Members The*Ataris Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 So, my buddy's girlfriend's brother has a band, right? They're all 27-30 year old professional types and do it in their spare time. They're a pretty generic modern radio rock band (Staind, Nickleback?)... Well, they made it to the regional finals of some national battle of the bands thing, and he's seen my band before, so I agreed to go tonight to return the gesture. It was a sold out show at a really nice theatre/club (800 capacity?) and they serve beer, so what the hell, right? Well, I've seen a lot of local music in the 7-8 years and I'd never heard of a single band on the bill. They all sounded exactly like some other band on the radio, and looked like they were trying entirely too hard--pretty entertaining actually. I got to hear basement versions of Hoobastank, Limp Bizkit, 311, (the aforementioned) Staind, Fallout Boy... Something just seemed weird about it. Sold out show, nice venue, good sound, some band even drove from Utah. Got home and did a little myspace search on all the names I could remember. None of them had any other shows posted, none had over 2000 plays (not really a big deal, but still...), most of the bands claimed to have been playing for years in their bios... I just don't understand I guess... Any of you guys practice and write all the time just to play a 20 minute set being judged (...by some website I've never heard of) and probably not get paid? I know I don't... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KarateSchnitzel Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 same experience with me,.... we played a battle of the bands in Liverpool after playin the circut for a few years.... Didn't recognise one band on the bill - whereas we always meet the same bands doing the rounds... Needless to say we didn't get through to the next round... but every band on there was very try-too-hard and sounded very much like someone else......oh well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FDZ Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 My band plays regular gigs, but every so often we sign up for a BotB just to see the audience/contestants/judges reactions to 15 minutes of feedback. Always good for a giggle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The*Ataris Posted December 11, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 I think the other thing that bugged me was the promise of a one million dollar "recording contract" to the national winner. I'd love to see what the catch is... Anyway, are these bands really that stupid? Or are they just doing it for fun like FDZ was describing? I know my buddy's girlfriend's brother makes a good chunk of change as an investment broker. I'm pretty sure they don't have any illusions of grandeur, but if you're just doing it for fun, then why not do it in an environment that's not so...fake? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members capnbringdown Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 I tried to do a BotBs in high school. They wouldn't let us play on it. Of course, I sounded, and still do actually, like a chainsaw going at a sackful of angry cats, but I guess they didn't really like "punk" rock anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The*Ataris Posted December 11, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 Originally posted by capnbringdown I tried to do a BotBs in high school. They wouldn't let us play on it. Of course, I sounded, and still do actually, like a chainsaw going at a sackful of angry cats, but I guess they didn't really like "punk" rock anyways. Well, get this...I started my high school's battle of the bands when I was a senior. Got the sound system together, got the sponsers, judges, etc. I'm pretty sure they're still doing it in some capacity......but that's different! We didn't have anywhere else to play back then, so we had to make our own shows--house parties, town halls, whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FDZ Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 I don't know what it's like for you guys, but in my neck of the woods if you're not well into 'the scene' it's not that easy to get gigs. For casual Sunday-afternoon garage bands who just want the chance to get up and play in front of someone, a BotB offers them that chance at the negligible expense of filling in an entry form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FDZ Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 Another thing, the people who listen to this sort of radio rock don't strike me as the type to go to small, local gigs either, so for bands just starting out there are even less options. That's the price you pay for playing awful music I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wilbo26 Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 When I was gigging we did a battle of the bands thing. The night we played it was between us and two other bands. One was actually really good, played a better set than we did, we did alright, and the third band flat out sucked. But naturally the crappy band had brought 100 people with them, and apparently thats how you win a battle of the bands, bring in the most people to drink and make the participating clubs money. I don't know if there are actually legit "battle of the bands" contests out there, but I would never enter one ever again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cabrasguitar Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 I have never entered a BoTBs simply for the reason that competetive music is a concept that makes me unconfortable. I mean seriously. Picking a 'winner' out of a group of serious musicians is a laughable concept and I think that most BotBs will remain the mainstay of bands and artists that believe it is possible to win at music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theweight Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 Originally posted by cabrasguitar I have never entered a BoTBs simply for the reason that competetive music is a concept that makes me unconfortable. I mean seriously. Picking a 'winner' out of a group of serious musicians is a laughable concept and I think that most BotBs will remain the mainstay of bands and artists that believe it is possible to win at music. +1Even if it was a viable concept, those things are always a popularity contest anyway. It's a question of who brought the most friends with them. The winner is usually some Metallica cover band with no singer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members waveman Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 Been to a couple of these. They always wreak of a promo setup...that is the winner was already pre determined by some major sponsor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DonaldDemon Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 i've played a few BOTB's and here is what I get out of it. Bands who bring the most people win. Band who know the judges win. Bands who sound like radio rock win. If you don't have at least 2 out of 3 of these qualities you lose. But....it really is a great way to get fans if your band does well and just plays it like just anither show. You get to play at some decent venues to decent crowds. Last one we played a well known venue here and the crowd, bands, and promoters loved us. We had people come up to us all night and say they really dug it AND the club promoter wanted to give us some shows. Most of the shows we have opened for national acts and played decent clubs have been through that BOTB where they first saw us. So...just play it like any other gig, have fun, and you never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members spoonie g Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 Originally posted by The*Ataris I think the other thing that bugged me was the promise of a one million dollar "recording contract" to the national winner. I'd love to see what the catch is...Anyway, are these bands really that stupid? Or are they just doing it for fun like FDZ was describing?I know my buddy's girlfriend's brother makes a good chunk of change as an investment broker. I'm pretty sure they don't have any illusions of grandeur, but if you're just doing it for fun, then why not do it in an environment that's not so...fake? I think I know the one you're talking about. My band made it to the finals in atlanta. Hey, it's another gig and a way to get exposure to the venue as well as other people who may have not seen you before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The*Ataris Posted December 11, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 Originally posted by cabrasguitar I have never entered a BoTBs simply for the reason that competetive music is a concept that makes me unconfortable. I mean seriously. Picking a 'winner' out of a group of serious musicians is a laughable concept and I think that most BotBs will remain the mainstay of bands and artists that believe it is possible to win at music. Well, I think musicians are naturally competitive, whether it's trying to win over more fans, write better music, play bigger shows. It might not be directly competitive like a sport, for instance, but we're all fighting for a little bit of attention... Now, the part I find silly is trying to impress a judge. When I'm on stage, I'm there to do my thing. If you want to dig it, fine, if you don't, whatever... Plus, if every band is good at what they do, then how do you pick a winner? The most "original" band? How do you quantify that? Oh well...some body made a lot of money last night and it wasn't the bands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mel Cooley Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 Often those are a travelling roadshow with ringers involved. They are the lowest form of booking agent going. That's why you've never heard of the bands. The bands might go by a different name in the next nearby city. The outfit will work to get a sponsorship from a local radio station, bar, etc. You and maybe a few local acts will also sign up. If all the locals suck (i.e. not meet the commercial expectations of those in charge...) then a ringer band will win that evening. Should you win your contract will likely be something that will make you a ringer too while the outfit tries (maybe) to sell you off to another booking agent, label, etc. at a profit. All the while your band gets to go on the road and do shows night after night just like a "real band". If you're "lucky" enough to win one of those things you'll also likely to bump one of the lesser ringer bands. It's a cruel (crueler??) low-level form of professional show business. Don't waste your time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fightingmike Posted December 12, 2006 Members Share Posted December 12, 2006 My band played one or two of these early on. Usually most of the bands that play these are new bands in their first year together and they usually suck. 90% of the crowd is the band's family members and close friends, not actual fans. These shows create competition among bands instead of friendship and there is always a weird tension in the air. Usually the bands that win these things only win because they had the loudest crowd cheering for them, not because they were good or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuyaGuy Posted December 12, 2006 Members Share Posted December 12, 2006 i think it would be fun to go in and try to play EXACTLY what the crowd wants to hear--fairly melodic but "hard" (in a Nickelback sense) rock with a short guitar solo that includes a widdly widdly widdly and THEN a widdly widdly widdly one fourth up. the song would have to include a second where everyone stops playing and then starts playing again as well with a lyric containing some kind of sexual innuendo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NoirAbattoir Posted December 12, 2006 Members Share Posted December 12, 2006 WBCN in Boston holds a pretty serious battle of the bands each year. A lot of national acts have come out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteveRII Posted December 12, 2006 Members Share Posted December 12, 2006 I wisht these things were more fair. They usually have 10 bands playing and each has to sell at least 30 tickets otherwise they dont make it to the next round. that makes the venue and the promoters alot of money. And its not like any bands get signed or huge exposure out of the thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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