The Next Level

[fife31]

Currently working in a local cover band XXPOSURE (classic/modern rock) playing all over the Delmarva Peninsula. Good band musically but need more excitement in our shows. All members have good energy and stage presence. Looking for some good ideas to spice up our show. Should we dress up / dress down / co-ordinate outfits, how can we grab the crowd and keep them on their feet all night, what are some good gimmicks or stage tricks! Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

[balboa]

There have been some famous people, that before they were famous, would rent a limo, and show up to their own show in a limo. It may sound crazy, but if people perceive you as being big and professional, it is much easier to attain those results. The cost of a limo split 4or5 ways is a small price to pay. A professional look, neat and groomed, is always a plus. I assume your not doing gigs at crazy biker bars! Some coordination among band members clothes is good, but too much makes it seem like you really worked hard on looking like quintuplets. Maybe a nice pair of pants, polo shirts, button downs, even a t-shirt under a sports jacket. But you cant have one guy wearing a black pair of dockers, black shoes with a blue polo shirt and the other guy wearing torn wrangler jeans, work boots, a flannel shirt and a dirty hat. If you want to be perceived as a band, then you have to look like a band. Even famous bands have a similar images portrayed amongst members. Metallica for example all had on dark jeans, band t-shirts and long hair. King Crimson goes for a more casual/dressed up look. Buddy Rich and his band wore tuxedos, the list goes on. The important thing is that you look like a unit, a team.

Lights are not a bad thing to add, if you dont already use them, especially lights that go with the music, maybe not for every song, but at least for a few. A pot and some dry ice, behind the drummer with a fan, is a cheap alternative to a smoke machine.

A good one for the audience to see is versatility. Maybe you guys could switch instruments for a song or two. Even if its not the hardest song to play, the audience wont know or remember that, but what they will remember is the band members switched instruments. This makes you guys look like talented musicians..not saying that you guys arent already! This idea may take a little longer to do, but im sure one of the guitarists can learn a simple song on the drums, and the drummer can play the guitar on a simple song. It might take some practice, but it could be a trick you guys could pull off in the near future, and look comfortable doing it.

Having a couple intoxicated good looking girls from the audience sing a well known tune is a good one. They look good doing it, and its fun for everybody. make sure there not too intoxicated or this could be a problem, and make sure none of your spouses are there, or that they will care!!!

Playing songs that people know but have never seen played out before are great show makers! songs like Hawaii 50, Mission impossible, The Rocky Theme song, Popcorn, etc...These songs are just little filler tunes and they dont have to be played in their entirety. But, they do add spice to a set list. People will say "wow, ive never heard that song played out before". If you guys play it well, they can be very powerful little pieces that dont take too long to learn, but are unique. The crowd may not remember how well you played song "x", because the band the week before played it, but they will remember that you guys were the grouped that rocked Mission Impossible!

[PinkZepplin]

stick tricks. tons and tons and tons of stick tricks. They're all easier then they look, and the only people in the crowd who will know that are the drummers, and not even all drummers know how easy stick tricks are. Just make sure you can pull them off without affecting the song.

Gimick songs are good, as balboa said, but i'd say you can take it a step further. Maybe make a medley of a bunch of popular TV show themes or something like that.

[Deathmetalconga]

As long as you're playing other people's music, you will never make it beyond being human jukeboxes. You could earn a decent living doing that and make lots of people happy, but "the next level" involves creating your own music that has the same effect on people. Look at the long list of drummers on the main page of this site. With few exceptions, they are memorable because they help create music that has not yet been heard.

[Skitch]

As long as you're playing other people's music, you will never make it beyond being human jukeboxes. You could earn a decent living doing that and make lots of people happy, but "the next level" involves creating your own music that has the same effect on people.

Two points here:



I know of many bands who are making more than a decent living playing other people's music - some have members making six figures.
Most of the music to which you refer to as making your own, was written by someone else, other than a member of that band. John Hiatt, Carol King, James Taylor are but a few songwriters who have had their songs styled by many bands and solo artists.


You seem to have an ax to gring against "human jukeboxes". Before you can become a great musician, you have to study the past greats to understand what makes them great. Just like you have to study a great song in order to know what makes it great. Michael Jordan is another fantastic example; he studied Dr. J who studied Bob Macadoo.


I am not trying to ruffle your feathers here, but most drummers don't write the songs which they recorded the tracks on. Original music is a risk for many. Without radio or media play, the average listener doesn't really care. They only like what they know and they really haven't developed an ear to know whether or not a band is really tight. Basically, they have to have their hand held and guided to what is new.

Now the good news is that the music business IS changing and I don't think that, in 20 years, it will much resemble what it has been for the last 50 years. And this is where being a great businessman and go-getter will help immensely!

I don't know how many of us on this forum actually spend a lot of time listening to the radio. Like the TV, I see the broadcast radio as being outdated in its current state.




Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Deathmetalconga]

Two points here:



I know of many bands who are making more than a decent living playing other people's music - some have members making six figures.
Most of the music to which you refer to as making your own, was written by someone else, other than a member of that band. John Hiatt, Carol King, James Taylor are but a few songwriters who have had their songs styled by many bands and solo artists.


You seem to have an ax to gring against "human jukeboxes". Before you can become a great musician, you have to study the past greats to understand what makes them great. Just like you have to study a great song in order to know what makes it great.

Michael Jordan is another fantastic example; he studied Dr. J who studied Bob Macadoo.


Mike



Well, this fellow did ask for thoughts on the "next level" so I gave them. What do you think is the next level?

There's nothing wrong with playing other people's music. In fact, there are many great songs that need to be kept alive and not forgotten, because they reveal something about the time and place that made them, because of nostalgia, because they're just great songs. You are right that artists should study the works of those who came before you.

At the same time, musicians - really any sort of artist - have a duty to add to the creative pool of their craft. If you're not adding to the creative pool by rendering new music - if the only thing you do is play covers (repeat only) - you're just sponging off the creativity of others. And that's not going to get you to the next level in my view.

And I think you are underestimating audiences. I've played original music at local places 10 years ago and and people still come up to me and say they remember it. Good music captivates people, whether it's 1,000 years old or happening right in front of them.

[burnthehero]

If I was in a cover band, I would constantly be trying to expand our repertoire. My friend and I used to frequent this bar that would always have a cover band playing on the weekends. We never really payed much attention until one night they played a couple Tool songs and played them VERY well. From then on we'd always check where they were playing and make an effort to go see them wherever they were.

[PinkZepplin]

Original music is a risk for many. Without radio or media play, the average listener doesn't really care. They only like what they know and they really haven't developed an ear to know whether or not a band is really tight. Basically, they have to have their hand held and guided to what is new.
]

If what you say is true there would be no new music. generally record companies require a band to have a pretty strong base of fan support before they will sign that band on. If people don't care about music that doesn't get radio play, how to these bands gain any ground? The answer is obviously that people do care, but its harder for that music to get noticed by as many people because it isn't being mass-broadcasted. It's not that people don't like unknown music, it's that unknown music is just that, unknown.

[Wile E. Coyote]

There have been some famous people, that before they were famous, would rent a limo, and show up to their own show in a limo. It may sound crazy, but if people perceive you as being big and professional, it is much easier to attain those results.
Interesting... I always thought that the best way to be perceived as a professional was being a professional

[aydee]

Interesting... I always thought that the best way to be perceived as a professional was being a professional

well said LoL....... takes too long, that way ; )

[fife31]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Some we as a band have already touched on and others I will certainly bring up for us to consider like the theme songs, appearence, etc... On the original music thing I've been in orig. bands and being able to create your own music start to fininsh is great and even more so when you get the response your looking for. The cool thing about the cover band is that it's a professional gig. No were all not gonna quit our day jobs but it is a great way to hone your drumming skills and get PAID! I don't know about you but the original scene for me never paid any money. Lots of chances to play but no money. Playing covers is an oppurtunity to really feel like an entertainer and watch people have a great time. Just like the response your looking for on the original, to see someone light up when you rip into one of their favorite songs and play it well is just as satisfying. Also to really make it on the "original scene" requires you basically to sacrifice everything. For me touring, moving, and all those things that would come with trying to make it with my own music (band) are not an option. For alot of drummers I think cover gigs make you more versitale and allow you to live out your rock n roll dreams, getting paid and everything!!!! Thanks again for all the input!!!!!

[balboa]

tell this gentlemen how to be professional so everyone else can see it! this is just one way to show professionalism. You only get one chance to make a first impression, you dont get the chance to talk to everyone at gigs. this is a quick way to show a lot of people that you are popular and professional.

example:
you call an electrician to do a job. electrician X shows up looking horrible in a beat up vehicle. Electrician Y shows up in a uniform and a clean vehicle. Who would you choose to work on your house? this means nothing of their professionalism, but by first impression, you would most likely choose electrician Y. even though electrician X may be a very professional person, you may want to call an electrician who looks more professional to do the job. Live performance deals mostly with image. thus, making yourself look professional, people will perceive you as professional before you even begin playing. many decisions are based on preconceptions.

[PinkZepplin]

tell this gentlemen how to be professional so everyone else can see it! this is just one way to show professionalism. You only get one chance to make a first impression, you dont get the chance to talk to everyone at gigs. this is a quick way to show a lot of people that you are popular and professional.

example:
you call an electrician to do a job. electrician X shows up looking horrible in a beat up vehicle. Electrician Y shows up in a uniform and a clean vehicle. Who would you choose to work on your house? this means nothing of their professionalism, but by first impression, you would most likely choose electrician Y. even though electrician X may be a very professional person, you may want to call an electrician who looks more professional to do the job. Live performance deals mostly with image. thus, making yourself look professional, people will perceive you as professional before you even begin playing. many decisions are based on preconceptions.


ok, this would be cool and all if musicians were really expected to be professionals. when i go see a band play, i don't expect to see professionals, i expect to see musicians. even if they are "professional" musicians, i don't expect anything from them other then music. Most bar goers are not gonna look at a band and go, they look so unprofessional, we shouldn't come back here. they're either gonna go, i like this band they sound good, or i hate this band they suck. when speaking from the point of view of a crowd, you have to remember that everyone in said crowd is not a musician, and therefore don't have the same views about music as musicians do.

[Class A Drummer]

Drum solos are the greatest crowd pleasers out there. I rememebr while watching Neil Peart's "Anatomy of a Drum Solo," he talks about how his first show ever he did a drum solo, and it was just basic beats and rudiments and the crowd loved it.

[balboa]

ok, this would be cool and all if musicians were really expected to be professionals. when i go see a band play, i don't expect to see professionals, i expect to see musicians. even if they are "professional" musicians, i don't expect anything from them other then music. Most bar goers are not gonna look at a band and go, they look so unprofessional, we shouldn't come back here. they're either gonna go, i like this band they sound good, or i hate this band they suck. when speaking from the point of view of a crowd, you have to remember that everyone in said crowd is not a musician, and therefore don't have the same views about music as musicians do.

your right.

take care

[Wile E. Coyote]

well said LoL....... takes too long, that way ; )
Yeah... hehehe

For the gallery... Let's make a distinction:
-Be/look like a professional
-Be/look like a rockstar (or in the worst case, a rockstar wannabe)

[balboa]

be yourself............................

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

Drum solos are the greatest crowd pleasers out there. I rememebr while watching Neil Peart's "Anatomy of a Drum Solo," he talks about how his first show ever he did a drum solo, and it was just basic beats and rudiments and the crowd loved it.

I tend to find that the drum solo is the best part of a gig. You get to go to the toilet and then the beer tent or bar and not really miss anything interesting.

[Construct]

Talk. Talk to the crowd, interact with them. Coordinate a song so it would begin after ending a sentence. Get them to maybe even clap or chant to a song? Just my two cents. I always find it more exciting to be part of the crowd when the band has us interact with the song. Example, when Arch Enemy played out here, Everyone. EVERYONE chanted during the middle part of "We Will Rise". It was LOUD. We almost screamed over them playing! And Angela was doing it with us. Good times.