I’m beginning to wonder if playing in a band based out of Halifax is really worth it anymore. We have some really cool venues here and there’s plenty of interesting musicians to go and see, but where the hell are the audiences?
Fifteen years ago, myself and all my friends would wait all week to take in as many shows as possible on weekends. It wasn’t just about drinking, it was about taking in some culture and supporting local artists. You could walk out of some gigs just beaming cuz the bands were so good or the audience so involved and connected. Those are really powerful moments.
Now I know there’s a ton a of mediocre bands in the city (every city has their share), but the majority are actually really, good regardless of genre.
Get off the couch, FB, iPhone, whatever and plop down your $5-$10 (prices for local shows having NOT gone up in over a decade) and take in a live show. Have a beer, meet a boy/girl, talk to the bands, we really want to see you come out. Even if we only make 50 bucks, having a great audience makes it ALL worthwhile. Any musician will tell you so.
Here’s hoping that the lure of unlimited free (stolen) downloadable music will eventually become boring enough that you all get off your lazy asses and venture out into the real world. Where do you think all that content comes from anyway? —Give the band a hand
This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2010.
I’d agree with you OP, but there’s really no good place to just go and listen to a band, drink a few beers, and chat. The Marquee was good for that, but it’s gone, and The Paragon really only does big shows. You could go to Gus’ Pub, but that would mean dealing with the patrons, a mix of Emo douchebags, Hipsters, and Goth Metal cutters. Or, the band is too loud.
Also, most bands on the scene today rarely want to talk to the crowd. They’re usually too arrogant to see past the monitors.
I miss Birdland.
Pay to go see a band who thinks I’m a lazy ass? YES PLEASE.
Cove may not have gone up but the price of alcohol sure has thanks to excessive taxes, not to mention the tobacco ban. No smoking, excessive drink prices = no patrons.
you want a god band out of halisucks, then buy a c.d., and hope to hell it’s not some whining fucking bitch, like silly dion.
Going to the bars to see a band fuckin sucks. The sound is terrible. If they would turn there instruments down just a little bit you might be able to hear the lead singer. Or even the person next to you speak a word i would go all the time. my cousin plays in pubs all the time and he thinks it sounds great. But he’s only 22 and drinks enough put me in a coma.
I took in over 300 live HRM shows in 2 years and I’ll tell you what I learned, the size of audience has EVERYTHING to do with the venue. Does the venue normally charge a cover to have a regular bar band entertain their patrons? NOBODY wants to pay for this, certainly not the venue and definitely not the patrons. I’d pay to hear originals but I’m not shedding a dime to hear Mustang Sally… again. OP, book your shows at a bar that pays you. Period. After that, write a song or 5 that are GOOD and then we’ll pay a cover to hear you. You might want to consider postering the neighbourhood BEFORE you play, advertising online (on the coast even!), inviting your own family and friends and… oh, and here’s a big one, don’t play the legion… members take the guesswork out of everything. LOL
The only time you can safely conclude I’m lazy (or too drunk) is if you’re playing a kickin’ tune and I don’t dance. Instead, conclude the bar is empty BECAUSE of the cover, BECAUSE of lack of advertising or BECAUSE your band sucks but not because I’m lazy.
Yeah I have to say that the advertising doesn’t really work… when you stick your poster over someone’s lost cat poster on a telephone pole, you can’t expect people to take you seriously. And the sound sucks. And I hate bars. Now, if someone has an mp3 of their buddy’s band, and they send it and I like it, I am more likely to hear their show. Or, if they get a song on the radio. Or, if they appear at a local music festival. Bottom line: bars are out for good music venues.
I hate small bands that assume they are good. Here’s a thought, maybe no one is coming because your music sucks. Nobody wants to spend $10 bucks to see some wanna be musicians, when they can buy a movie ticket for the same price.
People just don’t seem to care anymore. Yes, things have changed a lot in the last 10-15 years on Halifax’s music scene. I think the scene moved west.
theirs probably no audiences because the bands and venues in this city SUCK…bands here all sound alike,drinks are outrageously priced and staff are either dumb or rude,plus,the venues are either too small,very dirty…
Don’t bother wasting too much time postering, you need to be attracting fans by IM, text, FB and word of mouth. Use your current fans to get some new ones.
If you have some big fans give them an insentive for bringing people to shows.
Also, unless you’re a hipster Weezer wannabe, don’t bother contacting the Coast. They show the same garbage by the same bands all the time and have passed up local bands with major shows and releases across the country (and beyond) to cover the same old shit instead
I’m at least glad that you are setting a goal of having an audience, I’m sick of bands who want to just be “really famous”. There are no famous bands in Halifax and there probably never will be. A lot of crap bands with moderate success have come from the area and you’d be lucky to be one of the mediocre one with a taste of fame.
You have to be proactive to get the crowds. It doesn’t happen with one e-mail sent out to friends 2 days before the show.
good luck
little disposable income means people stay in.
they rock out at their own place or a friends house party….
they get enough to drink for the night off 20 odd bucks…
and lo and behold.. still have a good evening!
shocking.
we had a rockin staff party in my backyard on sat. nite and we didn’t talk about work, not once
I agree zZz, I don’t really mind paying cover – but at nearly $7/pint at some of the local establishments, you better be serving me liquid gold… I hears ya paingirl, the best staff parties are the ones where you totally forget about work and just be social. If you’re talking about work, ya might as well do it there and be paid for it.
I think more great small shows are definitely out West. Back home it was common to hit up basement shows in random people’s basements and bring your own beer. Now there is a cheap and fun alternative to bars and expensive cover charges. Bring back basement shows!!!
“basement shows” are alive and well only we call them “raves” now.
ralmn… you sure you aren’t ordering actual gold?
as in shots of goldschlager.
(or as I call it,… ‘what-the-fuck-did-I-do-last-night-after-I-started-drinking-the-goldschlager’)
ha ha… nah, the last 2 pubs I went to downtown, they were seriously that much. I really couldn’t believe it. Guess I should be ordering Keiths vs. yummy beer. Oh well.
And tequilla is my personal choice for “what-the-fuck-did-I-do-last-night”…
yes, so long as it’s not generic tequilla…
like the ‘tortija tequilla’ I had once before…. and I emphasize ONCE.
vile, vile poison.
7 bucks is crazy though for a single beer…
especially when you consider that there are places that serve 10 wings and a PITCHER for about twice that.
Even Victor’s has appetizer and pitcher for 15…
and I likes me some Victor’s
Ugh… ya, it’s gotta be decent stuff. Had generic vodka in Quebec a couple weeks ago…. NASTY, NASTY stuff. Stuck it in the freezer thinking if it was really cold might better – but it just turned into shitty vodka slushy. Just WRONG.
I’m still trying all the pubs out to find my favourite. Haven’t tried Victor’s yet. Will do. Maybe tonight.
I’d go as well but I think this evening warrants another nice swim at lac du chocolat before we get crappy, rainy weather.
I’ve been an avid show-goer since I was about 14. All different genres, all different venues. A good show is part band talent, part venue (which includes sound), and part audience. If these three things are somehow out of whack, chances are, bad show.
I usually have a couple of wobbly pops before I leave home, one more at the bar, stake out a good spot, and then rock out accordingly. If you’re going for the music, and not to sit, get drunk, and judge the general douchebaggery of the crowd, you’re going to have a good time. And if you’re not drinking your face off, you don’t have to pee in dirty bathrooms as much! It’s a win-win!
The biggest problem I have at shows these days are the idiots that push past to get to the front, and then stand backs to the band, yelling at each other, taking pics for fb, and texting everyone they know! If you’re not paying attention to the stage, get the FUCK out of my way, thank you very much!
Ah…that feels better.
Now off to see Arcade Fire tonight! HA!!! Take that!
Hey Z did you see the crazy bitch fight at chocolate lake last week, over a pack of smokes? It was crazy!
Claaaassy. Cheap entertainment though – cheaper then the live shows around town. Ha!
I hate acoustic guitars, screamo, metal, and really hate cover bands. Shows in Halifax are not on my list of priorities. Add to that the fact I have to sneak in my own flask of booze when I go to most places downtown so I don’t end up spending 50 bucks to get half a buzz on.
DAMN, I was there almost every day but only after work…
this is going to plague me…
now I have to try to instigate a bitch fight to get it out of my system.
tomorrow’s looking to be a good day.
I’ll be out there for sure.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm….