Stop gigging! Seriously, think about what you're doing!!!
When unsigned, every gig you do should serve a purpose.
Now initially that may sound stupidly obvious. However, if it is why as a band would you aimless play toilet venues in London to f**k all people for no money and at a cost to yourself? Plus it looks terrible.
This is what thousands of bands do every week. I've spoken to lotsa A&R types, both at Sony BMG and further affield and it's a very rare occasion that an act just happens to be discovered because an A&R guy happens to be at a venue. The whole Frankie Sharp scenario doesn't happen very much. I rarely see an act I haven't planned to see, I don't have much time usually. :-(
Also, gigging a lot in London and not increasing a buzz around you is actually detrimental to your career. As an act can get stale, or seen as old news if on the radar of the various labels too soon. I'm guilty of it myself, with the hundreds of acts I come accross if I hear something that's ok, then see them still gigging the same circuit 6 months later with no increase in profile I'm less likely to see them again. Simply because I'm trying to find what's breaking. That is unfair to a degree as said band could have come along leaps and bounds since the first time. Though if they're amazing then they should create a buzz anyway.
So, why gig in London? Showcases are the first obvious reason. If a label, publisher, PR co. etc etc want to see you, then doing a gig near their office is a wise move. Stick to smaller venues off the beaten track, somewhere with a decent PA (it's amazing how many people don't think about that). If they're really eager only play your hometown with loads of support. (People singing along always impresses me)
Building a following? In London? You must be kidding. It's possible, but gig-to-%-fanbase ratio is pathetic when compared to playing other parts of the country. Simply because there is so much music, and other things to do in London there is no novelty, little passing trade and promoters are shite when ,well, promoting. To to acheive the Fanbase increase of an 8 date tour around the country at the right venues would probably take 3 or 4 times as many gigs in London to achieve the same effect. Don't get me wrong, the truly exceptional will win people over everywhere but some acts are born great, others achieve greatishness and others have greatishness thrust upon them. Plus any of those of you who've done both know how hard the crowd is in London to get to do anything other than talk over you.
You should only do a flurry of London gigs when you are at the crescendo of a promo campaign, when all your hard work as culminated in a co-ordinated campaign that has achieved some radio play, bits of press and interest here and there. Before I start getting the PM's whinging that that's impossible without loads of cash, record deal, pluggers etc IT'S NOT! Don't be such a whinging have-not and pull your finger out. It just takes a bit of thinking and knowing what bits and pieces to capitalise on as they come your way. When you're not in the sights of any of the labels, you've got breathing space to get everything the way you want it, think about it that way. Rather than feeling under pressure to 'get out there'.
So you've got good activity on your myspace, you've just got into the top 8 friends of some big pages, your name (& blog!! ;-)) appears everywhere in google, then you should start gigging London as you've got about 6 months to make a serious impression that would warrant investment. Of course there are exceptions to the rule as I know a band that was looked at for a year before anything was done.
However, I've seen that the bands that create the most excitement are the acts that seem to come from obscurity to everywhere in a short period of time, this is often luck or good placement. But if you get your house in order, build up a good head of steam as regards your promo material, fan building, online stuff and make sure your 'demo' could be something you'd release yourself you're in good shape to really pop out amongst all the good music being looked at.
Also consider when you're going to shop yourself to radio, the labels and such. For example, during the period of the summer festivals mainstream radio is saturated with all sorts of new things that were planned earlier in the year, a lot of new acts are being broken by the labels and trying to get shelf-space in the minds of those who provide opportunities for new music is really lacking. Plus I'm all over the place trying to keep up with stuff I've picked up earlier in the year. Try and get a feel for a bit of a lul in the sort of stuff your doing and then launch your little PR offensive.
So, if you've simply been rehearsing, gigging, rehearsing, gigging, recording, rinse, repeat... maybe stop and think why you're doing it? Ultimately these are the considerations of a manager (a good one) but if you're without management you should really think about when and how you're going to be perceived.
Anyhow, quick rant. Saw a really good band that had literally no clue, about anything.
Hope all is well co-ordinated with you
Comments
Nice Post. We have just recently come to this conclusion, that gigging every two seconds in London is shit, however that was through bad advice from these types that pretend to be 'in the business'.
Overall though a very helpful post!
Thanks.
Mind you I still yearn for more Localisation of music, so no one has to go to London at all.
Hi IB,
Like the new logo btw.
Alot of sense here BUT what I would say also is that there is a time in your growth as an act that you need to do all of this. There no better time to learn how to be on stage or try out songs and find out what it is you are about..... than when there are very few people in the room. I know you're aiming this post at those who feel they are label ready or whatever but for those that may be still finding out who, and what they are, gigs are important not matter how many people are there. Then once you go thru that stage and know what you are, it is important to think 'hang on?!?' what am I doing here and thats where your post comes in. You know yourself when you've seen an act thats comfortable on stage and one thats not.
later
Nige
1) Playing crap gigs is a rite of passage and part of the deal
2) Playing great gigs is why most of us do this
3) Just because Jimi Hendrix tuned his mate's guitar in the basement of a venue does not enhance the magical properties of the venue to help your gig any
4) Playing outside of London can remind you of how great it is to play live
5) In London I have found a couple of promoters that love music and put on great nights. They aren't the most well known venues but the nights have the best sense of community and are a joy to play at. I hustle less for gigs and stick to the venues that show some love.
6) If you're an acoustic based artist put on your own little home shows. We just did a show we called "The Living Room Sessions" - just a room with a bunch of friends and wine and a little band setup - best gig ever. There was lots of banter and everyone that was there is still talking about it. We filmed it too and were able to get really good recording quality as we controlled the environment. You can check it out at krismorris.com. That tiny little gig has done more to get people behind what I do than any amount of gigging in normal London venues.
Phew.
A lot of what you are saying there is something we have recently been thinking about quite a lot.
We have only our second ever London gig coming up in June...weve got a coach laid on, and its costing us quite a bit...but we have 3 months to prepare for it, so we can hopefully make it worthwhile.
Creating a buzz on the local scene seems to be being mentioned a lot at the moment...I think we should all take notice of that.
Go Local!
Also a viable point is the bands who gig and rehearse constantly make better and cheaper records. Bands who can just go into the studio and put something down quickly are few and far between in this age of pro tools.. :-).. In fact indieboy, you should be actively encourage gigging, as it'll save everyone at Columbia some cash further down the line, when you're signing bands who know their instruments, their sound, and their songs inside out.. :-)
Artists should do what they want, but they need to act in the way that suits their needs. If they want investment in the band they've got to understand what is desirable to those who are going to be making the investment. That doesn't mean changing their music as such, But they need to make sure they're perceived in the best possible way. Once 'in' they can pretty much run riot. There's just too much stuff out there to simply put yourself 'out there'. Though I could be totally wrong, it's been ages since I gigged.
I would've thought the best gigs to get are on Student Union gig circuit. Start at your "local" Universities/colleges and go further afield as you develop. You could always video record the events, post them on your various websites to showcase the songs and performance (obviously) but also gets some audience reaction (well if it's good!).
Surely playing at venues where people activiley "want" to be there to listen to new music rather than consume it passively are the best places to seek out. If you don't know where the venues are, apart from reading the various musically based magazines/websites, it might mean a pub crawl - but hey - someones gotta do it. Some of the great bands played/toured to audiences of just the bar staff - I agree it's almost an unwritten right of passage, but equally agree with the soul destroying factor - but I think you probably need to experience it, if nothing else it makes good reading in twenty years time when your writing your autobiography!
Re- "Think about what you are doing and why"
Playing Devil's Advocate -
Does the world need anymore musical acts or records or songs and if so why?
Arn't there enough already? Bob Dylan posed a question something like this in an interview in relation to songs. It makes you think about your purpose I guess!
Are the best songs written? Are the best styles done to death? Why would anyone want any more music? Hasn't Elvis done it all? Is it all about making money? If so is this the easiest way?
The Devil U know!
Some people write songs for their own pleasure, whilst other will probably write for a commercial end. It still takes skill to right a song to someones specification. The success of a song is not only the song itself but who performs it, or even how it is produced. There's only a finite number of subject matter to cover - it's just the various "takes" that make the difference.
As a performing band who writes and performs their own material - you have the advantage over a non-performing songwriter - so you stand a better chance than many.
We've started to build a small following in London having done all of two reasonably well promoted gigs (inc. the end of camden effort which was our first ever out of town escapade) and had a lovely time, so it can't be all bad.
I agree that the best part of being in a band is playing live, I do like to have a good sing.
Ben
Another excellent post, with lot's for bands to think about.
Thanks for taking the time to write this!