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Promo Idea for a Band - Practical or Not?


jabney

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Posted

Can this work?

 

Party 1 - Me. I'm not a player or a singer, so my contributions are lyrics and sound equipment. I've invested the bulk of my lump-sum retirement money in primarily pro-level audio equipment capable of handling a room holding several hundred people, and a Cummins diesel-powered step-van (capable of holding and towing a lot). I've got some decent experience in, and a pretty good ear for, mixing. (I don't play an instrument with any proficiency, and my co-writer does not like for me to sing. He may get some sort of humanitarian award for that someday :-)

 

I do co-write songs (as I noted) and I am fortunate that co-writer is a charismatic singer who can play lots of things (and usually pretty well), and who serves the songs best by singing lead. Co-writer is in one band that performs a few of our songs, but wants to build a band around our songs, his lead singing, and some tasty covers. I'll not tout our songs here. They must stand or fall on their own. I will say that the songs have usually done rather well in holding audience attention when performed in public - even under less than ideal conditions.

 

The new song-centered band is now being formed. The original drummer from the existing band wants to switch to rhythm guitar and back-up vocals. They have recruited a bass player who I am told is solid and not musically busy. The slot left to fill is on drums, and I will be satisfied with whomever co-writer picks, as long as the drummer combines the skills of, say, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr. I have confidence in co-writer to put together a tight band which leads to -

 

Party 2 - The As-Yet-To-Be-Named band that is now being put together. I'm trusting the band will be good (I'll know more in a week or so).

 

In another era, I would urge them to get a major label deal. That used to be the best way to get songs heard. But times have changed, and labels seem to want only short-term (one or two album's worth) relations with their artists. Co-writer and I are figuring on several albums worth of songs, and I (but not my younger co-writer) am of an age where the time involved in building a songwriting brand-name becomes an issue. That means a way to speed things up a little would be cool. That in turn leads to -

 

Party 3 - A musically compatible band that already has some sort of built-in national or regional following, perhaps a label deal, and is planning on touring. This band will have been around the music scene long enough to know that good sound usually costs good money. And that usually means a reduced net profit from touring. The core of this idea is to help the more established band by reducing their expenses, and to help the new band build an audience.

 

So existing band can benefit by using my gear (FOH = Crest, Bag-End, Stage = Crest, JBL, Backline = Ampeg B-15N, Kawai MP 9500 stage-piano, Hammond or VK-8, THD Univalve with a large collection of tubes, etc.) hauled in a truck which has blank, flat sides suitable for promo posters. New band gets to play in front of an audience. I get my co-written songs heard by a wider audience.

 

I don't expect this package to attract a Paul Simon, a Bruce Springsteen or a, "Soldiers"-era Iggy Pop, simply because they play larger venues. But what about a somewhat established band that could - in theory - open for one of them without getting booed? Do you think such a band would be willing to consider listening to a proposal such as I have outlined?

 

What do those of you who are in currently active bands think? What things am I overlooking? Your comments and suggestions will be appreciated.

 

thanks,

 

john

 

PS, I posted this under a really lousy title and I couldn't change the title. So I deleted the content in the old post and created this new post.

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Posted

this idea is potentially good, however from what you've told me i'd say your getting well ahead of yourself.

get the band together first. that in itself will take a long time. its taken me a year to do just that.

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Posted

Not sure I have your post straight. So you basically are providing touring equipment and songs for party 3 in exchange for getting your songwriting out there? Is that the end goal?

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Posted

I'm not going to say this can't be done, but there are a myriad of holes in your plan.

1) The (new) band will take months to be ready to be on a par with other opening acts.

2) How are you intending to approach this 'established touring act'? Odds are if they are at that level, they have a label, and that will make your situation pretty difficult.

3)I hate to say this, but everyone and their brother thinks their songs are great. I'm not saying yours aren't, but honestly, until the band gets going, does some serious gigging, and you produce and sell some CDs, why is anyone going to take a risk on your material, your band, your gear, etc?

4) You would do well to get the band established, and publish your songs and try to sell them to indie label acts. That would go a long way to establishing your credibility.

 

There are no short cuts, except maybe American Idol....

 

Good luck, I hope you prove me wrong.:cool:

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Posted

Thanks for the responses.

 

hefonthefjords, in one respect, co-writer has already invested the better part of a year in getting a band together. (I've helped by furnishing the use of gear.) Time and (the need to earn) money have delayed things a bit. The summer offers a little breathing room, so we both are hoping for progress.

 

AGreaterHope, No. The songs are currently reserved for co-writer and the band he is putting together. If the more established group likes one or more the songs, perhaps some sort of all-join-in-finale could work, but that isn't the goal.

 

daddymack, (1) I agree with 'months' but hopefully not too many. I'll know more once I hear how long it takes them to master a simple-sounding-but-not-that-easy song such as, "Happy Jack" (which I am lobbying for as a cover).

 

(2) I'm not sure how a label would make things more difficult, unless the label insists on saddling the already semi-established act with 'kool gear' riders. I suppose there are labels that insist on budget-busting Midas consoles and bi-amped 18" wedges for their acts, but probably not the type of act I would want to have to listen to night after night.

 

(3) The songs must stand or fall on their own. I'll just say this about them. The last time I heard them performed by co-writer in public, I spent more time watching the crowd than I did watching co-writer. When the other songs (not ours) were being performed (but without co-writer singing lead) the majority of the crowd was polite and enjoying each other's company as well as the music. When co-writer was singing his and my songs, I'd estimate 75 to 80% of the crowd was actively, and pretty much exclusively, paying attention to co-writer and our songs. As for the gear, all I know is that it sounds good and shouldn't embarass anybody performing behind it. Right now I'm set-up for moderate to moderately loud levels. Co-writer and I each have contacts so that we could scale-up with larger racks 'n stacks if need be. Still, this is not geared toward stadiums :-)

 

(4) Probably can't interest an indie label act in buying songs for their acts. I don't think that even if Yip Harburg, Ira Gershwin and G.F. Handel collaborated on a song that it would sell to an indie act. Lennon/McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon pretty much destroyed the rock market for non-performing songwriters. (I'd go into why I can't perform, but it looks like that subject is going to be useful fodder for at least a few songs.) I certainly agree with getting the songs out there.

 

Again, thanks for the responses. More comments are welcome.

 

best,

 

john

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