Originally posted by Wålshy
how long did it take you to be getting gigs and paid?
Well their's two ways I could answer this question and I'm going to give you both answers.
In the past band I was in It took about a year and a half before I started making money.But that was after quite a few years of playing in and out of other bands like I mentioned before.It took that long before I was able to find other musicians that were on my level when it came to playing and dedication.Another thing that got us paying gigs was playing "COVER" music.I got songs burned in my head like Fire by Hendrix and Hella Good by No Doubt.Even though it's much,much,more rewarding to play original music,it's going to be very difficult to find a decent paying gig playing your own music.The bottom line is,unless you've been played on the radio,most drunk people don't wanna pay for drinks and hear your music.
Here's a few things that will help anyone make money playing music.
1.Play cover music.If you want to do originals slowly work them into your sets.Maybe play one original in a three set night.If anyone gets up and dances to the music,or bangs their head,give them a free CD with your originals if you have one.
2.Bring all the people you can to your bar gigs.The more people you get to the bar,the better.The owner will ask you back if you bring a huge crowd, even if your not the greatest sounding band.Their's a lot of techniquely sound bar bands that get nowere because they can't generate a crowd.
3.Get a female vocalist.Even if she's not the greatest singer in the world,as long as she's got charisma and good stage presence,people will dig it.
4.Get in a network of other local bands that won't mind sharing a few gigs with you.
Their's also a degree of luck to getting good paying gigs.Sometimes we just happened into good gigs out of luck.We played the Ohio balloon challenge just because my guitar player knew a girl who worked for the city building.It payed about 50 bucks a piece and we got free food,and were escorted by festable workers in golf carts.That was pretty sweet.That's pretty much a simple guideline of what we followed.Other people have made money playing music through different means,but that's probably some of the most effective rules of thumb I could give anyone that wants to make decent money playing music.
LOL.I just noticed how different Nellinator's advice is than mine.
Originally posted by mr.smileyDifferent scenes my good man. When it's rock and pop, you are entirely correct. Since I'm in a metal band it's entirely different. Metalheads don't tend to enjoy all covers.
Well their's two ways I could answer this question and I'm going to give you both answers.In the past band I was in It took about a year and a half before I started making money.But that was after quite a few years of playing in and out of other bands like I mentioned before.It took that long before I was able to find other musicians that were on my level when it came to playing and dedication.Another thing that got us paying gigs was playing "COVER" music.I got songs burned in my head like Fire by Hendrix and Hella Good by No Doubt.Even though it's much,much,more rewarding to play original music,it's going to be very difficult to find a decent paying gig playing your own music.The bottom line is,unless you've been played on the radio,most drunk people don't wanna pay for drinks and hear your music.
Here's a few things that will help anyone make money playing music.1.Play cover music.If you want to do originals slowly work them into your sets.Maybe play one original in a three set night.If anyone gets up and dances to the music,or bangs their head,give them a free CD with your originals if you have one.
2.Bring all the people you can to your bar gigs.The more people you get to the bar,the better.The owner will ask you back if you bring a huge crowd, even if your not the greatest sounding band.Their's a lot of techniquely sound bar bands that get nowere because they can't generate a crowd.
3.Get a female vocalist.Even if she's not the greatest singer in the world,as long as she's got charisma and good stage presence,people will dig it.
4.Get in a network of other local bands that won't mind sharing a few gigs with you.
Their's also a degree of luck to getting good paying gigs.Sometimes we just happened into good gigs out of luck.We played the Ohio balloon challenge just because my guitar player knew a girl who worked for the city building.It payed about 50 bucks a piece and we got free food,and were escorted by festable workers in golf carts.That was pretty sweet.That's pretty much a simple guideline of what we followed.Other people have made money playing music through different means,but that's probably some of the most effective rules of thumb I could give anyone that wants to make decent money playing music.
LOL.I just noticed how different Nellinator's advice is than mine.
Points 2 and 4 are key though. Bringing as many people as possible makes your band look better,makes surrounding people more likely to pay attention, and makes it far more likely that you will get more shows. And 4 is even more essential because it is the way you play to new crowds. Playing for fans of other bands is how you get new ones. Getting an opening spot with a popular local band is a good way to go.