Losing faith in what Im doing.

[bucephylus]

I would like your input into my dilema.

My current project was started 12 years ago. It took that long to assemble it to the players we have now.
We play a mix of funk/soul/blues based original music and covers (Aretha, James Brown, Sly, winehouse etc).
For years, we have had trouble gaining traction with any type of following. We do have some fans, but not a following.
The only time we pack the house is when we tax our people.
We self promote and have tried working with booking agencies.We have played festivals, bars, clubs, corporate events, etc. There are a handful of clubs that will not entertain us. They won't say why, so I'm left to wonder.
I am beginning to doubt our product. We all believe in what we're doing. We continue to put solid work into our performances. We take the stage as professionals and take our shows seriously.
Are we just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Do we suck?
Is the music just not interesting?
Perhaps some advice?
Honest opinions welcome.

Sounds like a great band! Well done.

PHX is a bit of an odd scene. I lived near Power and McDowell, and gigged there from 2004 to 2014, then moved to Tucson for the next 7 years.

One of my PHX gigs was a Funk / R&B cover band - Soulful Horizons. (Excuse to OLLLD vid)


That band gigged at Chars, the Rhythm Room, the “local” casinos, and a handful of other spots. The Rhythm Room had some nasty politics associated with the bookings at the time. The Casinos seemed to be the best fit; but, there were a lot of late night drives back from Globe and that kind of thing.

SH was a 6 piece band. Your band sounds like a bigger ensemble. That can be part of the booking challenge. I also gigged with Sonoran Swing for several years, playing about 450 Big Band charts with a 21 - 22 piece Big Band. That band only played gigs, which could pay two dozen musicians. Private parties, big events at Falcon Field; that kind of thing.

I suppose one suggestion I might make would be to divide your ensemble into different sizes, and be a bit more adaptive between cover and original content. Just be more flexible.

Ultimately, the big issue is booking. It’s a nightmare. One of the ugly sides of many PHX clubs is that they tend not to have regular patron crowds, and rely on the bands to fill up their club. If you don’t fill up the club on the first night, you are not hired. Ever. Again. It simply takes a really resilient and energetic individual to play the booking game. There are the online booking services as well. I think you just can’t give up. The playing is the fun part. The booking is the work.

Best of luck.

 

[Vincent Van Low]

I would like your input into my dilema.

My current project was started 12 years ago. It took that long to assemble it to the players we have now.
We play a mix of funk/soul/blues based original music and covers (Aretha, James Brown, Sly, winehouse etc).
For years, we have had trouble gaining traction with any type of following. We do have some fans, but not a following.
The only time we pack the house is when we tax our people.
We self promote and have tried working with booking agencies.We have played festivals, bars, clubs, corporate events, etc. There are a handful of clubs that will not entertain us. They won't say why, so I'm left to wonder.
I am beginning to doubt our product. We all believe in what we're doing. We continue to put solid work into our performances. We take the stage as professionals and take our shows seriously.
Are we just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Do we suck?
Is the music just not interesting?
Perhaps some advice?
Honest opinions welcome.

No dilema....if you like playing the music, play it. If it bores you, go find another gig. You are not gonna be rich and famous for playing music, me neither, so I decided long ago that satisfaction is what Im after....sounds like you may still be chasing cash or recognition....and as a lifetime member of the "im in an original band club"...just check yourself be for you wreck yo self....

 

[Tom Winter]

I remember a band in the St.Louis area (Dr. Zhivegas)that was a Funk band. They were very popular. I think what made them stick out was, power. They were quite loud and it just felt like they took the genre to another level. Its like they hit you in the face with electric funk!I guess I could describe it as Power Rocking' Funk. It was awesome. Maybe inject some fuzz guitar and bring some noise. Love the horns btw.

 

[friskinator]

Even under the best circumstances, getting a band to take off in 2024 is incredibly difficult. Best of luck to you.

 

[Markmann]

What bands DO get traction in your area? If you're looking to increase your audience then check them out and take notes.

 

[chris1327]

One of the ugly sides of many PHX clubs is that they tend not to have regular patron crowds, and rely on the bands to fill up their club.

+1^ this was exactly my experience in phx… and ime it could be said about a lot of the cities in the southwest… it’s one of the consequences of urban sprawl.

there are certainly a few exceptions where bars w/live music have built-in crowds (like yucca tap room in tempe) but they cater more towards a younger crowd and non-traditional music

 

[DrBnz]

Yeah, I'd really like to see a live video to see what all is going on. Good bands can "LOOK" boring. Plus as I wonder "WHAT" it is that I would be doing as an audience member. You may get some folks dancing, I feel that most are going to be reliant upon your charisma on stage and watching you. From just listening, I'll tell you that it was good, so we'll ignore the positive remarks and focus on the negative. The horn section need a pro to listen and work with them a little on their arrangements. I'd ask em to give me more single instrument fills vice the big band feel where all of them blast me. I'm looking for more color, less power. Often times less is more. Now for the bad part. For me, it was the vocals. They didn't cut it for me. Whether its about the acoustics, the equipment, the speakers or the singer.... it was only "ok" for me and kinda droned on and on. The songs seem long .... or so similar that I got a little tired of "that". So I have the luxury of fast forward. If it were live, I'd be dependent upon your charisma (like I said in the beginning). We'd need to see a live video.

 

[51PRI]

Get a Gimmick?...nah, maybe that's what you need. I'll stay boring and bland.

Well, you DID ask for "input", "advice" and "honest opinions!"

 

[Michedelic]

I would like your input into my dilema.

My current project was started 12 years ago. It took that long to assemble it to the players we have now.
We play a mix of funk/soul/blues based original music and covers (Aretha, James Brown, Sly, winehouse etc).
For years, we have had trouble gaining traction with any type of following. We do have some fans, but not a following.
The only time we pack the house is when we tax our people.
We self promote and have tried working with booking agencies.We have played festivals, bars, clubs, corporate events, etc. There are a handful of clubs that will not entertain us. They won't say why, so I'm left to wonder.
I am beginning to doubt our product. We all believe in what we're doing. We continue to put solid work into our performances. We take the stage as professionals and take our shows seriously.
Are we just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Do we suck?
Is the music just not interesting?
Perhaps some advice?
Honest opinions welcome.

Well executed? Yes. Sounding samey? Yes. Maybe it’s just me, but I find it a little slick, polite, and at the same time, missing some stank. Do you do any Ohio Players, Confunkshun, Gap Band, earlier Commodores, grittier Stax/Volt stuff? Brother James? How are your front people? Entertaining? Engaging? Do they bring it?
As for if this sort of thing is passe’, I dunno. Have you ever checked out the late Sharon Jones? Black Joe Lewis? Leon Bridges? Then, while I’m not a fan because when I saw them live, every song sounded like “Me And Mrs. Jones”*, there’s Thee Sacred Souls. There’s that whole neo-soul movement, appealing to a younger crowd.
Do you play the Rhythm Room? What’s with the other clubs that won’t book you, what kind of acts do they normally have?


*Not necessarily a bad thing for a song or two, but it was like they would never get out of second gear during their entire set.

 

[Michedelic]

Even under the best circumstances, getting a band to take off in 2024 is incredibly difficult. Best of luck to you.

Yeah, but as the OP stated, they’ve been at it for over a decade.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Our covers represent 30% of our set.

We do nat have any produced videos. That sounds like a good idea.

Most of the venues in the last year or so have stopped doing their own booking. Now, they have gone to using low paying agencies. We have refused most shows because the pay scale is going the wrong way.

Much better picture of things, thanks.

Sets consisting of 70% originals are a rocky row, probably further aggravated by geography; Where I live, most in-town venues that are slightly more tolerant of originals pay low, where better paying suburban and rural venues' crowds prefer all-covers.

Plus, like I mentioned, you're a dance band; Originals are likely to be an even harder sell to local dance crowds in any market, especially for a local, part time originals band not putting all efforts into touring, promoting and more touring.

BTW produced promotional videos are an almost-absolute necessity in getting booked in better rooms around here, though they need to be in a live setting; Venues want to see how bands engage crowds, how the crowd responds & that the band is visually appealing/interesting.

OTOH, it would be helpful to see any live video here, no matter how produced. Otherwise, an honest appraisal of your band's ability in the context of clubs where you work would be hard to make.

 

[friskinator]

Yeah, but as the OP stated, they’ve been at it for over a decade.

Yes, and that makes it even more difficult.

 

[pepj]

Show reels that aren't live don't really tell you much worthwhile when booking tbh, ime.
I personally wouldn't put much store in them.
Personal recommendations are tops, and if the venue has no regulars, then it then comes down to your draw...or luck...on the day.
So...thats an uphill battle, and if you have form, like 12 years.. and are 'known' for not bringing a crowd to a venue who also have no crowd, then its not going to work.

This is why I'm not interested in a venue that doesn't or can't make the music night an event.
And so many modern places follow that model, unbelievably, imv.

You and the venue need a vibe so that people go first and worry about the band second.
No vibe means very likely a rubbish gig.
It doesn't matter whose fault that is....

 

[Matt-J2]

For those asking for videos of live performances, OP mentioned the band has a Youtube page but I don't think they supplied a link, so here's to the band page:
Crosstown Players


I have 0% band experience, but as someone who pays money to go see original acts and doesn't leave the couch for covers acts:

Try finding the originals scene that charges entry. If you don't have the following to headline, try and open for a while. Basically, you might need to act like a touring band, with your tour area being your city. Network, network, network.

But that's just me on the outside.

 

[Tnavis]

Many good points in the thread so far, but I'll highlight this:

If you are doing only 30% covers, that might be one of your problems. Corporate/weddings gigs definitely aren't the place for originals unless you are the artist they hired for your originals.

There are essentially two types of people at club/bar shows: people who are there specifically to see live music and be entertained, and people who happen to be there when live music is being played. The first group is happy to hear any music that is played well, and the second wants to hear songs that they know. It might be that flipping the percentage of covers to original tunes might get more repeat people coming to your shows, at which point you can start adding more original tunes back into the setlist.

 

[Pocket Dave]

For those asking for videos of live performances, OP mentioned the band has a Youtube page but I don't think they supplied a link, so here's to the band page:
Crosstown Players

Finally, live videos, thankyouverymuch.

Ok, I'm going to be frank.

First impression: For a funk-groove-dance-ish type band, the only one moving around onstage is the lead singer.

Horns - I've seen seated session players convey the groove visually better.

And no one outside of the singer, maybe the drummer, shows much confidence or ownership of the stage.

The rest of you don't appear to want to be there; It's almost uncomfortable watching the singer trying to carry the energy for the rest of you. Add a light-attendance situation and she should get a medal. Maybe the rest of you can learn from and support her. You might be surprised how much more engaging that can be.

 

[jerry]

Check out Slapbak:

 

[crobasster]

You're good live, but !
In local area we had a band that was very popular and very good for live acts, got even on some TV shows, but, for their own songs they were popular only to their moms, and believe me, they tried hard to promote their songs !
Problem was that they sucked as composers/writers !
Try to buy songs from someone who knows their job, if you don't have a song, you can play gigs for long !

 

[mrcbass]

Didn't read all replies but here's my opinionated input:

First, I'm involved in a similar style project that I have the similar concerns about. We're a sparser version (think power trio + a front singer) so we struggle making arrangements that are covered by full horn bands in the originals, but we have fun making it work. We're nowhere close to the sound quality that you shared, but we do have a distinct sound. Because of the niche musicianship requirements we've struggled with keeping people around, so we have to restart every 6 months or so, making this a very long road for me (I'm nearly at the end of my patience after 3 years). We've done a couple of low key gigs, but despite the LS thinking she has connections, I really don't see any real regular market for what we're doing.

IMO, you guys sound tight on the recordings; if you're pulling that off live, the product quality isn't your problem.

We do play a wide range of covers, but may not be playing enough contemporary pop. We have been a little resistant to that, but that also might be shooting us in the foot.

Everything else aside, this could indeed be a big part of your problems. As a musician and fan of the genre, I can appreciate what you guys are doing - but as a listener, people like to hear stuff they know. I've never heard any of those three songs. IMO, it's fine to sneak in some deeper covers or more obscure tracks if most of the set is easily recognizable. There's plenty of funky covers you guys can borrow or, it sounds you people have enough chops to be able to take some poppy stuff and make it funky or soulful. I personally enjoy putting genre spins on songs. IME, it's not so much about contemporary, but about recognition.

Full disclosure: I feel the same way about our song choices - I'd heard about 15% of our playlist before joining and I wonder if the general population would have any better recognition. I know this style is way more about grooves and getting booties shaking than sing-alongs, but I believe the audience still likes to hear stuff they know.

Best of luck and yes, 12 years is a very long time to hold onto a dream like this.

 

[turf3]

Good sounding band, but to be quite honest y'all sound like 1975 to me. Don't get me wrong - I like that sound and that style - but it's not the current thing.