Call Us

866-HARLOWS

}

Doors at 7PM

Show starts at 8PM

190 West Reynolds Street

Ozark, Al.



Navigation

Location

Ozark, Al

190 West Reynolds
Ozark, Al. 36360
(866)-HARLOWS
venue@liveatharlows.com

GETTING READY TO ROCK
0%
0%
Close Preloader Screen
GETTING READY TO ROCK
0%
0%
Close Preloader Screen
Rant: Are PROs Killing Off Small Businesses That Want to Support Live Music?

Rant: Are PROs Killing Off Small Businesses That Want to Support Live Music?

Many musicians may not realize it, but every time they perform live, the venue hosting the event is required to pay fees for any cover music played. These fees are mandated by Performance Royalty Organizations (PROs) such as the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and SESAC. While these organizations aim to ensure fair compensation for music creators, there are growing concerns about their impact on small businesses that sporadically host live entertainment.

The Purpose of PROs

PROs were established to safeguard the intellectual property rights of music creators, ensuring they receive compensation whenever their music is publicly performed. These organizations collect licensing fees from businesses and organizations that use music in their establishments, such as restaurants, bars, clubs, and live music venues. These fees are then distributed to the songwriters, composers, and publishers based on various factors like the frequency of performances and the size of the audience. They represent millions of musical works and serve as intermediaries between music creators and businesses that use music in their operations. Their role is not only to collect and distribute royalties but also to monitor public performances, enforce licensing agreements, and advocate for the rights of their members.

And for the record, I like that idea. I love the idea that hardworking songwriters are reimbursed for their talents. However, in my experience, none of the great songwriters I know have made a dime unless they manually enter in a performance. Let’s be real, there are no PROs in the crowd writing on a notepad the songs that are being performed, and therefore there is no accountability towards who should get paid. There is nobody checking… period. I’m not all that smart, but if there is nobody checking, how does the money get distributed properly? It doesn’t. BMI has recently provided an online option for performers to account for performances of their material, which seems like a start in the right direction. However, I’ve personally already seen this abused by an individual in the community that didn’t even have a song and said they performed at one of our locations. BMI paid them because there is no accountability. This means that now there is another level of fraud on the horizon taking away from songwriters. It’s just bad.

Hurting Small Businesses? And More Importantly, Musicians?

While the mission of PROs is to ensure fair compensation for music creators, the fees and licensing requirements they impose can present challenges for small businesses, particularly those with limited resources that host live entertainment only occasionally. Rather than options to pay the statutory rates per song performed by the artists, a yearly fee is created based on factors of the size of the business, if people dance, how many TVs, do they have karaoke?, how about a jukebox?, dance floor?, total capacity… etc. Each one of those factors will determine the amount the venue will need to pay. Mind you, not just one, but several PROs. Sure, it’s the cost of doing business, however, when you are dealing with spending thousands so you can have a guy or gal play an acoustic on a Thursday night, small businesses start to wonder if live music is worth the expense. There are actually venues which now stipulate if you report to the PROs, you are not invited to play (just heard that last night… CRAZY!)

Furthermore, understanding and complying with the licensing requirements set forth by PROs can be complex and time-consuming for small business owners. The process often involves navigating through a maze of legal jargon and paperwork, which can be overwhelming for those without legal expertise or dedicated administrative staff. Failure to obtain the necessary licenses or comply with PRO regulations can expose small businesses to legal risks, including lawsuits and financial penalties. PROs are like a mafia and aggressively pursue businesses that use music without proper authorization, regardless of whether the infringement was intentional or inadvertent. This in itself is enough to scare venues into not doing live music. It’s no joke, check out the articles below.

So here is my concern. If the amount of money being paid to PROs is not reimbursed somehow through the live music being performed, venues will stop doing live music. If the PRO’s continue to use threat tactics to venues, this encourages the decline of live music. All in all, these things impacts the musician’s ability to have a job as well as the songwriter’s ability to make money when live music is no longer affordable. Everyone loses.

I suppose that’s the cost of doing business with live music and if it were not already bad enough for bands and musicians, expect a “fee” to be taken from the band in the future. I could easily see a venue trying to offset the payment of the band with some sort of fee.. which doesn’t sound good to me as a musician, or maybe the venue just can’t afford to pay as much because of the fees.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m not a fan of the money grab with zero accountability and the money not going to the right people. Not a fan of fees based on the full potential capacity…etc. I think Congress should look into this a bit deeper and maybe rewrite some of the rules regarding the abstract fees.

The other frustrating thing is most venues don’t pay it; they just ignore it and hope to not get sued. I can’t in good faith do that, but likely the venue you are supporting with live music does not pay any licensing. If you are a songwriter and want to be on the side of the PROs, you probably shouldn’t be playing those places, but who am I kidding, this stuff only matters when money comes out of your pocket. LOL.

Rant over.

Perspectives on Band Success from a Venue Owner

Perspectives on Band Success from a Venue Owner

In crafting this article, I want to make it clear from the outset that this is, above all, an opinion. It reflects my personal views, shaped by my conversations with numerous fellow venue owners over the past four years. That said, I’m always open to hearing diverse perspectives from others who own a venue. If you have a different take, I encourage you to share it. We’re all here to learn from one another.

So, why write this article in the first place? In a word: purpose. I aim to assist aspiring musicians and bands on their journey by sharing insights that may save them time, headaches, and offer lessons learned from my own mistakes and in this case, my experience I’ve seen as a venue owner. Successful bands make venues successful and I believe we need to revive what live music is about before venues give up on it.  

Now, let’s dive into the crux of the matter: what makes a band successful from a venue owner’s perspective? To keep things concise, I’ve distilled this down to 5 easy things that I believe can significantly contribute to a band’s success. These are not revolutionary ideas and probably some you are doing them. If so, rock on. However, if not, these are for your consideration.

  • Familiarity with the Venue and visiting it

    Effective booking is closely tied to being aware of where you wish to perform. When bands submit their work via email for consideration at our venue (almost daily), it’s noticeable when they have not taken the time to even look at the venue, what we offer, or our purpose. Of course, we understand that some may be templated emails (not effective) or they are just fishing for work and hoping bulk submissions will land a gig but overall, do they really want to play a venue they know nothing about? Did the email actually help or hurt their reputation? In most cases, it hurts them. It shows lack of investment and in general, venues don’t respond to things readily available on their websites and get tired of answering the same questions.

    Live at Harlow’s fortunately still responds to the emails as we get them because it’s important to us but it’s likely because we are also musicians and we get little response as well via email solicitations. We know how it feels! (time to change the way we communicate as musicians!).

    If email has not been effective (EPK in the email?), there is a more effective option for those who are in the area of the venue. What is it?  Visiting the venue you want to play. 

    Visiting the venue and personally connecting with staff goes a long way in building rapport. After all, a physical connection beats a string of emails any day. If you are a local band and not doing this, you are missing a great opportunity.

    I vividly recall a band from Andalusia that came to see a show. Their presence left an impression because it showcased their investment in time and effort. They took the time to come see what the venue was about, likely to see if they wanted to actually play the venue (smart) rather than just sending an email. 

    In the process, they connected with other fellow musicians and bands in the scene.

    Local bands, take the time to visit venues and become part of the “scene”. It will opens door and foster valuable networks, an asset that will surely pay dividends. I can’t stress this enough.
  • Song Selection for the Audience

    Playing your personal favorites, obscure B-sides, or attempting to tackle an entire album may not engage the crowd as you’d hope. Song choice is pivotal and popular songs connect with people, making them sing, dance, and feel a connection.

    Time and time again, I see bands perform their personal favorite and they lose the crowd every time. Was it worth it? From a venue perspective no. From a crowd perspective, no.

    As an example, take my own band The Rock Mob. We meticulously curated our setlist by referencing Billboard charts, streaming services, and other resources. As a result, most every song we play resonates with our audience. It’s a simple formula that pays dividends in more ways than you can imagine. No more arguing over if Krokus will go over in a crowd! if it was not in the top 20, it probably won’t go as good as we expected. LOL.

    It’s important to note that a popular hit song will get you 80% of the way in terms of engagement but don’t underestimate the importance of performing it well. Straying into songs that surpass your band’s abilities won’t leave a favorable impression.

    We all know that one karaoke singer who attempts an impossible song, and it usually ends terribly. Please, don’t be that musician. Stick to your strengths and choose songs that your band can confidently deliver.
  • Entertainment Factor

    Talent is undoubtedly essential, but it’s just one aspect of being a successful band or musician. The stage is your platform, and you’re an entertainer as much as a musician. To quote Ken Kirkland’s favorite statement, “people hear with their eyes.” 

    A technically flawless performance can still fall flat if the band members are glued to their instruments, phones, or tablets, disengaging from the crowd.

    To gauge your success, look at your audience. If they’re seated or absorbed in their phones, you might have missed the mark. Music is about sharing and having fun, so let loose, rock out, and connect with your audience. Embrace the inner rockstar within you; it’s what people expect and appreciate. Smiles are contagious, and there’s no harm in enjoying yourself onstage.
  • 5. Be Genuine, Humble, and Kind:

    Common sense but I want to emphasize the importance of being a good person. Some of the most successful bands I’ve seen have risen to the top because they’re genuinely great humans. They steer clear of drama, support everyone around them, and don’t flaunt themselves as the best in the area. They value the connections they make with people and venues, and their fan bases continue to grow as a result. It’s a simple formula: talk to your fans, let them know they matter, and thank them for their support.
  • 6. Promote and sell product

    A band’s role is to entertain but most importantly, make a venue money to pay for you. 

    Contrary to popular belief, most live music venues have little margins to even pay for a band. The expenses to run a venue is high and frankly why many live music venues have closed or no longer book bands. 

    Breaking it down, it’s simple: the more you sell products and encourage your fans and spectators to buy products, the more the venue will value you and the more valuable you become. As a musician, we tend to value ourselves on how much money, practice, time, and equipment we bring to the table. Matter of fact, we demand venues to pay us because of all that hard work and investment. Unfortunately though, none of that matters to a venue. It just doesn’t. As an example, a solo artist or duo that brings 2x the amount of people to a show buying product is more valuable than a full band with pink floyds laser light show that brings 10 people. It’s ugly, but it’s the truth and something which should encourage all bands rather than upset them. Up the sales game and be on target to grow your real value from a venue perspective, or not… but don’t get mad at the venue for your growth or for them doing what is good for their business (please).

In closing, venues want bands to succeed because successful bands mean successful venues. In today’s music industry, understanding your role and collaborating effectively with venues can pave the way for mutual success. I can personally attest to many bands who have taken on these exact mindsets and have expanded from small shows with ok attendance to large shows with amazing attendance and a large fan base. Rock and roll may be about rebellion but business and growth is about being smart and understanding the landscape and where you fit. I hope these opinions will provide some perspective and serve you on your path to rock ‘n’ roll success. Rock on!

Come visit us at Live at Harlow’s, we’ve got Live Music showcases throughout each month.

Rant and perspective: Adam, you suck but thanks for reminding me of opportunity.

Rant and perspective: Adam, you suck but thanks for reminding me of opportunity.

Recently, I posted a picture that shared comments from Adam Levine regarding cover bands. Although you can’t trust everything you see on the internet, the image and content did spark some mixed feelings.

I’ve always been one who intentionally tries to explore different avenues of thinking outside what most would consider “the norm.” It’s been part of my business strategies ever since I read the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad.”

That book taught me that the way you think has a lot to do with the opportunities you can get, as opposed to just going with the same thought processes as most everyone. Has that thought process worked out every time? Not at all. However, in all cases, it’s provided me insight into opportunities, missed opportunities, and a whole lot of experience that I couldn’t see for myself without going against the grain and purposefully thinking differently.

So, considering Adam and his comments, let’s break it down and try to glean opportunity from it, regardless if he is right or wrong.

Do I agree with Adam’s dumb-ass comments? Not really. But will I use it as fuel and food for thought? Absolutely.

“Just because you’ve learned an instrument and started a band doesn’t mean you should get paid for it.” But you pay a plumber for their services, so why wouldn’t you pay a musician? A plumber provides a necessary service that not everyone can do.”

Adam’s comment seems to be based on the thought process that anyone and everyone can become a musician and that it’s a commodity. While it’s true that there are more musicians than plumbers (making most plumbers more valuable), the thought process is one of ignorance and is likely based on not being in touch with the real world. Whether you’re a plumber or a musician, the opportunity for payment comes from effective marketing or providing an exceptional product. If you suck as a plumber, don’t expect to get paid.

Point is, if the product you’re selling or marketing, regardless of what it is, doesn’t fulfill a need, it becomes hard to sell, which tends to be less valuable.

Adam’s comment, though dumb, helps me remember that I need to identify the market I wish to sell to and effectively market to them. And most importantly, not settle for good enough to secure those paying gigs. The failure to position my band where our service “is needed” is on me.

“When there are four different bands playing “Don’t Stop Believin'” within a two-block radius, what makes you think you’re providing a special service?”

Adam’s comment completely misses the point of what cover bands are all about – playing songs that people want to hear and connecting in a live, real-time music environment.

However, using his comments as fuel, what would make a band special? I’d start by saying that if there are four bands in the area playing the same songs, those are probably very popular songs, and I’d congratulate you for playing what people want to hear. That’s step 1 to being a successful cover band, song choice.

As for the song “Don’t Stop Believin’,” it’s one of the greatest songs ever recorded – which, by the way, has 1.6 billion streams compared to your biggest song “Lost Stars” at 327 million, so suck it, Adam.

Anyway, if you’re aiming to be special, I’d propose it’s a combination of various factors, such as

  • Your performance (how well you play those songs),
  • Your visuals (light show, appearance, attire, stage setup),
  • Your connection with the audience
  • Your energy
  • Your song list
  • Your attitude
  • Your willingness to partner with others

“A jukebox is a cheaper form of the same entertainment.”

Believe it or not, I think he is partially right. A jukebox is not only cheaper, but it also pays venues and is, frankly, an adversary to live music. Most jukeboxes generate revenue ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per month for venues. Is it the same entertainment? No, Adam. You dumb ass.

There is no substitute for the energy and engagement of a live band performing songs. However, many venues are opting for this route because live entertainment is either too expensive or not generating enough income to support it. (Fellow musicians, we got to fix this).

The opportunity: Create a band that engages the audience more than a DJ, karaoke, or jukebox ever could. Recognize that you’re competing with cheaper options but deliver an experience that convinces the venue that your band and live music reign supreme and are worth the investment. BTW, this also means musicians, you need to attend live shows in the area (yes, I’m talking to you, the guy in the band who never seems to attend other people’s shows or has never even been to a performance at the venue where you want to play – LOL).

“No one forced you into playing music, so you’re not allowed to complain about working conditions until you provide a musical product that large numbers of people want to consume.”

I’ll agree with some of this. You’re exactly where you want to be. If you don’t want to perform at a location due to working conditions or any other reason, then don’t. However, whether a large number of people or a small number of people consume your product, do it well and enjoy the journey, because, Adam, you’re still a dumb ass. Music is about having fun and being part of something bigger than your own self.

“You’re not special.”

Adam, lick my nuts. My mom told me I’m special, so I am. Truth is, Adam’s words carry no weight. Personal validation trumps external opinions. Each of us have the opportunity to create something different or special.

I hope you enjoyed reading the article. The main point of this article is that business is about identifying opportunities and acting on them. It’s about trying to adopt a different perspective (whether positive or negative) and seizing opportunities.

I’ll conclude with this: I recently mentored a band on “business”. The group believed that business was solely about “making money” and chose not to perform at a festival due to the pay. While I respect their decision, I feel this was a critical error regarding how real business works. Worse, I encounter this mindset quite often when speaking to bands and they wonder why they have little growth.

It’s crucial to contemplate the opportunity before defaulting to responses like “not enough money” or “we’re more valuable.” because in this instance, they missed a fantastic opportunity to perform at a festival that draws thousands of “customers.” I explained to them that money is a byproduct of seizing opportunities and that, in this case, they prioritized money over opportunity, which ultimately would deliver money at a higher rate of return due to having a pedigree (perception or whatever word you want to use for doing what other bands have not had the chance to do).

When doing the math, at their current rate, the band would need to perform 50 shows to reach the number of people they could have reached with just one festival show. Be wise and always be on the lookout for opportunities. They are not always easily visible which requires doing a little deeper looking.

Last, Adam, even if you didn’t say those comments, you’re still a dumb ass in my book based on the comments that you have said in the past. It’s cover bands that keep live music in venues and your paychecks coming through the performances of material. Thanks for reading and rock on!

AI and it’s tips for musicians

AI and it’s tips for musicians

I’ve been working with Artificial intelligence (AI) in my real job for a amount of time. I’m amazed at how far it’s come but also a bit concerned about it’s role in future art creation, to include music. For instance, it’s not going to be an issue for someone to click a button and generate a hit song or promotion video with just text prompts. Can’t sing, AI will do that as well for you. With that much power, it would seem as if anyone can be an artist and creativity would be based on randomization when the content is pulled from the AI resource library. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how AI could devalue the hard work of real artist as it’s already happening now with images and NFT’s. The entertainment side will be more important than ever from my foxhole.

So, for fun, I wanted to get the AI take on some musician tips. This article was NOT written by me and even the image on the header was created by AI. It was not edited by me and is the exact text generated by AI when I asked it to create some Musician Tips. I kind of agree with the AI and but don’t know about Michael Jackson singing in a toilet. Enjoy!


Setting a Goal

To accomplish anything, you need to set a goal.

If you’re an aspiring musician, it’s important to define the problem before trying to solve it. Be specific: What is your goal? Don’t say “I want to be successful.” Instead, be specific about what type of success you want (i.e., sales records, online streams). The more clear and specific your goals are, the easier they will be to achieve.

Don’t worry about what other people’s goals are; focus on setting your own personal ones—and make sure they’re ambitious but realistic!

Practice, Practicing, Keep Practicing

Practice, practice, practice. It’s the key to success. Just ask any successful musician (which is likely anyone reading this). The thing about practicing is that it’s important to get in the habit of doing it and keep doing it, but don’t overdo it! You don’t want to be practicing so much that you start hating music or your instrument or whatever else you might be playing. Practice should be fun – if you’re not having fun while practicing then there’s something wrong with your attitude toward the craft itself and how much patience and dedication you’ve put into honing what skills you have (or want).

Practice is like any other skill: if you want to get better at something then practice regularly until those skills become second nature. You may think that some things come naturally when they shouldn’t—like walking up stairs without falling on your face—but these kinds of tasks require constant reinforcement through repetition until muscle memory kicks in and does most of the work for us (i.e., getting up those steps).

You don’t need someone else around all day long telling them what notes are next; just do some research online beforehand so as not make mistakes like missing notes during performances.”

Music is an art, and art requires passion.

  • Music is an art.
  • Art requires passion.
  • Music is a form of self-expression.
  • Music is a form of communication.
  • Music is a form of entertainment (and sometimes even education).
  • Music can also be used as therapy, which means that it’s not just for your ears anymore!

Don’t forget to take breaks

The best part about being a musician is that you get to make music. The worst part about being a musician is that you have to make music all the time.

If you want your songs to be good, and if you want people to enjoy them, then it’s important that your creative juices are flowing and your mind is fresh when putting together new material. That said, don’t overwork yourself in an attempt to get everything done as quickly as possible—you’ll only end up exhausted and unsatisfied with what comes out of it all at the end (and even then, odds are pretty good nobody will care). You need breaks from working on anything creative in order for it to actually be good!

Be Inspired

Inspiration is a great thing to have and can come from many sources. You can look to other musicians, artists, or even people in your life for inspiration. Perhaps it’s a friend who has achieved their dream of becoming a successful artist, or maybe it’s your own life experiences that have helped motivate you to pursue your passion.

You can also find inspiration from nature and from the music that moves you! If there are certain songs that make you feel like they were written just for you – those are probably ones worth listening to more often (or even writing yourself).

A Musician should always follow his passion (AI seems to think there is only one gender)

Musicians should always follow their passion. Passion is the key to success, and no one knows this better than musicians. If you follow your passions, you will be successful in whatever you do. It doesn’t matter if it pays well or even if you are good at it—the most important thing is that you love what you do!

Think of all the famous musicians who have achieved incredible success without having any formal training whatsoever: John Lennon couldn’t read music; Steven Tyler was kicked out of his high school band because he couldn’t play guitar; Kurt Cobain taught himself how to play guitar out of frustration at not being able to find a teacher who could teach him what he wanted; Bruce Springsteen dropped out of college after one semester because he was too busy practicing with his band The Castiles; Prince got signed by Warner Brothers despite them knowing nothing about him or his work; Bob Dylan had never played an instrument until he joined The Byrds on stage one day as an acoustic guitar player (he also knew nothing about folk music); Michael Jackson used to sing into an empty toilet bowl so people could hear him over the sound of flushing toilets coming from behind closed doors when they were really loud! All these great artists started out as amateurs with no formal training and became some of history’s greatest talents simply by following their passions and doing what they loved doing every day until they reached their goal!

Conclusion (written by AI as well)

At the end of the day, music is a passion. It’s something that you should do because you love it and want to share that joy with others. These are just a few things I’ve found useful as a musician, but if there’s anything else we’d like to add please let us know!

My conclusion (written by me)

We’re screwed. LOL! Hope everyone has a great new year and regardless if AI takes over, remember the reason for the season and the reason you ever got into music. It’s because it’s the most fun ever!

Pro Tip #28: Ramblings from 3 years – The negotiation

Pro Tip #28: Ramblings from 3 years – The negotiation

by Jason Harlow

Over 3 years ago, something magical happened in the Wiregrass. Musicians of the Wiregrass area gathered at a small upstairs location in Ozark, Al (now known as the VIP room at Live at Harlow’s). It was an invite only party which offered free beer and beverages, a full stage with gear, and nothing in the way of doing what we musicians do… rock face.

The events featured at least 3 bands, but I recall we often had more, up to 6 or maybe 7. It ultimately provided fellowship, networking, the realization as musicians that we’re more alike than we think, and the most fun to be had in the area (it was really fun).

Anyway, I was proud to be a part of those events and whether or not known at the time, it filled a void for me personally and provided some much needed purpose. Those events are what ultimately set the course for what is known as Live at Harlow’s today and the very same rules still apply, 1. have fun, 2. melt face.

Fast forward 3 years… we’ve seen well over 100 performances and had the opportunity to meet some great people, artists, and bands. The mission and purpose still remains intact to provide local musicians and artists with a location to network, showcase, jam, and enjoy creating great memories.

This pro tip is about things I’ve seen or heard in those 3 plus years and sharing some ideas which might assist in your journey. One caveat: These opinions are mine and you may disagree with is certainly cool. I’ve tried to share them from both a venue owner standpoint as well as a musician standpoint given I’ve been fortunate to experience both.

  • Part 1: The negotiation / getting booked

From day one of opening the doors, I realized the position of venue owner / operator required me looking from a different lens. I was no longer the guy on the other end trying to get booked at the location, I was the guy trying to figure out the logistics and feasibility to getting the band on stage. This required looking at things like keeping the lights on, insurance, safety, licenses, staff, budget…etc. I realized that it’s not cheap and wondered how venues could even stay open frankly. The very first thing I did prior to opening a venue was to call on other venues. I remember distinctly a local venue in the area who supports musicians tell me not to do it or only do it if you are willing to lose money. They proceed to tell me they have not paid themselves for 5 years… and after 3 years, I see why! But this is not about that and I’m just making the statement to share that venues are not the profit centers I once thought of as a young musician. I’m now able to see with metrics both sides of the equation and want to simply share some of my journey and thoughts.

Over these 3 plus years, one thing continues to be both fun and sometimes frustrating. “The negotiation” as I like to call it. I can say I’ve seen a myriad of negotiation styles for booking and I’ve experienced some interesting pitches from bands /artists. For some, the negotiation of getting booked seems like pulling teeth. For some, they don’t even understand it is a negotiation and make ridiculous demands. For others, they just want to be a part of what is happening which is cool.

My intent here is not to make a guide to booking or negotiation but to share some quick tips to consider from a venue perspective and to hopefully lead to a better success in your booking and relationships with venues. Let’s get started with some quick tips!

Quick Tip 1: Research the venue. Go online and look at pictures, read about it, find out what makes them tick prior to contact.

Quick Tip 2: Visit the venue you want to play. This will pay dividends in your discussion.

Sure, there are more things you can do prior to contacting the venue to be booked but failure to do at least one of those can really set the tone negatively in your approach.

All that being said, if I were to summarize my experience, it seems like there are 2 primary categories of band negotiation styles:

Band 1: All about the money

Band 2: All about the opportunity

Both are important to success and I’m not saying one or the other is not needed…but… it’s my personal opinion that the order in which you get to them is most important.

Example dialog to make a point:

Band 1 (All about the money): “Hey, my band wants to play there. We’re real good and we know our value. How many people do you have at the venue? For us to play there, we need XXXXX money”

Band 2 (All about the opportunity): “Good afternoon, we absolutely love your venue. I was there last weekend to see “Phil Lenz and the Road Warriors”, man they rocked and the sound was amazing. I think our band would be a great fit for your venue. You can check out videos of us here. We would love to see if it’s feasible to see if we can play at your venue. Thanks for your time!”

Put yourself in the venues shoes now for a moment. Let’s analyze the opportunities missed or perceptions which could arise:

Band 1: “Hey, my band wants to play there”

Pending who you are talking to at the venue, just the word “Hey” in this example could be seen as disrespectful followed by “my band wants to play there” doesn’t really make the venue want to “learn more”. The fact they even use “there” is a lack of addressing where they want to play.

We’re real good and we know our value.

As a venue owner, I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say “we suck” so just saying you are good does not necessarily add to the conversation rather opens the door to venues getting an impression of arrogance. As for the value statement, it’s important for a band to have standards but the timing of it probably isn’t good in the first paragraph of contact.

How many people do you have at the venue?

Something like this usually confirms the initial perception, this band has not even taken the time to research where they want to play. Obviously, their time is more important than the venue staff. Furthermore, venues may simply trash this because the band is now taking their time to try and explain what could have been easily discovered.

For us to play there, we need XXXXX money.

Eventually, the communication should lead to reimbursement of services. However, knowing the venues capabilities, number of patrons, and other income streams is a big factor in how many X’s should be in the statement. Does the venue promote, provide production, have built in crowds? Point on this is, be cautious on your approach, work to make something mutually beneficial if possible so the conversation doesn’t end immediately. Case and point, if someone comes to me and says “We get $2,500 a night”, as much as I would love to make it happen, it’s just not feasible with our size. The conversation just ends and opportunity which could pay other dividends ceases. Additionally, venues talk with each other and know what to expect from bands and their ability to bring patrons so it can feel a bit insulting if you are pushing for way more than the area allows or what you make at other places of similar size / capacity.

Now let’s do a deep dive on band 2

Good afternoon, we absolutely love your venue.

Well thank you! Good afternoon to you as well. How can I help? – those are the words swirling now in the brains of the venue owners

I was there last weekend to see “Phil Lenz and the Road Warriors”, man they rocked and the sound was amazing.

Wow, this band is invested into seeing others and they took the time to come to our venue! They even recognized the hard work we put into our sound!

I think our band would be a great fit for your venue.

They came to see our venue.. check. They support others in the music area…check. Hmm.. I believe them and want to help them.

You can check out videos of us here.

I didn’t even have to search to try and find them! The fact they took the time to produce a great video let’s me know they also are committed to being professional.

We would love to see if it’s feasible to see if we can play at your venue.

Absolutely! I hope we can work together to create an amazing night which will benefit your band! Let’s work together. I hope our venue can make this work!

Thanks for your time!

My pleasure, I appreciate you reaching out.

Of course, I tried to create some polarization but i think it was important to get the point across. Truth is, if Band 1 would simply start with what Band 2 started with, the opportunity could still exist but it’s likely most venues would just hit delete or dismiss and move on to the next band who is looking for an opportunity.

Also, it’s important to note that it’s also a 2 way street with venues. Not all venues understand the relationship and what asset a band brings. One of the quick tips up front was visiting the venue, this is not just to scope out the size but to scope out the operations and maybe just ask the band of their experience of the venue from their perspective. This article was written as a perspective from a venue owner (myself) and where I could see opportunity to craft the pitch (as a musician). However, don’t sell yourself short either and make sure the venue is an asset and not a liability for your band. It’s no fun to play with an owner that doesn’t respect what you bring to the table and sees you simply as a pawn. It can also hurt your brand playing a place that doesn’t market or work to get crowds (regardless as much as you wanted that money or “don’t care because you are getting paid”). For me, I look at long term investments with venues and will gladly take a reduction up front if it’s building opportunity and will pay consistent dividends down the road.

I end with these thoughts:

  1. Success comes to those who communicate and partner with others without attitude. Teamwork makes the dream work.
  2. Bands / Venues typically want the same thing. Work to make it feasible so you get to play, make some spending cash, and do what you love
  3. Don’t forget why you even play music. Don’t let pride or money prevent you from experiencing an opportunity which could pay other dividends
  4. Be a part of the music community and support others!

Thanks for reading this. I’ve got a whole bunch of other things I’d like to share soon. Rock on and be good to each other.

WHY BANDS PLAY THE SAME OLD SONGS

WHY BANDS PLAY THE SAME OLD SONGS


By anonymous local area musician

Why do bands play the same old tired covers? Lazy musicians? Over the years, I have been surprised at how many musicians cannot put in the time to learn a tune. It could be that they don’t have time, don’t have the ability, don’t want to learn one for whatever reason. Maybe they think they can wing it? In the end, they don’t learn the tune so we have to punt and do a tired old cover instead because everyone already knows it.

There’s lots of older, experienced musicians who still play the same stuff that they played decades ago and think that Bon Jovi is modern rock. There ARE guys who think they can wing it, and it can work until you get the bridge that follows a different chord progression. There’s guys who think a song is just 3 chords, so they don’t bother to learn the harmonies, dynamic changes, etc. because they think it’s easy. Yes, it’s easy, but you can still suck at it. There’s players who don’t even touch their instrument outside of a practice or gig. I can go on and on about the various issues but it still comes down to effort. There’s lots of musicians who won’t put in the effort.

Luckily, in my current band we have folks who will actually learn a tune. What I’ve learned is that there’s lots of covers that aren’t being played that go over really well. It’s just that you need to spend a little time listening to the song and learning it. It’s usually not a tune you learned in the garage 20 years ago. No one specifically requests Brown Eyed Girl, Mustang Sally, Sweet Home Alabama, and lots of other tired covers from my band. Although we could do those songs none of them go over as well as the songs that lots of cover bands don’t do that we do.

And outside of my band I’ve seen several examples too. Although ‘American Girl’ and ‘Free Falling’ by Tom Petty go over well, so does ‘Running Down a Dream’ and ‘Don’t Do Me Like That’. The way bands cover Aerosmith, GnR, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Skynyrd, and other iconic Classic Rock Bands you’d think they only had 2-3 hit songs. But they actually had a bunch of them. To many bands gravitate towards the 1-2 easiest songs they do. And even though Steely Dan had a bunch of radio hits, very few bands play their material because it takes some effort to learn. Actually, there’s lots of hit songs that would go over well that are left on the table because people won’t bother learning them.

Musicians tend to put a lot of blame on the audiences talking about how much they like these songs. Sure they are part of the equation but I don’t believe that it’s the majority of the problem. The tired covers are like McDonalds. People eat there because it’s convenient, cheap, and they know what to expect. But, it’s rarely their favorite place to eat. I’ve heard plenty of musicians complain about unresponsive audiences, but if you’re being lazy they will pick up on that. Expecting audiences to be passionate about your lack of enthusiasm is pretty narcissistic and unrealistic in my opinion. Although I’ve seen some “non-tired” covers clear a dance floor I’ve also seen many of them work out well and I feel like they are worth doing. A song can be a hit, recognizable, and easy to dance to without being one that every band does.