Members januaryscar Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Our band is in the process of recording our debut ep. Its about 80% done. We spend as much time as possible working on it, as we all work full time as well as having other commitments. The thing is, our singer is booking loads of gigs, when at the start of the recording process we clearly stated that the EP was going to be our focus; ie we dont gig much during the recording process. We came to this decision because we are of the belief it is pointless gigging without a recording of some sort . I mean, people wont remember an original band's songs from hearing them once at a gig, so they need a CD, MP3 whatever to listen to and become familiar with the music - this was our plan for building a fan base and moving forward as a band. . I know it is important to play gigs for the sake of practicing playing gigs, but i think instead of playing 2 or 3 gigs a week, we should put more focus into finishing the EP. I clearly state this over and over, but our singer thinks every gig is an opportunity. I mean, we are so close to finishing the EP, yet with all of our precious little time being devoted to playing loads of gigs, the release still seems a long way off. Are my arguments justified? Or should we be gigging as much as possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noisewave Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 where I live if you played 2 or 3 times a week....hell 2 or 3 times a month you'd play yourself out. we only play once every 2-3 months. i agree though if you're recording that should be your priority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members THB Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Never, ever, ever bitch about having someone in the band who likes to book. Play what you can when you can, but 2-3 gigs/week for a band is a lot. Your audience can get burned out on you just like you can get burned out on your own stuff, so find that line and walk it, but don't complain about having too much work, because it won't last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xonetruedesirex Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Shows > Recording, seriously. The show is what makes people want to buy the record more than anything else. If you play a lot, and in different places, you're exposing yourself to a whole lot more potential fans than you would holed up in a studio... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dave Martin Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 I'd have suggested that the gigs should come before you start working on a record. After all, if the band sucks live (not that I'm saying that you do), or if y'all don't get along once you start working, then the time spent doing the project isn't wasted. besides, playing a song 30 or 40 times is goin to change it - usualy for the better. What you may end up with is an EP that sounds completely different from what the band sounds like. I'd also think that a band that only plays once every two or three months isn't a 'band'. It's just guys who get together a few times a year to play. Or have I missed something here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roy Brooks Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 I gig pretty regularly in pickup bands. And at times I gig more than two or three times a week. But it is not always with the same band. Sometimes we have the same rhtythm sections though. None of those bands have records nor are there any plans for any of them to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators MrKnobs Posted September 5, 2005 Moderators Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by xonetruedesirex Shows > Recording, seriously. The show is what makes people want to buy the record more than anything else. Ah, but there's the rub. You have to have a record to sell them while they're interested in buying it. Catch 22. The only possible answer is you have to do both. If you write the songs and record them first, then play out you have the following advantages: You can figure out the advantages and disadvantages of gigging before you record by reversing the above. Terry D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lee Flier Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 I think the usual arc of a band's development is (and probably should be) gig a lot first, record when you have a cohesive sound and good arrangements worked up. Playing songs live before you record them gives you the chance to work up the best possible arrangements, although you can burn out on a song too if you play it too much before recording it. If the songs are good, people will remember them and keep going to see you, and they'll anticipate the release of your recording that much more. I don't know how long your band has been together though. If you've been gigging steadily for a year or two and have nothing recorded, I'd say you should make recording more of a priority. Otherwise there's nothing really wrong with squeezing recording sessions between gigs. If you've got lots of gigs, it's usually a good thing to take them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members januaryscar Posted September 6, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 6, 2005 the band has been together for a good 4 years now. This singer has been with us for a year. The songs we are recording have been perfected over the course of rehearsing and gigging over the past 2 years. This is my point, there is years of work going into this EP, and it may just burn the band out if there is no cd to release soon. We want to start concentrating on writing new stuff too once the EP is done, and it just keeps looking like its never going to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noisewave Posted September 6, 2005 Members Share Posted September 6, 2005 I'd figured you'd been together for awhile and played out already....thats why I suggested to work on the recording. especially if it's 80% done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ShoNuf Posted September 6, 2005 Members Share Posted September 6, 2005 We are taking a similar approach to our bands "launch". The thought process is, to make it seem that we are not a new band but rather an established band that hasn't played yet. Does that make sense? You see having the presskit with an EP is paramount to getting the "real" shows. Play the small clubs and dives in between, but you should always be working for the "real" gigs. Big clubs that draw national attention, larger venues or outdoor shows, opening for regional and national acts... that type of stuff. You can't do those shows without presskits or booking agents, and you definately aren't getting into that realm without recording. So with this group we decided to start off like we have already been playing around the world (well not the whole world). We have written a battery of songs and practiced them until we can play them blindfolded. We are pushing our selves on the sites like MySpace and Garageband.com. We are going to record at the end of this month. We are having stickers, posters and shirts mades as well. And all of this without having played our first show. In a sense it is a marketing blitz. I hate marketing but unfortunately you have to hit people with what they know... and that is how this world works. This way when we get on stage and play for the first time the crowd will not feel that we are a "local" band. (as you can tell I like quotation marks) Well, that is our take on it. I will let you know how it has worked for us. Hoepfully my next post will be made from our tour bus. Fists a pumpin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dave Martin Posted September 7, 2005 Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 Originally posted by ShoNuf We are taking a similar approach to our bands "launch". The thought process is, to make it seem that we are not a new band but rather an established band that hasn't played yet. Does that make sense? ...(snip)...Well, that is our take on it. I will let you know how it has worked for us. Hoepfully my next post will be made from our tour bus. Fists a pumpin' I dunno - in my local scene, 'established' means that you've been around long enough to have a crowd that consistently shows up for your gigs. And the only way to do that is to get out and play. but your idea might work - good luck with it, and do let us know how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members januaryscar Posted September 7, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 7, 2005 Originally posted by ShoNuf We are taking a similar approach to our bands "launch". The thought process is, to make it seem that we are not a new band but rather an established band that hasn't played yet.Does that make sense? This is exactly what our plan is...But we played one gig, and got 'gig fever'. Especially the singer. We have addressed the situation again, and it seems we have reached the decision to get back on track with the EP. Will post MP3's when its done!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ShoNuf Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 Originally posted by Dave Martin I dunno - in my local scene, 'established' means that you've been around long enough to have a crowd that consistently shows up for your gigs. And the only way to do that is to get out and play. but your idea might work - good luck with it, and do let us know how it works. With this band it is a bit different. Everyone is a seasoned music scene veteran and very talented at their respective instruments. Once we knew the chemistry was right being tight came rather easily. I think what is different about our idea is that we are not going to cut our teeth by learning to be good together as a band by playing shows, but rather become good as a band before even playing our first gig. I have seen way too many local bands that hit the stage too early trying to "get the fan base" or "get there names out." Then what they end up doing is turning away an audience with sloppy and shoddy performances. We decided to change that with this band, and I am glad. In our rehearsals we already sound tighter than most of the bands I have seen in the last year. My dad always said dress for the job you want not the one you have. That is why from out the door we are going to behave and perform like a group that is signed, sells a million records, and is 100% nailed down tight during our live shows. I will keep you guys posted on if it works or not. /crosses fingers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Singin' Dave Posted September 8, 2005 Members Share Posted September 8, 2005 IMO, nothing beats playing live gigs. To me, that's what it's all about is playing a rockin' show for an appreciative audience. Connecting with the crowd, delivering a solid preformance as a band and getting positive feedback on material you have written is about as much fun as you can have being a musician. Unless maybe your a major act and are "going into the studio" with a scheduled tour to follow, I think any band should be gigging regularly...and recording during down times when gigs are scarce. That being said, having a solid fan base, press kit, demo, CD etc. are all important and lead to bigger and better gigs. Since your 80% of the way to the finishing your recording, why don't you guys only take the best of the gigs and finish up your recording in the time saved by dropping "lesser" gigs? Sounds to me as if you guys may have different ideas of what "moving forward as a band" is all about and need to come to a consensus... Are your goals to get signed to a label/get on the radio or are they to rock out as hard as you can, build a following and have those follow? Time for a band meeting.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnf Posted September 10, 2005 Members Share Posted September 10, 2005 Originally posted by THB Never, ever, ever bitch about having someone in the band who likes to book. Play what you can when you can, but 2-3 gigs/week for a band is a lot. Your audience can get burned out on you just like you can get burned out on your own stuff, so find that line and walk it, but don't complain about having too much work, because it won't last. BUT IF YOU AINT GOT AN ALBUM TO SELL THEM YOURE PRETTY MUCH {censored} OUTTA LUCK!!!! (now thats a no brainer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnf Posted September 10, 2005 Members Share Posted September 10, 2005 Originally posted by xonetruedesirex Shows > Recording, seriously. The show is what makes people want to buy the record more than anything else. If you play a lot, and in different places, you're exposing yourself to a whole lot more potential fans than you would holed up in a studio... BUT IF YOU AINT GOT A CD TO SELL THEM AT YOUR SHOW YOURE PRETTY MUCH {censored} OUTTA LUCK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Singin' Dave Posted September 10, 2005 Members Share Posted September 10, 2005 Thus my statement that BOTH is the answer. Gigs help pay for CDs to be made and are a blast! If you can balance the two, that's the ticket IMO... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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