Ok, I never intended on making any money by playing in a hardcore/punk band. Really, I never expected much. Drinks and gas money if we're playing out of state.
Well, shit these days is getting retarded. No beer. No gas money. No guest list. All of our friends payed ten bucks to hang in your shitty club and we all payed to drink more than their share, and your cheap as can't even fork over some gas money, let alone a bucket of cheep beer? ASSHOLES! We brought the crowd and the entertainment. We bought drinks all night, but you're right, we don't deserve anything for playing all original material and putting ourselves in physical peril for your entertainment. Are you really that stingy/greedy, or do you just have short arms and deep pockets? FUCK YOU, YOU FUCKING SLIMEBALLS ROT IN HELL.
It's time to get more selective, Dimo. If they're charging a cover they should be at least giving you one guest each plus free beer for the band. Just don't book anywhere that won't, or only book places with no cover. Look at it this way; they're making money by having you play. If they don't kick down something, you and all your friends are PAYING them to let you play. One guest each + free beer is normal for shows with a cover. Unless you really suck and don't bring a crowd at all.
Quote from: Calamity Nigel on March 20, 2010, 05:15:16 PM
It's time to get more selective, Dimo. If they're charging a cover they should be at least giving you one guest each plus free beer for the band. Just don't book anywhere that won't, or only book places with no cover. Look at it this way; they're making money by having you play. If they don't kick down something, you and all your friends are PAYING them to let you play. One guest each + free beer is normal for shows with a cover. Unless you really suck and don't bring a crowd at all.
Oh, I know that's the way it should be. I have been doing this for almost ten years. That's why I'm so pissed. The thing is, practically everywhere in the tri-state is acting like they're doing bands a favor nowadays by letting them play. Out of the last 5-10 shows, only for one or two of them did we get beer. And the dumbfounded confused look you get when you ask about a guest-list, it's fucked up. And we
do bring heads
and an exciting performance. The thing that really pisses me off, is if we were a cover band, they'd take perfect care of us. No wonder why no one is making their own music anymore.
So be a cover band. Or, even better (read: more lucrative, if you're good), a tribute band. Get some good gigs, maybe even an opening slot at Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun if you're really good, and use the loot to upgrade your gear and touring vehicles and buy some studio time. Make your own album of original tunes with the same band under a different name (bonus: if you're smart and manage yourselves well, you get to incorporate as a holding company with 2 different LLCs under its umbrella which absolves you of alot of personal financial responsibility if/when shit goes bad) and shop it to the appropriate genre-specific indie label. If they like it, they'll handle distribution and probably get you on some bigger tours (regional/coastal instead of local), at which point you'll be glad you already invested in a road crew and some good gear because that means you'll actually be making money at that point and let's be honest, musical entertainment is HARD WORK and HARD WORK deserves compensation.
ECH has a cycle.
It is motorized and good.
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 21, 2010, 12:07:07 AM
So be a cover band. Or, even better (read: more lucrative, if you're good), a tribute band. Get some good gigs, maybe even an opening slot at Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun if you're really good, and use the loot to upgrade your gear and touring vehicles and buy some studio time. Make your own album of original tunes with the same band under a different name (bonus: if you're smart and manage yourselves well, you get to incorporate as a holding company with 2 different LLCs under its umbrella which absolves you of alot of personal financial responsibility if/when shit goes bad) and shop it to the appropriate genre-specific indie label. If they like it, they'll handle distribution and probably get you on some bigger tours (regional/coastal instead of local), at which point you'll be glad you already invested in a road crew and some good gear because that means you'll actually be making money at that point and let's be honest, musical entertainment is HARD WORK and HARD WORK deserves compensation.
These are all good ideas, for sure. But, we're past our prime and the focus has moved away from "let's do this for a living" towards "even if we can't do this for a living, let's keep doing it anyway." If it were a few years ago, I'd be all over this. Now we do it simply because we want to. It just sucks that we can't get beer.
OK, but just so you know all those punk bands on Warped Tour full of shirtless 20-something guys who make all the punk girls' panties moist?
most of those 20-something guys are actually 35.
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 21, 2010, 05:01:34 PM
OK, but just so you know all those punk bands on Warped Tour full of shirtless 20-something guys who make all the punk girls' panties moist?
most of those 20-something guys are actually 35.
Truth. Pretty much the only bands who "make it" while they're in their 20's are the manufactured boy bands.
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 21, 2010, 05:01:34 PM
OK, but just so you know all those punk bands on Warped Tour full of shirtless 20-something guys who make all the punk girls' panties moist?
most of those 20-something guys are actually 35.
This is a very good point. Will take into consideration.
I once came to the same conclusion you did (past our primes, too old for this shit, not gonna go anywhere, etc.), acted on it, and have been regretting both the conclusion and the action ever since. It is, in fact, the ONLY thing I can think of off the top of my head that I really truly regret.
Likewise my only real regret in life was selling my amplifier (had a beautiful Marshall stack) years ago for rent money.
I'm just beginning to rectify that mistake.
Oh Dimo, I'd be interested in hearing your band... do you guys have any recorded material, or anything on the net?
If you ever wanted to set up a show in my town, I might be able to put you in touch with the right people.
Quote from: Z³ on March 22, 2010, 08:13:06 AM
Likewise my only real regret in life was selling my amplifier (had a beautiful Marshall stack) years ago for rent money.
I'm just beginning to rectify that mistake.
Oh Dimo, I'd be interested in hearing your band... do you guys have any recorded material, or anything on the net?
If you ever wanted to set up a show in my town, I might be able to put you in touch with the right people.
Well, then. This might be a good time to give it a good push. One of the things holding us back was my guitarists marital status, which is no more. And our old bass player had a kid which held us back a bit, but now we have a young drunk on bass, so maybe now is more of the time than I thought.
Z, here's a link to our Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/theparaplegics). I know, not the best place to be linking to, but ATM, it's the only place (I know of, anyway) where you can listen on-line. There's a small selection, all from our most recent record. We have two records before that and I'm still trying to get my guitarist to OK the re-release of our older shit.
You know, they have this thing called "facebook" now. All the kids are using it.
Yeah, I know. My guitarist INSISTS on being in charge of anything on-line, then insists that he doesn't have any time to do it. We actually have a dot com, but he refuses to update it.
perhaps you should just take it upon yourself and let him have a hissy fit after the fact?
after all, guitar players are a dime a dozen, punk guitar players even more so. He can be easily replaced.
Hell, if you guys are actually going somewhere, I'll volunteer.
Once again, you are proving that money is made through merch.
If you were hawking T-shirts or CDs (or hell, set up a kissing booth for all it matters), you'd probably at least make enough to get a couple of gallons of gas.
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 04:49:41 PM
Yeah, I know. My guitarist INSISTS on being in charge of anything on-line, then insists that he doesn't have any time to do it. We actually have a dot com, but he refuses to update it.
1. Beat guitarist with his amp.
2. Do the online shit.
3. When guitarist screeches, explain that he isn't the fucking CEO, and if he CAN'T do the online shit, then someone else is going to.
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 22, 2010, 04:59:23 PM
perhaps you should just take it upon yourself and let him have a hissy fit after the fact?
after all, guitar players are a dime a dozen, punk guitar players even more so. He can be easily replaced.
Hell, if you guys are actually going somewhere, I'll volunteer.
It's not that easy, unfortunately. He and I are the only original members and every song we have was written by the two of us. Basically, if he left, the songs go too.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on March 22, 2010, 05:17:44 PM
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 04:49:41 PM
Yeah, I know. My guitarist INSISTS on being in charge of anything on-line, then insists that he doesn't have any time to do it. We actually have a dot com, but he refuses to update it.
1. Beat guitarist with his amp.
2. Do the online shit.
3. When guitarist screeches, explain that he isn't the fucking CEO, and if he CAN'T do the online shit, then someone else is going to.
One and Three sound good to me. The only problem with two is that I really know fuck-all about building/operating/maintaining a website.
It does piss me off, though, when he complains that we aren't selling any merch when we have TWO FULL-LENGTH CD's other than the one we're selling, that he refuses to re-release because it's "not an accurate representation of what we sound like now." As far as the on-line shit goes, it really beats the fuck out of me why he won't do anything about it.
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:28:04 PM
It does piss me off, though, when he complains that we aren't selling any merch when we have TWO FULL-LENGTH CD's other than the one we're selling, that he refuses to re-release because it's "not an accurate representation of what we sound like now." As far as the on-line shit goes, it really beats the fuck out of me why he won't do anything about it.
By that standard, Aerosmith shouldn't sell anything they made before 1985.
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:28:04 PM
It's not that easy, unfortunately. He and I are the only original members and every song we have was written by the two of us. Basically, if he left, the songs go too.
I've heard your stuff. You could write a new set within a week.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on March 22, 2010, 05:31:27 PM
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:28:04 PM
It does piss me off, though, when he complains that we aren't selling any merch when we have TWO FULL-LENGTH CD's other than the one we're selling, that he refuses to re-release because it's "not an accurate representation of what we sound like now." As far as the on-line shit goes, it really beats the fuck out of me why he won't do anything about it.
By that standard, Aerosmith shouldn't sell anything they made before 1985.
That's, more or less, what I keep telling him.
Quote from: LMNO on March 22, 2010, 05:33:10 PM
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:28:04 PM
It's not that easy, unfortunately. He and I are the only original members and every song we have was written by the two of us. Basically, if he left, the songs go too.
I've heard your stuff. You could write a new set within a week.
:lulz:
Quote from: LMNO on March 22, 2010, 05:33:10 PM
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:28:04 PM
It's not that easy, unfortunately. He and I are the only original members and every song we have was written by the two of us. Basically, if he left, the songs go too.
I've heard your stuff. You could write a new set within a week.
Ouch! Dang!
Hey, the Ramones wrote the same 4 songs for 30 years. No offence meant.
Quote from: LMNO on March 22, 2010, 05:35:42 PM
Hey, the Ramones wrote the same 4 songs for 30 years. No offence meant.
True. Very true. None taken, anyhow.
Depending on exactly what functionality you want, there are several free formats you can use for a site (for instance, Wordpress, if you want something of a blog look, which could be useful for updates about gigs and for directing people to merchandise), most of which you can either host yourself or have them host for you (but hosting it yourself is generally a better option. For example, you could then host sample tracks of your own music on the site).
Quote from: Cain on March 22, 2010, 05:40:48 PM
Depending on exactly what functionality you want, there are several free formats you can use for a site (for instance, Wordpress, if you want something of a blog look, which could be useful for updates about gigs and for directing people to merchandise), most of which you can either host yourself or have them host for you (but hosting it yourself is generally a better option. For example, you could then host sample tracks of your own music on the site).
I'm slightly familiar with word press. But we have www.theparaplegics.com already. Can anyone maybe tell me something about that site, like maybe where to find tutorials or something.
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:28:04 PM
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 22, 2010, 04:59:23 PM
perhaps you should just take it upon yourself and let him have a hissy fit after the fact?
after all, guitar players are a dime a dozen, punk guitar players even more so. He can be easily replaced.
Hell, if you guys are actually going somewhere, I'll volunteer.
It's not that easy, unfortunately. He and I are the only original members and every song we have was written by the two of us. Basically, if he left, the songs go too.
Why? Don't you know them? And don't you have recordings of them? Copyright that shit before he does and it's legally yours to do with as you please. then you can tell him to smarten up or get fucked.
Seriously, guitar players are ridiculously easy to find. The only band member that should ever be given any leeway about primadonna shit like that is the drummer, because they're very difficult to find competent replacements for.
:ECH:
:lulz:
ECH,
eventually told the drummer to get fucked also, and bought an Alesis (and a toy drum set and inflatable sheep for live shows).
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 22, 2010, 05:46:17 PM
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:28:04 PM
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 22, 2010, 04:59:23 PM
perhaps you should just take it upon yourself and let him have a hissy fit after the fact?
after all, guitar players are a dime a dozen, punk guitar players even more so. He can be easily replaced.
Hell, if you guys are actually going somewhere, I'll volunteer.
It's not that easy, unfortunately. He and I are the only original members and every song we have was written by the two of us. Basically, if he left, the songs go too.
Why? Don't you know them? And don't you have recordings of them? Copyright that shit before he does and it's legally yours to do with as you please. then you can tell him to smarten up or get fucked.
Seriously, guitar players are ridiculously easy to find. The only band member that should ever be given any leeway about primadonna shit like that is the drummer, because they're very difficult to find competent replacements for.
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 22, 2010, 05:46:17 PM
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:28:04 PM
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 22, 2010, 04:59:23 PM
perhaps you should just take it upon yourself and let him have a hissy fit after the fact?
after all, guitar players are a dime a dozen, punk guitar players even more so. He can be easily replaced.
Hell, if you guys are actually going somewhere, I'll volunteer.
It's not that easy, unfortunately. He and I are the only original members and every song we have was written by the two of us. Basically, if he left, the songs go too.
Why? Don't you know them? And don't you have recordings of them? Copyright that shit before he does and it's legally yours to do with as you please. then you can tell him to smarten up or get fucked.
Seriously, guitar players are ridiculously easy to find. The only band member that should ever be given any leeway about primadonna shit like that is the drummer, because they're very difficult to find competent replacements for.
This may all be true, but we're also talking about over ten years of friendship that... Never mind. You're right.
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:45:20 PM
Quote from: Cain on March 22, 2010, 05:40:48 PM
Depending on exactly what functionality you want, there are several free formats you can use for a site (for instance, Wordpress, if you want something of a blog look, which could be useful for updates about gigs and for directing people to merchandise), most of which you can either host yourself or have them host for you (but hosting it yourself is generally a better option. For example, you could then host sample tracks of your own music on the site).
I'm slightly familiar with word press. But we have www.theparaplegics.com already. Can anyone maybe tell me something about that site, like maybe where to find tutorials or something.
As far as I can see, that's a completely home made site, so there wont be any tutorials for it.
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 22, 2010, 05:54:56 PM
:lulz:
ECH,
eventually told the drummer to get fucked also, and bought an Alesis (and a toy drum set and inflatable sheep for live shows).
You never told me your IRL name is Steve Albini.
I'm not quite old enough to have seen them live...did they really use a drum machine for live shows?
How many guitar players does it take to change a lightbulb?
One thousand. One to hold it in the socket and make the world revolve around him, and 999 to say how they could have done it better.
How many drummers does it take?
None. They just sit back in the dark. Alone.
Quote from: Emerald City Hustle on March 22, 2010, 06:02:06 PM
I'm not quite old enough to have seen them live...did they really use a drum machine for live shows?
Yup.
Also, Dimo: Didn't you say you wanted to change your sound, anyway?
No time like the present to clean out the deadwood.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on March 22, 2010, 06:03:35 PM
How many guitar players does it take to change a lightbulb?
One thousand. One to hold it in the socket and make the world revolve around him, and 999 to say how they could have done it better.
How many drummers does it take?
None. They just sit back in the dark. Alone.
:lulz:
Quote from: Cain on March 22, 2010, 05:57:08 PM
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:45:20 PM
Quote from: Cain on March 22, 2010, 05:40:48 PM
Depending on exactly what functionality you want, there are several free formats you can use for a site (for instance, Wordpress, if you want something of a blog look, which could be useful for updates about gigs and for directing people to merchandise), most of which you can either host yourself or have them host for you (but hosting it yourself is generally a better option. For example, you could then host sample tracks of your own music on the site).
I'm slightly familiar with word press. But we have www.theparaplegics.com already. Can anyone maybe tell me something about that site, like maybe where to find tutorials or something.
As far as I can see, that's a completely home made site, so there wont be any tutorials for it.
This. It's probably not even got a content management system, but just a bunch of HTML files and images uploaded to the server.
If you want to put WordPress on it, you need to get the FTP password for the site. Then you should download FileZilla, an excellent FTP client for Windows, and download WordPress from wordpress.org. There are probably instructions on WordPress.org that tell you how to use FileZilla to upload WordPress (it''s really not that hard).
Quote from: Triple Zero on March 22, 2010, 06:54:56 PM
Quote from: Cain on March 22, 2010, 05:57:08 PM
Quote from: dimo on March 22, 2010, 05:45:20 PM
Quote from: Cain on March 22, 2010, 05:40:48 PM
Depending on exactly what functionality you want, there are several free formats you can use for a site (for instance, Wordpress, if you want something of a blog look, which could be useful for updates about gigs and for directing people to merchandise), most of which you can either host yourself or have them host for you (but hosting it yourself is generally a better option. For example, you could then host sample tracks of your own music on the site).
I'm slightly familiar with word press. But we have www.theparaplegics.com already. Can anyone maybe tell me something about that site, like maybe where to find tutorials or something.
As far as I can see, that's a completely home made site, so there wont be any tutorials for it.
This. It's probably not even got a content management system, but just a bunch of HTML files and images uploaded to the server.
If you want to put WordPress on it, you need to get the FTP password for the site. Then you should download FileZilla, an excellent FTP client for Windows, and download WordPress from wordpress.org. There are probably instructions on WordPress.org that tell you how to use FileZilla to upload WordPress (it''s really not that hard).
I am going to look into this, as I've said I
am slightly in the know about how to run wordpress, and if he's not going to do it, then maybe I should seeing how I've recently changed my stance on "technology."
there might also be better solutions specifically made for band websites, but I haven't tried any of them. You could upload and see if some of them are easy/useful though:
http://www.google.com/search?num=100&q=cms+for+band+websites
I would not advise using Drupal or Joomla or any other "big" CMS, though, as they are often a bit bloated. In that case better use WordPress which is a great CMS as well (if originally meant for blogging), and they probably have plugins for uploading media/mp3s as well. In fact, it might even come standard in it, if I remember one of those buttons in the post editiing screen allowed you to put an mp3 ina blog post. But I never tried that either.