THIS Is Why We Play Cheezy Songs....

[Yer Blues]

Wouldn't it also depend on the type of music and band? In regards to cover bands, some bands playing certain setlist and genres will never get the same pay as others playing certain setlist and genres. I don't see how you can be in a speed metal cover band and complain about gigs and pay in comparision to a party band. You have to have realistic expectations with what you are doing.

[modulusman]

Ummm....yeah. Wade lives in a city of 700,000 and is 90 minutes from a metropolitan area of over 2 million wants to talk to ME about how I live in a big city? That's kinda funny. I've got to drive twice that far to cover that large a population base.

 

 

It could be worse. I live in Montana the 4th largest state and the population is just under a million.

[Vito Corleone]

I think you will find that people are a lot more snug with the buck in wades part of the country.

 

 

Perhaps (although unless you live here it seems that most people don't understand how 'rural' most of California and Nevada are. The entire Great Central Valley of California is all flat farm country with much more in common with the midwest than what happens on the California coast.) But I was speaking of shopping habits which I believe are fairly universal across the country. I doubt people are using Amazon and Ebay and the internet any less in Louisville or Cincinnati than they are in Sacramento or Reno. People are much more "DIY" when it comes to that sort of stuff and I'm seeing it reflected in how they hire bands as well.

 

10 years ago, if you needed to hire a band for a private function---be it your company picnic or your wife's 40th birthday party---you had to either find a local talent agency in the phone book or hire a friend's band or go on some other sort of personal recommendation. Now there's a dozen bands in your area just a Google away.

[Vito Corleone]

No, it's not about population and I've never said it was about population. It's about places to play in the area, and the fact that people tend to stay here, as well as the high native population percentage.

 

 

I can't imagine there is a city anywhere with a worse local music scene than Reno. Truely, truely dismal. There's one decent nightclub that hires cover bands but only on a week-long basis. So unless you're a "circuit" band working full time (and I don't even know where they FIND those bands anymore....usually it's just the most 'rockin' of the casino lounge bands that play there) that gig is out. Other than that there's a few dive-y clubs that the original bands play and a few barely-pay-anything restaurant/bar type deals. And the casino lounges. But certainly no gigs that would inspire anybody to WANT to be a better band or try to get "in" there or anything like that.

 

Like I've said, my whole deal has been about trying to scratch up gigs that are otherwise under-the-radar. The private party stuff. Next week we're playing a private party that a guy is throwing for his wife's birthday. Should be fun. Our only requests are that we learn Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" because that's the 'theme' song for him and his buddies and we're learning "You're All I Need To Get By" so he can get up and sing it to his wife. The rest is just going to be the same ol' classic rock and dance tunes the band down the street will be playing at the local dive for $500 and begging for tips. We'll make that per-man. I imagine there will be plenty of good food and drink too. And the band down the street won't have a clue we even pulled into town and did that gig. I didn't know those sorts of gigs existed either when I was doing the clubs. We often get so busy with our own deals that it's easy to get myopic and think "this is all there is".

 

It's easy to focus on clubs because those gigs are in your face and easy to land. But as we have all discussed a gazillion times now, that scene is dying almost everywhere. For a hundred different little reasons. Especially for us older dudes. It's really important to think outside the box.

[Vito Corleone]

It could be worse. I live in Montana the 4th largest state and the population is just under a million.

 

 

Yeah, but you're just a mere several-hours drive away from Idaho, Utah and Wyoming!

[992gnt]

We'll be checking out regional opportunities, so yeah: there is a possibility we may come through that area down the road. You may not know it but I used to live in Cinci, and I still have family there. So I'm a wee bit familiar with what's up. Are they still doing the WEBN fireworks on the river? God, I had some serious throwdown/passout moments at some of those! Even though as I recal clubs stop serving at 2am up there, the Cinci nightlife just DESTROYS Louisville in every way possible. Dance/variety bands do VERY WELL up there. My bro in law brought his VERY GOOD dance/variety band down here to play the Golden Nugget, which is (was?) a quality room, and they went over like a fart in a church. I also saw that same band on their home turf play to packed freaking house of screaming fools. Can't say I've EVER in all my years in this town, EVER, EVER seen or even HEARD of a dance variety band pulling that off. Closest we had was the Velcro Pygmies and they beat feet outta this town for greener pastures VERY SOON after they got "big". Dude, they used to play their routine at clubs that couldn't even hold 300 people. Really. I saw em. Several times. Kinda doubting they made more than the 500/600 bones those little joints pay. Very much doubting.

 

 

What band is/was that? I've heard of the Velcro Pygmies. I have spent essentially zero time in Louisville (flew out of the airport twice), so I really can't comment on that scene, but I have a pretty good idea how lucky I am to be playing where I'm playing. Even as a fan of live music it's unlike any place I've ever been, especially during the summer.

[n8cJohn]

 

Oh, and that's for the main saloon. The roof garden is B list stuff and even originals: definitely a significantly lower paying gig and at least at one time was NOT agency only. Next time you're in town try to check out TK's pub! Nice big open space, better dancefloor than the hill and quality bands and facilities. Of course, the "big deal" is "4th street live" and that whole slew of bars there. Of course that's all Triangle agency bands in there too and those gigs are tooth and frickin nail, mostly loud dumb (but good) rock for the younger single set that frequents that place. I can't stand 4th street live though....over priced over hyped bull{censored} and douche bag CENTRAL. not my scene. But a good gig if you can get more than one or two a year! Get in line is what I'm saying! Can't say I've ever played there. Yet. Could happen. Almost happened last year but I kinda went on vacation.

 

 

We rent out the Roof Garden for our parties. We get it to ourseleves until 9:30 - then the public can come in. The band that set up and played the room the night of our party cleared the room out quickly - loud as heck and not very interesting. I packed it in early myself - due to pissy wife issues. I peeked in one of the other rooms on my way out (not sure which one) and there was a better band playing there. We used to do our party on 4th St Live. Meh.

 

I go to L-ville at least once per quarter - but I like to hang out here:

 

http://www.passtimefishhouse.com/ - mmmmmm grouper sammich.