Well, some bass players don't gig but in fact many bass players do gig.[/color]

2. Gigging is not as popular as it once was.

[color=#ff0000]You'd need some proper statistical evidence for this from outside of Basschat but in my experience gigging is as popular as it ever was, even among younger musicians. It's never been so easy to be in a band with quality equipment and a range of instrumentation and talented players. If I wasn't satisfied with my life then I would have to be envious of young musicians.[/color]

3. Many feel it's not worth it.

[color=#ff0000]And many feel it is worth it. Perhaps you meant 'some' not 'many'.[/color]

4. Good gigging opportunities are drying up, especially in the UK.

[color=#ff0000]It's true that some gigs of certain kinds have reduced in numbers but, again in my experience, people who want to gig are quite capable of running their own shows if needs be. It's how ET junior got into promoting as well as playing. I think, as well, that the opportunities for gigging are different in different places. A friend who lived in Leighton Buzzard had very minimal opportunities to gig. But here in Brighton with two sixth-form colleges, an FE college, two universities, hundreds and hundreds of foreign exchange students, and loads of middle class hippies and rude boys ... lots of gigs.[/color]

5. Playing bass has become a solo at home hobby for many.

[color=#ff0000]Again, I think you must mean 'some' not 'many' - but why would that even matter?[/color]

6. Bass players are no longer will to put in the effort to gig.

[color=#ff0000]Well, 'some' maybe but even then it may not be about effort at all. It may be other commitments, other interests, time constraints, geographical constraint, etc. etc.[/color]

[/quote]

[color=#ff0000]I am 64 and still gigging (on and off) with two bands. I reckon I have maybe ten years more gigging in me. I'd still gig then if I was fit enough and had a roadie. But music is just one of my hobbies. I have hinterland. I have other interests. I have family. I have NOT spent my life dissatisfied and wishing I was a professional musician.[/color]

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1453888742' post='2963740']
And yet another thread about how there's no more gigs and that they are mostly crap and that it's all too much effort.

What a load of bollocks!

There are plenty of great paying gigs available provided that:

1. Your band is entertaining

2. Your band is prepared to put in the effort to go and get them

I was going to write a whole load more explaining the above, but TBH if you need it explaining, you are probably never going to get it.

My band is out there doing songs we wrote ourselves playing paying gigs pretty much every weekend because we are entertaining and because between the various members of the band we put in 20-30 hours a week promoting the band to get the gigs that we want. And that's what is required if you want gigs that pay and have a decent audience in attendance.


Besides nowadays if you want to make money out of music, gigging is the product which has value because it can't be copied, and even a good video of a show is no where near the same as actually being there. It's not like the past where bands toured to promote sales of their album and it was acknowledged that touring lost money but that was outweighed by increased record sales as a result of people seeing the band live.

Today when a digital copy of your music, no matter how obscure your band is, can be easily found for free on-line, the recording (and video) is now the promotional device to get people to come to the gig where ticket and merchandise sales are money makers.
[/quote]

Correct.

[CHW]

If there were no more paid pub gigs available I'd probably end up doing a lot more open mics, working on original material, and trying to get something off the ground using online means. Bands have given me a social life, and friendships as well as bringing in a bit of cash. I'd not want to give that up entirely

[Ghost_Bass]

For me it's all about the gigs, that's where the all the fun of playing bass is. I find it very boring and uninteresting to play alone at home. If i have a couple of weeks without gigs i try to schedule a rehearsall with the band or go to a jam/open mic night just to keep playing with other musicians. Bass alone isn't as fun as playing it along with a drummer and a harmonic instrument. For me that's the real definition of playing music and being a musician (no harm intended on those who do the opposite).

Getting gigs is getting harder everywere but if you put together a good quality band with a good entertainer/singer as a front man it will be easier to keep the bookings comming. My experience with my current band is that we only have to make a very big effort to get that first gig on a new venue and then we're set there.

It's also a fact that now there are many bands (i'm talking about cover bands, like mine) and there are a lot that are kids starting out with cheap gear, poorly eq'd sound and lower skills and they're playing almost for free with a full agenda. This makes it hard to book a decent paying gig because most venues only look at the band's price, but it's just a mather of sticking up with your guns, maintain the quality and price and there will be venues that will apreciate you for that and pay the fair price for your music. Looking at a lot of close examples, the pubs/venues that go for the cheap stuff end up closing more frequently than the ones that keep a quality standard.


EDIT: I ended up straying from the topic. In conclusion, if i don't have any more gigs i'll probably sell most of my gear, keep a minimum that allow me to get together with friends at each other's homes and jam along with them from time to time and probably i'll end up picking up the bass a lot less than usual.

Edited January 27, 2016 by Ghost_Bass

[4stringslow]

Here's a topical report about changing times for live music: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35399194

There will inevitably be a wide spectrum of opinion about such things. The OP (Blue) is clearly at the end where gigging is his whole life and the only thing that matters to him. At the other end there will be people who have never been to a gig in their life yet are wonderfully happy and fulfilled Between those extremes are everyone else.

In fact, this basic principle applies to almost anything in life you can think of, from stamp collecting to extreme sports.

[Mykesbass]

The OP is "What will replace gigging? One answer is Youtube - there is a whole generation that get their musical kicks through this platform, and from a new musician's perspective, apart from the income, it is an incredible medium, as they can be as creative as they want - no landlords (bar managers), agents, record companies or radio stations to pander to. They can create as much of their work as they want (multi-instrumentalist, videography etc.) or they can collaborate.

Some of these Youtube stars have built such a following that they now do in fact gig, albeit a very different type of gig to your average pub/club/traditional music venue.

[sunburstjazz1967]

Post modern jukebox started as a you tube act but became so popular they had to do a proper tour.

[Ghost_Bass]

Oh! And i think nobody mentioned DJ's yet! They also have their good share in decreasing live music gigs.

Edited January 27, 2016 by Ghost_Bass

[ead]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1453892460' post='2963816']
I am 64 and still gigging (on and off) with two bands. I reckon I have maybe ten years more gigging in me. I'd still gig then if I was fit enough and had a roadie. But music is just one of my hobbies. I have hinterland. I have other interests. I have family. I have NOT spent my life dissatisfied and wishing I was a professional musician.[/color]
[/quote]

Here, here.

In the blues band I play in I'm the baby at 55yrs old. The drummer is 71 (and bloody good) and the two guitarists are in their mid 60s. We all love playing and rarely get less than 3 or 4 encores.

The originals band I play is busy becoming a power trio after our singer left. We fully intend to be out there as soon as we have the material sorted.

[cheddatom]

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1453889848' post='2963763']
...Gigging isn't the be all and end all. I wouldn't be as enthusiastic about sticking at playing and gigging if it were a standard covers band. People can regard that as snobbish if they want, but I don't get my musical kicks from playing Sex On Fire to whip a crowd up.
[/quote]

Totally agree, but I'd never flog my basses as I would be able to use them to record and compose at home.

[Mattpt85]

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1453895715' post='2963890']
Post modern jukebox started as a you tube act but became so popular they had to do a proper tour.
[/quote]

I love them! Looking at going to see them this year

[Skol303]

There are plenty of gigging opportunities here in Manchester. Sure, we’ve lost some venues over the years… but this has largely been due to pressure from city centre residential developments, rather than a lack of punters.

I think the key consideration in discussions of this type is demographics - especially age.

The market for older bands may indeed by drying up. That’s natural selection of sorts. The opportunities for young bands still seem reassuringly healthy where I live. I’m not speaking from personal experience as a young person (I’m 42), but I work with people in their 20s who are frequently attending performances by up-and-coming local bands and more famous names. For them, the live music scene is very much alive and kicking. And their musical tastes are very diverse - far more so than when I was their age.

…and that’s not counting less ‘traditional’ performances (electronic/dance music).

So in summary, if you want to know the future of gigging then don’t ask a bunch of ageing bass players. Ask someone who’s 21 years old and up for it. They’ll most likely have a very upbeat answer

[BigRedX]

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1453894461' post='2963862']
Here's a topical report about changing times for live music: [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35399194"]http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-35399194[/url]
[/quote]

Another crap article full of half-truths dressed up to make it look as though the sky is falling.

There may be lots of venues closing, but there's also a lot of new ones opening. The location of venues within towns and cities changes as the use of the buildings around them changes, it's only natural.

In Nottingham I don't think any of the venues that were putting on bands in 1980 when I moved here still exist, but there's plenty of new ones and definitely far more gigging opportunities for bands today then there were at any time over the past 35 or so years.

London is a bit a of a special case though simply because as a location it's no longer anywhere near as important as it used to be. In the past (up to the 90s) if you wanted to get noticed you had to play in London, it's where all the record labels and music press were based. Nowadays though it's just another big city with some venues and no more or less important than other other big city with music venues. Unfortunately the venues don't seem to have realised this, and so it's little wonder that they are struggling.

Finally Justin Bieber may have been nurtured for his audience on YouTube, but he was discovered by his manager from a video of him performing live in front of an audience.

Edited January 27, 2016 by BigRedX

[colgraff]

To answer Blue's original question. If I stopped gigging, I probably would stop playing bass. What would replace it? Not sure. I might buy a decent digital piano and learn to play it, or more likely, start online gaming or something else that could soak up huge amounts of time.

[gapiro]

[quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1453887820' post='2963717']
I'm not convinced that gigging opportunities and venues are drying up with any degree of permanence. Rather, tastes in music have broadened away from the type of music that most venues would consider and so is the way in which music is consumed changing. In a similar way, one could conclude that young people aren't interested in dancing because large discos/nightclubs are closing down fast but rather, they want to socialise in ways that differ from their parents'.

In both cases, the changes are temporary as such things are cyclical.
[/quote]

I think this is spot on. Which is why I think a band needs a market / USP etc - the ska band i'm in is stupidly busy !

[Bobthedog]

Is YouTube killing the UK’s live music scene?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35399194

Not sure if this adds anything but.....

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Bobthedog' timestamp='1453900771' post='2963972']
Is YouTube killing the UK’s live music scene?
[url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35399194"]http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-35399194[/url]

Not sure if this adds anything but.....
[/quote]

Already been linked to in this thread, and as I said in my post above pretty much crap.

[Guest]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1453878241' post='2963629']

For the young musicians are no longer there as role models. The "real" musicians now are computer operators. The future of gigging is a live streaming of Spotify.

I can't wait
[/quote]

I'm sorry, but I think this is rubbish. I've been to tons of gigs where most of the audience was young people. It sounds like you've been watching too much mainstream media.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1453895884' post='2963894']
Oh! And i think nobody mentioned DJ's yet! They also have their good share in decreasing live music gigs.
[/quote]

DJs and discos have been supposedly killing live music since at least the mid 70s. They can't be doing a very good job.

[keefbaker]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1453855742' post='2963585']
When I'm gigging at a club and see the utter disinterest in live rock music from the under 30 crowd,I wonder where the gigging drive is for all the bass players under 30.
[/quote]

They're likely doing their own stuff at the venues that allow them. I remember when I was in my 20s and I hated cover bands that played music I saw as "old people music". The cycle continues.

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1453902698' post='2964002']
DJs and discos have been supposedly killing live music since at least the mid 70s. They can't be doing a very good job.
[/quote]

No idea how to put things into the Famous Quotes thread but this REALLY deserves to be in there!!