Where do you play?

[mrbook]

For those of you out there who perform regularly - where do you play? What types of venues? How often? What kind of music? How many in the band? What do you wear on stage? How do you get gigs? How do you promote yourselves? After playing a lot in my teens and twenties, I gave up performing (not playing) from 1981-1993. I got in a band with three other guys, playng mandolin and guitar; within a year they had left, but I found replacements, and ten years later we are playing more than ever. We worked our way back into the music business by the seat of our pants, but we all know that getting up on stage out is as much about performing as being able to play. I like to know how others are doing.

For our part, we have a four piece band - guitar, fiddle, bass, and me on mandolin, banjo, guitar, or dobro. When I play banjo we call it bluegrass, but otherwise I describe it as "American acoustic music" - a mix of bluegrass, acoustic country music (everything from Jimmie Rodgers and Carter Family songs to Delmore Brothers and Hank Williams tunes), some swing tunes, and whatever else comes our way. We started out with a few free shows, but got past that quickly unless it is a good cause. For the past three years, we have had a monthly gig at a local coffeehouse, a good base to work from; in summer, we do quite a few municipal events (many local towns have summer music series), Sunday afternoons at a resort restaurant, a county fair, and similar events. Not many bars - we apparently arent't rowdy enough, yet we aren't really accepted by the "folk" people, either. There is a local country music association for musicians, but it is pretty much "modern" country, and we don't fit in there, either. However, we do seem to be in demand for community events, and audienes like the music - most say they forgot how good it is, because it is never on the radio.

Anyway, after ten years of playing, we are having a good time playing music, and we can see ourselves doing it another 30 years or so (I'm 51, by the way). There's more to say, but I'd like to hear from someone else.

[8ch(pl)]

I play in a folk society. We have 2 types of venues. The weekly song circle is in a large indoor market area. We have several musicians, from 3 or 4 to 12. It is completely informal, no MC, with the songs moving from one to the next. Ocassional short comments by the individuals before they start a number. There is a small core audience and a lot of passersby stop since the market is located in a harbour ferry terminal.

The second venue is a coffee house at various locations, usually monthly. It is more structured, with an MC. These normally have a featured performer as well as audience individuals being asked.

Both venues are for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. No admission, but a donation box.

[danman]

It sounds to me that you've got most the bases covered. For someone who wants to play music on a regular basis, not full time for a living, I think you play more than most.
I play mando in a bluegrass band, any we work about 40 dates a year. Mostly fairs,private parties,corporate theme gigs,bluegrass festivals,and church services. I love playing music, but it is mostly a paid hobby. If I were to depend on it to support my family, life as I know it would not exsist.

We do not advertise. The more we play the more the phone rings for other gigs.

Enjoy yourself and the pleasure that your talent brings to others. Best of luck to you and your group. It sounds like you are doing pretty well.

[Fred_Murtz]

I play at our church a few times each month. The mando adds alot to worship - its a very anointed instrument.

[Ken Sager]

I'm in a part-time band with folks who all work fulltime at day jobs (except for one retiree who feels retirement is a fulltime job). For regular gigs our band plays once a month at a BBQ joint, and a monthly outdoor show at a family style sportsbar in the warmer months. This summer we're booked for 18 shows in 4-1/2 months - everything from bluegrass festivals to weddings to art festivals to strolling bluegrass minstrel stuff at a big shopping hoojie. Of course weddings and private parties pay the best, festivals pay ok but usually break even due to driving/lodging costs, and the regular monthly gigs pay the least but feed and water us and plant 35-70 clams each for 2 hours of play. We'd do more regular gigs, as there are other venues and interest, but a couple bandmates aren't willing to commit more time.

We have a band member that does most of the booking. She's well connected because she's in two other bands that have been around for 10+ years. She also books a local concert series and simply knows everybody. Sometimes she pushes the private party stuff to me to coordinate, and we've had some good shows come from working this way. We're members (three of us are board members) of a local music association with a newsletter that has a band page with names and contact info. We get a lot of responses to that for work. We also leave business cards by the tip jars (we won't play for tips only, but a tip jar is always out to boost cashflow).

We use email a lot to promote ourselves with a list we've generated over time. We also send notices to local papers for their calendars. When we book shows we explain how we do a lot of work to help bring in customers for them, we don't like to play for an empty house so we like to invite our friends to come see us. It works pretty well.

On stage we usually wear jeans with dark long-sleeve shirts. One fellow sometimes wears jeans and t-shirts (he doesn't get it, but that's ok). One wears black jeans, black leather vest, black shirt, black bandana around his neck. The lone female in the band wears velvet a lot. For bluegrass festivals we have a little more formal uniform: white dress shirts, dark trousers, boots or dress shoes.

I hope this info helps.
Best,
Ken

[John Flynn]

I am in two regular, practicing, performing groups, as well as occasional "ad hoc" groups. One of the regular groups plays religious music and has bass, guitar, mando, flute and up to six singers. We play at church every Sunday and occasionally do weddings and funerals.

The other group is a string band, "The Catawissa Renegades." We have bass, guitar, fiddle and mando and we all have day jobs. We play mostly old-time, but we are branching out into a some "light bluegrass" with singing and instrumental breaks. We play at contra dances, private parties and festivals. We get gigs through personal relationships and promoting ourselves with the audience at gigs. We have professionally designed posters with the band name that we display at each gig and nice looking business cards, curteousy of our guitar player's sister, who is a graphic artist. Our pace has been we won't have any gigs for a month or two and then we will have two or three in the same month. At some point, I'd like to get a website and a mailing list going, as well as cutting a self-prduced which is what our "peer" bands have in the local area.

[harwilli55]

I play with a small group playing more early American traditional music and some celtic music. There are four of us now with more on the way, as the fiddler teaches violin/fiddle private lessons, and I teach private guitar lessons.

All of us have day jobs. All have family and children, excepting myself. We started out really, to play for ourselves and our families at the holidays, but through connections in the church have played for the local arts and historical societies.

One of our members has been in several groups and has some contacts for paying performances, but these are usually isolated as they relate primarily to the celtic season( ie St Paddy's Day, Robbie Burns Day). We just had our first performance review in the local free paper which we are hoping will get our name out there and I have put up a website with the intention of eventually using it to create a fan base(I hope).

As we have performed for the local historical society, we have begun to adopt period clothing from the 1800's for those performances, which is fun to wear and play in. And for other venues, we decide based upon where we are playing what to wear, from jeans and collared shirts to nice pants with dress sweaters in the winter month's.

We are at that point where we are still not real comfortable pursuing pay for hire. Part of that is because we are not sure where in the continuum of performance you become good enough to be for hire. I am not sure at what point playing for payment becomes the focus. Any thoughts on that would be of great help.

For the area we live in, we are well recieved and people enjoy hearing us. At least no one has thrown tomatoes yet http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif


Harlan

[mrbook]

This is what I wanted to hear (and more of it). None of us are quitting our day jobs - actually, one guy did, but not because we are making much money at this - but playing out is a good form of recreation. Most of us played out when younger, and we got together and said, "Let's see if we can still do this, and just play and see where it takes us." We have been a lot of places in a few states, had a couple real characters pass through the band, and we all play better than ever before. When you play for other people, you are constantly thinking of new songs and new ways to play, so there is always a new challenge.

We do spend more time on the business aspects - until this band, I never had a mailing list (both e-mail and snail mail), and we have a web site (actually a subsection of my regular business web site, but it is pretty extensive), publicity brochures, demo CDs, business cards, etc. I hate rejection, so it was always hard getting gigs; now, most come by repeat business or word-of-mouth, and our current bass player is also an insurance salesman - it helps to have a great talker in the band. A couple guys just want to come and play, but he and I work together on the business aspects. It's fine as long as it doesn't become "work." In summer, we sometimes get enough work to play 4-5 days straight, and it is still fun, even after a full day of regular work. I'm not too worried about the money, but I like to make enough to pay for equipment (I wouldn't own all this sound gear for any other reason), and maybe someday say my playing paid for a fine new instrument.

Our fiddle player also plays in a "modern" country band that is really hoping to "make it." We don't worry about that, and are constantly amazed by good gigs and how far we have come over the years. We will keep at it - if asked to play, we usually accept, and will continue to see where it goes. Our fiddle player came from 30 years of playing classical music, and admits that he has had more fun and more wild experiences playing with us than all the years before.

[yoods]

harwilli55
harmando

harwilli55, nice web page

[AmosMoses]

We formed a four piece group (guit,bass,banjo,mando) from our local bluegrass jammers club. In a year and a half we have improved considerably. We generally wear white shirts black pants. We play half the time for free and half the time for whatever we can get. Having a blast all the way.

[ira]

we are am acoustic duo-mando/harmonica and guitar.
we share the vocals. we do originals and covers ranging from folk and blues, to rock.

we have played coffehouses and bars, and starting this summer at town summer concert series on the green/lake, etc...
we just started hosting a weekly open mic.

we got bookings by checking local events, grant calendars, and emailing/calling local joints. we created fliers to postand got the word out to many local papers, chat rooms, muisican listings, etc...
also, lots of free places to make a website (i did a posting on this a few weeks back), which has helped for spreading the word and decreased need to get people a demo disc.

in terms of what we where- it varies- anything from tie die to a hawain shirt, jeans to shorts, sneakers to sandals. depends on the mood.

the best part is just getting out and having fun with it.

[ira]

you know what, why should you have to research archives
i am giving you a link to one of the free sites we use (this one lets you put up alot of stuff, music, pics links, etc..)-
and on our site there is a link to another one.
good luck.

http://nossongs.agreatserver.com/

[SmallFry]

I play in my church praise band. Its me on mando, a guitar, a bass, a piano, a trumbone, 2 trupets and 4 singers....its a blast

[Jack Roberts]

I play gospel grass at the local rescue mission once or twice a month. We play at picnics and other functions as the opportunity comes up. No pay, but we generally get to eat for free.

Jack

[mrbook]

We used to wear black pants, white shirts, black string ties, and black vests, until we played a festival with four other bands dressed exactly the same way. We saw what we could look like in 10-20 years, and it scared us. The black pants and vests (need the pockets for picks) remain, but everyone gets their own choice of shirt. In summer, Hawaiian shirts rule, even if one guy didn't like "the clowns in Hawaiian shirts" - no one else minds a bit.

[garyblanchard]

The "where" is the tough part for me. Used to play at a local coffee shop but it closed a few months back. I play mostly at coffee shops but hope to do more concert type of things. I am mostly solo though my fiance is beginning to do more with guitar, vocals, washboard, kazoo, shakers and other instruments. I always wear black pants with suspenders, a derby hat, and usually a white, collarless shirt; Carol wears a neat patchwork-like skirt and blouse.

I'd like to play about once a month, I scout out possible places and drop a CD. We do a combination of jug band, old-time folk, classic country, and 1930's pop music so it can be a tough sell.

To see our outfits and get a better idea of what we do check out the web site.

www.brookfieldsmusic.net (http://www.brookfieldsmusic.net)

[jim simpson]

I play in a bluegrass group that plays in firehalls, community centers, festivals, and private gigs. One approach for a group looking to get gigs is to find a firehall for example, see what they charge to rent out the room, and go ahead and book it. They can sell concessions and make a little money in addition to what they charge for the room. You can hook up with another group and each play 2 sets. Take the door minus expenses and split it with the other group. It's worth trying!
I used to play in clubs where the stink of cigarrette smoke would follow you home. I don't miss that

! If my state ever banned smoking in bars, I'd be happy to look for those kind of gigs again but for now I am enjoying the clean air.

[Jack Roberts]

I didn't mention what we wear. At the gigs we usually wear hawaii shirts. At the Rescue Mission the lead singer/ guitarist and I wear guayaberas (Mexican wedding shirts) the banjo player wears a shirt and skinny tie, and the 12 string player dresses "cazh"

Guayaberas are great because they have lots of pockets for picks, tuners and song lists.

Jack

[Doug Edwards]

Our group sponsors a monthly show and jam, so we are garanteed to play at least once a month in font of a large crowd. we also play at churches, retirement homes, festivals, and most anywhere. Our monthly shows have grown to about 250 average attendance and we have bands booked into next year.

[mrbook]

We had considered hiring a hall for shows, but always wanted to do it with another band - and we could never get a band to go along with the idea. Our state (NY) banned smoking in bars last year, so we can now play without taking two showers when we get home, but we are finding that town concerts are even better - earlier (done by 9) and shorter (2 sets) hours - and about the same or better pay, although the bar crowd is a better crowd to watch.

On the other hand, shorter gigs aren't always better - our monthly coffeehouse gig runs 5:30-9:00, and we are often just getting warmed up at that time.

[Russ(String-Alley)]

Bars, coffeehouses, Concert halls, and when we get lucky there is a old theater that we love. pay? well thats another story. some good, some bad, some none. yup smoking ban did screw up the bar gigs a bit, smaller turnouts but some bars folks smoke anyways. It's a bar after all, I really don't blame em for doing so.

cheers
Russ

cheers
Russ

[steve V. johnson]

Wow, there is a nice range of activity here, folks!!

I play bouzouki and guitar in Irish sessions, three times a week. I posted their times and locations in the Celtic music section here as Indiana Irish sessions, so you can find them there.

Besides that, I play in a trio called Culchies, with my wife Min Gates on bodhran and bones and a wonderful fiddler, TJ Hull. We do weddings, some bar gigs in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Muncie, some in other small Ohio cities, festivals of various sorts. We're not quite as busy as we'd like to be, but we are playing better places all the time, and better festivals each season. We'll have a CD done in June.

Sometimes Min and I will travel for a weekend to places where we know Irish players or where there are good sessions, just to play with new folks. Chicago, St. Louis, Louiville, Columbus, San Francisco, etc.

And Min and I go to Ireland each year for at least three weeks, and do little but play in sessions there, to learn from the old masters.

I also play in a band called The Lopers, who play the songs of writer Dave McConnell. In this band I play bass mainly, but also guitar, bouzouki and mandolin. I am also the recordist and co-producer when we record. We don't play often, tho Dave sometimes does duet or trio performances with Rich Groner on mando and dobro, me on bass. When we do play with the whole band, we make it quite an occaision!
The Lopers CD may be done by ... (awww never mind...)

steveV

[ira]

tonight- hosting an open mic in holliston, ma from 8:30 to 11pm . any genre, acoustic instruments- come on down plug in or not, and play a few or just come listen. see flier on our website for info

http://nossongs.agreatserver.com/

its 2 turns from route 16 once you are in holliston center. coming from east-left on central, right on railroad st (see sign for casey's crossing)
from west- right on central, left on railroad st.