is the recession effecting bands getting gigs?

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

Hi all,
Im in a band in the athlone-ballinasloe-roscommon area (pretty much in the midde of those three!) Finding it very hard to get regular gigs. we had a six month break this year, as it was the last year in college for three of us. made a return in august with a fresh setlist, lots of confidence, and we're all better musicians because if it in my opinion.
however, the pubs we played in that used to have bands on a sat night, seem to be getting very few bands. Any other pubs we handed in our card into (usualy a few times), just say the usual "we will give ye a call" and thats the last we ever hear from them.

My way of thinking is this for a pub (in the west and midlands anway):
a DJ will cost less than a Band (nearly every dj i see just has a laptop, connected to the pubs pa, thats the kind of dj i mean) However with a juke box they could make some money, and it will be playing the same songs the dj will play.

Anyone else in a similar situation?

Mars Bar

In my town in Galway, there are two emerging bands and they are getting gigs left,right and centre in pubs...

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

well were getting a few 20min - half hour setlists, but they have all been east of the shannon!

We are finding it very hard to get into new pubs, they seem to have around 5-10 bands they always get. Another band we have played with a lot when we were younger are having the same problem.


(P.S. its not that we are sh*t! , any pub we played in were always happy and got us back!!)

PaulBrewer

Gianna Modern Tearjerker wrote: »

Hi all,
Im in a band in the athlone-ballinasloe-roscommon area (pretty much in the midde of those three!) Finding it very hard to get regular gigs. we had a six month break this year, as it was the last year in college for three of us. made a return in august with a fresh setlist, lots of confidence, and we're all better musicians because if it in my opinion.
however, the pubs we played in that used to have bands on a sat night, seem to be getting very few bands. Any other pubs we handed in our card into (usualy a few times), just say the usual "we will give ye a call" and thats the last we ever hear from them.

My way of thinking is this for a pub (in the west and midlands anway):
a DJ will cost less than a Band (nearly every dj i see just has a laptop, connected to the pubs pa, thats the kind of dj i mean) However with a juke box they could make some money, and it will be playing the same songs the dj will play.

Anyone else in a similar situation?

What sort of Music do you make, Frank?

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

PaulBrewer wrote: »

What sort of Music do you make, Frank?

Hi, when we play the half hour setlists with other bands we do a mixture of our own material and some covers. (dont really have trouble gitting gigs like that, and we are playing to people who want to hear original bands so its great)
When we play in pubs for 2 hours its 99% covers, with one of two of our own. We cover band like KOL, feeder, the boss, artic monkies, bloc party, queen, elvis, the beatles. Mainly songs that are not going to drive people out the door of the pub!!

There are only 2 pubs and 1 club in roscommon that have bands. One of the pubs has only has 1 band since the summer, the other one mainly gets a one man band now. The club has had "big generator" twice since the summer and no other band. They used to have a lot more bands, usualy one every 4-5 weeks in the club, and they werent all big cover bands, some of them were local.
The decline in people going to pubs will probably lead to a pubs not getting bands as much. What can I do only stop bitching and keep trying to get gigs:D

johnnylakes

It can be tough for an original band in our lovely country! Publicans mainly want cover bands that will keep the 'punters' happy,which is completely understandable as it is a business at the end of the day!
The solution...well that's a toughy.. we have taken to hiring out rooms/theatres on a few occasions and if you put the work in PR-wise you can make it viable,you probably won't make alot of money but maybe enough to fund the next gig. At the end of the day Ireland is tiny, but there are places for original bands to play if you can find them,kinda like the A Team!
Spirit Store, Dundalk..McGrorys, Culdaff..Campbells in Cloughanover spring to mind. DIY ...If you build it...they will come (as long as you're not ****e!)
Happy New Year

seannash

johnnylakes wrote: »

It can be tough for an original band in our lovely country! Publicans mainly want cover bands that will keep the 'punters' happy,which is completely understandable as it is a business at the end of the day!
The solution...well that's a toughy.. we have taken to hiring out rooms/theatres on a few occasions and if you put the work in PR-wise you can make it viable,you probably won't make alot of money but maybe enough to fund the next gig. At the end of the day Ireland is tiny, but there are places for original bands to play if you can find them,kinda like the A Team!
Spirit Store, Dundalk..McGrorys, Culdaff..Campbells in Cloughanover spring to mind. DIY ...If you build it...they will come (as long as you're not ****e!)
Happy New Year

spirit store is a great spot(hometown support woop woop)

Mars Bar

Frank, you should come to Tuam. Try out Canavans and The Brogue. Judging by the music you play, The Brogue would be a great setting for ya and is probably one of the pubs that would survive a million recessions!
Tuam would only be about an hour from ya too so that's an added bonus. Echoing Johnny Lakes here, Campbells in Cloughanover is a great spot!

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

mars bar wrote: »

Frank, you should come to Tuam. Try out Canavans and The Brogue. Judging by the music you play, The Brogue would be a great setting for ya and is probably one of the pubs that would survive a million recessions!
Tuam would only be about an hour from ya too so that's an added bonus. Echoing Johnny Lakes here, Campbells in Cloughanover is a great spot!

thanks for that, il defo check those spots out. Cheers!

Mars Bar

No problemo...hope it goes well for ya!

johnnylakes

The Brogue...mmm....petrol bomb springs to mind
Canavans.yip talk to Brian. Campbells talk to Willie or Sandra...great people

Mars Bar

johnnylakes wrote: »

The Brogue...mmm....petrol bomb springs to mind

?? Do you mind explaining what you mean? I don't get it:(

johnnylakes

It's a kip and the owner is a twatt

Mars Bar

Oh...I like the Brogue. It's the only other pub I go to besides the one my Mam works in. I only go to Canavans if there is something on.

A lot of people don't like Squig, personally I find him grand. It must be the best going pub in town at the moment though so that must say something. Pity he went a bit lax and started letting in underage, the Thatch already has that part covered like.

johnnylakes

It's probably fine as a pub, but as a music venue it's a complete non-entity...moving a couple of tables and putting a band in front of a fire exit is not a venue as far as I am concerned. But that's just my opinion

Mars Bar

I do see your point. But surely it's better than nowhere at all? I'd rather have a gig in there than be sitting at home...If they weren't hosting gigs it'd only be Canavans...and that was closed for a good while. The town would have been SO quite!
There is so much music potential in town and of the 25+ pubs, we only have two showcasing young music talent. Such a shame really...

johnnylakes

There is a beautiful theatre in that town that isn't used half enough. Probably because they don't have a bar there. Anyway... off topic.............