do you guys care about what other people think of your band?

justinhedrick · February 05, 2011, 11:44:48 AM

found out a metal booking agent in town (whom i was looking forward to working with simply to play with different bands) thinks my band is basically awful. we are a weird band that doesn't really sound like anything . . . i'm having a hard time trying to figure out how i should feel about this.

part of me knows A: we are a non genre conforming band and B: there is a group of people who like us.

then part of me is worried we will never branch out and play to different audiences.

anyone ever had any experiences like this?

black_out · February 05, 2011, 12:05:36 PM

As long as you and the other members of your band are happy with your music, I wouldn't worry about it. People are assholes.

neighbor664 · February 05, 2011, 12:18:11 PM

I don't play music to win the approval of others. I do it for the same reasons that I take a shit. If i don't get it out of me it will build up inside me and make me sick. Sure it stinks, but it feels great to get it out.

ROWDYBEER · February 05, 2011, 12:19:37 PM

Like it or not music is created for other peoples listening pleasure, especially in a band format and playing live. Try writing a few songs that you know most people will like to throw in the mix. I think that would be the best way to get more shows and more of an audience to sneak attack with some off the wall weird shit. Maybe a lot of people will like your stuff but you will never know if you cant get many shows.
Just my two cents.

We all conformed the day we slid out of the womb.

Discö Rice · February 05, 2011, 12:34:17 PM

If your music in weird and inaccessible and you're playing with metal bands you'd better be prepared to make up for it with a hell of a live show.

tomz. · February 05, 2011, 02:48:26 PM

I know exactly where your at. My old band found ourselves in a similar position a couple years back, only we weren't really weird, just more fu manchu style rock than metal or stoner. There was one dude who has a small label (Crustacean records) and he set up shows all the time, and people would come, lots of people. He didn't like us, and told us that to our face. He used no tact whatsoever. He was a total dick. Now, three years later, I just think he's a douche, but then, man, it sucked.

The sucky thing was we were actually pretty damn good. Super tight, great hooks, and great tone. I played bass in that band and the guitar player was a fucking monster player, really good. Ironically the bands he would set shows up for liked us as well, as players and people (Droids Attack is one of them..).

But don't fret, in the end it does not mean SHIT what that douche promoter thinks. Remember, be nice to those around you when your on the way up, because you will certainly see them on the way down.

Sorry for the rant

lordfinesse · February 05, 2011, 03:13:55 PM

We play for our own enjoyment, but it's nice when other people dig it too. So I guess we don't really care what other people think. Having said that, we do usually try to tailor the set list to best fit the show. Then there's the rare occasion that, for whatever reason, we really really don't care, and then those lucky enough to be in attendance get plan B... Jazz Odyssey. For the entire set.

Something to remember... In their defense, booking agents have a difficult job, especially in this economy. They're just looking for something that will draw a crowd. And most booking agents come off as being real dicks. Maybe they have to be in order to be successful, I don't know. Unless you're young and pretty and part of the skinny jeans crowd, I'd say pay no mind to what anyone says and play for your own enjoyment.

Ranbat · February 05, 2011, 03:18:27 PM

I think everybody would like an audience, otherwise why would you bother leaving the basement? But, if it's a promoter, just accept that he doesn't like your band and look for someone else to work with. If you're concerned about playing to bigger audiences, play more accessible music. If you really believe in what you're doing though, stick to it an the audience will be there, eventually.

Lumpy · February 05, 2011, 03:45:40 PM

Trust your own instincts/tastes first and foremost - just because somebody works in the music business doesn't mean they know what's up. Is he even part of your 'demographic' or intended audience or whatever? Even if he is, so what. To be fair, he may have a point - maybe there are things about your band that aren't working - who knows?

Even if this guy hates your band, if you can definitely bring in 10 to 20+ of your own paying fans to a show, he should be willing to put you on a bill. The bottom line rules with promoters, if they are legitimate, and not just throwing shows because they are part of the 'scene'. The more people you can bring out who are specifically there to see you, the more he will wanna work with you.

Also, maybe you should set up your own shows. DIY. That's what bands had to do during the hardcore era - lost of clubs weren't interested. Maybe you need to say 'fuck this guy' and find your own shows, especially if there are other bands who like you, who you can play with. Maybe you need to play some shows out of town.

I wonder how many times the Melvins were told they suck, or Earth, or Burning Witch (etc etc). Probably a LOT. Maybe you do suck now, but if you keep hacking away at it, you might be doing something really great in 5 years. Whereas if you change on account of this guy, maybe you just sound like the average stoner/doom band in 5 years. Hard to tell.

Link?

zachoff · February 05, 2011, 04:43:34 PM

If I didn't like the music I wouldn't play it. Been down that road with other bands and it quickly fizzled. That said, if other people didn't like the music I probably wouldn't play it either. Playing shows to 5 people sucks.

VOLVO))) · February 05, 2011, 04:50:10 PM

Husky can't do anything wrong, Just sayin'.

As for having a band that is weird, and inaccessible, I did a noise/drone thing a couple years ago to fill in for a buddy's band that dropped off the bill. This is right when I started playing guitar, and had no idea what I was doing. I only knew a couple of Earth riffs, and knew the general basics of guitar playing. Pretty sure the videos were recorded in mono, but I thought people would hate me and boo me off, I didn't care, though. It was my first show. Turns out people loved it, and I've been offered several shows just because I got up there and did it in the first place. My general basic rule for playing music, when it comes to people... there will always be SOMEBODY who likes you. No matter how bad, or obscure or grating... SOMEBODY will like you. That is who I'm playing for.

spookstrickland · February 05, 2011, 05:23:43 PM

Play what you want and follow your passion. You will gain fans if you are passionate about what you do. You can win the rest of them over by having a positive attitude, being trustworthy and easy to get a long with. You can't win them all over this way but you can win enough of them over to be successful at what you are doing.

Cheers

mortlock · February 05, 2011, 05:58:30 PM

im in a completely weird and unusual band [lumpy can attest to that]..and for the most part we get respect because we are good at what we do. if you dont like what we do, i can dig that, but we never get told we suck.
we keep our sets short..usually 20 minutes give or take a few and people generally appriciate something different on a bill where everyother band plays similiar shit..
do what you do and make yourself happy first. have fun and fuck everyone else.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/NPV/152501918109021

Discö Rice · February 05, 2011, 06:07:17 PM

Quote from: SunnO))) on February 05, 2011, 04:50:10 PM
Husky can't do anything wrong, Just sayin'.

As for having a band that is weird, and inaccessible, I did a noise/drone thing a couple years ago to fill in for a buddy's band that dropped off the bill. This is right when I started playing guitar, and had no idea what I was doing. I only knew a couple of Earth riffs, and knew the general basics of guitar playing. Pretty sure the videos were recorded in mono, but I thought people would hate me and boo me off, I didn't care, though. It was my first show. Turns out people loved it, and I've been offered several shows just because I got up there and did it in the first place. My general basic rule for playing music, when it comes to people... there will always be SOMEBODY who likes you. No matter how bad, or obscure or grating... SOMEBODY will like you. That is who I'm playing for.

Not bad. I was mentally putting drums to that.

VOLVO))) · February 05, 2011, 06:20:23 PM

I didn't think it was awful for a last minute, no-material written improvised noise/drone show... apparently others didn't think it was too bad, either. I did that with.... this head... hahahaha

eyeprod · February 05, 2011, 07:23:02 PM

I care a little. Depends on the people tho. Some I would rather not see at my shows, or any show I go to. So I don't care what they think. You know, the snobby hipsters who are into the latest scene. fuck them. I avoid writing for their crowd.

We've never been told that we suck, but when you write songs with titles like, Don't be a Bitch, it's hard to get some people to care, especially women. Then again, some people love that shit. I like to entertain an unsuspecting crowd of average music fans who don't normally see heavy shows. When they come up to me afterwards, shake my hand and tell me they dug it, then it validates my time spent working on the music.

E9th · February 05, 2011, 07:48:28 PM

I think we all care. maybe some care less than other but i think we are all concerned, why else would you perform...as a public service, to make $25 fr anights work? everyone wants to be liked. no one plays this shit in a vacuum. I care ALOT that the audience likes my band. do i care if some individual dillrod does not? not as much. some people dont like Black Flag and think Bon Jovi "kicks ass" , go figure?

"If one person thinks you suck, you can shrug that off. If ten out of ten people think you suck, you better take at look at the possibility that you might suck." some never do, its incredible, the denial, and arrogance. Now if you suck Im not saying you should give up or not play music, just try and improve and be humble.

not all bookers are good judges of music, in fact some have horrible taste, some know nothing about music, most just want the club filled with bodies, and then theres a few great people too. just like life in general I guess.

mawso · February 05, 2011, 09:05:56 PM

I don't play in a weird band.. in many ways we're about as straight-ahead rock n roll as you can get

Still, even then, not everyone gets it. I sorta don't expect them to either and it doesn't bother me.

I DO care whether the audience digs the show. We've played shows with Black Metal bands and so on, and most of their crowd sorta just stand there bored. Do a couple of em and it can feel discouraging. But when you do a show and you get dudes banging their head and chicks shaking their asses it's just such a good feeling. It lifts the performance from the band and it just feels really cool.

There are a couple of people who have heard us and are just raving fans. That makes a huge difference to me. For all the effort to be worthwhile there have to be some people out there who really love it. If it's only an occasional few then that's okay.

justinhedrick · February 07, 2011, 11:25:42 AM

thanks for all the input. out of this potentially negative thing has come a lot of postive: we have decided to change the band name to something more straight-foward (Redleg), we've decided to stick to a more verse chorus bridge-y format and just try to rock more. so, yeah, positive all around.

giantchris · February 08, 2011, 02:20:42 PM

Quote from: SunnO))) on February 05, 2011, 04:50:10 PM
Husky can't do anything wrong, Just sayin'.

As for having a band that is weird, and inaccessible, I did a noise/drone thing a couple years ago to fill in for a buddy's band that dropped off the bill. This is right when I started playing guitar, and had no idea what I was doing. I only knew a couple of Earth riffs, and knew the general basics of guitar playing. Pretty sure the videos were recorded in mono, but I thought people would hate me and boo me off, I didn't care, though. It was my first show. Turns out people loved it, and I've been offered several shows just because I got up there and did it in the first place. My general basic rule for playing music, when it comes to people... there will always be SOMEBODY who likes you. No matter how bad, or obscure or grating... SOMEBODY will like you. That is who I'm playing for.

Hey that shit is pretty damn good for just starting guitar and being improvised.