Do bands in Singapore realise this?

[wantonne]

Well, here's a very good reason why local bands don't prosper. They leave all the promoting to the organisers.

They think they can just come late, no need go soundcheck, expect to have extra cables and a two point pin adapter for their guitar effects pedals, plug in their guitars, strum for 30 mins and then call it a day and get treated like kings.

Gig organisers promote the EVENT. Bands, however, promote THEMSELVES. So don't get this mixed up.

Whenever I organise a gig, I don't go around telling people "Hey come for *fill in band's name* slot! It's at 7.30pm!". I tell them to come for my show.

I'm pretty sick of bands who are ignorant of this matter. I hope they realise this because it's not easy organising a show and seriously, we don't earn much or sometimes anything.

Even if we do have a little something, it's kept somewhere so we could use it for another show to pay for the rent or equipment with that money.

It takes two hands to clap. The organisers try their best to promote the event but it all depends on the bands to bring in the crowd. If the bands don't, what if the cost of everything falls short? The bands don't have to pay anything. Organisers do.

So be nice to them. They're there for a reason. To make a difference. To provide shows and exposure and stage experience for new bands or old. If gig organisers go on strike and all the bands think it's the organisers' duty to promote them, then the bands can go wait forever.

For those bands who don't appreciate the efforts put in, I say try organising. Organisers don't owe you anything. Neither does anybody else. You owe it to yourself.

But of course, ethics is still ethics. Our hearts and objectives should never to think of how much we're gonna make use and profit from the bands. If that's the intentions, then balls to those people.

I quote myself after someone said something in a post that it's the gig organisers who should be promoting the bands and the bands are supposedly just there to entertain.

I believe a lot of seasoned committed players in the field will know that's not what an organiser's job.. but it's a sad fact if not a lot of bands know this and perform on stage thinking they don't need to pull a crowd.

So this thread is dedicated to those who have done a lot for the bands. I hope this thread will have more advice to bands who are starting out.

 

[izumiko]

hum...i do agree to some pointers stated but then... not all the bands do tat u see.....
the bands who perform also hope that there will be crowds...but sometimes they just couldnt? or really... one or two bands didnt bother cos they just started out????


not all gigs tat bands dun have to pay... some gigs dun pay the bands also.... so... its like...both have to work well together? to avoid conflicts the best is clarify before getting the bands in to perform?



like of cos.. no organisers then no gig.. no performance... music industry will go down... but if there are many organisers but no bands... also the same? by then no one keen of doing all these..then how???



everyone ppl will complain... like... bands complain abt organisers, organisers complain abt the bands... but come to think abt it ar... by the end of the day...the gig is a success.... just be happy n get over with it.. its like...every event u will learn something be it the organiser or bands....



true tat the bands will request alot but sometimes really no choice? they didnt know wat is happening.... ?? they dunno wat is lack of there.... they dun sound check then leave them to die isnt it? its like..by the end of the day..their sound produce is shit..then blame on themselves already... everyone has a part to do..it only depends if each did contribute anot.. the most is..next time... dun grab the same band again...



its like..no matter how short of bands is needed for the gig or event..if a certain band is really tat no discipline..then dun ask them in... rather get a more discipline just start out band? as least they know...their limits???



anyway.... really got to thank all the organisers for organising so many gigs all these time... they are really putting in all efforts.... must appreciate wat the organisers do... cos sometimes they really did their best to put up a good show....


no offence ar....


advice to all bands.. best is to be able to communicate well with the organiser... just like making frens.. its really of a no harm.... opening up ur circles of frens.... with the musicians... u only gain from it..



CHEERS~

 

[hysteria]

i agree that some bands that are just starting out already behave like rockstars, and completely take organisers for granted.

but as for promoting, "It takes two hands to clap. The organisers try their best to promote the event but it all depends on the bands to bring in the crowd", but sometimes the gig organisers dont even do a decent job promoting the gig. they don't even make posters and stuff like that and expect people to turn up based on the "sell-thirty-tix-to-play" rule.

while the bands do have to promote themselves and not rely completely on the organisers, it works the other way around too. organisers cant just book the venue and give the bands their time slot and expect the bands to handle promoting and other stuff like that.

It takes two hands to clap.

 

[GUYrenCE]

i don't know man

im still learning


maybe if some of the REAL organisers come for MUSICALL(IN)SANE
and then maybe you can give some 100% clear review on this?

to me> i do everything on my own
and i know that im doing it a right way

so you guys come down and tell me alright!

hahaha

MUSICALL(IN)SANE

 

[Freeflowclass]

Bands in the scene, or even just gig go-ers, sometimes just dont understandthat organising a gig is really not as easy as it seems. And because to some that i know, they think that organisers have like a " rank " higher than the bands, so they leave everything to the organisers to deal with, and they just come to play, then go.

An organiser is someone who puts things into place, and makes sure everything goes right. Advertising and such also falls under putting things into place, and securing the fact that the gig is a success.

Bands need/ should do some work to advertise themselves as well as get more people into scene or even just to watch their friends bands, thats how the scene grows. They might not like your band, but they might like some other band.

I'm not saying everyone in the scene is like that, but from what I've heard and what I've seen and experienced, this is just a generalisation.

 

[biopromax]

organizers and bands performing is at the same stage/level. Change to that mindset. We are all the same.

Work together as a team. And thus, a wonderful gig happened.

If the gig failed, why not.. Fail together. If succeed, everyone enjoy, drink beer.

And again, work together. Change that mindset = an organizer is to organize. Band is to perform ONLY.

Everyone has a part to play to make a gig possible. We promote together. We enjoy together. At the end of the day, no fights/arguements against Pay To Play/make more friends=gain more contacts/and BE HAPPY and CONTENTED.

Profits / LOSS / No profits. Don't matter at all. Maybe if really LOSS alot, then cant help it la. Make a lesson learnt. JUST BE HAPPY AND MAKE THE LOCAL SCENE INTO THE BIGGER ARENA.

Thanks peeps for reading up. Vote me for PRESIDENT! ok jk jk )

 

[Chaserr]

well this should at least, raise awareness that both parties have to work together inorder to achieve what they want.

 

[GUYrenCE]

yes>>he's a good guy people!

 

[biopromax]

Bands need/ should do some work to advertise themselves as well as get more people into scene or even just to watch their friends bands, thats how the scene grows. They might not like your band, but they might like some other band..

Yeah true. And to make people go for all the bands, the audience and the bands must mingle around before the show or after the show, to gain more contacts. Thus, the audiences will go for their gigs and support at least 2 bands. So that the entry fees wont be a waste.

my 2 cents. Takes time to understand what im reading lah. Sorry, bad english and sentence structure.

 

[extremers]

i would say the organisers that i've worked with so far have been good if not great. they deserved more than a pat on the back for their efforts for sure.

if bands pulled their part things will definately go well. *nods*

 

[AzNjT]

the People who organize These events/Gigs should put these bands through an auditioning process to filter out Crappy bands and make them realize that THEY should practice harder and get their acts together and be sure that they are SERIOUS about performing and putting up a GOOD show instead of being able to Brag and say, oh i gotta Gig and whatnot when they can't play FFS!! ... before being allowed to play on stage and kill the music.

so many times i've been to Gigs, or youtube or whatever it is and some people who cant even Tune their guitars are allowed on stage. i dont know about you guys but i really wished these people would take MUSIC seriously and not just Gig so you can pose to ur wannabe friends.

THATS WHAT I FEEL.

 

[panz3rr]

hahahahaha +100000 to that

 

[biopromax]

sometimes, jamming and gigging have that different feelings tho. These bands who thought they are good enough should be given the chance to experience stage life.

If they feel that they sucked,then it gives them extra morale to work extra harder.
and also, we know who can play and who cant play. and let other organizers know.

Yeah auditioning is cool enough. Still we need to come out money to rent a studio to audition.

Its all bout how u look at it really.

 

[izumiko]

actually why organisers do allow the young bands to perform is just giving them a chance.... n is up to them to put up a good show.....


and of cos...if the bands do take the gig seriously... wan to really have fun... BEST is... be discipline... know wat is the real purpose of performing... n bringing up their own band for.....



no point to have a just-to-gig-for-fun mood...cos... it will only give ppl a bad impression and of cos...the organisers will think its the waste of their time to organise events like this....



bands must remember their stand...they do not have the fame there yet...they got to be modest n play well... to impress ppl...want to have supporters... is not just getting frens down to support...tat is crap..... real supporters comes from the public.... get 100 ppl down who are ur frens n cheer for u... will lead the band no where.... tat will only show.... the band only got the network... but not the talent....



but the fact...as we can see.. is always the bands there are complaining all kinds of things...be it before or after the event.... i feel tat.... unless u are pro. then u can judge the organiser.... unless u are really someone who really gig alot professionally....then u can start judging.... sometimes... ppl do meet bad organisers or lousy bands... but tat is also one point to learn.. nth is perfect....



accept it if it already happened...n smile becos its over... cheer as it ended successfully... thank when everything is completed.... it will then not lead to conflict so easily....


but if it happen alot of times...then take it as the organiser or the band is really suay... :x


*no offence*

 

[fuzzmusick]

For a start, I do agree with you on this.. Bands too have to promote themselves and the gigs they are playing etc and not relying on the organisers..

But for example if that band doesnt have that much 'fans' or should I say, they have friends but all of them don't like what they're playing because of their genre, then whose fault is it? If a band like mine which plays a totally different kind of music that people might think it's "boring", would people come even though I myself do the promoting?

Some may like it and some don't.. And yes, the bands are trying so hard to get exposure and perform in gigs, but people may still not like them or their music.. So imo, i don't blame the bands itself.. Some bands may have a huge fanbase, some dont..

Others might come for the gig to support the other remaining bands but not to that poor bands with little supporters..

The thing is, every music style rely on what people would like to hear.. If nobody listens to noise music, who will and whose fault is it? That band is trying so hard to create something new/unique but to an extend of having many fans, im not so sure..

Or maybe they should do this "Come and support the gig.. Even if you don't like/hate my music, do come and support other bands performing.."

They are being friendly on their part..

 

[Freeflowclass]

If you have friends and even they dont want to go for your gigs that you're performing at, maybe its time to think if your music is even good enough to be let heard out loud besides in your head ah. haha.

I mean there are bands out there who sound like shit but they still get out somewhere cos they have friends, they have supporters who know them mutually and stuff like that, and not cos of the music. I can name a few big local bands who have gotten far who doesnt have much supporters that were made from the music itself.

 

[Gracia]

Just because not many people appreciate your music doesn't mean it sounds bad or unprofessional. It may be because the band is playing unpopular genres and such, and considering that the usual Singapore kids' music tastes can be quite linear, they don't bother to listen/learn to appreciate what's outside the norm.

Then again I have also seen bands with big fanbase but there's nothing special about them.

 

[izumiko]

i agree with Gracia.... its all abt the genre u are doing.... some ppl may not be able to accept a certain genre... i mean... in sg... wat ppl can accept? pop, rock, heavy rock kind or ballads... tats all..... if u want a big crowd of ppl to accept heavy metal or death metal..... its quite impossible.. or even japanese rock or visual kei.. all those genre attracted rather small crowd due to the genre they doing... isnt it???


i guess.... ppl should just open up n listen to more other genres.... they do sound nice only after they accept the music... if not..forever.. it wont be nice to them at all... and of cos...that genre of music will not be able to promote in sg anymore

 

[shiva]

i personally believe it is not to the fault of either.. its just that we should have excess to more avenues to get to the general population. you see most avenues of advertising or promoting gigs do not really stand out; ie posters or what because you will have the same bunch of people going for the gigs. So you're walking down a street and you see a poster and i doubt unless your hardcore fanatic of that genre will you actually bother going down. if only we could get more exposure say on radio or what, instead of your dj promoting lame car stickers and corporate events and asking people to come down for gigs, it would be a more viable means of getting people down. a band can only promote so much if it has just started out no? but yet i agree with the author, two hands to clap, drum, shred what not haha..

 

[izumiko]

actually for events like these.. promoting it online, posters, forums n all i think is quite alot already... setting up a gig really cost alot... plus u really need good networks.... advertising on radios or tv or blah blah is very expensive..unless the gig consist of really good bands n well known bands.. if not...even promote on radios... ppl listen le also wont go...