WayneThunder
New member
Hi Everyone,
The issue for GILARock.com Debate #2 was raised at the recent Fasten Your Seatbelts! gig at DXO (which was one of the best indie gigs I've been to a while). The review which this issue pertains to can be found here:
http://www.gilarock.com/reviews/070120_review_fys.html
The issue goes:
"Typical delays and last minute shuffling of lineup often leave supporting bands playing last and being forced to cut their set short. Gigs with strict cut-off times always face this problem. You have to protect the headliner, but it’s not fair to push supporting bands to the back either. What's the solution?"
My two cents: This is a very tricky situation because it usually involves bands of different "rank" on the same lineup. As a promoter, you have to give your headliner, and their fans, the confidence that they will have enough time to put on a good show, and you have to plan your schedule to cater for that.
However, indie gigs being indie gigs, delays are almost inevitable. From a band point of view, we always viewed the headline slot at indie gigs as a double-edged sword. It's a testament to your popularity and status, but 9 out of 10 times, delays will force you to rush into setting up, and you end up having to shave off half the setlist, and play the remaining songs at twice the speed. And you can definitely forget about that glorious encore finale with fireworks that you practiced so hard for.
A concept that I find a bit lacking in many indie gigs in Singapore is the lack of status attribution to the bands. Bands who work hard enough to attain "headliner" status don't get enough recognition. I've looked at hundreds of gig posters here and I can never tell who's headlining. All the bands are listed in the same font size and seemingly random order! Who's good? Who's new? Who knows?! Even with huge festival-style lineups, its important that gigs have some sort of finale, a final act so the entire gig has a purposeful destination.
HEADLINERS ARE IMPORTANT! That's why they're called "Headliners" to begin with. They are the main draw to the show, and they must play last so that the gig ends on a high note. This system works two-fold, because not only does the headliner get the recognition they deserve, but its also FAIR to the supporting bands.
Why? Because supporting bands are generally less experienced, less popular, less good etc. It's not fair to expect support acts to play AFTER the headliner because they'll look bad! And what do most gig goers expect after the headliner finishes? They expect to go home of course! The whole point of having a support act is to augment the night's entertainment, sort of a "joker" or "wildcard" element that makes the gig more than just the main act, something possibly new for the headliner's fans to discover.
Thousands of bands all over the world earn their stripes this way. They cut their teeth supporting bigger bands, get better in the process and if they're good enough, they eventually attain headliner status themselves. Van Halen supported KISS, Alice In Chains supported Van Halen, Chemical Romance supported Green Day and so on. If the support act plays AFTER the headliner, then the whole point of the support act is lost.
Just as an example, can you imagine if The Sexies played AFTER Hoobastank last week. Everyone would have gone home, they would have played to probably just a bunch of friends and fans who already know them and completely lost the benefit of sharing the stage with the more established band, and showcasing their music for an audience that might not have otherwise seen them. And think about this, no matter how good you are, nothing looks worse than a band playing to an audience of 50 in a venue fit for 6000.
In short.....my opinion is that swopping headliners and support acts is a big no-no. Unless circumstances are that dire (e.g. the support act arrives late for which it's their own pasa), headliners should always play the headline slot. Whether you're the headliner or promoter, it's better and more responsible to ask the support bands to cut a song or two off their sets than to just chuck them to the back of the bill. And if you're the support band and you want the headline slot, don't try to step over other people. You will earn it sooner or later if you deserve it.
This is of course pertaining to conventional gig protocol which has been in place since the invention of the support act itself. There are always exceptions to the rule, but this system has worked for decades for good reason!
Wayne
www.gilarock.com
Please note, in no way are the issues raised intended to put any band, promoter or venue in a poor or negative light. They are simply circumstances that I deem prevalent or relevant enough to be discussed in a constructive manner. Looking forward to hearing your opinions!
The issue for GILARock.com Debate #2 was raised at the recent Fasten Your Seatbelts! gig at DXO (which was one of the best indie gigs I've been to a while). The review which this issue pertains to can be found here:
http://www.gilarock.com/reviews/070120_review_fys.html
The issue goes:
"Typical delays and last minute shuffling of lineup often leave supporting bands playing last and being forced to cut their set short. Gigs with strict cut-off times always face this problem. You have to protect the headliner, but it’s not fair to push supporting bands to the back either. What's the solution?"
My two cents: This is a very tricky situation because it usually involves bands of different "rank" on the same lineup. As a promoter, you have to give your headliner, and their fans, the confidence that they will have enough time to put on a good show, and you have to plan your schedule to cater for that.
However, indie gigs being indie gigs, delays are almost inevitable. From a band point of view, we always viewed the headline slot at indie gigs as a double-edged sword. It's a testament to your popularity and status, but 9 out of 10 times, delays will force you to rush into setting up, and you end up having to shave off half the setlist, and play the remaining songs at twice the speed. And you can definitely forget about that glorious encore finale with fireworks that you practiced so hard for.
A concept that I find a bit lacking in many indie gigs in Singapore is the lack of status attribution to the bands. Bands who work hard enough to attain "headliner" status don't get enough recognition. I've looked at hundreds of gig posters here and I can never tell who's headlining. All the bands are listed in the same font size and seemingly random order! Who's good? Who's new? Who knows?! Even with huge festival-style lineups, its important that gigs have some sort of finale, a final act so the entire gig has a purposeful destination.
HEADLINERS ARE IMPORTANT! That's why they're called "Headliners" to begin with. They are the main draw to the show, and they must play last so that the gig ends on a high note. This system works two-fold, because not only does the headliner get the recognition they deserve, but its also FAIR to the supporting bands.
Why? Because supporting bands are generally less experienced, less popular, less good etc. It's not fair to expect support acts to play AFTER the headliner because they'll look bad! And what do most gig goers expect after the headliner finishes? They expect to go home of course! The whole point of having a support act is to augment the night's entertainment, sort of a "joker" or "wildcard" element that makes the gig more than just the main act, something possibly new for the headliner's fans to discover.
Thousands of bands all over the world earn their stripes this way. They cut their teeth supporting bigger bands, get better in the process and if they're good enough, they eventually attain headliner status themselves. Van Halen supported KISS, Alice In Chains supported Van Halen, Chemical Romance supported Green Day and so on. If the support act plays AFTER the headliner, then the whole point of the support act is lost.
Just as an example, can you imagine if The Sexies played AFTER Hoobastank last week. Everyone would have gone home, they would have played to probably just a bunch of friends and fans who already know them and completely lost the benefit of sharing the stage with the more established band, and showcasing their music for an audience that might not have otherwise seen them. And think about this, no matter how good you are, nothing looks worse than a band playing to an audience of 50 in a venue fit for 6000.
In short.....my opinion is that swopping headliners and support acts is a big no-no. Unless circumstances are that dire (e.g. the support act arrives late for which it's their own pasa), headliners should always play the headline slot. Whether you're the headliner or promoter, it's better and more responsible to ask the support bands to cut a song or two off their sets than to just chuck them to the back of the bill. And if you're the support band and you want the headline slot, don't try to step over other people. You will earn it sooner or later if you deserve it.
This is of course pertaining to conventional gig protocol which has been in place since the invention of the support act itself. There are always exceptions to the rule, but this system has worked for decades for good reason!
Wayne
www.gilarock.com
Please note, in no way are the issues raised intended to put any band, promoter or venue in a poor or negative light. They are simply circumstances that I deem prevalent or relevant enough to be discussed in a constructive manner. Looking forward to hearing your opinions!
