Jump to content

What are some ways to improve the "value" of your band?


roamingbard13

Recommended Posts

  • Members

The band I play with has come a long way in the 2 years since we started. We were all rookies, and in the last 12 months have played in 7 new venues and have been offered rebooks in all of them.

I think we are at a turning point -- from a music and crowd standpoint, we think we are ready to increase our asking rate. However, I feel like we also probably need to invest in our band set-up at this point.

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?

Say we had $1000 start with -- what should we do first? (I know it's chicken feed for most of y'all, but I work two other jobs and my wife is in grad school, our lead singer is a student, our drummer is a parent of 2...you get the picture). We'll likely be able to add this kind of money every 6 months or so.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 465
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • Members
Quote Originally Posted by roamingbard13 View Post
The band I play with has come a long way in the 2 years since we started. We were all rookies, and in the last 12 months have played in 7 new venues and have been offered rebooks in all of them.

I think we are at a turning point -- from a music and crowd standpoint, we think we are ready to increase our asking rate. However, I feel like we also probably need to invest in our band set-up at this point.

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?

Say we had $1000 start with -- what should we do first? (I know it's chicken feed for most of y'all, but I work two other jobs and my wife is in grad school, our lead singer is a student, our drummer is a parent of 2...you get the picture). We'll likely be able to add this kind of money every 6 months or so.
What kind of music, what types of events and venues, what do you currently have for equipment, how much do you get for gigs and how much are you hoping to raise it?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Quote Originally Posted by roamingbard13 View Post
The band I play with has come a long way in the 2 years since we started. We were all rookies, and in the last 12 months have played in 7 new venues and have been offered rebooks in all of them.

I think we are at a turning point -- from a music and crowd standpoint, we think we are ready to increase our asking rate. However, I feel like we also probably need to invest in our band set-up at this point.

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?

Say we had $1000 start with -- what should we do first? (I know it's chicken feed for most of y'all, but I work two other jobs and my wife is in grad school, our lead singer is a student, our drummer is a parent of 2...you get the picture). We'll likely be able to add this kind of money every 6 months or so.
What kind of music, what types of events and venues, what do you currently have for equipment, how much do you get for gigs and how much are you hoping to raise it?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I would go slowly with gear...its more to move,buy,repair,store replace etc same goes for lights.
first work on the things that matter more..and have fewer costs involved Learn those requests, get that mailing list going, get a banner, but pay no more than 200 for it, get biz cards, be nice to the people
sounds like you are already doing just fine.
GtrGeorge video of my band at reverbernation.com/HolidayRoad

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I would go slowly with gear...its more to move,buy,repair,store replace etc same goes for lights.
first work on the things that matter more..and have fewer costs involved Learn those requests, get that mailing list going, get a banner, but pay no more than 200 for it, get biz cards, be nice to the people
sounds like you are already doing just fine.
GtrGeorge video of my band at reverbernation.com/HolidayRoad

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

Quote Originally Posted by TIMKEYS

View Post

the best way to increase the value of a band is by really working on multiple part harmony vocals. It will do more for the bottom line than any gear purchase.

 

true in many cases, but much of the listed genre had little for extravagant harmonies. But proper singing for the genre is definitely up there.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

Quote Originally Posted by TIMKEYS

View Post

the best way to increase the value of a band is by really working on multiple part harmony vocals. It will do more for the bottom line than any gear purchase.

 

true in many cases, but much of the listed genre had little for extravagant harmonies. But proper singing for the genre is definitely up there.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Quote Originally Posted by roamingbard13 View Post
^ Mostly 90s and 00s Rock with some modern pop covers. Subs are probably definitely needed...is it okay to start with 1?
Absolutely. When I started my own band again in 2009, I just had a powered mixer and a couple of tops. I rented monitors. No subs. In 2010, I started a different band and the bass player had the equipment, so we just used his stuff. No subs there either, just huge 3-way speakers.

I finally bought my own floor monitors, some LED lights and upgraded to one sub and a power amp in 2011. Made a HUGE difference. More hotties dancing and our sound was much better. I still only have one sub, but I will occasionally rent another one for larger places as well as another set of LED lights. I plan on buying both items in the near future (after NYE). At this point, we're just doubling what we have when we need it.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Quote Originally Posted by roamingbard13 View Post
^ Mostly 90s and 00s Rock with some modern pop covers. Subs are probably definitely needed...is it okay to start with 1?
Absolutely. When I started my own band again in 2009, I just had a powered mixer and a couple of tops. I rented monitors. No subs. In 2010, I started a different band and the bass player had the equipment, so we just used his stuff. No subs there either, just huge 3-way speakers.

I finally bought my own floor monitors, some LED lights and upgraded to one sub and a power amp in 2011. Made a HUGE difference. More hotties dancing and our sound was much better. I still only have one sub, but I will occasionally rent another one for larger places as well as another set of LED lights. I plan on buying both items in the near future (after NYE). At this point, we're just doubling what we have when we need it.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

Quote Originally Posted by jimiv

View Post

I would go with the subs first. Ditto on the vocals. Yes you can start with one, the get the other. Don't go cheapo on the subs though. Lighting is also a must, but I would go with the subs first.

 

you can certainly go cheap. Just don't go crappy!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

 

Quote Originally Posted by jimiv

View Post

I would go with the subs first. Ditto on the vocals. Yes you can start with one, the get the other. Don't go cheapo on the subs though. Lighting is also a must, but I would go with the subs first.

 

you can certainly go cheap. Just don't go crappy!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Quote Originally Posted by tlbonehead View Post
you can certainly go cheap. Just don't go crappy!
We have done very well going cheap without going crappy. Got two powered Yorkville subs for $1200 and two powered EV tops for $800 - easily $4k of PA for $2k. Throw in a driverack for $250 and a mixwiz for $800 and we have a great sounding PA. A lot of it is being in the right place at the right time and constantly looking for deals, but it can be done.

I'd like to add that a good light show can make you look like a different band - and a lot of people listen with their eyes. That is our next step. thumb.gif
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Quote Originally Posted by tlbonehead View Post
you can certainly go cheap. Just don't go crappy!
We have done very well going cheap without going crappy. Got two powered Yorkville subs for $1200 and two powered EV tops for $800 - easily $4k of PA for $2k. Throw in a driverack for $250 and a mixwiz for $800 and we have a great sounding PA. A lot of it is being in the right place at the right time and constantly looking for deals, but it can be done.

I'd like to add that a good light show can make you look like a different band - and a lot of people listen with their eyes. That is our next step. thumb.gif
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...