May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do?

The_Sentry · 04-23-2012, 06:23 PM

Quick post, easy read.

Fact: I'm a gig whore. I'll be the first to admit it.
Problem: I usually have gigs lined up every single weekend. But for whatever reason, May is just promising to be SLOW. I've hit the pavement for the band, can't get anyone to call back. I'm considering making the rounds again...

...or just busking solo on acoustic...

....or just sayin' screw it and taking the time off. I've got gigs booked into August, but NOTHING for May. At all.

What would you do if you were in my situation?

SoWhat? · 04-23-2012, 06:28 PM

Go to a Bar that has room for live entertainment, but doesn't often have anyone play. Offer to do a free happy hour gig so they can see what their customers think about the entertainment. If they like it, you may get booked for more.

Bluesy happy hour gigs are great! Beats the piped in music.

teame1 · 04-23-2012, 06:29 PM

Work on new/original material.
Take advantage of the time to grow as a band.

The_Sentry · 04-23-2012, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teame1

Work on new/original material.
Take advantage of the time to grow as a band.

That's not a bad idea. I've already been talking to the bass player about injecting a bunch of soul and funk music into our repetoire...

BuzzHaze · 04-23-2012, 07:27 PM

It wouldn't hurt to have an agent booking your band. They often have access to clubs or connections that you don't or they can speed things up. It's 10%-20% depending on how involved they are with the band, but worth every penny when you get a good one. I always book through agents....someone to blame if things go south..haha!!!!

music to my ears · 04-23-2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teame1

Work on new/original material.
Take advantage of the time to grow as a band.

If you can afford it yes. I was under the impression from the OP that the dilemma was no gigs no money which is something you need? Again if you can afford it yes if not find a temp job for a month.

The Refugee · 04-23-2012, 07:43 PM

I'll give you $20, a beer and 3 sandwiches if you fly out here and play me a song in may

bertzie · 04-23-2012, 07:52 PM

Do some busking.

dylanR · 04-23-2012, 08:00 PM

smoke a joint

Leendrix · 04-23-2012, 08:01 PM

Is traveling an hour or two away from your town an option? Look and see whats around and if you can, book and do a few hours of traveling!

But there's gas also...

tampa898 · 04-23-2012, 09:21 PM

Go watch some bands and scream Led Zepplin and Skynard requests from the back of the room everytime they end a tune.

ALZ · 04-23-2012, 09:25 PM

relax ,and do up some new jams , i always say record everything , but thats just me , good luck , see ya , alz

The_Sentry · 04-23-2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzHaze

It wouldn't hurt to have an agent booking your band. They often have access to clubs or connections that you don't or they can speed things up. It's 10%-20% depending on how involved they are with the band, but worth every penny when you get a good one. I always book through agents....someone to blame if things go south..haha!!!!

Most agents won't touch the band. Combine lack of talent in conjunction with distance from the city which guarantees no instant draw.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leendrix

Is traveling an hour or two away from your town an option? Look and see whats around and if you can, book and do a few hours of traveling!

But there's gas also...

Same issue. Unless we're a marquee name, or super badass (and we're not that...we're a new band)...venues won't really consider us. All they give a rat's ass about is their draw, and it's difficult to travel that far multiple times a week to beg people to come to shows.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALZ

relax ,and do up some new jams , i always say record everything , but thats just me , good luck , see ya , alz

That might be inevitable.

I don't really know how to "relax". (Sorry, that's not really in my DNA.

)

I was thinking about new tunes. I have a whole bunch of originals still on backlog the band could pick up. We also talked about beefing up our repetoire even more. Choices: Classic Rock (beaten into the ground) Modern Country (don't like it much) or Soul and Funk.

Option 3 is lookin' good. Stuff like this...

You Tube

(no commercials on that vid. )

And this...

You Tube

And this...

You Tube

You Tube

Funny thing...we're a 3 piece rock band. I've never been afraid to rearrange material for my needs. The same thing will probably happen here. (We already do "Beat It" by Michael Jackson.)

KSG_Standard · 04-23-2012, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

...What would you do if you were in my situation?

Nap.

Gin&Pentatonic · 04-23-2012, 10:02 PM

Get some lol

music to my ears · 04-23-2012, 10:18 PM

Screw it. Scratch my last post and just wonder the land like David Carradine in Kung Fu You'll be looking for your dream guitar instead of your half-brother and armed only with your musical training and your skill in guitar!

BuzzHaze · 04-23-2012, 10:25 PM

Take some time.....sit back in the studio and ponder what your 3 piece band can do to stand out.

FrankieOliver · 04-23-2012, 10:27 PM

I'd think of something. I know you will, too.

The_Sentry · 04-23-2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankieOliver

I'd think of something. I know you will, too.

I have to.

I just got the Coolest Guitar in the world back from Doug. It's burning a hole in its gig bag!

The Coolest Guitar in the World! - YouTube

Kauer Daylighter Hollowbody tone demonstration. - YouTube

Nicky · 04-23-2012, 11:02 PM

Our band of old men (and women) plays at a local pub the last Thursday of every month. We sprinkle in 1 or 2 charity performances in between.

dylanR · 04-24-2012, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicky

Our band of old men (and women) plays at a local pub the last Thursday of every month. We sprinkle in 1 or 2 charity performances in between.

You rule Nick!

04-23-2012, 06:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
The_Sentry The Devil's Advocate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Neverwhere, CA Posts: 25,947 Thanks: 1,089 Thanked 1,451 Times in 308 Posts	May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? Quick post, easy read. Fact: I'm a gig whore. I'll be the first to admit it. Problem: I usually have gigs lined up every single weekend. But for whatever reason, May is just promising to be SLOW. I've hit the pavement for the band, can't get anyone to call back. I'm considering making the rounds again... ...or just busking solo on acoustic... ....or just sayin' screw it and taking the time off. I've got gigs booked into August, but NOTHING for May. At all. What would you do if you were in my situation? Leendrix likes this. __________________ Musical Ventures: Love Knuckle on Reverb Nation! Random Recordings and Videos of Stuff!

04-23-2012, 06:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
SoWhat? Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,710 Thanks: 176 Thanked 52 Times in 18 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? Go to a Bar that has room for live entertainment, but doesn't often have anyone play. Offer to do a free happy hour gig so they can see what their customers think about the entertainment. If they like it, you may get booked for more. Bluesy happy hour gigs are great! Beats the piped in music. The_Sentry likes this. __________________ "They say I'm lazy, but it takes all my time." - Joe Walsh

04-23-2012, 06:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
teame1 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Absurdistan Posts: 5,522 Thanks: 124 Thanked 515 Times in 197 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? Work on new/original material. Take advantage of the time to grow as a band. Leendrix, The_Sentry, Malikon and 1 others like this. __________________

04-23-2012, 07:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
BuzzHaze Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 3,525 Thanks: 55 Thanked 186 Times in 57 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? It wouldn't hurt to have an agent booking your band. They often have access to clubs or connections that you don't or they can speed things up. It's 10%-20% depending on how involved they are with the band, but worth every penny when you get a good one. I always book through agents....someone to blame if things go south..haha!!!! Leendrix likes this. __________________ http://www.soundclick.com/buzzhaze

04-23-2012, 07:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
The Refugee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,539 Thanks: 131 Thanked 30 Times in 15 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? I'll give you $20, a beer and 3 sandwiches if you fly out here and play me a song in may Leendrix likes this. __________________ #ForNico

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04-23-2012, 07:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
bertzie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 16,446 Thanks: 3 Thanked 231 Times in 84 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? Do some busking.

04-23-2012, 08:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
dylanR Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,790 Thanks: 376 Thanked 119 Times in 31 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? smoke a joint ALZ likes this. __________________

04-23-2012, 09:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
tampa898 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,338 Thanks: 6 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? Go watch some bands and scream Led Zepplin and Skynard requests from the back of the room everytime they end a tune. The_Sentry and ALZ like this. __________________ 1973 Les Paul Deluxe Tobacco Burst 1990 Lado Classic III 1992 HHR Stratocaster MIJ 2007 Les Paul STD 2007 Fender 62 reissue 2011 Custom Telecaster Metaltronix M-1000 Head 4x12 Fender Cab Crate V50 2x12 It's Not What It's Worth, It's What You Can Get For It

04-23-2012, 09:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
ALZ Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 794 Thanks: 105 Thanked 11 Times in 6 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? relax ,and do up some new jams , i always say record everything , but thats just me , good luck , see ya , alz dylanR likes this.

04-23-2012, 10:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
Gin&Pentatonic Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 5,837 Thanks: 20 Thanked 76 Times in 7 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? Get some lol The_Sentry and dylanR like this.

04-23-2012, 10:18 PM	#16 (permalink)
music to my ears Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 736 Thanks: 14 Thanked 29 Times in 5 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? Screw it. Scratch my last post and just wonder the land like David Carradine in Kung Fu You'll be looking for your dream guitar instead of your half-brother and armed only with your musical training and your skill in guitar! The_Sentry likes this.

04-23-2012, 10:25 PM	#17 (permalink)
BuzzHaze Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 3,525 Thanks: 55 Thanked 186 Times in 57 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? Take some time.....sit back in the studio and ponder what your 3 piece band can do to stand out. The_Sentry and dylanR like this. __________________ http://www.soundclick.com/buzzhaze

04-23-2012, 10:27 PM	#18 (permalink)
FrankieOliver Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: East of the Hudson Posts: 14,046 Thanks: 1,424 Thanked 763 Times in 158 Posts	Re: May is going to be sloooww!! What am I going to do? I'd think of something. I know you will, too. The_Sentry likes this. __________________ "People who continuously refer to the same quote can...$#%@ off." My Wife

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