Conan Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1489752797' post='3259456'] With this method do you think you will have booked your initial 12 paying gigs within the 6 months time limit? Blue [/quote] To be fair Blue, that is[b][i] your[/i][/b] arbitrary measure of success. I'm not sure many others on here would be so specific. What if it takes seven months? What if there are only 11 gigs? Or if one of them is not paid? Would that make the band start-up unsuccessful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1489752969' post='3259462'] To be fair Blue, that is[b][i] your[/i][/b] arbitrary measure of success. I'm not sure many others on here would be so specific. What if it takes seven months? What if there are only 11 gigs? Or if one of them is not paid? Would that make the band start-up unsuccessful? [/quote] It's merely a hypothetical scenario of posibly ways to mitigate bands folding before they ever gig. There are tons of ways to measure success, This just happens to be one where it's measured by pre- booking 12 gigs. 11 gigs would also be an ok exception ,so would 7 months. Blue Edited March 17, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassjim Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Blues' point about booking the first 6-12 gigs up front: ( Hi Blue!) Yes and no........ Yes = recently I have been offered a string of dep gigs. Because they are all paid and are in fact actually gigs Ive said yes. If they were "can you come and jam/rehearse because we intend to get gigs " would be a most likely "No" because I already have a gigging band. Booking gigs upfront is great way of asking the right minded people to join up. It makes sense, there is purpose, a common goal......But No = So recently my regular gigging band starts to look around for even more gigs to add to existing ones. This is an established band with a good rep. We have had from " fully booked till next year" to "I'm not paying that" (and thats' the for the discounted first gig see how it goes rate!) They also want to see proof of the bands existence and quality via you-tube promo ect. They want to know what they are going to be paying for and will thier punters ,in their opinion, like it. In our last get new gigs campaign, we were successful in three out of ten venues. The rest we have dropped due to piss take money on offer or have to wait till the next booking is available, which is into next year. I guess the exception would be if the gig getter is a well known on the scene muso, that is already respected, and has already done plenty of good successful gigs either at or near the venue in question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) [quote name='blue' timestamp='1489752797' post='3259456'] With this method do you think you will have booked your initial 12 paying gigs within the 6 months time limit? Blue [/quote] The thing is that for an original band it is all about the getting the right people to hear your material and see your performance - the right support gig for little or no money may be far more beneficial than 12 decent paying gigs. BRX is spot on in his post of how to start an original band. The difference is that a covers band is all about working regularly. Edited March 17, 2017 by peteb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1489753463' post='3259467'] 11 gigs would also be an ok exception ,so would 7 months. Blue [/quote] Not for me I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Decide on the band name before doing any recruitment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockfordStone Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 [quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1489767289' post='3259692'] Decide on the band name before doing any recruitment. [/quote] don't forget sorting out a logo, website etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) When it comes to recruiting I'd be looking for basic competence, reliability and flexibility over technical virtuosity and bug-eyed enthusiasm. For example, I'd prefer an experienced front person who can learn the words quickly and more or less hit the notes over an excitable, technically-gifted diva with no presence. Rather than two guitars, keys would be nice - they make everything sound a bit more tasty and open up wider repertoire possibilities. [color=#faebd7].[/color] Edited March 17, 2017 by skankdelvar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1489754664' post='3259483'] The thing is that for an original band it is all about the getting the right people to hear your material and see your performance - the right support gig for little or no money may be far more beneficial than 12 decent paying gigs. BRX is spot on in his post of how to start an original band. The difference is that a covers band is all about working regularly. [/quote] Well, I see your point. However I did not want to differentiate between covers and originals bands because I have been called out in the past for making the assumption that originals bands don't gig much and don't get paid. Remember in this exercise the goal was to find and discuss methods of putting a band together and not have it fall before the first gig regardless, original or cover band. Blue Edited March 17, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1489768334' post='3259715'] When it comes to recruiting I'd be looking for basic competence, reliability and flexibility over technical virtuosity and bug-eyed enthusiasm. For example, I'd prefer an experienced front person who can learn the words quickly and more or less hit the notes over an excitable, technically-gifted diva with no presence. Rather than two guitars, keys would be nice - they make everything sound a bit more tasty and open up wider repertoire possibilities. [color=#faebd7].[/color] [/quote] I'd also take keys over a second guitar. I would also like backing vocals/ harmony from everyone. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 I also contend that when recruiting and your offering paying gigs upfront you can be picky. Recent and relevant gigging experience would be required. Now, I think this method of putting a band together would scare away flakes, but I'm not sure. I would say always have your "flake out meter" on. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) Next step, would you advertise this opportunity publicly or privately? What would your ad look like I'd you were to go the public route? Blue Edited March 17, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 First get competent musicians. There's no point in bringing in an inexperience singer/drummer/guitarist, if you want to gig ASAP. Make sure they have commitment to the project and it's goals (It's no fun trying to herd cats). Decide on set list. If the musicians are competent it will take less than a month's committed, rehearsals to get them ready for the first gig. Hey presto you have a good, gigging, band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I've just ended up agreeing to play in a band which has not rehearsed yet but has a gig booked already. I thought that was an entertaining way to go about things. It's the side-project of a friend I've played with on and off for years and various others from semi-overlapping projects. The first rehearsal is arranged for a date one week before the gig, so she must have some confidence in us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1489783598' post='3259900'] First get competent musicians. There's no point in bringing in an inexperience singer/drummer/guitarist, if you want to gig ASAP.[/quote] Appropriate members is a given, in this exercise we don't gig ASAP. It will take this band with full productio 6 months or September when the first of the 12 initial gigs are booked to be ready. Blue Edited March 17, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 Just a story on recruiting. Some of you know my band lost a really good drummer who had been with us for over 2 years. My preference was to advertise for a drummer and hold auditions. It was met with opposition. We ended up with 2 drummers that we rotate for gigs. My point, I was wrong. Advertising publicly would have taken forever and we would have had to deal with flakes. We ended up with a guy we found at an open mic and another was a friend who plays drums for a living who had Aretha Franklin in his resume. Both are now at the point where they're getting comfortable with our material. My point and what I learned, it's a pain in the arse to do auditions open to the public. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 The thing to remember is that there is no one magic solution and no one size fits all. The singer in one of my bands was ‘discovered’ singing along to the jukebox on NYE in a pub! The guitar player and drummer were talking about starting a band and who could they get to sing when guitar player noticed that a drunk guy had been singing along to ‘Living On A Prayer’ at some volume and had hit all the high notes and seemed to have rather a good voice. The drummer went and asked him if he was in a band to be told that he never had been but had always wanted to give it a go. They asked me to get involved a few weeks later and I was sceptical about how he would fare in a band with experienced musos, but after 30 seconds of hearing him sing it was obvious that he would be more than OK. It turns out that he had been onstage all his life (ex-professional dancer) but they didn’t know that at the time they met him. The guy is a natural and has very quickly made a real name for himself on the local scene, but we would never have found him going through the normal channels! I wouldn’t want to hold public auditions, but would certainly post on Facebook (which is now The Shires got together) as well looking at jam nights / open mics and asking friends if they were available or knew anybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Are we up to step 3 yet? Or are we still on step 2? Just wondering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 19, 2017 Author Share Posted March 19, 2017 [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1489873190' post='3260533'] Are we up to step 3 yet? Or are we still on step 2? Just wondering. [/quote] I think the main point has been made. An "out of the box" method for mitigating new band implotion. Booking the gigs before you actually have a band. It won't work in all circumstances, but it's something to think about. Any other closing comments? Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1489889043' post='3260625'] Any other closing comments? Blue [/quote] I very much like the idea of booking the gigs first. Just now wondering what's the (hypothetical) plan for the six months between now and the first gig and will it involve fittings for stage costumes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 19, 2017 Author Share Posted March 19, 2017 (edited) [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1489946179' post='3261009'] I very much like the idea of booking the gigs first. Just now wondering what's the (hypothetical) plan for the six months between now and the first gig and will it involve fittings for stage costumes? [/quote] Hopefully you now have a sound group of individuals that are on board with whatever the goals of the band are. Because, ideally you have top notch veterans that understand how to be in a band you won't be dealing with silly egoes and silly drama. And most important , in theory this band will be intact and ready to gig in September with no turnover. Blue Edited March 19, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1489955912' post='3261114'] Hopefully you now have a sound group of individuals that are on board with whatever the goals of the band are. Because, ideally you have top notch veterans that understand how to be in a band you won't be dealing with silly egoes and silly drama. And most important , in theory this band will be intact and ready to gig in September with no turnover. Blue [/quote] Absolutely agree that a strong foundation is the way forward. I'm just interested in how one might productively spend those six months. Let's say that's 24 weekly meet-ups to get an initial groove going, trial different material, routine the songs, sequence a set, work on presentation. How would you balance those different tasks and what do you think is most important? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1489961172' post='3261158'] Absolutely agree that a strong foundation is the way forward. I'm just interested in how one might productively spend those six months. Let's say that's 24 weekly meet-ups to get an initial groove going, trial different material, routine the songs, sequence a set, work on presentation. How would you balance those different tasks and what do you think is most important? [/quote] Well, personally I'm big on a band leader making most key decisions. I would expect the BL to come up with a set list as well as what the structure of the rehearsals would be. For example the BL might dedicate some rehearsals to vocals only. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1489973905' post='3261214'] Well, personally I'm big on a band leader making most key decisions. I would expect the BL to come up with a set list as well as what the structure of the rehearsals would be. For example the BL might dedicate some rehearsals to vocals only. Blue [/quote] That makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share Posted March 21, 2017 [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1490128620' post='3262504'] That makes sense. [/quote] I'm real big on separation when it comes to rehearsal whether it be vocals or instrumental. At rehearsal it's not unusual for me to request working out a part with just me and the drummer. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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