Getting a new band off the ground. What a...

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Sunday Aug 31, 2014

What a pain. LOL

A few of us put a new band together. One that plays rock with a groove (as opposed to our other band Skye 2.0) that people might dance to or at least feel the rhythm.

So I call a venue and ask to speak to the manager. He says, "Stop out sometime and we'll talk". I go. I ask the waitress for the manager. She goes to his office, comes back and ignores me. A second waitress then goes to his office for me, again, comes back and ignores me. I'm now there for about 20 to 30 minutes. Finally the manager comes out and explains to me he only hires bands that draw a crowd.

While I can appreciate that, he could have told me that when I called and not have his waitresses try to ignore my, hoping I just leave.

Do all of you go through this?

Any how, we will get gigs and you will be seeing us soon...

Jasaoke · Post by **Jasaoke** » Sunday Aug 31, 2014

Seems like you've already learned what you need to know about the place.

If having a conversation with them is this shady, imagine what a "professional" relationship would be like.

I once had a manager tell me (before I even asked) that he doesn't "do" contracts. I really thought nothing of it at the time; we were just starting out and it was a low-paying bar gig, anyway. But what I didn't realize was that this guy just didn't have the ability to honor an agreement. That proved to be true over and over. Looking back, we probably would have been better off had we not been involved in the first place.

There's a lot to be said for avoiding the wrong kind of gigs.

floodcitybrass · Post by **floodcitybrass** » Tuesday Sep 02, 2014

It's a chicken or the egg problem.

Unfortunately it will be more important to play for publicity rather than money in the early stages.

Been there and done that in numerous projects.

Jasaoke · Post by **Jasaoke** » Tuesday Sep 02, 2014

Publicity is surely key, but there comes a point where some things just aren't worth it.

Hawk is somewhat of a fixture in local music; he wouldn't be involved with something that couldn't deliver the goods. I think one reaches a point in ones' life where "paying dues" or "starting from the ground level" are kind of insulting.

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Wednesday Sep 03, 2014

Bill, ya gotta start with the bands, not the bars. What I mean is, you and your new band members need to network with other bands. Take any opening gig you can get. Play for free at said gigs and prove to the owners what ya got. With very few exceptions, 99% of new bands won't get a headlining gig immediately after forming. (Unless you have a certain "in" name and you know the bar owner.) You gotta pay your dues. Again. Which sucks. It's almost like double taxation. Re-paying dues. See what I did there? A political joke! LOL! Good luck to ya!

floodcitybrass · Post by **floodcitybrass** » Wednesday Sep 03, 2014

We can debate publicity, money, reputation, etc.

However the rudeness of the manager is uncalled for. It's rude to waste anyone's time. He could have simply saved you a trip in to the place by stating his band hiring policy when you talked to him the first time.

StumbleFingers · Post by **StumbleFingers** » Wednesday Sep 03, 2014

Jasaoke wrote:Seems like you've already learned what you need to know about the place.

Yeah, sometimes it feels like the first year or so of a band's existence is spent figuring out where NOT to play, heh.

Don't let it get you down. Booking is always rough at the start but if the band sticks around for a few years you'll be turning down more gigs than you take.

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Wednesday Sep 03, 2014

Thanks for all the feedback!

The name of our new band is Flashpoint!

Don Osborn, Bill Hunter, Ken Civils and myself, playing groove oriented rock.

Our first official gig will be at Family Pizza September 19th thanks to our friend Polly. We'll be at Shaw's in October and you'll likely find us at our friends the Pellegrine's soon as well. And we're playing tag with some other venues...

We hope to be adding more gigs soon.

rockstar · Post by **rockstar** » Friday Sep 05, 2014

send me a demo let me here what you got and i will promote you and get you gigs? email is gazoo17@atlanticbb.net

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Saturday Sep 06, 2014

rockstar wrote:send me a demo let me here what you got and i will promote you and get you gigs? email is gazoo17@atlanticbb.net

Thank you for offering to help. Are you a booking agent?
We plan to video record our first gig.

bsaller · Post by **bsaller** » Tuesday Sep 09, 2014

Play for free....NEVER, Not in a bar!!!

skipisode · Post by **skipisode** » Friday Sep 19, 2014

The bar manager probably told you to come there because he/she figured they could get you to come to the bar to spend some of "your money" on buying a drink or some food while you waited to take up some of their "valuable time". I agree they should have been up front with you when you called in the first place. Good Luck with the new band!