Come play for exposure & MAYBE $$...

RobTheRiot

RobTheRiot

Aug 31, 2016
698
1,583
4,606
las Vegas, nv
#1
Have you heard that anecdote/blurb about how you would never ask a chef to come over & cook you dinner & if you like it, you might use him again & pay him next time? And how you wouldn’t do that, so why do it to musicians?

We all know it happens, is BS, but still I was shocked when I saw this.
Not that it’s happening, but that it’s spelled out in the most blindly ignorant, amazingly direct way...

AND bring, set up & use your own PA!!!
Incredible!!

(Those who don’t know, this is a pretty sizable chain, at least locally with dozens of locations around town!)

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*And I get that for younger bands or those who play for fun, they may think this is great, but you have to be aware of the precedent this sets, and it’s just one more thing working against those who make their living playing music.

May seem like over reaction, it’s not the end of world, I know that; however Vegas is an amazing place in that bands can make a living by playing smaller venues around town.
DJ’s have already taken away so many live music venues (this month my band found out 2 venues we played multiple times monthly have gone to DJ only), if this gives other small venues an idea, it’s a step toward becoming a pay to play town.
I know it’s not close to that, but it starts somewhere...

(And the PA thing is a slap in any/everyone’s face!)

End rant - :thumbsup:
 
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#12
I see a lot of people having issues with "play for exposure" type situations, and to a point I, get it.

Doing one or two of these alone is not gong to have clubs beating down your doors to book you. It's not the only step in marketing, but it is a piece of the puzzle.

But the fact is, that starting bands need a place to get out there and be on a stage. I fully agree that doing this in a venue that normally has a paid band is inappropriate. The only way this should ever happen is if a newb band can do a set as an "opener" for the paid "headliner" band. Headliners still get their paycheck, newbs get some experience. Clubs may get an extra hour of music. Win, win, win.

But a situation like the one advertised seems like a perfectly good opportunity to get some stage time for new bands. It allows the band to log some actual "gig" videos, and learn the ins and outs of load ins, load outs, dealing with actual clubs and crowds (hopefully!) and all that goes with the stuff besides the music.

My jazz fusion band is on the verge of booking some gigs. One of things we need to do to be really ready is to log some time on a stage (at least in a stage "formation" instead of our standard rehearsal "circle"). We're renting a studio so we have room to set up like this, but some gratis stage time with a crowd would sure be nice. It's hard to be concerned about set flow, stage presence, etc. without actually having people to cater to.

I think the only thing about that situation that bugs me is the lack of a PA provided. Not that I don't think that most bands should have their own (if they need one), but that's just additional nonsense to have to deal with for what are likely novice performers.
 
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#13
FunkHead said:
Not too far off from "Open Mic" night.
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Depends on the open mic. Around here the best OM's are those NOT held in a commercial establishment. Art centers, community centers, churches, Grange halls, etc. I think a "rule" for all bands should be "if anyone's making money tonight, the band should get some, too." And those "open mics" with a house band, well, that's just an "open jam", and many are not as open as they purport to be, and the house band gets paid a paltry sum, usually. The venue in the OP is exploitative, pure and simple ... what kind of gigs will they offer if they're already getting Saturday nights for free? :thumbsdown:
 
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#15
I don't think PT's normally has live music, so I'm edging towards the "it would be a good place for a new band to start/get some experience". People don't go to PT's for the music, so the audience is going to be mainly who you bring.
 
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#16
This is a gimmick to get un-established bands to invite their friends and family to see them play so PT’S can sell them food and drinks. There will be no exposure because no one else is going to be there. If a band wants to take advantage of PT’S and use the opportunity as a “dress rehearsal”, good for them. :)
 
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#17
It used to be so clear cut. You start off playing in B or C grade bars, till you build a strong local following, which you then parlay into playing the A list bars (based on reputation and word of mouth). Then parlay your local following into something more widespread, or a record deal.

Then somewhere along the way band leaders started trying to circumvent the local following part, and just went straight for bookings, which inevitably ended in no repeat bookings, due to the poor to nill turnout.

Then, somewhere along the way, the whole music industry changed, and radio is no longer how people hear new music, and Facebook and YouTube are the new exposure mediums.

I, like so many older cats, no longer have any idea how to succeed in music these days. Most of us are still doggedly doing it the way we did 40 years ago.
 
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#20
seamus bass said:
Vegas is garbage for local bands, seen so many bands that went nowhere.if you want to make it somewhere in vegas as a band, don't play there and don't tell anyone your from there.
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I wouldn’t say it’s garbage.
As far as bands “making it”, two of the bigger “top 40” rock acts over the past 10 years or so have hailed from Vegas, and def have not hidden the fact.

As far as on the ground, bands starting up, I think it’s split.

I feel really bad for bands/musicians under 18 or 21. This town, even off strip, has a proven way for venues to make $, and that is liquor and gambling. Regulations being quite tight, as they should be, forbids young artists from performing in these places. There have from time to time been all ages venues, but they usually don’t tend to be around for too long, from what I can tell.
That’s a shame, cuz growing up in Jersey we always had plenty of venues to play.

Over 21, I think Vegas has a lot going for it. Especially if you want to make a living, there are tons of venues to work at all over the city. If you’re an original band, but play covers for $, you have a chance to get exposure to an international crowd nightly. Play covers, sneak in some originals, get ppl to follow you online or whatever form a “mailing list” takes today, and you’ve got 1,000 times more exposure than you could ever get just playing original shows. (Worked for Imagine Dragons... they did exactly that).

Even if you are just an original band, which I’ve done also, there is quite a vibrant art & music scene here, and altho there are nowhere close to as many venues for orig Music as there are for covers, they are there.

I actually feel blessed to live here: the amount of opportunities & venues for a working musician would be hard to find in many other cities.

I’m glad I didn’t grow up here (for many reasons), but am quite happy to be here now.
 
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