Want to play live again but....

[gonzoknife]

I haven't really played gigs since covid. Someone reached out to me on Bandmix to audition for a "rock funk pop tribute band". I keyed in on funk and got excited. But after getting the setlist it's maybe 25% dance/funk and at least 1/2 classic rock with some pop tunes making up the rest. I'm just done playing Hard to Handle in bars. I want to play live again but I find the bar band repertoire boring. I'd be happy playing in a funk band, 80s synth pop, metal, jazz, solo classical, literally anything but Sweet Child O Mine again. Add in 9p-1a in bars and I'm done.

I don't know if any bands play what I want to in the area. It always seems like there's only classic rock bar bands playing the same, tired sets. It's super frustrating.

 

[itchyfingers]

I don't know where you're at, but I feel like none of us should waste our time being in a band that plays tunes you don't want to play. Why not start a Brothers Johnson tribute, or something along those lines?

While my band will occasionally have to book a 4 hour block that ends in the wee hours of the morning, I've also a become a fan of what I refer to as "old man gigs". Something that starts in the afternoon and ends just after sunset. Gets me home in time to fall asleep on the couch watching Matlock!

I guess my advice is to not depend on other peoples ideas of what they want to do. You have goals of playing funk and wrapping up gigs early, so go out and make that your reality.

 

[sleewell]

zero point in doing it if its not fun.

 

[OrganicZed]

I think you're looking at this correctly. You have to do a cost / benefit analysis of what it would mean to join a group. There are a ton of cons to playing in a group and only a few positives. If the negative aspects of playing outweigh the positive aspects then you will likely be unhappy and should wait for (or create) another opportunity.

 

[DrewJD82]

This is largely what I’ve struggled with in the last couple years of wanting to get back out there, A- finding a band looking for a guitarist at all and B- finding one playing music I’d actually enjoy playing.

Ultimately, I’ve made some concessions musically, if I had it my way I’d be doing original metal in a band I put together, but that’s just not in the cards right now, so I’m playing original metal in a band other people started. Not my preferred kinda metal but they’re great dudes and I can still crank up and do stuff I enjoy.

 

[newpedals]

If you will have to play songs which you don't like, it won't be enjoyable for you. Your health and mental well being are important.

 

[TJontheRoad]

When you’re getting back into the live scene, it can take several bands and a lot of networking of talent to find your ideal group of people that plays your music. It’s a process of elimination until, if you’re lucky, you can find yourself in a band that has the people in it you can identify with. Ultimately it’ll be your own band rather than someone else’s.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Tough discussion. Everyone seems to have their own magic bullet and ideal situation that they haven't for whatever reason or another manifested into musical reality.

Playing in a cover band is by it's very definition playing songs you don't want to play. There is no perfect setlist. You could certainly come up with a grand design and try handpicking the players in your area and hope that they are going to accept your vision with no questions asked but that's a pretty tall order. Best to find a group of people who you gel with musically and can get along with then see if you can tweak/minimize the unenjoyable aspects of the band to where the tradeoff is acceptable to you.

 

[holoholo]

I need at least 2. If I get all 3, it’s a home run:

Pay
Music
Hang

 

[Byrdman]

Odds are that if you are in a band, you will play something you don't like. For our band, everyone has a vote and majority wins on songs but the singer can overrule if he has any trouble with the higher registries. The first edition of our band, the bass player and the singer picked almost everything but that did not work for long and they left together.

IMO, it really is about the audience experience if you are getting paid to play. If you are paying people to watch you, then play what you want...

 

[GuitarBilly74]

Cover bands play songs that are a "safe bet" for the general bar audience, which means classic hits everyone knows and likes. That's the job description and the way to get booked.

If you don't like doing that, (I don't) you could do original music, that's usually more musically satisfying but it's harder to get a draw and get paid.

Or maybe zero in a band you like and do a tribute. That can do well, if it's done correctly.

But as far as the cover scene goes, it is what it is. There is no point in putting together a cover band doing B-sides no one knows, because that is not going to be a draw and at that point you might as well just do your own songs

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

I have been feeling the urge to gig again. But this area is so dead, there are no bands looking for someone. And really from what I can see, none that I would want to be in. At 60 I'm probably done.

 

[HomespunEffects]

In my last band they asked me for a list of things that I won't play. I thought that was very nice. Guns'n'Roses, Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews band. I also preferred to not play anything satanic but since I find it funny, that isn't a deal breaker. They were very much OK with cutting a handful of songs but it ended up that I just couldn't meet their scheduling. All I asked for was an extra hour and no setups during sabbath but that was a no go for them. I was OK with being told that they let me go and I'm still friends with all of them (except the drummer who I don't really know). I did let them know about me being a sabbath keeper from the beginning but I'm just not sure they understood what that meant.

I do have the urge to get back out there with my olden pals but I also don't enjoy playing the same songs that everyone else plays. I also don't enjoy seeing someone else play the same old, dull set list. It really would be great if the kids started playing originals again.

 

[Iron1]

I guess my advice is to not depend on other peoples ideas of what they want to do. You have goals of playing funk and wrapping up gigs early, so go out and make that your reality.

Couldn’t agree more. I went thru a similar thing a few years ago, decided to make my reality what I wanted and now my band just dropped our debut ep and we’re playing a festival this weekend.

Don’t settle for what life gives ya, take what you want.

 

[mbenigni]

I did let them know about me being a sabbath keeper from the beginning but I'm just not sure they understood what that meant.

I, too, am a keeper of the Sabbath.

It really would be great if the kids started playing originals again.

Hear, hear.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I, too, am a keeper of the Sabbath.

Hear, hear.

I have that one, too!

 

[mbenigni]

I have that one, too!

My favorite. :)

 

[mbenigni]

I would be remiss if I didn't add...

 

[HomespunEffects]

My favorite. :)

Master of Reality is probably my favorite followed by Sabbath Blood Sabbath.

 

[JasonE]

I haven't really played gigs since covid. Someone reached out to me on Bandmix to audition for a "rock funk pop tribute band". I keyed in on funk and got excited. But after getting the setlist it's maybe 25% dance/funk and at least 1/2 classic rock with some pop tunes making up the rest. I'm just done playing Hard to Handle in bars. I want to play live again but I find the bar band repertoire boring. I'd be happy playing in a funk band, 80s synth pop, metal, jazz, solo classical, literally anything but Sweet Child O Mine again. Add in 9p-1a in bars and I'm done.

I don't know if any bands play what I want to in the area. It always seems like there's only classic rock bar bands playing the same, tired sets. It's super frustrating.

This one is a timely find for me. I am planning on meeting with a group of guys this coming week to discuss their band and see if I am a fit. They reached out to me a little over a year ago but some changes in my job at that time wouldn't allow me the time I needed to play with them. Things have changed since then. I have no idea if we are on the same page but they seem to be willing to do whatever it takes. I don't want to play out every weekend but I am good for a couple of weekends a month, up to 4 gigs month.

I have taken a few bands from struggling to gigging. I seem to have a better connection to what people want to hear in the venues around me than some others have. The last few bands I have been in were doing pretty well for gigs after I got in and help steer them a bit. Sometimes musicians want to play what they like and that isn't what the typical person in the venues wants to hear so you don't get offered more gigs after the first one.