Where to play and make paper

stu

In Chads post about selling his hair a bunch of you where saying he should play live to make money. I got the impression that the money isnt bad either.

I think this is a really cool idea. Load up a laptop with a few backing tracks, pull out my acoustic guitar and play somewhere.
The thing is I dont know where and what kind of music I should play.

Could someone please point me in the right direction?

Squonk

stu wrote In Chads post about selling his hair a bunch of you where saying he should play live to make money. I got the impression that the money isnt bad either.

I think this is a really cool idea. Load up a laptop with a few backing tracks, pull out my acoustic guitar and play somewhere.
The thing is I dont know where and what kind of music I should play.

Could someone please point me in the right direction?

Very scary idea, I suppose you will have to learn the whole 80's catalogue. Start listening to Bryan Adams and whatever Highveld plays ?

guitarboy2828

I think it depends on where you go. If you are at a coffee shop in a mall, i reckon you could play anything that sounded good. If you're in a bar/pub you'd have to play some 80s covers as squonk said!

Approach some coffee shops and maybe even tell them they don't have to pay you, you'll work on tips people give you.. I've had a few coffee shops ask me to play, I just don't have time to do it.

Bob-Dubery

If you want to do a dummy run, get a feel for playing in front of an audience, then come to an open mic session at TJs. But don't bring the backing tracks (no time for those at an open mic night were things have to turn around fairly quickly). Just bring yourself and your acoustic - you get a 15 minute spot in front of a friendly audience. It'll give you a taste of singing into a mic in front of an audience.

Next one is Thursday 28th. At Marks Park. You're in Northcliff so it's not far for you to drive.

It's not guaranteed, but there can be pro and semi-pro musicians hanging around at TJs so it can help from a networking point of view as well.

Wizard

(Did I mention I grew up in Northcliff?)

Manfred-Klose

Dont expect to get money doing this.
Do it for the fun, the money will come later. and maby even a weekly slot at a bar if they like you and you keep their clients happy.

The key word is entertainment.

have you ever played on a stage or performed infront of people before ?
the classic rock tunes always go down well.

stu

Thanks Bob. I will PM you about TJs.

I have played live once. One song. A few people. You get the idea.

I just thought I would explore this option of making a bit of extra cash. I love playing my guitar and enjoy singing so it would be perfect if I could make money doing something like this.

Manfred-Klose

thats cool.

do a few open mic nights to get the hang of things.
learn some songs that you think might work, and write them down on a list, until you have enough.

also go out and watch other people that are doing this, to get an idea of songs.

Keira-WitherKay

stu wrote In Chads post about selling his hair a bunch of you where saying he should play live to make money. I got the impression that the money isnt bad either.

I think this is a really cool idea. Load up a laptop with a few backing tracks, pull out my acoustic guitar and play somewhere.
The thing is I dont know where and what kind of music I should play.

Could someone please point me in the right direction?

OK LETS GET SOME POINTS STRAIGHT RE THIS..........

i was the one that suggested chad do some live gigs.........

BUT this was aimed at chad not making a blanket statement saying JUST ANYONE CAN MAKE MONEY PLAYING LIVE........ in case you don't know i am a pro muso playing live as the main source of my income, i teach music too.... and do sessions....... WHY i suggested this to chad was because he is into quite advanced music..... plays 8 string and acoustic wise seems to crack antoine dafour ( who is no slouch) and by reading all his posts......... i get the feeling he knows his theory and is a way above average musician ........... so that is aimed at him for that reason .......

BUT just your quote

Load up a laptop with a few backing tracks, pull out my acoustic guitar and play somewhere.

shows the absolute wrong way to look at approaching the live scene........... in the 80's when i started ( i been a fulltime pro since 1985 and still am ) that way you looking at it was fine......... cos the standard expected even in quite major venues was dismally low in the 80's .......

BUT things especially in jhb have changed a lot ...... the skill levels of just the guy/girl at the local restaurant is way good........ and definitely way above average...... also it's been a while since i have seen a muso with backtracks in jhb ........ most players choose to play live ( and yes the anti backtrack cause is my pet project but i'm not saying it for that reason ) also most solo acts in small restaurants and cafe venues play acoustic and ORIGINAL music is the back bone of the repetoire and only a few covers but done in in their own way ...........

so as dylan says "the things they are a changing" and in my mind for the better cos i have lived and played overseas a lot in my career and thats the way it developed there. everyone is pushing their own original music and as i said a few covers but mostly it's become like the 60's again where the coffee shop muso is the nu age dylan who will sit and play unique original music and the audience enjoy that ......

and yes i'm sure in some smaller towns ............. and even in jhb the old 80's pub band is still playing covers exclusively but they are fast becoming the dying breed....the last of the dinasours.........

the only place for cover music today is actually in "Tribute bands" ike the pink floyd tribute band and various others in this country and also covers are required at some corporate events .......(but they much harder to get and ussually work thruough agents) BUT even the corporate scen in SA has changed dramatically in last while....... and i know for a fact ( thru my agents) that corporate gigs these days will book mango goove/freshly ground/parlortones/ little sister / all the afrikaans name artusts /all the african name artists / rather than the ussual cover band like they used to.......

so if you are entering the live music market in jhb right now..think original music and think acoustic and voice........ also you in northcliff just pop into melville and lindon and go see what some of the acts are doing ....... go to tans cafe they original music mostly , esspresso live in lindon does music (last time i heard but also orginal) even my current fulltime gig as the resident guitarist at the palace hotel at sun city i play at least half the repetoire of original music and the rest is jazz standards done in my unique way ...... so even hotels are shifting from cover bands and are booking original music these days if it fits the image of the hotel.....

sure other artists performing in jhb like mika will agree the scene is very much about original/unique acts

so this is not meant to be talking you out of it in any way ..cos it's NOT

i have encouraged and helped many of my students to enter the live music market( all original music )

and ask squonk how i everytime i see him i encourage him as much as i can to get out and do gigs , cos squonk has a unique , story telling style and writes his own songs that are well written and performed ..which he does just with guitar and voice ......and he just needs to just get out there but he has a unique original product and is entertaining .....and no squonk did not pay me for this punt but he deserves it ....... ?

so what i'm saying is get out there and perform but just don't think it's that easy and that audiences accept just anything .......cos the new audiences are very picky and fussy ..... and above all want to be entertained......

so yes hopefully that sets straight what i was saying which was taken a bit out of context cos it was aimed at chad ...

and if anyone thinks one just slaps something together in pro music scene and "makes paper" ( i like that expression ) think again ....cos many muso's are unemployed for that very reason, they have not got a product together that is unique /original /or entertaining

so now i hope i'm inspiring you to work on a kick arse repetoire and to develop your playing style before you get out into the gig market .... do it right and you will succeed and "make paper"

stu

Thanks for making that clear Kiera.

It was just a silly idea I had anyway.
I never imagined I would make a lot of money but if I could make R50 on tips or what ever and have some fun that would have been cool.

I was always under the impression that people wanted to hear songs they know.
But now that you say people want to hear original music thats great news because I would much rather play my own songs then someone elses.

Back to the drawing board...........

Wizard

stu wrote Thanks for making that clear Kiera.

It was just a silly idea I had anyway.
I never imagined I would make a lot of money but if I could make R50 on tips or what ever and have some fun that would have been cool.

I was always under the impression that people wanted to hear songs they know.
But now that you say people want to hear original music thats great news because I would much rather play my own songs then someone elses.

Back to the drawing board...........

What's the worst that can happen if you try?
They laugh at you and you don't earn any money?
I don't see any downside ...

stu

Wizard wrote
stu wrote Thanks for making that clear Kiera.

It was just a silly idea I had anyway.
I never imagined I would make a lot of money but if I could make R50 on tips or what ever and have some fun that would have been cool.

I was always under the impression that people wanted to hear songs they know.
But now that you say people want to hear original music thats great news because I would much rather play my own songs then someone elses.

Back to the drawing board...........
What's the worst that can happen if you try?
They laugh at you and you don't earn any money?
I don't see any downside ...

That is so true, Wizard.

Keira-WitherKay

stu wrote I never imagined I would make a lot of money but if I could make R50 on tips or what ever and have some fun that would have been cool.

? if you do this right you stand to make a lot lot more than R50 in tips.........

and if thats all you want then just do whatever you do, and you can busk at a supermarket ....and make more than 50 bucks heheheheh

i thought you wanted to play pro gigs which pay a living wage ....hence the reply ...

many gigs pay us muso's very well but they expect a professional entertaining show with good sound in return

50 bucks ???? .....damn man set your sights way higher. you'll prob spend more that 50 bucks on petrol just getting to the gig

stu

Hey I would love to be a pro musician but just say I was good enough, surely I could not just walk out of my bedroom and start playing gigs that pay well.

I just wanted to make enough to cover the costs of doing the show any maybe make a tiny profit. I should have made that more clear in my first post.

Wizard

Play music.
What happens is what happens.
You don't need anyone's permission.

Keira-WitherKay

stu wrote Hey I would love to be a pro musician but just say I was good enough, surely I could not just walk out of my bedroom and start playing gigs that pay well.

I just wanted to make enough to cover the costs of doing the show any maybe make a tiny profit. I should have made that more clear in my first post.

stu if you good enough to land a gig .......don't sell yourself short demand a good salary for it ...... if i offered you a strat (usa) for R1000 you'd be sceptical right .why because the price is too cheap ..same as an artist walking into a venue and saying hey i want R300 where everyone else want R1000 ..... and the only way to know if you good enough is try doing a paying gig .worst is they won't hire you again and even if that happens learn by it and fix what went wrong the 1st time, and try again but anyone who plays pro or semi pro will tell you that doing live gigs is so different fromn what you do in your rehearsal space.......

anyway feel free to pm me if you want any further advice re playing live gigs, i will help where i can .....

stu

Thanks Keira. Im sure I will take you up on that offer at some point.... hopefully.