who here is in a synth band? Pros/cons?

might be making a live band to do all synth music. anyone doing that? if so, what are some hurdles you didn't think of when starting? we'll probably do a bunch of covers too

The downside of being in a synth band is that it might be hard to get gigs, depending on the local musical culture of the city you're in, or the clubs you try to play. Crowds generally aren't turned on by a stage full of keyboard players. The lack of guitarists and/or a drummer can hurt your visual appeal. There are exceptions, though. Some people are really good entertainers, even while standing behind a keyboard. It's a good idea to practice being animated in your playing style. In other words, don't be Tony Banks. Be Phil Collins.

Also, synth music itself, I have to say, is an acquired taste that not everyone shares -- especially if you're playing original music. One option is to put together sets of synth-based 80s covers and play in venues that cater to people who grew up with that music. I've seen some good bands here in Austin that had a hard time getting gigs and breaking through because they were heavily synth oriented. One in particular played mostly original music, and eventually got a guitarist and moved into being a cover band of 80s and 90s music.

So, it's doable. Just remember that it's a demand-driven enterprise, stay in touch with your intended audience, and know what they like.

good points, thanks! I think we are aiming at Synth music tribute mostly, having fun and playing wherever, with an edge at dance music: 70's synth thru today. Sort of fell together. I don't see a REAL market here, just some curiousity and an outlet for us to have some major fun!

How many songs are played in an hour set on average? 8 to 12?

My biggest problem is getting all the gear to sync up. There's always one device that doesn't want to hear a midi start message from one master, and another that doesn't want to start from another, etc... Sometimes midi seems to get lost in longer chains, or will randomly start to wonder off time.

If you going to be using a lot of sequencers the crreative process is different, less immediate gratification, so you'll need to work with people that are patient and understand the process.

good points, thanks! I think we are aiming at Synth music tribute mostly, having fun and playing wherever, with an edge at dance music: 70's synth thru today. Sort of fell together. I don't see a REAL market here, just some curiousity and an outlet for us to have some major fun! How many songs are played in an hour set on average? 8 to 12?

1/2 a song if you're doing Klaus Schulze covers.

If you like doing the downbeat/head trippy stuff don't forget coffee shops, galleries and museums. They love that {censored}.

One plus of an all synth band is if you are mixing through a single PA, it's a hellalot easier to get a good sound than if you are mixing drums and tube amps. And if you aren't using big workstations, it tends to be easier to move the equipment around.

Yes, it does tremendously depend.

Honestly, it does seem like that there's a rather significant level of all-synth based indie music out there these days. As mentioned, the level of support would depend on the region. (Austin's not one of them I would expect to be synth-band friendly, to be honest.)

Keyboards are less exciting visually than guitars, so it seems like some synth bands spend a lot of time working on other aspects of entertainment. Dancers, costuming, that sort of thing. (In doing so, they probably end up being a *more* exciting spectacle than your average guitar band. ) It's not a requirement for markets that are synth friendly, but it could help in markets that aren't.

I'd be concerned about the visual aspect, too. A bunch of guys standing behind keyboards is pretty boring, unless you're doing some kind of over-the-top shenanigans for show.

I don't really know if it would help, but it seems to me that the crowd would be more intestered if they could see what you're doing. Position your keyboards perpendicular to the crowd, like a concert pianist. At least then they can see you actually playing, and that makes it more interesting.

Maybe a designated vocalist who won't be behind a keyboard. Someone funny/sexy/vaguely able to sing and dance.

Or you could do like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and wear only strategically placed keyboards and smiles.

1/2 a song if you're doing Klaus Schulze covers. If you like doing the downbeat/head trippy stuff don't forget coffee shops, galleries and museums. They love that {censored}.

Yeah, good point, not all synth music is a pop music song format (at least the stuff I listen to). Klaus Schulze, TD or Steve Roach would cater to a much different audience than Depeche Mode, Ladytron or Erasure.

The best thing would be to have some visual projection going on in back of the band. Maybe a video artist doing some weird stuff in Jitter or something similar.

WHo cares about the visual aspect? At the best parties people are interacting with each other, not the just standing there watching the band. Write some funky tunes and people will like it. The end. Don't over think things. Thinking is musical death.

I wish I could say otherwise (because I suck at visual art, fashion, and that crap), but a lot of people do.

I'd even think that arty TD type {censored} would possibly benefit with visuals. I once saw a dance troupe doing routines to Tangerine Dream's Phaedra at a modern art museum. I bet you'd catch more of a crowd with ambient + modern art dance vs. ambient alone. (Assuming you can pair up with someone and have good synergy, of course.)

However, yeah, if you're in a coffeehouse doing some live downtempo, you don't need to worry so much about the visuals. You will be providing nice background noise.

To some degree, the same applies for cover bands: you are there to get people to dance and buy drinks. Your look is not quite so important. (I actually think some cover bands make a mistake by trying to imitate period looks. There is a weight limit for spandex pants, you know.)

good info one and all, thanks much! yeah, we are going the Depeche Mode, LadyTron, Erasure maybe even Georgio Moroder thrown in, maybe Blade Runner junk too. I can sing and ham up a show. We'll see how it goes. It's just for fun, non-profit for the fun of playing the OLD synth stuff. And to get out and take a much needed break from studio work

Or drugs.

SoundwaveLove does have a point. But at the other end of the spectrum, you are doing this for fun and not to pay the rent. I say be as out there as you've always dreamt. So what if you lose the crowd. If you do get them on your side, you'll be like unto the gods.

Or the Godz. What a {censored}ing great band.

TD is famous for using visuals with their performances. In the seventies, they used elaborate laser shows with their music. I saw them in the late eighties when they did a show with the most amazing synchronized Vari-lite display I've ever seen in my life. On the way out, people were complementing the lighting guy working the board because he was so good.

A band that even more obviously needs visuals is Kraftwerk. I don't think they or TD would be anywhere near as interesting live without them.

I've seen a local electronic band called Burnkit2600 a couple times. The first time I saw them, they had a video artist doing video improvs live to their music, which sort of inspired the band. The second time I saw them, they didn't do any video or visuals and the show IMO wasn't as good.

I caught a band in the early 90s called Art Zoid that were doing soundtrack to a screening of the silent version of Nosferatu. Probably seriously niche as i can;t imagine many people want avante garde (or otherwise) synth accompiament to old silent movies, but i guess it's an option if it works for you.

Theres a large electronica music scene in many cities. Know reason a all synth band couldnt do well. Wether or not you'd add drummer or occasional guitarist/bass player could be left open. Theirs touring livetronica bands who have a guitar or bass player join them for a set. Course theres also groups like Juno Reactor with their occassional several percussionists coming along with them for shows. Anyway, it can work if the musics there and the musicians are into it without being pompous. Ive done a little bit of stuff with second synth players. One would do more the ambient sound beds, fills, leads, and atmospheric stuff while other concentrated more on the rythum and groove box stuff. Role of third synth player could be alternate leads, soundbeds, further layering onto stuff, master mixer and orchestral like parts or somesuch.

While not as tricky as 3 guitar trio, 3 synth trio does share some similarities.

Purity controls mention of Art Zoid gives other ideas one could use for music visuals. The rave scene if your doing anything from chill to heavy trance or house, ambient, progressive electronica etc, as a live rather then dj act, is also worth concidering for gigs.

As best I can tell, a lot of the cd available synth bands are more doing their own cd distribution online store and small touring or just local occassional gigs. Not the kind of music lifestyle of popular rock to death metal bands etc. But still very good thing as long as one also has other income source too.

Some technical pitfalls;

Make sure any backing tracks works well with a mono/stereo sound system...some clubs have really crappy mono systems.

DI boxes seem to be in short supply at most clubs...bring own mixer,see below.

The club engineer may mix you like a rock(ie.the 1000 previous guitar bands )act,we always brought our own mixer,leaving vox,mixer out and monitors to the usually dis-interested jaded club lackey.

Power/computer issues can ruin a set,having a fairly quick backup plan and or way to get up and running quickly is prudent thinking ahead.

What sort of equipment are we talking about, WWWJD?

minimal, just what it takes to reproduce the classics: laptop vsts and controller, a couple analogs, roland digital drums, a keytar kx5, 3 guys...

that ought to cover it

Keytar???

No hurdles and all awesome!!!

Hand over a couple of wireless nightvision security cameras to the crowd

[YOUTUBE]nROdAXvTais[/YOUTUBE]

- CM

It's more visual if you all sing (you don't need to be very loud and can just do unison stuff if harmony isn't your thing).

Get yourself some cheap MIDI drum pads that you can play with sticks at appropriate points - looks good. The audience generally like to be able to connect what they see with what they hear, which is where keyboards are difficult to follow for most people.

Any other non-conventional synth controls can be good: D-beam, theremin, or if you're techie do some circuit bending and rig something up to control a pedal input that drives pitch or something clearly audible.

Thomas Dolby used to have some great MIDI controllers - could you use something like this?

And have a look at Hot Chip - they work really well visually to my mind. Main thing is they have small keyboards, and aren't hiding behind a huge rack of keys (and they sing, and shake percussion):

[YOUTUBE]r7ZGNEX98DE[/YOUTUBE]

All of the above suggestions are very good. The nice thing is you can tailor to the place you are playing, so if you are playing a coffeehouse or museum, spacey Roach/Rich type stuff will most likely have the most success, while if you are playing a club, you might consider lots of Depeche Mode (Personal Jesus type stuff) with some Human League, Men Without Hats, Modern English and tons of Devo!

I am envious!

make sure the FOH guy knows that you have 'keyboard things' not '1956 les pauls' . sometimes they cant see too good, and are suprised by all the good and righteous synth - gain that is coming into the channel where they expect a grandpa's guitar or some little baby instrument like les paul.

uh what else

re: visuals - i have seen so many horrible HORRIBLE visual accompaniment that i dont think i could stomach any but the most basic projections. we did have a show where there was a slide projector shining on us - it was bright - and every so often a young gentleman would advance the slide projector in time with the beats. i thought that was a cool idea. it projected pictures of peru onto my face.

i would say that the only crowd that will be dissuaded by the mere presence of synths in bands would be the biker guys and our esteemed world war two veterans ( 'cause they didn't have those things back then, but they fought the japs). otherwise allow your music to be the definition rather than defining yourself to be 'that band with the synths'.