What kinda bands make money where you are?

ye olde fretmonkey · August 22nd, 2006, 07:43 PM

Classic rock?
Variety?
Country?
"Corporate"?
None of em?

just curious

Joe-Bob · August 22nd, 2006, 07:47 PM

Death Metal.

Califiddler · August 22nd, 2006, 07:57 PM

Wedding bands. A friend of mine is getting married in a couple of weeks and is paying the band for the wedding reception $5,500.00. He said that the least expensive bands he looked at were $3,500.00, and DJs cost $1,500.00 - $1,800.00.

Time to buy some tuxedoes and learn some Commodores tunes!

reverberocket2 · August 22nd, 2006, 08:03 PM

Wedding bands and professional cover bands with booking/managment that primarily play a mix of whatever this months new rock songs are popular on the radio and harder classic rock

There's a lot of original bands but as usual very very few make any money at it

Geo · August 22nd, 2006, 09:14 PM

Private partys for the most part in town.
Could be weddings, corporate, reunions, country clubs and so on
Usually it is variety music with an emphasis on various danceable
stuff. If the band plays during dinner then they usually do
some somewhat lighter jazzy/R&B flavored instrumentals.

sound dog · August 22nd, 2006, 09:17 PM

Tribute bands & Elvis impersonators, unfortunately.

Family based acts seem to do exceedingly well on the fair and carnival circuits.

RomanS · August 22nd, 2006, 09:19 PM

Wedding bands are pretty much the only ones that can play for a living here...

Heather Anne Peel · August 22nd, 2006, 09:35 PM

None! Seriously, there isn't a lot of money to be made playing gigs in Austin. There's too many bands proportional to the clubs. That said, Austin is a fun place to play, and I think people play here for the right reason, the love of the music. There's a lot of good players here, and I'm sure there are a few bands who make some decent money, but in the 22 years I've been a part of the "Austin Music Scene" the money hasn't been there. I mean, I've had friends who were signed and playing regularly that were holding down day gigs just to pay the rent! Money is not the motivator here. Our drummer is in several other bands, and between all of us, and his day gig, he makes just enough to get by.
Heather

ye olde fretmonkey · August 22nd, 2006, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather Anne Peel

None! Seriously, there isn't a lot of money to be made playing gigs in Austin. Heather

Ohhh, I know.

How does a band get on the party/corporate/wedding/whatever circuit? I've always been puzzled by that. Does it involve having a manager/booker, or cozying up to catering companies...what?

Leon Grizzard · August 22nd, 2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ye olde fretmonkey

Ohhh, I know.

How does a band get on the party/corporate/wedding/whatever circuit? I've always been puzzled by that.

I just say the obvious: it starts with having a polished band with the right set list for the type of function. It can be varied, but a good regular wedding band plays a mix of great hits in a lot of styles. We try to mine those traditional country and western swing books. You can do jazz; whatever, but it has to be what the consumer expects for the type of gig. Then I think it's all of things you mention, plus a web site with mp.3's. Who has the time and energy to do all that? Think about here, Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes. The've been making good money for what, twenty years? Even so, I bet almost all of 'em have day jobs.

0le FUZZY · August 22nd, 2006, 10:42 PM

Mexican Mariachi Bands Hands down.

I know a number of members, producers and soundmen and they earn huge sums of getus far more than the average country and/or rock bands in this area.

I luv some of their music!! Won band jes played at the casino near me and hadda set up out in front because the crowd measured in the many thousands. They took up the hoe parkin lot and then sum.

0le FUZZY

woodman · August 22nd, 2006, 11:47 PM

down here, the big money-makers are "beach" bands -- not surf, but the shag-oriented cliche-mongering bastardization of '50s R&B. show bands that always play every tune exactly the same way.

Big John · August 23rd, 2006, 04:56 AM

To make money here have a 'tribute' band or go solo with those accursed minidisc/midi backing trax !

We still have lots of good gigs but not the money.

Tremo · August 23rd, 2006, 05:29 AM

Classic cover bands and wedding bands mainly. Mostly playing rock. Not a whole lot of hat/boot bands or blues bands. The younger bands that play for peanuts all are into metal of one flavor or another, and sound like crap.

captain gorgeous · August 23rd, 2006, 05:45 AM

tribute bands
wedding bands
some jazz

chickenpicker · August 23rd, 2006, 07:55 AM

One Man Bands.

As long as they use backing tracks generally, which is a real shame. When I was doing this, I could make a good amount of pocket money to supplement my day job wage, but it was soul-destroying stuff.

chet · August 23rd, 2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

<li>Mexican Mariachi Bands Hands down.

<li> I know a number of members, producers and soundmen and they earn huge sums of getus far more than the average country and/or rock bands in this area.

<li> I luv some of their music!! Won band jes played at the casino near me and hadda set up out in front because the crowd measured in the many thousands. They took up the hoe parkin lot and then sum.

0le FUZZY

Yer slippin' up there, Fuzzy.

RevMike · August 23rd, 2006, 10:03 AM

Here in NY, Weddings are like a Broadway show, and people spare no expense to put them on. Every suburban Princesss has to out do all of her friends. Wedding bands make mucho green. Just be ready to act like you enjoy playing music that you'd never listen to. And its all about the contacts too. Make friends with Limo Drivers, Tuxedo Rental places (these can be a gold mine, I used to work in one), Caterers, Knights of Columbus Halls, Moose Lodges etc.

Outside of that, if you want to make money playing in NYC, you have to be what we refer to as a "ho". Otherwise referred to as a mercinary. Being able to fill in for absent bass players with little to no rehearsal has proved to be the most lucrative thing for me.

Session work pays good here too, but you have to do alot of it. I've done a little studio work, but I don't really consider myself a strong enough player. My friend has a small studio and does music for commercials. He writes, arranges and plays all instruments (no band to pay!) and delivers the finished product to his client ready to add vocal track. He makes a small fortune!

SteveY · August 23rd, 2006, 10:59 AM

Soul music covers and raunchy dance music.

Before the Dot Com thing tanked it was corporate parties.

Weddings seem to be mostly DJ's now.

I think Ol' Fuzzy's right though. I've heard Mariachi guys get $300 apiece!

moonshiner · August 23rd, 2006, 11:17 AM

Round here it's cover/tribute bands make the most money...

However, we do get some good cash... and we are 100% originial (originality is debatible, as always..)

trag-o-caster · August 23rd, 2006, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

<li>Mexican Mariachi Bands Hands down.

<li> I know a number of members, producers and soundmen and they earn huge sums of getus far more than the average country and/or rock bands in this area.

<li> I luv some of their music!! Won band jes played at the casino near me and hadda set up out in front because the crowd measured in the many thousands. They took up the hoe parkin lot and then sum.

0le FUZZY

THAT DOES IT!!!

I'm learning some Mariachi tunes and movin' to Kolly-forn-I-A.

Fuzzy, how do ya feel about taking up the guitarron?

Isn't the chord structure pretty much ALL just root and V??? I mean, they NEVER go to a IV. I think I've got it down already!

I actually jammed with a Mariachi band on one of the cruise ships that I was workin' on years ago, so I do have some experience.

I'VE FOUND MY CALLIN'!

pauare67 · August 23rd, 2006, 12:13 PM

House music (love it.)
Blues
Death Metal

DlxNashvilleLuvr · August 23rd, 2006, 12:31 PM

What kind of bands make money? The ones that get day jobs.

swooda · August 23rd, 2006, 12:32 PM

We make about $500 a night playing bars or clubs. Weddings start at about a grand and go up from there. Casinos pay about $1500 a night. We play mostly cover tunes from the 50's to present. The venue will dictate whether we play rock/blues, country or some of both. You gotta make em dance.

david henman · August 23rd, 2006, 01:06 PM

...tribute and clone bands make the most money and are in the highest demand here in ontario, and of course corporate bands are a given.

-dh

Charlie Bernstein · August 23rd, 2006, 05:37 PM

1. wedding bands.

2. touring bands that blow into the civic center, play indifferently through a sound system they seem to have not bothered to check, then disappear with thousands of local dollars into the night. it's like a live-music wal-mart. wouldn't be so bad if they didn't all seem to think playing in augusta, maine, is a joke. (even though i guess it is. but the joke's on us...)

tiktok · August 23rd, 2006, 06:12 PM

August 22nd, 2006, 07:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
ye olde fretmonkey Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin Posts: 3,358	What kinda bands make money where you are? Classic rock? Variety? Country? "Corporate"? None of em? just curious __________________ Just 'cause that's the way things are, that never did make it right.

August 22nd, 2006, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 3,892	Death Metal. __________________ Music is the language of God.

August 22nd, 2006, 07:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Califiddler Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: California Posts: 961	Wedding bands. A friend of mine is getting married in a couple of weeks and is paying the band for the wedding reception $5,500.00. He said that the least expensive bands he looked at were $3,500.00, and DJs cost $1,500.00 - $1,800.00. Time to buy some tuxedoes and learn some Commodores tunes! __________________ "In the fiddler's house, all are dancers."

August 22nd, 2006, 09:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Geo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hendersonville, TN Age: 59 Posts: 2,483 15 Photos	Private partys for the most part in town. Could be weddings, corporate, reunions, country clubs and so on Usually it is variety music with an emphasis on various danceable stuff. If the band plays during dinner then they usually do some somewhat lighter jazzy/R&B flavored instrumentals. __________________ "Somewhere between culture and agriculture"

August 22nd, 2006, 09:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
sound dog Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The center of Pennsyltuckey Age: 55 Posts: 392	Tribute bands & Elvis impersonators, unfortunately. Family based acts seem to do exceedingly well on the fair and carnival circuits. __________________ We're all ignorant....just about different things.

August 22nd, 2006, 08:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
reverberocket2 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 355	Wedding bands and professional cover bands with booking/managment that primarily play a mix of whatever this months new rock songs are popular on the radio and harder classic rock There's a lot of original bands but as usual very very few make any money at it

August 22nd, 2006, 09:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 37 Posts: 2,884 14 Photos	Wedding bands are pretty much the only ones that can play for a living here...

August 22nd, 2006, 09:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	None! Seriously, there isn't a lot of money to be made playing gigs in Austin. There's too many bands proportional to the clubs. That said, Austin is a fun place to play, and I think people play here for the right reason, the love of the music. There's a lot of good players here, and I'm sure there are a few bands who make some decent money, but in the 22 years I've been a part of the "Austin Music Scene" the money hasn't been there. I mean, I've had friends who were signed and playing regularly that were holding down day gigs just to pay the rent! Money is not the motivator here. Our drummer is in several other bands, and between all of us, and his day gig, he makes just enough to get by. Heather

August 22nd, 2006, 10:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	Mexican Mariachi Bands Hands down. I know a number of members, producers and soundmen and they earn huge sums of getus far more than the average country and/or rock bands in this area. I luv some of their music!! Won band jes played at the casino near me and hadda set up out in front because the crowd measured in the many thousands. They took up the hoe parkin lot and then sum. 0le FUZZY

August 22nd, 2006, 11:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,961	down here, the big money-makers are "beach" bands -- not surf, but the shag-oriented cliche-mongering bastardization of '50s R&B. show bands that always play every tune exactly the same way. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

August 23rd, 2006, 04:56 AM	#13 (permalink)
Big John Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 4,691 36 Photos	To make money here have a 'tribute' band or go solo with those accursed minidisc/midi backing trax ! We still have lots of good gigs but not the money. __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

August 23rd, 2006, 05:29 AM	#14 (permalink)
Tremo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,761	Classic cover bands and wedding bands mainly. Mostly playing rock. Not a whole lot of hat/boot bands or blues bands. The younger bands that play for peanuts all are into metal of one flavor or another, and sound like crap.

August 23rd, 2006, 05:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
captain gorgeous Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Angel, North London Posts: 1,886 38 Photos	tribute bands wedding bands some jazz __________________ "What is it with chimpanzees and that middle parting? It's so 1920s." www.myspace.com/daddylonglegsuk http://www.myspace.com/thetacticians

August 23rd, 2006, 07:55 AM	#16 (permalink)
chickenpicker Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,060 14 Photos	One Man Bands. As long as they use backing tracks generally, which is a real shame. When I was doing this, I could make a good amount of pocket money to supplement my day job wage, but it was soul-destroying stuff.

August 23rd, 2006, 10:03 AM	#18 (permalink)
RevMike Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 1,059	Here in NY, Weddings are like a Broadway show, and people spare no expense to put them on. Every suburban Princesss has to out do all of her friends. Wedding bands make mucho green. Just be ready to act like you enjoy playing music that you'd never listen to. And its all about the contacts too. Make friends with Limo Drivers, Tuxedo Rental places (these can be a gold mine, I used to work in one), Caterers, Knights of Columbus Halls, Moose Lodges etc. Outside of that, if you want to make money playing in NYC, you have to be what we refer to as a "ho". Otherwise referred to as a mercinary. Being able to fill in for absent bass players with little to no rehearsal has proved to be the most lucrative thing for me. Session work pays good here too, but you have to do alot of it. I've done a little studio work, but I don't really consider myself a strong enough player. My friend has a small studio and does music for commercials. He writes, arranges and plays all instruments (no band to pay!) and delivers the finished product to his client ready to add vocal track. He makes a small fortune!

August 23rd, 2006, 10:59 AM	#19 (permalink)
SteveY Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Age: 58 Posts: 1,422	Soul music covers and raunchy dance music. Before the Dot Com thing tanked it was corporate parties. Weddings seem to be mostly DJ's now. I think Ol' Fuzzy's right though. I've heard Mariachi guys get $300 apiece!

August 23rd, 2006, 11:17 AM	#20 (permalink)
moonshiner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milyucky, Whiskonsin Posts: 2,171	Round here it's cover/tribute bands make the most money... However, we do get some good cash... and we are 100% originial (originality is debatible, as always..) __________________ "Everyone's got to be something... Me? I'm stupid... It's all I ever wanted to be... Shock me again!"

August 23rd, 2006, 12:13 PM	#22 (permalink)
pauare67 TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: VA, USA, Queens, NY Posts: 39 3 Photos	House music (love it.) Blues Death Metal __________________ Around the world in two years.

August 23rd, 2006, 12:31 PM	#23 (permalink)
DlxNashvilleLuvr Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA Age: 37 Posts: 697	What kind of bands make money? The ones that get day jobs.

August 23rd, 2006, 12:32 PM	#24 (permalink)
swooda Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Orleans, LA Age: 53 Posts: 692	We make about $500 a night playing bars or clubs. Weddings start at about a grand and go up from there. Casinos pay about $1500 a night. We play mostly cover tunes from the 50's to present. The venue will dictate whether we play rock/blues, country or some of both. You gotta make em dance. __________________ Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back.

August 23rd, 2006, 01:06 PM	#25 (permalink)
david henman Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: TORONTO Age: 60 Posts: 771	...tribute and clone bands make the most money and are in the highest demand here in ontario, and of course corporate bands are a given. -dh

August 23rd, 2006, 05:37 PM	#26 (permalink)
Charlie Bernstein Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Augusta, Maine Posts: 2,521	two kinds: 1. wedding bands. 2. touring bands that blow into the civic center, play indifferently through a sound system they seem to have not bothered to check, then disappear with thousands of local dollars into the night. it's like a live-music wal-mart. wouldn't be so bad if they didn't all seem to think playing in augusta, maine, is a joke. (even though i guess it is. but the joke's on us...)

August 23rd, 2006, 06:12 PM	#27 (permalink)
tiktok Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,933