Re: [Harp-L] Re: $10 cover

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

'tis true.


classic rock cover bands, oldie bands make pretty decent money. The reason is that there is a large percentage of the population (boomers) that like revisiting their youthful past - hence, they show up and spend money. The band does not even have to be that good, as the crowd is really singing along to the soundtrack in their heads rather than listening hard.


I used to look down on these types of gigs until I (providing sound for an outdoor summer series in St. Augustine Beach) saw a few of these bands  - especially one called "The Falling Bones" (wordplay on Rolling Stones) -band leader Rick Levy (once musical director for Herman's Hermits and totally committed to the 60's recordings in all their orchestrated glory) and how well they reproduced some of the music as well as, and most importantly, the look on the faces of the crowd out to listen and DANCE TO THE MUSIC. It was pure joy and it turned me around in my opinion of oldies covers. After all, making the crowd extremely happy has an energy all itself.


If blues bands would have the same effect and bring in a crowd that spends money, they would make some decent wages, too.



-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Aug 20, 2012 6:46 pm
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: $10 cover


My band will be playing it's first cover gig next week.  I think the  
cover is somewhere between $7-10.
It is also the first venue where we can make $400 plus depending on  
how long we play there and draw a crowd.

My friend's band has been playing there for about 4-5 years now.  They  
only play about 4 gigs a year.  Barely a step up from a garage band in  
talent and stage presence yet
they are now paid $600 a gig there playing classic rock.  It would  
never work if a cover charge weren't in place.

Most rock based venues in this area charge a cover.  The jazz and  
blues venues don't.  Hence the difference between making $250 a night  
compared to making $400 to $1000 a night or more.



Take Care
Mike
www.harmonicarepair.com