Members Uncle_Milton Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 I've been taking to the cover band player at work and he makes big money playing cover gigs, especially this time of year. I've decided to put one together, horrible though it may be in both quality and enjoyment, to bring in cash. As you can probably tell, I'm utterly shameless, and since I've decided to do it, I'll play anything. What advice can you cover band fellas give me? I've got a drummer who's kinds of alright, but with some coaching could be good in the role, I've got a bassist who will get the job done if I can get him to stop playing WoW, and I've got a keyboard player/singer who will do the job fine. Is a four piece too much? We'll be splitting our income, so 3 would be better than 4 in that respect. How about song libraries? What do you guys do? Do you have a set of stuff to offer clients, or do you learn whatever is asked? Maybe somewhere between the two? Recommendations on small gear would appreciated too. I've been thinking a mesa f-50 or f-30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RSBro Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 Easiest thing to do is join one lol. If not, just go to the local places you want to play, see what their current rosters play and on what nights, and repeat, sadly enough. We try and keep our set list somewhat fresh and non-rehashed, but people want to hear songs they like and in the end that's who you play for, along with the bar managers. IME also there's a difference between a bar band that transposes everything to E or drop D and all the tempos are sped up/slowed down to about the same and so all the songs sound the same, versus cover bands that play songs as close to original as possible with correct tunings, etc., given your singer can cover the range. We have 5 people so $$ is a little stretched, but a lot of the songs we couldn't do with just 1 so I don't mind. inb4 the hate, I hope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members isvoid Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 You won't make any of that "big money" this year unless you join an established band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PlayboyChris Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 1. Hire a captivating frontman/frontwoman who's also a barfly and has lots of friends in the local nightlife scene2. Learn "Crazy Bitch"3. Profit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chrispsullivan Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 In socal you can't go wrong with sublime covers, blink 182, top 40 stuff from the 60s till now, REGGAE (easily the best paying at the moment for me). Four piece is perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnowStorm Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 It's not bad dude. As you stated, getting paid for gigs is a pretty sweet thing. I just use it to buy more gear! I actually play bass in the band. I think having the keyboard played is a good thing, most people listening to cover band type music seem to like music with keyboards. As far as music, I kinda just listen to classic rock stations and pick out good songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Uncle_Milton Posted December 1, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 You won't make any of that "big money" this year unless you join an established band. Yeah, probably so. Thankfully, the added cash it may bring is not a necessity. I'd really rather form one with musicians I already know, to make it as much "fun" as possible. I'm sure it won't be profitable right away, but I've got a few years left here to build it up to something decent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members isvoid Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 Yeah, probably so. Thankfully, the added cash it may bring is not a necessity. I'd really rather form one with musicians I already know, to make it as much "fun" as possible. I'm sure it won't be profitable right away, but I've got a few years left here to build it up to something decent. Yep. I played in a couple cover bands, the more successful one for about 5 years. We secured monthly gigs at quite a few clubs so I was playing about 12 days a month; not bad. Never got rich but was a lot of fun while it lasted and the material was good/fresh. Had the singer and bass player not become lazy (not learning new material) and "all that" (oh love me, I'm a rock star) I wouldn't have quit. Oddly enough another "quit" I did on new year's after finishing said gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Cohn Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RaceU4her Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 play songs people can dance too is all i can say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RSBro Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 Yeah, probably so. Thankfully, the added cash it may bring is not a necessity. I'd really rather form one with musicians I already know, to make it as much "fun" as possible. I'm sure it won't be profitable right away, but I've got a few years left here to build it up to something decent.Also at least around here, if you show up on a weekend when there's an under 35 crowd packed into the place, with your "version" of "classic" rock covers, expect it to be empty after the first set! There's a ton of venues in Houston and the audiences are usually pretty finnicky to what they wanna hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PlayboyChris Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 As far as music, I kinda just listen to classic rock stations and pick out good songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RSBro Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 play songs people can dance too is all i can say Yeah we've had to add a few of those as well... Feel Good, Inc. is a popular one that not everyone does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RSBro Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 This. Which is why the following is the worst advice given thus far in this thread:Yeah I lol'd. Don't undervalue the importance of "look", also. Most of those "classic" guys show up with their long, scraggly hair in some too tight t shirt b/c of belly bulge and it's obviously they don't really care about being there, so that's why nobody else does and goes next door to hear the band playing RHCP tunes.It's pretty competitive in my market, so YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jds22 Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 play songs people can dance too is all i can say +100 A good frontman is very helpful too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougar Hunter Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 Win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members almightycrunch Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 play songs people can dance too is all i can sayabsa-frickin-lutely, from a cover band musician for many many years, you have to play dance music, and cater to the women, cuz where there's women, there's dancing, and where there's women dancing, there's guys drinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PlayboyChris Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 you have to play dance music, and cater to the women, cuz where there's women, there's dancing, and where there's women dancing, there's guys drinking. /thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RSBro Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 absa-frickin-lutely, from a cover band musician for many many years, you have to play dance music, and cater to the women, cuz where there's women, there's dancing, and where there's women dancing, there's guys drinking. yep.We had a crew of off-duty strippers come and get absolutely trashed last Friday night. Brought a few chairs right in front of the stage and two of them were going at it like no other. I think the chair even came! I forget which song it was, but a dancy one for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RiffDaemon Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 This. Which is why the following is the worst advice given thus far in this thread: Well, depends. Guitarslinger mentioned 80's pop and 90's alternative for the less-than-35 crowd, but in my area they happen to eat up the 70's {censored}, too, making cherry-picking the local classic rock station a viable method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PlayboyChris Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 yep. We had a crew of off-duty strippers come and get absolutely trashed last Friday night. Brought a few chairs right in front of the stage and two of them were going at it like no other. I think the chair even came! I forget which song it was, but a dancy one for sure. You sure it wasn't "Wasted Years" by Iron Maiden? :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AXEL276 Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 I've decided to put one together, horrible though it may be in both quality and enjoyment, to bring in cash. I've got a drummer who's kinds of alright, but with some coaching could be good in the role, I've got a bassist who will get the job done if I can get him to stop playing WoW, How about song libraries? What do you guys do? Do you have a set of stuff to offer clients, or do you learn whatever is asked? Maybe somewhere between the two? Recommendations on small gear would appreciated too. I've been thinking a mesa f-50 or f-30. This reeks of fail.First you need to change your attitude, do it because you want to and not just to make money. There is no shame is playing covers you like for money. It's one of the best things you can do to improve your playing.:poke:Find guys who also "want" to do it and you all will need a "professional" attitude.I would suggest you go out to the clubs and watch/learn from the bands that are doing well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members skinsscalper Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 I was in a cover band on the road for a little over two years. 5 nights a week with literally two weeks off in two years.The best advice I can give you is play some popular music that YOU like to play. It will carry over in your performance. Nobody wants to watch a group of guys stand up there and go through the motions. Once the fire is gone, the audience notices and you're nothing more than a live jukebox, only uglier and you run up a bar tab. Enthusiasm is a must if you want steady work. Cover bands are a dime a dozen. GOOD cover bands are rare. 99 times out of 100 the better band takes a professional approach and realizes that their JOB is to ENTERTAIN. Not just stand up there and play music. I don't want to say "find a schtick" but do SOMETHING that separates you from other bands vying for that "paycheck". As much as I hate it, a dynamic frontman is key if you don't want to get washed aside with the rest of the hacks out there. There HAS to be something about your band that stands out from the pack. Typically a great frontman is the bet way to get there, but I've seen other bands that make themselves unique from the ocean of {censored}ty cover bands. Also, practice, practice, practice. Nobody wants to watch or hear you go up and hack through a set list. Word travels fast about a decent band. It travels at lightening speed about a {censored}ty one. Especially a working {censored}ty one. Your first gig could be your last (for a while atleast) if you don't have your {censored} together. Listen to your crowd. Ineveitibly some one will come up to you and say do you play( )? Take a personal inventory of some of these bands and songs and keep them in mind. There has to be something that they request that you like. One thing that alos worked for us was to play some of the B-side stuff of the popular bands. For example People liked Guns n Roses. Rather than play Sweet Child O Mine, or Paradise City, we played Might Train. Went over TEN TIMES better than the other songs. Rather than play Looks that Kill we played Live Wire. Rather than play Round and Ropund we played She Wants Money. You have to pick the right albums to do that with though. Above all, have fun. It spreads to the audience. Once you get a following then you can start negotiating more money for your services. We got to a pretty decent point for a while there. We were pulling anywhere from 3K to 7K a week depending on the gig. That was long time ago and a lot more rooms have gone dark since then but it was a cool thing for a couple years. Decent money for 4 dudes playing music for a living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougar Hunter Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 hot female lead singer = winmusic to which one dances = win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JerEvil Posted December 1, 2009 Members Share Posted December 1, 2009 Man I am in 2 cover bands and we are doing pretty well cash wise. In my classic metal cover band we usually do a decent guarantee plus percentage of bar. In a 70's/80's band we do everything from Firefall to Billy Squier. Working on some casino gigs now where we should make at least $175 a night per person with 6 people. 2 Guitars (I sing and play), bassist, drummer, keys and percussionist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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