Re: Had a tryout last night.
- From: "Lane Baldwin" <lane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:55:40 -0500
This response has nothing to do with Corey's situation, but I thought I'd
offer it as counterpoint.
"js" <nothing@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:g6osdu$t56$1@xxxxxxxxxxx
I don't mean this in critical way at all or as any sort of disparagement
of
original music, but where do you see an original band of 40 something guys
going in this day and age?
I've got an original Blues band, Deeper Blues (www.deeperblues.com) with a
50-something (me), and 40-something (guitarist) and a 19yo. So far we have
played 2 years worth of weekly Fridays during the warm months...during which
time we've pretty much been paid to practice and jam, thereby allowing us to
refine our sound. We're now in our third year, and have moved to a new
location which allows us to play indoors and therefore year-round (when
we're in town). We've played some of the larger events around town, traveled
to Nashville for several shows, including headlining a pre-NAMM concert, and
are doing in-stores for Eden/Randall (thanks to my association with the
company).
Tomorrow, we head back down to Nashville for a 3-band bill. A few weeks
later, we're heading to upper Indiana to do a short set on a show with
Johnny B Gayden's band (he spent 15years with Albert Collins). In September
we do a pair of presentations to Belmont University music and music business
students. In October, we're doing our Foodtsock thing again, but this time
with ten hours of music. And yes, it's at the local park with band shell...
we expect 6-8000 people. We're also putting together a West Coast trip for
November, which inlcudes some gigs, serious involvement with a state-wide
music competition for HS students and a Foodstock event. December has us
back in Nashville.
In addition, we're talking to several promoters for other shows... all of
which pay more than gas money.
I should also add that we basically are at the beginning of our roadwork,
and are working our way up the "ladder". We lost our first drummer at a
crucial juncture, which slowed us down, and slowed down the release of our
first CD. There have been some bumps that have caused us to refine our
strategy. On the other hand, we're selling CDs in about 15 countries. (We're
HUGE in Lichtenstein! lol)
Only recently did we play an actual club in our own town. (The Friday
evening gig we've been doing isn't a club gig - it's more of an all-ages
backyard Blue-B-Q hang.) Reason for this is that we will NOT do "bar sets"
or covers, except for a very few we've drastically rearranged. This time,
however, the club owner came to us and asked us to do a special night after
a night ride they were putting together. We did two main shows -- 75 min
each -- and a short "encore" of three songs. We were immediately offered a
feature slot at an all-day event they're doing in September, as well as the
"after party" inside the club after the music shuts down outside.
In many genres, and in many markets, the music scene is indeed drying up,
making it harder for everyone, whether local or traveling. And with gas
prices soaring, travel is becoming more expensive. Personally, however, I
don't think it will last forever. I don't really have any "proof" of this,
it's just my own belief, but I have a feeling that it won't stay this way
forever. And while there has been a change in how clubs book bands, etc.,
and it can be a pain, there are still ways to make money.
I don't know that I'd call Deeper Blues "successful" yet, but we are
succeeding in executing our game plan, at least to some extent. And we
continue to refine and add to that plan. That, I think, is important... to
have a plan... know where you want to go and figure out what you can do to
get there, then execute. How well we execute over the Fall/Winter will tell
how successful we are next Spring and Summer.
OK... this is a book, and I didn't mean it to be, so will shut up for now.
Don't know if any of this is helpful, but I hope so.
--
Keep Thumpin', Lane...
Ask not what bass can do for you...Ask what YOU can do for bass.
www.laneonbass.com | www.myspace.com/laneonbass
www.deeperblues.com | www.myspace.com/deeperblues
www.eden-electronics.com | www.myspace.com/edenelectronics
www.danvilefoodstock.com | www.myspace.com/danvillefoodstock
www.myempirestore.com | www.myspace.com/myempirestore
.
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- Had a tryout last night.
- From: coreybenson
- Re: Had a tryout last night.
- From: js
- Had a tryout last night.
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