How to succeed in music without really trying

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Saturday Aug 13, 2011

A silly thread title for sure, but list some tips that work to draw and keep the people coming. And how to keep the people there once they show up.

hannible's post in another thread prompted me to do this thread. Also the Thread about playing to chairs. So I'll have Tom / hannible start:

"WE do have many bookings...We play many songs no one recognize...we play songs WE like...we let fellow musicians sit in with our band..I don`t suggest this for other bands, but it works for us...

We have a vast song list...100s of songs..so it helps keep us fresh as we learn new songs..We have a fan base to build on..."

We (musicians) ARE entertainment and every band has it's own way of entertaining. Some bands strictly depend on their music and their genre. Other bands focus more on interaction with the crowd. Some do both.

One thing I don't like when I see a band is the musicians playing to each other. Hey, I'm out here, turn and face me please. It was pointed out to me that in some genres it is not necessary to face or interact with the crowd.

I've heard some musicians say they need the crowd to help get them "into it". Shouldn't it be the other way around ?

Anyhow, what are the little things that work for you ?

kayla · Post by **kayla** » Saturday Aug 13, 2011

i don't have a ton of experience playing out, but the one thing i always try to do is find someone who is really interested in the music. i usually single them out for a bit, just kinda play to them and it gets them really into it. sometimes if you can get one person interested - itll start gettin contagious. i feed off of others emotions when i play.

i do have a habit of kinda turning sideways to the crowd - im working on that ha. for some reason i always wanna play lookin towards the drummer. i did that sunday night and felix turned me around and pushed me up front.

i will take any tips from the seasoned musicians i can get, lets hear it fellas!!

- kayla.

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Saturday Aug 13, 2011

There's nothing wrong with guitarists and bassists playing to each other...just don't do it all night. I can't stand when I see a band and they are either only playing to each other or being the dreaded "fretboard gazers". It's nice for a band (besides the singer) to acknowledge the presence of the crowd, however big or small, during the show, and it helps the energy level of the room.

[rant] In my mind (and I'm an asshole about it), you should never stare at your fretboard for longer than about 10 seconds. Know your instrument, have confidence in what you do, and let it all hang out. When I'm playing a show, I'm constantly looking around, checking out the crowd, making eye contact with folks, looking at what's going on around me. How can you have a good time making music if you are staring at the fretboard the whole damn time? STOP IT.[/rant]

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Saturday Aug 13, 2011

kayla wrote:
i do have a habit of kinda turning sideways to the crowd - im working on that ha. for some reason i always wanna play lookin towards the drummer. i did that sunday night and felix turned me around and pushed me up front.

- kayla.

Hahaha,Felix would never do that!! LOL!!!!

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Saturday Aug 13, 2011

Just get up there,have a good time and jam it out...the rest falls into place after that.

mjb · Post by **mjb** » Saturday Aug 13, 2011

rock out with your cock out!

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Saturday Aug 13, 2011

mjb wrote:rock out with your cock out!

Unless you're Peewee Herman. Then having your cock out is probably not a good idea.

Something that I've learned that works is having the most minimal amount of dead time during a set as possible. I hate, hate dead air. We play in six different tunings, often spread out between four or five guitars. I exclusively play five-strings, so I can do the whole gig on one bass, but sometimes, old sKool needs to make a guitar switch. Whenever I write a setlist, I always try and make sure the first song in a new tuning has a bass or drum vamp at the beginning so music's playing during the guitar switch and tuning.

Something else that works is having a good vocal mix. Crowds will put up with a lackluster guitar or bass mix (I won't be predictable and bitch about scooped mids.

), but in my experience, crowds will not put up with a crappy vocal mix.

Finally, I've found that having a picture on the setlist of Bobby Watters with a pancake on his head usually brings a lot of good mojo to the gig. Call me superstitious, but I just don't play my best unless Bobby's looking up at me with with some rounded IHOP batter on top of his noggin.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Saturday Aug 13, 2011

What works for us? Having people see us once. That's the easy part.

The hard part is getting them in the door the 1st time.

This is where the

"I never heard this band before, so I'm not going to the bar that I normally go to almost every day of my life to see them because even though there is no cover charge and I can leave at any time, I might not like them."

mentality comes in.