To those experienced in life and music please help...

VisualNsX · 06-01-2013, 04:44 PM

I play in a band and I am bit torn as how to move forward.

Recently we released our first EP and played our first show. It was a poorly matched bill, but we actually managed to get a solid crowd reaction out of people who I wouldn't think would be into our music. We were expecting this performance to be a total disaster since we were the only ones not wearing 90% leather and eyeliner.
The dilemma; I have played in bands before that have done fairly well, toured and when they got to the point where they could have made it to the next level they just couldn't get out of there own way. Now I am surrounded by a group, with the exception of one member, that is completely Gun-Ho about pushing forward and he finds himself torn as per the amount time, dedication and financial investment needed to really prepare the band for any kind of success. While he thinks the songs are good and could have some commercial success, he is not really committed to the project and I understand that nobody wants to to take big risk for the minute chance of making money with an original project.
I truly empathize with him. I have made attempts, more than once in my life, full speed ahead - all or nothing and have fallen flat on my face. It would be devastating to have to live through it again. The reality is anyone can put a band together that their friends will like and that will get a few fans, but how can one determine it's actual potential?
How do we begin to weigh the options as per what to do??
How could we 'infect' him with the feeling we have about this band?

Thoughts?

anathematized_one · 06-01-2013, 10:40 PM

Take your time and small steps.

Try to play bigger venues. I was in a band in Atlanta. There are tons of venues anyone can book a show at and play, but there are ones you just can't do that, like The Masquerade, as ****ty as it is. Now if you want to play at the Masque, you have to prove you can pull enough people for it to be worthwhile.

When you can play venues like that regularly, try branching out and do a mini tour. You don't need a bus or a van, you can all take two ir three cars and book a show for a Friday that is maybe 1 hour away and another on Saturday that is 1 or 2 hours from there and stay in a cheap motel the first night without going home and theb go to the next show and spend the night and go home Sunday.

Little test runs.

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

VisualNsX · 06-02-2013, 12:01 AM

Little test runs indeed, makes sense.

06-01-2013, 04:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
VisualNsX Groupie Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nyc Posts: 11	To those experienced in life and music please help... I play in a band and I am bit torn as how to move forward. Recently we released our first EP and played our first show. It was a poorly matched bill, but we actually managed to get a solid crowd reaction out of people who I wouldn't think would be into our music. We were expecting this performance to be a total disaster since we were the only ones not wearing 90% leather and eyeliner. The dilemma; I have played in bands before that have done fairly well, toured and when they got to the point where they could have made it to the next level they just couldn't get out of there own way. Now I am surrounded by a group, with the exception of one member, that is completely Gun-Ho about pushing forward and he finds himself torn as per the amount time, dedication and financial investment needed to really prepare the band for any kind of success. While he thinks the songs are good and could have some commercial success, he is not really committed to the project and I understand that nobody wants to to take big risk for the minute chance of making money with an original project. I truly empathize with him. I have made attempts, more than once in my life, full speed ahead - all or nothing and have fallen flat on my face. It would be devastating to have to live through it again. The reality is anyone can put a band together that their friends will like and that will get a few fans, but how can one determine it's actual potential? How do we begin to weigh the options as per what to do?? How could we 'infect' him with the feeling we have about this band? Thoughts?

06-01-2013, 10:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
anathematized_one Music Addict Join Date: May 2013 Location: Someplace Awful Posts: 123	Take your time and small steps. Try to play bigger venues. I was in a band in Atlanta. There are tons of venues anyone can book a show at and play, but there are ones you just can't do that, like The Masquerade, as ****ty as it is. Now if you want to play at the Masque, you have to prove you can pull enough people for it to be worthwhile. When you can play venues like that regularly, try branching out and do a mini tour. You don't need a bus or a van, you can all take two ir three cars and book a show for a Friday that is maybe 1 hour away and another on Saturday that is 1 or 2 hours from there and stay in a cheap motel the first night without going home and theb go to the next show and spend the night and go home Sunday. Little test runs. Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2 __________________ Sardonicus YouTube Channel

06-02-2013, 12:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
VisualNsX Groupie Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nyc Posts: 11	Little test runs indeed, makes sense.