Well we are as well! That's why we decided to do something about it.
I know I am not the only person who feels exhausted even looking at a poster advertising 5, or sometimes even more, bands. Quite often there might be a band I had been wanting to check out for a while, but not knowing when they were going to be on, and realising that the gig would run to the early hours of the morning put me off.
I understand the venues position, obviously they see: more bands = more friends = more people buying alcohol. Want I want to prove is that you can have a couple of promising bands, a show which doesn't run too late, and still pull in a reasonable crowd which makes it worthwhile for the venue.
Anyway, if you want to fight the good fight and support our cause; we are putting on a show at Valve this Thrusday night. Only two bands, and one electronic act opening. It will start around 10pm and finish no later than 12.30am. More info in the New Zealand Music Forum.
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/sick of gigs with 5+ bands ...
/sick of gigs with 5+ bands playing?
The best way for a band with no profile to attract a decent crowd and get a decent buzz is to find a bunch of other bands in the same position and play as well as they can to eachother, their friends and fans.
I quite enjoy going off to see completely new bands, with no prior idea of what the night has in store for me- but a lot of people can't be bothered with it, and reducing it from 5 new bands to 3 new bands, or lowering the cover charge, or whatever- same difference.
Bands get sick of it, though eh.
That's a good thing- it puts pressure on the band to do something about it.
Like searching for 'the next level' (whatever that might mean for them), agreeing on what the next level is, planning on how to get there e.g. it's your goal to play 3-band nights instead of 5-band nights? It comes down to either:
-increasing the size of crowd your band can draw (writing better songs/playing better/performing better/better networking/more selective billing/more word of mouth/better promotion/airplay/more music out there),
-&/or choosing to play smaller venues- but that's cheating ;-)
Basically, I don't think '5+ bands on one billing' is the deterent you think it is- I used to have a problem with it, but I've just come to accept it as the first, well trodden path in every band's journey. Where you branch off to from there is up to you.
The definition of insanity is repeating the same behavior and expecting different results.
*cringes at own post* argghhh sometimes ...
*cringes at own post* argghhh sometimes it's so hard to write stuff without sounding like a complete prick...
I agree with Ollie; I understand the ...
I agree with Ollie; I understand the problems that new bands face trying to get people to their gigs, but I just don't bother with 5+ nights at all any more, even if there are a couple of bands that I really want to see. It's just too long and tedious, and I can't go that long without my walking frame.
You poor old dear....
You poor old dear.
It's discrimination, I tells ya! ...
It's discrimination, I tells ya! Marginalising the aged like that...
Perhaps I'll have a warm milk and some ...
Perhaps I'll have a warm milk and some choccy biccies ready for you when I see you again.
aaawwwwb... 5+ band nights for the 60+, ...
aaawwwwb... 5+ band nights for the 60+, huh?
I jest, I jest...
Isn't that what all these new-fangled ...
Isn't that what all these new-fangled sit down gigs are for? You know, like Fly My Pretties? It's for all us nanas whose ankles get sore if we have to stand sulkily at teh back for too long, right?
I'll tell ya what I think makes it ...
I'll tell ya what I think makes it worse.
You finish work on a Friday.. a loooooooooong week of officey hell and you get home. You have dinner... you watch America's Next Top Model... you're lying on the couch... you're getting sleepy... then you go to a gig. By this stage your body is craving pyjamas but you've sent it mixed signals.
So then you stand through 3 bands, and you're yawning so much you've got tears in your eyes. Your back aches and you just want everyone to leave Indigo so you can have a lie down on the couch and nap.
... I'm only 25.
*sigh*
Well that's how it works for ...
Well that's how it works for non-drinking Grandma's like me. It's the wait between work and going out that fools your body into thinking it's relaxation time.
So if gigs could please start at 6pm and wrap up at about 8.30pm that'd be great. I'll set a tape for America's Next Top Model.
i tells ya, there's nothing better on ...
i tells ya, there's nothing better on a gig night when you have two venues within walking distance BOTH with 5+ bands playing. musical buffet. if you don't like what's playing at one, toodle over, have adventure on the way, to the other venue, meet friends there, listen .... toodle back to other venue ...
many of my favourite gig experiences are when the stars are in alignment like this. it doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's a very good night on the town for all. especially for the bands who are booked for both venues.
i have no taste and hate most bands, so ...
i have no taste and hate most bands, so i dont like these kinds of gigs. theres usually too many bands i dont like and by the time the band i want to see plays im bored and tired and its 2am.
is rock and roll dead? seems if you ...
is rock and roll dead?
seems if you are a DJ, people dont mind coming to see you at 11.00PM at night...... whats up with that?
Im a promoter in Auckland, and have done over 200 gigs over the last few years, its hard work getting people along and promoting the bands on the night..... do peolple still go out and check bands out that they dont know?/???
The 5+ band thing i have done a few times, and sometimes it works out, sometimes it dosent...really depends on the bands playing etc?
maybe if you do 5+ bands start earlier, and do short sets? 20 mins each.... i mostly do 3 bands now.... its alot easier in some ways..... any way thats my thoughts on the matter...
Long live RocknRoll.....
[ http://www.jigsawmusic.co.nz ]
I think three bands is optimal. Issues ...
I think three bands is optimal. Issues I have with the 5+ bands aren't just about how late they go, but also because they play short sets - you spend about as much time waiting around for the next act as the act itself. Also, sound issues, too many bands for the sound guy to accommodate, everyone's got a slightly different equipment setup, pfaffing about with that and all...
I would definitely go see three bands that I didn't know, if I'd heard good things on the forums about any one of them.
The other problem with the 5 for 5 is ...
The other problem with the 5 for 5 is the fuzzy confusion at the end of the night, more than once i have come away liking the wrong band, only to have miss smarty pants roll her eyes and point out I liked the 3rd band not the 2nd.
I don't mind having a heap of bands. ...
I don't mind having a heap of bands. The only thing I don't like is once midnight goes by the audience tends to dry up. Quite a lot of people comment that its too late. Maybe I'm just in the age group where many of your friends have kids or other commitments. Do gigs need to start at 10pm? Has anyone had experience with starting a gig at say 8pm?
Yes, I have had the unfortunate ...
Yes, I have had the unfortunate experience of trying to start a gig early (a few years ago when I was young and naive!). We said "right! we'll get under way about 9pm". 9pm, no one there, first band refuses to go on. 9.30pm, still no one there. 10pm, people start coming through the door.
It would take a massive cultural shift, and a commited agreement between all the bands in NZ, to start shows earlier. It is just so ingrained into us now that shows start at 10 or 10.30. If everyone made an effort, an earlier start could happen. But that is a pretty big "if" we're talking.
// It would take a massive cultural ...
// It would take a massive cultural shift, and a commited
// agreement between all the bands in NZ, to start shows earlier.
It does happen though. I don't know if it's still the case, but the Dux in chch used to have it sussed: support act a bit after 9ish, main act a bit after 10ish. Everyone knew this was what happened, so everyone turned up at the appropriate time.
Just need to get the venues to enforce the start times a bit harder. No-one there? Tough shit, get on the stage and play.
tis a big "if". my band just went ...
tis a big "if".
my band just went ahead and did it once - we were playing at Sammys - a venue we all worshipped, having seen legendary kiwi bands playing there when we were all undergrads/under 20 ...
we were also supporting the Bats there ...
we were offered first slot - something like 8.30 - we emailed our 'audience' list and told them that we would go on around 9 pm - stressed that it was really gonna occur this time ... playing early ...
so 9 pm comes, and we figure - shit, we're at Sammys - life achievement ticked off
we're supporting the Bats - life achievement ticked off
we had an audience - small - some of our email list there, luckily also some fans who we didn't email, which was nice
so we played, and it was super-fun, brilliant stage, awesome sound, really enjoyed it
and then spent the rest of the night answering the question "when do you go on?" and "you've already played!!!"
mind you in Invercargill, things didn't really seem to kick off until midnight, and even then a large proportion of the audience started turning up at 1 am - 1.30 am. which was interesting as we'd set up ready to go at 10 pm, heh.
Bullshit.. Yeah R18 5+ shows are ...
Bullshit..
Yeah R18 5+ shows are shit.. but thats because they start so late, not enough people turn up, bands fanny around with sound techs and end up with a mdeicore sound.. etc everything people have whinged about above
My 5+ AA gigs have gone great as I know have toher peoples.. Less bother about equipment, the simpler the better, Vocal ,Keys and kick drum only through the PA, amps levelled during 10 min sound check of each band, Majority of the gear on stage at once (these ar ein venues where the is SPACE).. have a mp3 player play music in the 5 min gaps between bands.. start at 7:30 so its all over by 11:15 ish people dont like one band.. they go hang in a corner with their mates or try hitting on equally awquard teenagers of the oppsite sex... bands enjoy because even htough they may have to wait.. the crowd give it back to you in response and cheers. Sets at 30 mins each with a local school band playing a 15 - 20 min set..
Jeez, bitching about nothing..
cough Scenesters cough olides cough
We are looking for a drummer and a ...
We are looking for a drummer and a bassist to complete a 5 piece alternative/indie rock band (2 gats + singer already written songs).
Influences include Interpol, Ryan Adams, Killers, Fanatics.
Band includes 2 former members of high profile signed Sony/BMG band (don't want to name which band on here but will tell you in email).
We are organised and dedicated, with good equipment and experience, and are looking for the same.
We have strong media (magazine and television) and record label connections.
Email me at sam.browne@grooveguide.co.nz and I can send you some demos to show you what we do. Website will be up shortly.
Thanks for not deleting this post - no one reads the classifieds anymore.
Stick it in the Classifieds please...
Stick it in the Classifieds please