Anybody ever experience?

A band that blows yours out of the water at the same venue as you the night before?

What's even worse is when you're playing a multi-band show, and you are the "headliner" and the band before you just blows you out of the water. Not a good feeling.

But keep in mind things happen, bands have good nights, and bad ones too. Just happens. Probably has something to do with the moon alignment or whatever...LOL!

Hang in there, maybe you'll get your chance to return that favor.

A band that blows yours out of the water at the same venue as you the night before?

All the time.

But I don't worry about it. After all, they (the Venue) asked me to be there.

The only real concern is WHY.
Is it because:
I didn't give it everything I possibly could?
Did I hold back?
Was I not well-enough prepared?
Did I just not care?

If another band plays better than my band, so be it.

They gave it everything they could.
They didn't hold back.
They were prepared.
They cared.

I've been with the band that did that.... at a rather large festival.... and had national acts standing by my soundboard and backstage really paying attention to what was happening.... the MC for the weekend got onstage after their set and stated "the bar just got set really high, and i'm glad you were all here for that... I know I was.... that was just plain tough"

for that night it was being ready.... for all of us..... and right before the show we did a powow and went over the set..... we were originally supposed to go on 1.5 hours earlier, but a big thunderstorm put us right into the 7:30-8:30 slot on the main stage..... so knowing it needed to be our best, we all hit the mark..... with a sledge hammer swung hard

4 Knowns..

You gotta pay taxes even if you don't want to

You will eventually achieve room temperature

There's always a better guitar player in the room

There's always a better band , maybe even on the same show !

Well we did ok. Nobody left when we started playing. We got paid. The owner said we sounded great. People danced. We had fun.

Only had two complaints. From two different folks. They said...........you guys could have been a bit louder.

Overall I would call it a success.

No matter how good you get, there will always be a better band than you somewhere in the world, at least subjectively, and once in a while they are going to go on the night (or even the hour) before you. If this sort of thing makes you miserable, you're never really going to be happy.

Be the best musician you can be, within the limits of your time and talent, and be secure in bringing that to the stage. If somebody goes on before you and melts everybody's faces off, it doesn't make your show less good. Get out there and perform and love it.

So far, it's only happened to me once, and I immediately made friends with the lead singer of the band that killed us, and a year later we had a band together!

Tim

We played a benefit where we opened for really popular, high-powered R&B/Blues band. The singer is real belter that totally commands the stage. She had teamed up with the local blues legend guitar player.

EVERYBODY came to see that band.

We played a very good set, got respectable applause and had some folks say some nice things. Then we hung around and thoroughly enjoyed the R&B band.

You just do what you can.

You never know what an individual or a crowd likes. Who is better is very subjective. I mean there are people who actually like Bob Dillon....You can't acount for taste.

Sure thing : my band once opened for ....JAMES BROWN in Athens....

I... think he really KILLED us when he went on stage....:mrgreen:

And still after all these years I can't explain why this happened!:mrgreen::mrgreen:

Kidding aside I think that during this concert I've learned the ABSOLUTE definition of the phrase "way out of your league"....:lol: (Needless to say that this was my last day as a.."funk" musician on earth & started doing my own music and "thing")

I've been on both sides.
I had a band in the late 80's, early 90's that was very slick, IMO.
I felt like we outshone some of the "bigger" acts we opened for.
Later on, I toured western Canada with bar band called the Outriders.
While taking a smoke break outside a rowdy bar I overheard this:
"That band really sucks, they should call themselves The Outhousers."
Ouch!

Another related subject... I also hate when the soundguy purposes makes your band sound worse than another. Always make friends with the soundguy or bring your own! ;)

-j

Yes, but they had clip-on tuners on their headstocks, so we looked more professional.

Yes, but they had clip-on tuners on their headstocks, so we looked more professional.

NICE :lol:

These "kids" were total pros. we're weekenders with a passion. We absolutely made friends with them though. That band is going to make it big.
You guys should do yourselves a favor & check them out.

Chance Anderson Band

They were all really talented, & the CD doesn't do justice to their live show.