Would n't it be more fun (or better) to get another 2 or 3 guys/gals with similar musical interests and form a trio or quartet ? The one man show (with backtrax) can quickly become stale and most audiences prefer a real live band. It's just so much better for growth to be part of a nice outfit imho.

Nitebob wrote: Hi Guys,

My equipment needs to start earning their keep now. In other words I need to get gigging. So this raises a couple of questions. As I've mostly been singin on requests at weddings christmas shows and the odd country show etc.

1. How? Any advice on getting some gigs or tips on how to get started would be appreciated.
2. Backtrack or acoustic? I am not a deft guitar virtuoso, I am a vocalist, and use guitar for accompaniment and composing only. Should I go for an acoustic approach, or go for backtracks? I like the acoustic idea, but it's kinda limiting with the regards to types of venues. Genre will be Country (please do not flog me)
3. How much should one ask to perform?
4. Sideline or not? Should one try to record a cd to sell at the venues to generate more income, or (even better) more gigs?

There might be more questions as the suggestions come in, but this should cover it for now.

Thanks guys.

I say go the BT route for starters. You can plan an acoustic set together in no time, so that is no big deal. Decide your repertoire (30 songs at least for gigging) and get the btracks. I have loads of tracks, so pm me if you need help to get started and we could get together. Going rate in JHB for solo acts is R1000-R1500 a night, but there are guys playing for less just to get gigs. Any more info needed, pm me, I'll give you list of venues to go and see, who to talk to, what songs work or not etc. Good luck, you need hair on your teeth in this business.

Or...get hold of Joe Moore or IceCreamMan. They are busy trying to get something together. They've got a drummer and bass player and are looking for a singer, maybe you can jam acoustic and sing with them...

A sure way to hone your skills along with all the advice is to possibly do a couple of open mic nights.

TJ's Acoustic Club is perfect for you, last thursday of every month.

No pay but an appreciative audience where you can polish your act.

Watch the forum for details

Squonk wrote: A sure way to hone your skills along with all the advice is to possibly do a couple of open mic nights.

TJ's Acoustic Club is perfect for you, last thursday of every month.

No pay but an appreciative audience where you can polish your act.

Watch the forum for details

+1

I'd say AVOID back tracks . Cos if you want to crack country scene you can do lots if not everything with just vocal and acousstic. And using back tracks just turns you into a kareoke act and at moment in jhb there are more solo and duo acts playing live than using tracks these days . And yes try stay solo if possible , there's gigs for solo acts that pay good money but unless you doing corporate functions very few bands unless they popular and well know ever make enough money to split 4 or 6 ways and still earn enough . And yes sell cd's at gigs it can bring in a lot of income. Good luck it's tough at times but hugely rewarding to know people are paying to have your music in their venue.

Squonk wrote: A sure way to hone your skills along with all the advice is to possibly do a couple of open mic nights.

TJ's Acoustic Club is perfect for you, last thursday of every month.

No pay but an appreciative audience where you can polish your act.

Watch the forum for details

That's exactly what I was going to say ?

Don't use backtracks unless you absolutely have to... the music is lifeless. There's nothing like the real 'live' thing... for you and your audience.

I agree with Keira and Pete - try carry it by yourself. It will make you a better player and performer.

If and when you get a gig with a specific demand for backtracks, then only use them (or even better, have a few "pickup" players who can join you on bass & drums for larger gigs). It does pay to be flexible... Also, pickup playing works both ways - if one of them lands a gig and needs a pickup band, they'll likely call you.

PeteM wrote: Don't use backtracks unless you absolutely have to... the music is lifeless. There's nothing like the real 'live' thing... for you and your audience.

TJ's have a no backtracks rule. Partly for practical reasons, but also because the audience doesn't like it.

I think it depends on the situation. If the audience are actually going to listen then backtracks don't work, you need to interact with them, engage them and backtracks don't do that.

If it's a gig where you're providing a background for people who aren't going to pay any attention anyway, or who want to hear golden oldies from some era or other (IE you're a jukebox, not a performer) then they work, and the venue is happy because they got a full sound with out having to reserve space for and pay a whole band.

Being a virtuoso is not mandatory in my view. An assured performance goes a long way. OTOH if you have chops up the wazoo but your performance is tenative then the chops aren't going to get you that far.

I've seen Loudon Wainwright III do a one-hour plus solo show. He's a competent player, but he's not a GREAT player. It doesn't matter - he's a confident, engaging performer who sells you the stories in his songs and takes you on a journey. You don't notice that he hasn't played a single solo in the whole set.

We've had Ian Lawrence at TJ's. He's another Wainwright in terms of guitar chops and again it doesn't matter - strong performance, engages the audience, puncuates the set with hilarious shaggy dog stories.

Musically speaking, make sure your timing is steady. I find if I keep the tempo and on the beat and I make mistakes in the instrumental breaks then I can get away with it. But drop one beat and even if everything else is perfect the audience will know. They're tapping their feet, and suddenly the feet come down and there's nothing there... ooops!

PS: Get the performance down first and then add backtracks if you want to. I've been at gigs where very good players have had backtracks and then things stop working. At that point you have to carry the performance by yourself anyway. Rather be a good performer who has added backtracks rather than rely on the backtracks and have no performance if they fail. You'll enjoy it more too.

Every time a player uses a backtrack, Django cries in heaven.

So this is basically what I've learned:

1. If you're going to do a small quaint venue, coffee shop for example, go acoustic.
2. If you're going to do a rowdy 'platteland pub' where there is going to be dancing, go for backtracks.
3. If you can, have some cd's for sale.
4. Try your performance out on TJ's crowd.

Anything I miss?

Bob said it right , one need not be virtuosa but one needs to be competant and solo's are great but there's a fabulous guitarist singer who plays at one of my regular gigs on another night and does the james taylor thing , lovely vocals and acoustic guitar played very well to back his vocal but NO SOLO'S and they not missed . As his music is touching the audience with solid playing and great vocal tone and of course if uses NO BACK tracks and if does not need them . Anyway just last month there was a huge discussion on face book started by someone who went to see a solo act who used back tracks and strummed some acoustic onstage but With mega back tracks which had everything on guitar and even all the backing vocals were added and this person went to stage and asked her to just do one song with just guitar and voice , and she refused point blank or could not and this triggered a huge discussion where it even came out some places even book artists who just sing to back tracks and call it live music . And i have even seen someone in a good venue faking guitar playing and all the guitar including solo's were on the tracks then they tried to mime the guitar parts to make it look like they were doing it. Absolutely disgusting to see but good thing is in jhb audiences have become wise to back track over use and it's already uncool to use tracks most will rather appreciate just guitar and voice . As dylan said the times they are a changing , and so is the gullability of jhb audiences ? anyway great to see others on forum posting in support of real live music with no back tracks as before i was a lonely voice in this cause ? so things are a changing ? and singe i loved that comment about django ?

Nitebob wrote: So this is basically what I've learned:

1. If you're going to do a small quaint venue, coffee shop for example, go acoustic.
2. If you're going to do a rowdy 'platteland pub' where there is going to be dancing, go for backtracks.
3. If you can, have some cd's for sale.
4. Try your performance out on TJ's crowd.

Anything I miss?

Yes...try hooking up with more musos

I think that's why I have been leaning towards the backtrax. I love harmonies, and am pretty good at them too, so love adding them for flavour. But must admit, the acoustic route holds a lot more appeal to me as it is much more flexible, and basically automatically adds your own style to it. However as said, it's not gonna fly at a dancing gig...

Nitebob wrote: But must admit, the acoustic route holds a lot more appeal to me as it is much more flexible, and basically automatically adds your own style to it. However as said, it's not gonna fly at a dancing gig...

Not true... I have been known to get them dancing with just my acoustic and singing... It depends upon the numbers you do. Play a few rockabilly numbers and they're jumping. ?

PeteM wrote: Not true... I have been known to get them dancing with just my acoustic and singing... It depends upon the numbers you do. Play a few rockabilly numbers and they're jumping. ?

+1; The sets we used to do with rock & roll numbers got people moving, and plenty of those translate just fine to acoustic.

The key to get busy and stay busy doing gigs is to be versatile. Judging from all the comments and experience on this thread, I would say do both. You will then be able to do both coffee shops and dodgy pubs and should the situation demand it, you can combine the 2 ideas and throw in a couple of acoustic only numbers at a BT gig or the other way round. Golden rule - be versatile.