Is once a month at a venue too much?

[newmaxnew]

We were just asked by a a venue we recently added to our rotation to play one weekend every month. We usually shoot for a once each six weeks rotation at most venues to avoid them getting burned out on our band. He has decided that he is going to choose the best four bands and rotate them once a month.

Is one weekend a month too often?

Max

[BlueStrat]

It's his business. If he wants to hire you once a month, do it.

I did one venue here once a month for a couple of years with my band. I still do another one once a month as a solo, and have for over 10 years.

[jeff42]

we are in a situation like that with a club. We really like the place and the crowds are usually good.

I am not sure how it is going to work out but we will see in the next few months. We would rather be on a 6-8 week rotation but... oh well.

[wades_keys]

We were just asked by a a venue we recently added to our rotation to play one weekend every month. We usually shoot for a once each six weeks rotation at most venues to avoid them getting burned out on our band. He has decided that he is going to choose the best four bands and rotate them once a month.

Is one weekend a month too often?

Max
Hell, I'd play 3 times a month or more at the same venue if I could.

Why turn down opportunities?

Just add more tunes to avoid burnout, and keep track of what set you used last time at that venue.

[wheresgrant3]

For year round clubs we average 6-8 weeks. For summertime seasonal we average every 4 weeks. For out of state/agency we average 8-12 weeks between gigs. Just seems to be the pattern we've ran for many years now. We've turned down many offers for once a month due to our own interests. Once a month is fine as long as he's willing to pay and the crowd is sustainable. Go for it!:thu:

[THX1138]

We try to stick to 6-8 weeks. Its a "how will they miss you if you won't go away" kinda thing.

[Kramerguy]

I'd say once (or even more) a month is fine if you have enough variety in your setlists that you aren't repeating the same sets every time you play there.

8 weeks minimum if you play the exact same set lists.

But this is all opinion. Everyone has their own personal preferences.

[TrickyBoy]

I guess it depends on how much you play other venues in the area, but for me, I'd be all over it. We have a similar situation now with one club and its working out great so far.

[Actionsquid]

It absolutely depends on the local situation and type of club.

If youre talking original music in a large city, IME that's definitely too frequent. I'm sure it's different in certain scenes.
:idk:

[Chicken Monkey]

I'd say once (or even more) a month is fine if you have enough variety in your setlists that you aren't repeating the same sets every time you play there.


This. "House Bands" play the same place every week. People don't get sick of seeing bands, they get sick of hearing the same "What I Got-->I Just Wanna Fly-->Walking on the Sun" 90s medley more than once every two months. Shake it up and play as often as the owner wants you.

[flemtone]

We do a 'once-a-month' at a local club - been doing it there for 23 years this past February. Everybody knows where we'll be on that night, we've built up a great relationship with the bar staff and owner(s), everybody works well together.

A standing regular gig is a very good thing.

[The Real MC]

Don't rotate the venue - rotate the songs.

I was in a band that had a following, we'd see the same faces no matter where we played! We learned quickly to have at least 60 songs in the sack so that they didn't hear the same songs at every show.

[TrickyBoy]

Don't rotate the venue - rotate the songs.

I was in a band that had a following, we'd see the same faces no matter where we played! We learned quickly to have at least 60 songs in the sack so that they didn't hear the same songs at every show.

+1

[Kramerguy]

I noticed that at a 4-hour gig, we can clear 45+ songs, so 60 isn't that much to me. Currently I have over 150 memorized, and still add a minimum of 2 per week. Sometimes I do fill-in's where I have to memorize 20+ at once, but if I don't keep playing/practicing them, they go buh-bye lol..

[jeff42]

hahaha! the band I was in 9 years ago thought that What I Got-->I Just Wanna Fly-->Walking on the Sun was an amazingly clever idea! :lol:

[Scafeets]

Once a month works great if you're not playing clubs in the same market in between. We did it for a couple of years, but with the understanding that we wouldn't play any clubs within a 45-minute drive. Worked out great and that's how we started getting corporate and wedding gigs.

[tim_7string]

One weekend might be, but one night might not be too bad. The band I had in 2001-2002 used to play at the same place once a month, four months in a row (Sept-December 2001). We're almost doing the same with my current band at the same club, but every other month (once in August, once on Halloween). However, the bar owner told me he doesn't want us playing anywhere close to his club within 30 days of playing his bar, which I agree with. It's easy to get sick of bands if you see them too often and they haven't changed their set list very much. We try to do at least 2-3 new songs every time we play.

The two clubs I used to play a lot in town had 7-8 week rotations of bands, which I think is more reasonable.

[Tele-vania65000]

Make hay while the sun shines.

[SpaceNorman]

I think the first consideration is the room itself. If it's a room that is a destination in it's own right (i.e., it always has a crowd regardless of who's playing) - then once a month can work - provided the band has some depth to their setlist and isn't playing the exact same show each time though.

If the room is relying on the band to bring the crowd as well - I think that once a month is pushing it unless you've got a loyal (and very thirsty!) following.

All that said - if you're being offered gigs on a more aggressive schedule - I'd book 'em. There is no such thing as "long term" when it comes to the bar band game. If that's what the bar owner wants to pay for - hey, who are we to tell the customer he's wrong?

[Tedddy]

We were just asked by a a venue we recently added to our rotation to play one weekend every month. We usually shoot for a once each six weeks rotation at most venues to avoid them getting burned out on our band. He has decided that he is going to choose the best four bands and rotate them once a month.

Is one weekend a month too often?

Max

We play every week at the same place (wednesday nights) which is great because then we don't have to rehearse.

[newmaxnew]

I think it should work out OK. This venue is the only live music venue in a rural area. It has a pretty good built in crowd and lots of Harley riders. We don't play anywhere else close to this place.

Max