7 members (VNORTH2, couchgrouch, Fdemetrio, Gary E. Andrews, Perry Neal Crawford, Sunset Poet, Guy E. Trepanier),
4,270
guests, and
267
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Welcome to the Just Plain Folks forums! You are currently viewing our forums as a Guest which gives you limited access to most of our discussions and to other features.
By joining our free community you will have access to post and respond to topics, communicate privately with our users (PM), respond to polls, upload content, and access many other features. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free; so please join our community today!
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 75
Serious Contributor
|
OP
Serious Contributor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 75 |
Out of curiosity...
How often do those here play out locally?
How often do you tour? Or do you tour?
Do you play with a band? Solo? Both?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,403
Top 40 Poster
|
Top 40 Poster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,403 |
Me? I play at least three times a week, most weeks. They're not concerts per se, just groups of musicians getting together to play for a couple of hours in public, with an audience.
I play both solo and with a band. The band, Deathgrass, has a few concerts scheduled over the summer. Ain't gone on tour--can't afford it.
Joe
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,911 Likes: 1
Top 30 Poster
|
Top 30 Poster
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,911 Likes: 1 |
Interesting question.
I play out three or four times a week, where the definition of playing out can vary from three songs at a songwriter showcase to a four hour gig. Sometimes solo, sometimes in an acoustic duo, sometimes in a trop rock band and sometimes in a blues band.
I am curious what others say.....
Colin
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,426 Likes: 16
Top 50 Poster
|
Top 50 Poster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,426 Likes: 16 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,831
Top 30 Poster
|
Top 30 Poster
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,831 |
Hi Matt:
Never and never... LOL! Too old... too ugly... and too contrary! (Did I mention lack of talent?)
Thanks for asking, though. Good luck with your music career.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,478
Top 200 Poster
|
Top 200 Poster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,478 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,526
Helping Hand
|
Helping Hand
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,526 |
We are just finishing up working our new rythm section in...but our band played out before that at least two weekends a month. We hope to be doing that again very soon! I was on the road in the '80's for 3 years straight and it was grueling! Then we played clubs 6 nights a week in town...the music scene isn't what it used to be here in Cincinnati, Ohio. The smoking ban has destroyed a huge part of the music scene, and bands like ours that haven't been "in the loop" are up against bands that have been together over 10 years. We're all competing for the same clubs. It's really terrible. What it says to me is, those folks that fought SO HARD to get smoking banned in bars, DON'T GO TO BARS!!!! Sixty percent of the bars hosting music have closed down around here since the ban!
Last edited by Polly Hager; 07/20/10 05:06 AM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,429
Top 200 Poster
|
Top 200 Poster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,429 |
My guitar chord won't reach outside. But nice topic.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,478
Top 200 Poster
|
Top 200 Poster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,478 |
... bands like ours that haven't been "in the loop" are up against bands that have been together over 10 years. We're all competing for the same clubs. Pardon me for going off on a tangent here, (luv ya, Polly!) but we have to stop looking at other bands and musicians as "the competition." The real competition is video games, theaters, the internet, cable TV, etc. The best way to fight this competition is to give people a reason to choose a night of live music. The best way to do that is to support fellow musicians by banding together to create a "scene". Show up for other band's gigs. Help create a buzz. Show the venue owners that it's profitable to have live music. Get people talking about your local music scene. When one local band makes it big, it creates opportunities for other bands. Look at Athens, Seattle, Austin, etc. It can happen anywhere.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,845
Top 100 Poster
|
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,845 |
My answer to all of them is never! It's just not a priority at this point. I've played in several bands years ago, but since I've started writing, I just can't find the time for it, between work and family. From those days, I've pretty much learned the nuts and bolts of performing and what works with an audience. So I feel there's nothing in it for me anymore, and have little energy left for late night work. I used to play guitars, so I'm not much of a stage animal, like so many singers, that I need the kick from performing. I get my kicks from making things up, recording and producing, these days.
I consider playing the occasional songwriter round, eventually, as it seems like a great time to spend with your peers, but you don't really plug your songs at those events either, so I'd rather focus on being productive and build my catalogue. Maybe someday if any of my songs end up as hits, and folks would like to hear the writer. Or maybe a live performance to some visual media, but untill then, I can see a purpose of playing out. As a songwriter I consider playing gigs on my own as mere fun without any perspective to it, as I'm waay beyond the ambition of promoting myself as a performing artist.
To each his own, I guess. But with with 200+ songs a year (of which most end up as DIY productions), and the work/family puzzle, a man has to make priorities.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,761
Top 100 Poster
|
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,761 |
One weekend per month I head back up to DC for 2 longstanding gigs with old band mates. That's enough to get the "performing jones" outta my system.
I've done a few coffee house gigs down here in Raleigh, but the energy/desire just isn't there right now.
Midnite
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,186
Top 10 Poster
|
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,186 |
Hi Matt
I try to play out as much as possible - lately it has been about 4 times a month, but not consistently.... I have never toured and still am developing my set and performance . I have also tried to develop a trio act and that did not gel for me. Now I am looking at other possibilities, because I do feel a band has more draw than a solo act... In my area there is a vibrant music community and many venues that support live music - the scene has been growing for the last 10 years... people Like to go out and dance -- pop and blues being the biggest draws ( good bands and solo acts don't have trouble finding work) : ) jm
Last edited by Joice Marie; 07/20/10 10:38 AM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,487
Top 200 Poster
|
Top 200 Poster
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,487 |
Seven or Eight times a month...house band and host other groups and jam sessions...play some other places now and then, but too old to move equipment tom
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,265
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,265 |
Once upon a time I pretty much performed a weekly solo gig with some fillers. I have not "played out" in nearly two years due to health and other personal issues and lately haven't even had the desire to pick up the guitar like I once did. It does look like things may be settling down in the near future and I may search out public gigs but I'm leaning more toward streaming live shows and studio work, leaving the fight for live venues to the younger performers who still have the will and the desire to put up with the hassles and travel.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 75
Serious Contributor
|
OP
Serious Contributor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 75 |
Interesting replies. I was playing out a lot in 2009 but in 2010 have been writing and working on some other projects.
Still playing out a 2-3 times a month but getting ready to up that quite a bit with the current mini-tour and another two in the works.
For those who do want to tour/get out and perform, what is the ideal gig? Venue?
For me, house concerts and open air events are most interesting and profitable. I only play originals and obscure covers, so the average bar/saloon, which wants country and classic rock covers is... dis-interesting.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574
JPF Mentor
|
JPF Mentor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574 |
I do three to five live gigs a week. Two are regular gigs, one a Tuesday night country dance with our band The Over the Hillbillies at Long Hollow Jamboree in Nashville, and the other is a Sunday morning gospel radio show, Nashville Cowboy Church, broadcast on WSM 650am (home of the Grand Ole Opry) Sundays at 5:30am CST, Sirius/XM sattelite radio Willie's Place channels 13 and 64 Sundays at 8am EST, and live at Worldwide Country Radio (WWCR) shortwave 10am CST. http://nashvillecowboychurch.com/The others vary. This Friday I'm playing in a bluegrass gospel band, Sandi Kay and New Hickory, for the United States Association of Gospel Entertainers and Musicians (USAGEM) show at the Ernest Tubb Texas Troubador Theater. We've been awarded the USAGEM gospel bluegrass Band of the Year award twice in a row. http://www.usagem.org/ On Saturday I'll be playing at the Perry County Music on Main Street show in Linden Tennessee backing up beach music legend Clifford Curry http://www.cliffordcurry.com , Benita Hill, Donna Frost, and playing some of my own songs. Over the past few weeks I've played in Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee with multi number one artist Razzy Bailey http://razzybailey.com/site/ ; Irish and Country music artist, Bernadette http://www.bernadettesings.net/ ; Blues and Rock shows with Richard Armentrout; Bluegrasser Jackie Kincaid; and a Legends of the Grand Ole Opry show with George Hamilton IV, Jan Howard, Joanne Cash and Bobby G. Rice. In the next months I'll be playing bluegrass with Dave Leatherman and Stone County (Dave is working on a cd project with Patty Loveless and Dale Ann Bradley). We'll be recording a tv show for RFD-TV in October. This is in addition to studio work. I'm currently working on six album projects not counting my own. They vary in styles from country to folk, rock, easy listening jazz and bluegrass. God has been good to this old picker.
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash It's only music. -niteshift Mike Dunbar Music
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,186
Top 10 Poster
|
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,186 |
For those who do want to tour/get out and perform, what is the ideal gig? Venue? A small room with Great acoustic sound and good sound person - relaxed audience seating - and being paid and fed : )
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,579 Likes: 13
Top 10 Poster
|
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,579 Likes: 13 |
Mike,
Bernadette! That's a name I haven't heard in a while. Tell her I still have the little plastic leprechaun she gave me for my dashboard to look over me while I traveled North America. She gave it to me circa 2000 so it has kept me safe on the road for over a decade and probably a 100K miles of travel!
Until recently in 2010, I was on tour at least 6 months per year in the USA, Canada and Europe the last 13 years. I still plan to be out an about 3-4 months before the end of this year, but with far fewer showcases and events. I am working on transitioning some of my travel to online video conferencing with musicians from around the world to keep up on what's happening everywhere. (If any of you are experts or knowledgable about how to best get 10-20 musicians on the same video chat (for free or with software we'd host locally) please let me know).
Keep in mind that as much as the folks above play out, our most active members play and practice so much they don't have time to use our message boards. Frankly I don't know how some of our regulars who gig a lot find time to also hang out here, but we're sure glad they find the time!
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 75
Serious Contributor
|
OP
Serious Contributor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 75 |
Brian,
You can video chat with up to 20 at TokBox.com
I've used it with about 6 people and it works pretty well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,788
Top 40 Poster
|
Top 40 Poster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,788 |
I sing in the shower I sing in the car I sing for my dog And under the stars I don't sing out live I'm not in a band If you heard my voice Then you'd understand Best, Lynn well...I guess I can carry a tune but then again I can carry a bucket.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,114
Top 40 Poster
|
Top 40 Poster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,114 |
When I'm asked to.......still waiting.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,389
Top 100 Poster
|
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,389 |
Came to this one late.. I agree with what Polly said as far as the scene in Cincinnati, and I know it's the same elsewhere. MADD, anti- smoking zealots, the piss poor economy,social networking on the internet ,changing musical trends, {all the bar owners want to book are karaoke, hip-hop D.Js or "modern rock" cover bands.]Have all teamed up to KILL the live music scene. I've grudgingly accepted that my "glory days" playing bars, {and the glory days of the bar industry in general}are over, and aren't coming back. But by sheer indefeatable persistence {and living off my OWN past glory}I still play 5-6 nights a week as a solo acoustic act. I try to get out of town and do a roadtrip once in a while.Now that my marriage has bought the farm, I might see more roadtrips in my future.
Last edited by Bob Cushing; 07/25/10 06:35 AM.
bc
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 157
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 157 |
Right now I'm in a caregiver role so I don't play out at all. Eventually, I know this will change and I'll probably throw myself back into performing.
Before, I would get myself out there maybe a couple times a week, but no touring -- always limited myself to a hundred mile radius of my home. (though I fudged on that occasionally, especially when I got a regular gig hosting an open mike a full 103 miles from my place!)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,463
Top 20 Poster
|
Top 20 Poster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,463 |
Came to this one very late...too busy with work. Lots of gigging abroad and touring swo unable to do anything much else these days. I apologise for not being on boards and unable to to produce demos etc lately.....I will get round to the backlog as soon as I can....just too busy right now to do much.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 379
Top 500 Poster
|
Top 500 Poster
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 379 |
I have something really awesome about playing live to share. Since some people play live and others don't, some who used to but can't anymore, etc, why not broadcast a concert from your own house on the Internet? I heard of a website called Ustream a few months ago, made an account, but never did anything with it until today, when I got to watch one of my favorite independent artists play live from her home in Germany on the Internet. It's still playing live, and even if you don't get to see the audience like you would playing in a club, it's still playing to an audience! And you can interact with them too. You can also get people from all over the world watching, not just people in the area. And the best part: you don't have to leave the house either! I am going to give it a try myself and see how it works. Even not having done it myself, it looks very promising! Anyway, that's my two cents. 8-)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,526
Helping Hand
|
Helping Hand
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,526 |
Ann, welcome to the boards and an AWESOME suggestion! My band practices every week and there are some things I'd LOVE to broadcast! We actually sound REALLY GOOD sometimes! Thanks for the heads up!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,389
Top 100 Poster
|
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,389 |
Polly, drag your boys out to my open mic at Mama Vitas. It's been catching on, and I'm getting some good turnouts and players there.
bc
|
|
|
We would like to keep the membership in Just Plain Folks FREE! Your donation helps support the many programs we offer including Road Trips and the Music Awards.
|
|
Forums117
Topics125,717
Posts1,160,950
Members21,470
|
Most Online37,523 Jan 25th, 2020
|
|
"If one man can do it, any man can do it. It is true. But the real question is, if one man did it, are you willing to do what it takes to do it as well?" –Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|