Browsing the night life offerings in a doctor's waiting room copy of the New Yorker yesterday, I saw that the magazine lists clubs featuring rock, jazz and standards, and other venues offering opera, symphony, chamber music and other types of recitals and -- nothing remotely resembling the kind of music I play. So much for urban sophisticates. I'm too unhip for them. OK, fair enough.



Here in Redneckia, the club offerings are similarly limited, only with emphasis on contemporary country, blues and other things involving electric guitars, drums, modern technology and usually excessive volume.



I wonder if there's a region somewhere between Gotham and Shreveport where they pay to listen to the kind of music I play.



In Mountain Home, Arkansas and around there, they do actually have professional old-timey players and venues. That accounts for about 20 percent of what I play. Is that as close as it gets?



(To save you a trip to my page, let me tell you that I play songs from previous centuries, the oldest being from the Renaissance, the newest being from 1905, with emphasis on the 19th century, including songs of Stephen Foster and his contemporaries.)

We're in a similar predicament. We've just had to admit we play to a niche market and are not gonna be in demand in many of the usual venues.



We've had better luck marketing to unconventional markets - folk festivals, special events (concerts, themed programs, etc), a few quieter gigs at restaurants and private functions.



I've also found that offering specific programs of music helps a booking person decide whether or not you'll be a fit. We offer programs of "Irish" pub songs, which are in more demand during March. We offer American folk songs, sea music, children's music and contemporary folk. It helps us to answer that all important "what kind of music do you play" question you're asked right of the bat when you're on the phone with a venue.

Thanks. That's a good idea.



No, of course I don't expect mass appeal, but with Internet technology, one no longer needs mass appeal. If one's niche consists of even a microscopic fraction of the people who can be reached via the Internet, it still adds up to enough people to matter.



As far as finding local live gigs is concerned, I'm going to try the above advice, which sounds pretty sensible to me. There's probably a tiny niche somewhere around here, possibly seasonal. Even if it doesn't pay well, it will get me out of the house.



I notice a lot of small towns around here are having various annual theme festivals celebrating local cuisine, culture (or lack of it) and what not. There's even one town that has a Fire Ant Festival. I imagine these events bring people like me out of hibernation. I'm going to investigate that. I did play in one such festival this year.

I think a guy can play just about any song just about anywhere as long as he performs it well. Most people like just about any tune performed live if it is done well. That's part of the the secret to being a great musician. Don't worry so much about genre. Great performances = great audiences. Watching people play that are tremendously good players is a magical hypnotic experience. The song itself is merely a vehicle that must reflect a glimpse into your soul to capture an audience. Merle Haggard is a master of this, if you have ever seen him live.. It really doesn't matter what genre, or age of the song is that you are using.

OK, then, I'll practice more.

Martin Gibson wrote:

I think a guy can play just about any song just about anywhere as long as he performs it well. Most people like just about any tune performed live if it is done well. That's part of the the secret to being a great musician. Don't worry so much about genre. Great performances = great audiences. Watching people play that are tremendously good players is a magical hypnotic experience. The song itself is merely a vehicle that must reflect a glimpse into your soul to capture an audience. Merle Haggard is a master of this, if you have ever seen him live.. It really doesn't matter what genre, or age of the song is that you are using.

Nah, market forces don't work that way. Bar venues book youth-oriented, energetic music to attract a younger crowd, with greater drinking stamina.



If you play well, attract an older crowd who will sit quietly, sip a cocktail or two and listen attentively to your every word, you will not be hired back. They aren't in business to promote music, per se. Music is that lubricant that gets folks drunk and makes money for the bar.

The Volume Brothers wrote:

AYF's approach makes a lot of sense - good luck.

In the past year, we've played



1. The tavern of a historic inn

2. A summer evening outdoor concert in a seaside town

3. A craft fair at a historic house

4. Private parties

5. Coffee shops

6. Local-music folk festival

7. Community fair

8. Here's the weirdest: Tuesday evenings at a large drive-in ice cream stand that had a large field in the back

9. Art gallery opening

10. Several pubs around St Patrick's Day

11. Intro to folk music for a Girl Scout unit

12. Several concerts for our city Chamber of Commerce public events



All were paying gigs, were scheduled in the afternoon or early evening (which got us home at decent hours) and were well-received.



I won't mention the horrid bar gigs with owners who tried to rip us off, drunk audience members who disrupt the show, people asking us why we don't sound like The Dropkick Murphys, etc.



Stay away from bar gigs.

Allen J.M. Smith wrote:



I wonder if there's a region somewhere between Gotham and Shreveport where they pay to listen to the kind of music I play.



In Mountain Home, Arkansas and around there, they do actually have professional old-timey players and venues. That accounts for about 20 percent of what I play. Is that as close as it gets?



(To save you a trip to my page, let me tell you that I play songs from previous centuries, the oldest being from the Renaissance, the newest being from 1905, with emphasis on the 19th century, including songs of Stephen Foster and his contemporaries.)

Try gigging in nursing homes.



No, seriously...around these parts, solo or duo entertainers make an average of $60-80 for an hour's work, and the old folks love the entertainment.



I do solo gigs here and there, performing old folk songs, some standards, and stuff like the Kingston Trio, Pete Seeger, etc. I've seen small groups (3-4 people) do anything from old blues to polka music and rake in over $120 for an hour.



I've heard some truly hideous musicians and singers do those types of gigs and be well-received (I guess dementia does have its good points :-X.....), so anyone with any real talent, such as your good self, would be highly appreciated!

Ask Your Father wrote:

Martin Gibson wrote:

I think a guy can play just about any song just about anywhere as long as he performs it well. Most people like just about any tune performed live if it is done well. That's part of the the secret to being a great musician. Don't worry so much about genre. Great performances = great audiences. Watching people play that are tremendously good players is a magical hypnotic experience. The song itself is merely a vehicle that must reflect a glimpse into your soul to capture an audience. Merle Haggard is a master of this, if you have ever seen him live.. It really doesn't matter what genre, or age of the song is that you are using.

Nah, market forces don't work that way. Bar venues book youth-oriented, energetic music to attract a younger crowd, with greater drinking stamina.



If you play well, attract an older crowd who will sit quietly, sip a cocktail or two and listen attentively to your every word, you will not be hired back. They aren't in business to promote music, per se. Music is that lubricant that gets folks drunk and makes money for the bar.

Well, maybe so, but what I said sounded a lot more esoteric, artistic, and basically a lot cooler & way more optimistic.....:0)



The oldest crowds I play to are generally my age Alumnii, as there is mostly college bar and restauraunt gigs around here. Most of my bizz is on the spot, and openers.. and I play a whole lot for free..

Martin Gibson wrote:

I think a guy can play just about any song just about anywhere as long as he performs it well. Most people like just about any tune performed live if it is done well. That's part of the the secret to being a great musician. Don't worry so much about genre. Great performances = great audiences. Watching people play that are tremendously good players is a magical hypnotic experience. The song itself is merely a vehicle that must reflect a glimpse into your soul to capture an audience. Merle Haggard is a master of this, if you have ever seen him live.. It really doesn't matter what genre, or age of the song is that you are using.

I like the optimism Obi One Kenobi:)

Kristi Scott wrote:

Martin Gibson wrote:

I think a guy can play just about any song just about anywhere as long as he performs it well. Most people like just about any tune performed live if it is done well. That's part of the the secret to being a great musician. Don't worry so much about genre. Great performances = great audiences. Watching people play that are tremendously good players is a magical hypnotic experience. The song itself is merely a vehicle that must reflect a glimpse into your soul to capture an audience. Merle Haggard is a master of this, if you have ever seen him live.. It really doesn't matter what genre, or age of the song is that you are using.

I like the optimism Obi One Kenobi:)

I see the force is strong in this one...

Martin Gibson wrote:

Kristi Scott wrote:

Martin Gibson wrote:

I think a guy can play just about any song just about anywhere as long as he performs it well. Most people like just about any tune performed live if it is done well. That's part of the the secret to being a great musician. Don't worry so much about genre. Great performances = great audiences. Watching people play that are tremendously good players is a magical hypnotic experience. The song itself is merely a vehicle that must reflect a glimpse into your soul to capture an audience. Merle Haggard is a master of this, if you have ever seen him live.. It really doesn't matter what genre, or age of the song is that you are using.

I like the optimism Obi One Kenobi:)

I see the force is strong in this one...

lol!!!