I Wonder Why We Weren't Asked Back ?

[Baloney Balderdash]

On 10/10/2023 at 20:04, Bluewine said:

I'm not sure if this will generate very much discussion. 

 

We've probably all had a great gig in a great venue with a great crowd and loved by the owners. However we we're never asked back.

 

Why, is the big question.  There could be tons of reasons.  I don't book gigs or have contacts with venues so I'm somewhat at a loss in coming up with an answer.

 

I tend to think some of it is poor follow up on the part of the band. Asking to rebook at the end of the gig would be tough for us. We have 2 band members with limited availability. Or maybe they did ask us back and we were already booked for that date and there was no follow up.

 

I would think change in venue ownership or management might play a part in it. Over here in the States venue management change is the kiss of death.

 

Could be the gig was turned down because the money wasn’t right.

 

Thoughts or stories?

 

Blue

Why don't you ask whoever is responsible for booking gigs?

 

Don't you communicate internally in the band?

 

[Bluewine]

11 minutes ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

Why don't you ask whoever is responsible for booking gigs?

 

Don't you communicate internally in the band?

 

 

We gig a lot, unfortunately we don't rehearse and have little to no internal communication.  As a matter fact we hardly speak to each other until we're onstage. 

 

I'm still in the best band I could possibly be in.

 

Blue

[Baloney Balderdash]

17 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

 

We gig a lot, unfortunately we don't rehearse and have little to no internal communication.  As a matter fact we hardly speak to each other until we're onstage. 

 

I'm still in the best band I could possibly be in.

 

Blue

I guess to each their own.

 

I personally couldn't play in such a band.

[Bluewine]

1 hour ago, theplumber said:

Anyway months pass and the same thing happens! With a similar story. This time I e mail him back and thanked him kindly for booking us in his pub. We really enjoyed it but please don't book us again!! The bands they he did put on did...mod and ska! Ok I get that but why book us in the first place then blow us out twice when another band comes along!! 

 

 

That's why I stay away from the booking end of the business. 

 

Blue

[Bluewine]

28 minutes ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

I guess to each their own.

 

I personally couldn't play in such a band.

 

I get it and I wish there was more communication.  However,  I joined the band because they have a good booking strategy and for the money.

 

I know a few bands that rehearse relentlessly and have open communication but have little to no gigs. I could never play in a band like that.

 

For those that have both communication and lots of gigs, that's ideal 

 

Blue

Edited October 11, 2023 by Bluewine

[Bluewine]

On 10/10/2023 at 14:14, Beedster said:

 

Yep, that sounds familiar. Never underestimate the effect of even a few seconds of rock-star arrogance between a band member and the venue to scupper future gigs irrespective of how well you went down.

 

I've a mate who I used to gig with who is the most polite and respectful person you could hope to meet. Until around 2-hours ahead of a gig when he arrives at a venue and finds the slightest thing not to his liking and puts on just enough attitude to avoid a direct confrontation while still managing to fosters off people at the venue, IME gigs really can bring out the best or the worst in people, often because of a mix of excitement, anxiety, impatience, and ego. 

 

Not me of course, i'm lovely  

 

 

I never have issues with venue management or owners with one exception.  When they do things that make the gig difficult for the band, like saying the parking lot is only for patrons. And then you're walking a block downtown with a full blown bass rig. Not fun, especially if your in a

"dicey" partv of the city 

 

Blue 

[dmccombe7]

11 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

Agreed and I wish it was my call. I've been in the band since 2009 but have no decision making power.

 

Daryl

Drop wee subtle hints on a regular basis. 

Suggest dropping it for a bit to see if it makes a difference in getting more gigs.

Dave

Edited October 12, 2023 by dmccombe7

[NikNik]

On 10/10/2023 at 20:49, BillyBass said:

On one occasion a Landlady got quite upset with us as someone from another band had posted something on Facebook about the way the venue treated bands and she thought it was us, despite our lead singers protestations.  Thankfully it was sorted out and we have been rebooked.

Completely un-associated with the thread, but your avatar GIF has just reminded me of what an ex-GF did to my new, early Fender Custom Shop Fretless jazz bass. Exactly that same move. The crack in the heel finish thankfully never went through to the wood.

[dmccombe7]

18 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

We gig a lot, unfortunately we don't rehearse and have little to no internal communication.  As a matter fact we hardly speak to each other until we're onstage. 

 

I'm still in the best band I could possibly be in.

 

Blue

I struggle with how that actually works Daryl. We keep each other up to date via FB private chat page. That works in both bands.

We don't really socialise together because we live in different parts of the country with some working and others not. 

No decision is made until everyone has agreed on the FB message. During Pandemic we kept in touch via group vid linking on a 2 weekly basis. Just for a catch up chat and keep things in motion over that lockdown period.

Dave

[Bluewine]

5 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

I struggle with how that actually works Daryl. We keep each other up to date via FB private chat page. That works in both bands.

We don't really socialise together because we live in different parts of the country with some working and others not. 

No decision is made until everyone has agreed on the FB message. During Pandemic we kept in touch via group vid linking on a 2 weekly basis. Just for a catch up chat and keep things in motion over that lockdown period.

Dave

 

I struggle with it too.

 

There's a bit of texting to confirm gigs. New songs are generally easy and learned on the fly at gigs. 

 

The other thing is I'm old school and started gigging in the mid 60s. The band members are half my age. My ideas and suggestions seem dated to them. Maybe they are?

 

Daryl

[dmccombe7]

9 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

I struggle with it too.

 

There's a bit of texting to confirm gigs. New songs are generally easy and learned on the fly at gigs. 

 

The other thing is I'm old school and started gigging in the mid 60s. The band members are half my age. My ideas and suggestions seem dated to them. Maybe they are?

 

Daryl

My ideas are different from band members too at times but we generally discuss any suggestion or idea and take a vote on it. Its more of what do you guys think and everyone will comment and you can get the gist of what others think. We don't do the hands up if you agree thing but it is pretty easy going. With the punk band i just go with it as they've been together for 13 yrs i think and the guitarist was the original punk member from 77/78 era.

And sometimes "Old School" ideas are tried and tested to work and should be open to suggestions.

Different when its your job to be fair.

Dave

[TimR]

We have 2 separate what'sapp chats. One for general chatter, setting up gigs, arranging practices and choosing new tunes. 

 

The other just has details of gigs we are playing. This means no searching in the main chat and we can delete past gig messages. It stays very clean and empty except for upcoming gigs. 

[philbie]

1 hour ago, TimR said:

We have 2 separate what'sapp chats. One for general chatter, setting up gigs, arranging practices and choosing new tunes. 

 

The other just has details of gigs we are playing. This means no searching in the main chat and we can delete past gig messages. It stays very clean and empty except for upcoming gigs. 

That's a great idea, we have one whatsapp chat and it's mostly full of total drivel tbh so hard to keep track of important details. 

[BillyBass]

2 hours ago, TimR said:

We have 2 separate what'sapp chats. One for general chatter, setting up gigs, arranging practices and choosing new tunes. 

 

The other just has details of gigs we are playing. This means no searching in the main chat and we can delete past gig messages. It stays very clean and empty except for upcoming gigs. 

 

1 hour ago, philbie said:

That's a great idea, we have one whatsapp chat and it's mostly full of total drivel tbh so hard to keep track of important details. 

We have three.  One for gig bookings, one for song related stuff and one for everything else.

[TimR]

We can just about manage with 2, it's like herding cats as it is. 

[Bluewine]

On 12/10/2023 at 12:26, dmccombe7 said:

I struggle with how that actually works Daryl. We keep each other up to date via FB private chat page. That works in both bands.

We don't really socialise together because we live in different parts of the country with some working and others not. 

No decision is made until everyone has agreed on the FB message. During Pandemic we kept in touch via group vid linking on a 2 weekly basis. Just for a catch up chat and keep things in motion over that lockdown period.

Dave

 

Like I said I struggle with it too.

 

I think every band handles communications differently.  Some of these guys on Bass Chat are playing with life long mates /friends.  We're friendly to each other but not friends in the traditional sense. And I've been in the band since 2009 

 

One thing about us, while there's not much communication there's also absolutely no drama or tension between members.

 

Daryl

Edited October 14, 2023 by Bluewine

[Rosie C]

On 11/10/2023 at 08:52, nige1968 said:

 He's not normally an onanist (in public anyway) so we took that to mean the staff didn't like our act. Random, but there you are.

 

Hey, I learned a new word today!

 

[super al]

We haven't even been asked to play let alone haven't been asked back!

 

That's a bit of a fib, we've had one gig in Andover but we can't seem to get any action in our home town. We've tried the promoters but there's no interest in us playing our original material. We'll keep plugging away, someone will have us play...maybe if we played our songs in a ska style 🤔

 

When we finally get that gig I'll let you know if we get asked back 😁

[dmccombe7]

14 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

Like I said I struggle with it too.

 

I think every band handles communications differently.  Some of these guys on Bass Chat are playing with life long mates /friends.  We're friendly to each other but not friends in the traditional sense. And I've been in the band since 2009 

 

One thing about us, while there's not much communication there's also absolutely no drama or tension between members.

 

Daryl

No tension or drama is good. If it works, don't fix it Daryl

Dave

[dmccombe7]

6 hours ago, super al said:

We haven't even been asked to play let alone haven't been asked back!

 

That's a bit of a fib, we've had one gig in Andover but we can't seem to get any action in our home town. We've tried the promoters but there's no interest in us playing our original material. We'll keep plugging away, someone will have us play...maybe if we played our songs in a ska style 🤔

 

When we finally get that gig I'll let you know if we get asked back 😁

Keep at it. Originals can be difficult in some areas but hopefully once it starts the pace will pick up for you guys.

Dave

[super al]

42 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Keep at it. Originals can be difficult in some areas but hopefully once it starts the pace will pick up for you guys.

Dave

Thanks Dave.

 

We live in a small city that has so so much going on for bands. There are two venues that have bands playing original music and the Salisbury Live thing has grown from a fringe event at Salisbury Arts Festival to events going on all year round with both covers bands and originals side by side. 

 

In a previous originals band we found it easy to get gigs anywhere but Salisbury was very difficult. A mate's band put us bottom of the bill at one of their gigs at the old ale house, then we got noticed and things really picked up.

 

This band will have to go down the same route I guess, we'll have to force our way into a gig and promote the hell out of it. We already have a fairly active social media so some Salisbury peeps and bands probably know our music already 😁

 

Still looking for a permanent drummer too...we have 3 deps until that day

[dmccombe7]

4 minutes ago, super al said:

Thanks Dave.

 

We live in a small city that has so so much going on for bands. There are two venues that have bands playing original music and the Salisbury Live thing has grown from a fringe event at Salisbury Arts Festival to events going on all year round with both covers bands and originals side by side. 

 

In a previous originals band we found it easy to get gigs anywhere but Salisbury was very difficult. A mate's band put us bottom of the bill at one of their gigs at the old ale house, then we got noticed and things really picked up.

 

This band will have to go down the same route I guess, we'll have to force our way into a gig and promote the hell out of it. We already have a fairly active social media so some Salisbury peeps and bands probably know our music already 😁

 

Still looking for a permanent drummer too...we have 3 deps until that day

Is there an option for you to hire a venue and self promote and take tickets at door kind of thing even if its just to get you out there.

Some start up bands i've been in over the (many many) years did that and it does work.

Unfortunately i don't know your local area but my Glam covers band are spread over a large area from Leadhills to Perth up here in Scotland approx 100 miles apart and myself and drummer out in sticks means we all have to travel a fair distance for even small gigs. We do try and keep gigs more central for us all. My point being that travel is just part of being in a band. We don't have a van but all travel in our own cars. If we need the full PA for larger gigs we do hire a van and myself and drummer share it but van hire comes out of the fee at end of the night..

Dave 

[SumOne]

16 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

Like I said I struggle with it too.

 

I think every band handles communications differently.  Some of these guys on Bass Chat are playing with life long mates /friends.  We're friendly to each other but not friends in the traditional sense. And I've been in the band since 2009 

 

One thing about us, while there's not much communication there's also absolutely no drama or tension between members.

 

Daryl

 

To paraphrase Homer* 

 

"The problem with failing marriages is communication...... too much communication" 

 

I guess the same wisdom could be applied for bands! 

 

 

*Simpson

[Woodinblack]

On 11/10/2023 at 23:36, Bluewine said:

We gig a lot, unfortunately we don't rehearse and have little to no internal communication.  As a matter fact we hardly speak to each other until we're onstage. 

 

On 11/10/2023 at 23:53, Baloney Balderdash said:

I guess to each their own.

 

I personally couldn't play in such a band.

 

Pretty much the same here. We have a whatsapp group but a lot of questions go unanswered.

[Franticsmurf]

9 hours ago, super al said:

That's a bit of a fib, we've had one gig in Andover but we can't seem to get any action in our home town. We've tried the promoters but there's no interest in us playing our original material. We'll keep plugging away, someone will have us play...maybe if we played our songs in a ska style 🤔

Keep going. If you think of it as a competition with other originals bands, the ones that will succeed are the ones that will go on longest. As Dave has said, try self promotion. Get in touch with other bands to organise (and share the costs of) a double header. Blag gigs, gatecrash open mic nights, offer student unions a discount. As an originals band it's like a start up business - investment for log term return, loss leaders, promotional freebies, charity nights for exposure. While it doesn't do to be taken advantage of, if you're in control and plan your strategy to achieve the goal of getting known, anything legal goes. 

 

Good luck. 😃