Playing with touring bands - 1stDraft
Just thinking about this from a band's POV - when and when not to play with touring bands. Probably a few important points I missed off. Pleas email me if you have additional ideas. ajj2008@gmail.com
Nobody wants Liverpool to be closed off to touring bands. We always complain about travelling to Manchester to see big shows and at the same time our bands and fans are not just here to provide fans to bands who pass through.
Benefits to bands - new contacts outside the city. Touring bands can take your CD, your T-shirt, sticker and best of all word of mouth "they were quality!" on tour with them. Keeping in touch has never been easier and the world is a smaller place with the internet. Swap contact details.
Example: Supporting Metallica at the O2 Academy or Echo Arena. Unless you are lucky or know who to speak to you won't meet the band, you won't meet their staff, their booker, manager, roadies. What good will it do you? Reputation - "we supported Metallica." Fair enough. New fans? Were there many people in when you played? PRS, have you got your live royalties in place to collect on big shows? If not, why not? PRS pays on number of tickets sales, so even if yo play before everybody arrives you still get paid. PRS WEBSITE
Supporting so-and-so on so-and-so label. Have you heard of the band? Check them out. How many fans online? Good website? Are the tour dates listed online? Are they promoting the tour well as a band?
Who is booking this show? Promoter, agent, manager, band member? Who asked you to play? Are you speaking with the band direct? How did 'they' find you? Why are you being asked in the first place? Usually it's because you can sell some tickets or because your sound is fitting. Which is it? What is the deal? Is it fair? Have YOU contacted the headline/touring band in advance of the gig? Is the touring band aware they are playing with your band? Do they respond? Do they like your band? Do their fans know there is a local support band?
Gigging is about networking and building relationships between bands. In essence by supporting a band in your own town you are doing them a favour. How is that favour repaid? Are you being paid properly? Where is the ticket money going? Is it paying for the touring band travel costs? Are you getting better and better shows from the promoter? Relationships with promoters are as important and band-band relationships. Does the touring band have support (management, street team, merchandise sellers)? Have you exchanged emails? Will you get another gig from that band in their home town? Will they pass you some promoters details? Will you agree to exchange CDs and pass onto people?
All this can only work if you are courteous and fitting musically. If your band is rock and the headline band is dance, is there a connection? If your band likes to stay in the dressing room, alone, all night is there a connection? Is your band partying so hard you don't even notice who is who, is there a connection? Is your band willing to share and discuss equipment share, rider share, dressing room share? Music aside, this is what makes good bands. Being decent people.
ajj2008@gmail.com
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