Backstage With the Band

[guido61]

I gotta do it my way....or no way at allllllll....

[FitchFY]

Originally Posted by roamingbard13

What are the most "value-added" things we can do? Adding subs? Lights? A banner? OR -- do we raise our asking price and hire out sound and lights?

1.) Get a banner: People need to know the name of your band so they can follow you. Go to www.eSigns.com and drop $50-100 on their big vinyl banners! I used one for years and they're great.

2.) Get some semblance of lights: You don't NEED a light guy (sure it helps), but even a few well placed cans and LED side fills will separate you from the chump bands in the area. Just don't leave them set on "seizure" all night.

3.) Have a quality PA: Sure, having subs is nice, but those seeing you need it... well, I challenge you with my $600-800 guarantee 4 piece bar hard rock band that booked any venue any time we wanted. Without subs. Well-tuned gear, well-tuned PA. It worked very well. But yes, having subs DOES fill your sound nicer.
SIDE NOTE: As you up your PA, you up your own sound requirements. Once your drummer has to start micing up all his drums at each gig to still be heard, you'll see your cost/profit ration start to dip. Watch this cost/profit ratio like a hawk and know what YOUR GOAL is for the band, not what Harmony-Central forums tells you.

4.) Have everyone lose 10 pounds: Okay, sort of a joke, as I haven't watched your videos, but it's a rule of thumb, especially in rock music. Want a succesful 90s-today rock cover band? Look and be the part. Which means being in shape. And preferably not "keg" as that shape.

5.) Make a fan base of hot girls: Bars appreciate it, guys buy more drinks when hot girls are there, etc. If you're in a bar band, the best thing you can do is focus your attention (friendly, not banging) (well, bang if you can) on the girls so they keep coming back. The guys will then stay.

[IsildursBane]

Originally Posted by TIMKEYS

Thanks for putting up the vids. I think you guys sound best with the girl in the band.

I wholeheartedly disagree. She's noticeably weaker than the dude in the red shirt. She can probably impress people who think that throaty=good, but to anyone who knows what a singer is supposed to sound like, she sounds like any other chick singing karaoke with lousy pitch and too much vibrato.

The dude OTOH, while not an amazing powerhouse of a singer, has good pitch, confidence, and a pleasant voice.

Also, the audio on those videos is atrocious. Don't use them for promo purposes. I'm listening on $400 headphones and literally can't understand anything I'm listening to. I had to hunt for a spot where I could even make out the vocals. I know you had some issues, and that's fine, but get that corrected ASAP. This isn't making your band look good.

-Dan.

[Potts]

Originally Posted by Lee Knight

But ask that guy to lose the headband. Nothing says "bar" more that a headband. Or is it just me?

No it's not just you. It looks like the bottom of a t-shirt

[TIMKEYS]

Originally Posted by IsildursBane

I wholeheartedly disagree. She's noticeably weaker than the dude in the red shirt. She can probably impress people who think that throaty=good, but to anyone who knows what a singer is supposed to sound like, she sounds like any other chick singing karaoke with lousy pitch and too much vibrato.

The dude OTOH, while not an amazing powerhouse of a singer, has good pitch, confidence, and a pleasant voice.

Also, the audio on those videos is atrocious. Don't use them for promo purposes. I'm listening on $400 headphones and literally can't understand anything I'm listening to. I had to hunt for a spot where I could even make out the vocals. I know you had some issues, and that's fine, but get that corrected ASAP. This isn't making your band look good.

-Dan.

Interesting ,, I felt the guy in the red shirt had some pitch issues and the voice seemed a tad dull like he was singing mostly out his mouth and not from his diaphram. She just seemed like the needed more experience but had more timbre and sang from the diaphram and had more potential to put passion in her vocals.

[Potts]

Nominate for one of the most thought out posts in this thread!

Originally Posted by FitchFY

1.) Get a banner: People need to know the name of your band so they can follow you. Go to www.eSigns.com and drop $50-100 on their big vinyl banners! I used one for years and they're great.

2.) Get some semblance of lights: You don't NEED a light guy (sure it helps), but even a few well placed cans and LED side fills will separate you from the chump bands in the area. Just don't leave them set on "seizure" all night.

3.) Have a quality PA: Sure, having subs is nice, but those seeing you need it... well, I challenge you with my $600-800 guarantee 4 piece bar hard rock band that booked any venue any time we wanted. Without subs. Well-tuned gear, well-tuned PA. It worked very well. But yes, having subs DOES fill your sound nicer.
SIDE NOTE: As you up your PA, you up your own sound requirements. Once your drummer has to start micing up all his drums at each gig to still be heard, you'll see your cost/profit ration start to dip. Watch this cost/profit ratio like a hawk and know what YOUR GOAL is for the band, not what Harmony-Central forums tells you.

4.) Have everyone lose 10 pounds: Okay, sort of a joke, as I haven't watched your videos, but it's a rule of thumb, especially in rock music. Want a succesful 90s-today rock cover band? Look and be the part. Which means being in shape. And preferably not "keg" as that shape.

5.) Make a fan base of hot girls: Bars appreciate it, guys buy more drinks when hot girls are there, etc. If you're in a bar band, the best thing you can do is focus your attention (friendly, not banging) (well, bang if you can) on the girls so they keep coming back. The guys will then stay.

[roamingbard13]

Originally Posted by Potts

Nominate for one of the most thought out posts in this thread!

Agreed!

[IsildursBane]

Originally Posted by TIMKEYS

Interesting ,, I felt the guy in the red shirt had some pitch issues and the voice seemed a tad dull like he was singing mostly out his mouth and not from his diaphram. She just seemed like the needed more experience but had more timbre and sang from the diaphram and had more potential to put passion in her vocals.

She's not singing from her diaphragm. She's singing like someone trying to sound like they're singing from their diaphragm w/o actually doing it properly.

IMO, that sounds worse than just not trying to fake it.

-Dan.

[SpaceNorman]

Originally Posted by IsildursBane

She's not singing from her diaphragm.

Do women even use those things anymore?

[guido61]

I knew a girl who sang using her diaphragm once. Strangest damn thing you ever saw....

[tlbonehead]

Originally Posted by guido61

I knew a girl who sang using her diaphragm once. Strangest damn thing you ever saw....

was it this girl?

[FitchFY]

Originally Posted by Potts

Nominate for one of the most thought out posts in this thread!

Ha! Well, thanks, but this is just off the top of my head answering the dude's question. Whoever got into arguments about harmonies and how to best power a PA was way, way, way, way answering their own questions.

[jimiv]

Originally Posted by FitchFY

Ha! Well, thanks, but this is just off the top of my head answering the dude's question. Whoever got into arguments about harmonies and how to best power a PA was way, way, way, way answering their own questions.

Welcome to Harmony Central.

[Lee Knight]

Subs

[FitchFY]

Originally Posted by jimiv

Welcome to Harmony Central.

6,000+ posts later and I STILL have hope for people. Sad, ain't it?

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by FitchFY

6,000+ posts later and I STILL have hope for people. Sad, ain't it?

Well hopefully you will get some subs someday.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by FitchFY

6,000+ posts later and I STILL have hope for people. Sad, ain't it?

Well hopefully you will get some subs someday.

[nchangin]

Screw the subs, yes they are nice but yall need to work on vocals and tightness.

Subs will get your bass drum and geetair out there but the video's you guys have are all small joints and 9 times out of 10 if you have those subs cranked up they gonig to tell you to turn down anyway. Sorry i had to be honest.

and Video one, the dude guitar tuning while that chick was singing? Big turn off, that's is my biggest pet peave with geetair players when they constantly tune **** at the wrong time.

[Mutha Goose]

Originally Posted by guitarguy19

I disagree with this somewhat...because it depends on exactly what you're providing at said club, how long you're playing for, etc.

Example 1: A 3 hr gig where we bring absolutely minimalist backline, even down to a paired down 2 piece drum kit (no toms). No lights. No PA. 3x40 min sets with 2 half hour breaks. Meals included...and nice meals...better than bar food. Very restauranty but extremely fun crowds. 1/2 hr setup and 20 minute teardown. Only gig where we don't even use a soundman. $550.

Example 2: Club across town about 1 hr away, 4 hr gig, DJ between sets, lights, subs and whole PA, etc. $1200.
... .

I did say "For clubs somewhat close to each other"... I wouldn't call an hour away close.

[jw10]

after watching the vids, id say put all the money and crap on the backburner and work on getting tighter.

Best wishes.