live gigs; being bothered by who the booker books you with

So my band is in a supporting slot for a last stop tour show for a local touring band.. I've jammmed with a member of this band in another project and I got him to get my band on via the booker. But the other bands that were booked are sooooo fucking shit.. And are not even in the ballpark of what my band does, eventhough the headliner is a strech, it still works, but the others are so just.. eh..

i guess you'll just have to blast them out of the stratosphere with the power of rock

well thats the hope.. or do we end up being such the odd men out that they stare at us like dogs do when they hear a strange noise.

Then I think, does the booker just not know what the fuck is up, or has my taste become so jaded that everything just sucks..

Just out of curiosity, what kind of music do you play, and can I hear some of these other bands?

I would say go for it. A gigs a gig. If people react with hostility, at least its a reaction. Tautologies aside, you just might get some new fans.

so, you're complaining about the other bands on the bill, when the booker was doing you (and your friend) a favor by adding you to the bill?

I always book the most disparate bands I can as a rule.

I always book the most disparate bands I can as a rule.

that's often not a very good idea

I don't mind playing with disparate sounding bands as long as everyone is nice/non-assholish and obeys their designated set length. The worst thing that happens is that you have a practice session at a place that sells booze.

you gotta start somewhere.
the longer your band is around + the more recognition you get, the amount of shit you have to swallow will decrease. that's showbusiness, right?

I would feel pretty good about being better than the bands I'm playing with, I dunno.

the more recognition you get, the amount of shit you have to swallow will decrease.

not really ... it's just a different quality of shit

playing shows w/ lame bands sucks avoid them at all costs. thins out your draw, creates negative associations in ppl's minds, kind of hard to convince your friends to go to the next show if the last one sucked so hard, usually aren't fun, probably the ppl there won't rly care abt your band anyways they're just there to support their friends band that they don't even like

even though we have openned for some big touring bands my band r not particularly popular with most promoters and aren't super extroverted guys ito making connections w other local bands aside from a few we're close with and have played with too much & as a result don't play much but we still turn down show offers often

playing gigs is good practice for playing gigs. agreeing to gigs, unless they totally make no sense (e.g. pay to play situations), is good for forging relations with bookers, promoters, etc. It's kinda like dating -- if you're known for saying no, people are less likely to ask. If you don't care about playing out, then fine. There are far too many bands as it is.

When faced with a gig where all the other bands are lame, tell your friends exactly when you are playing, if you believe that they will also think the other bands are lame, so they can show up to see you and then bail after your set.

o ya i guess if the booker is someone youre lookin to cozy up w/ then playing is probably a good idea just bring lots of people to show them that you are really popular and can make them some money

just don't be a dick about it. asking to get added to a bill then complaining about the other bands sucking, before the gig actually happens, is kinda dick-like behavior.

i played a p terrible show w/ a bunch of bands that i thought sucked & just used it as an excuse to fuck around & have fun & play shit that i wouldnt otherwise

Just out of curiosity, what kind of music do you play, and can I hear some of these other bands?

I would say go for it. A gigs a gig. If people react with hostility, at least its a reaction. Tautologies aside, you just might get some new fans.

Well we are a doomy/sludge stoner metal type, post metal band,.. We are third, on a bill of 5, the headliner, a well known thrash metal band from the area, the last date of a two leg US tour.. Said band is pretty well known for having bands open for them or play with them that are not actually thrash metal-bands that are cool that have a different flare than the standard metal fuccking metal..
The othe bands on the bill however, are, for all intensive purposes, not cool, average at best, and cookie cutter, heard it a million times metal.. One a power Metal band, totally hold the grapefruit vocals, and the other band your run of the mill sceamo type tech metal... Normally I love a mixed bill, but there isan un-hipness to this bill I can't put my fingers on... The more I think about it and the more I see theother shows this guy is booking, the more I realize this promoter jusat doesn't know whats up. This guy use to book shows, and got out of for a minute, and is now back, and I forgot he's a cheesedick... lol!

so, you're complaining about the other bands on the bill, when the booker was doing you (and your friend) a favor by adding you to the bill?

just don't be a dick about it. asking to get added to a bill then complaining about the other bands sucking, before the gig actually happens, is kinda dick-like behavior.

oh sure -- like you can totally complain about it here, or to your friends, or whatever, but complaining to the booker that the other bands on the bill who aren't the headliner blow, when you aren't the headliner either ... comes across as kinda douchey.

Also, there are a lot of reasons why a booker might add sucky bands to a bill that aren't about having poor taste.

well I'm not a rookie enough to do that... I've been doing this awhile.. I just needed to vent about it, I guess. I really think its my taste more than anything.. I'm sure it'll be a great gig

that is one thing i've noticed about metal bills -- like they're super uneven.

This guy use to book shows, and got out of for a minute, and is now back, and I forgot he's a cheesedick... lol!

i love you

Thanks... I 'll be here all week!

You should play the show, and heres what you should do: slow down your slowest songs by 20 bpm, tune everything in weird tunings, and turn up as loud as possible. Then make sure your singer castigates everyone in the audience who isn't showing enough physical exertion

The last metal show I went to had 3 crab core scene bands, 1 decent death metal group, 2 old school-ish hardcore bands, and LetLive from LA, who put on a really good show and made up for the previous bands. I asked the booking guy if he ever books doom or grindcore and he said no, they dont make money and kids dont get it.

I asked the booking guy if he ever books doom or grindcore and he said no, they dont make money and kids dont get it.

I'm definitly more interested in gaining fans that 'get it' and making those who don't, want to stay away.. I have a feeling for this show folks will hate it or dig it, nothing in between

i love the idea that five bands who play different metal sub-genres is an absurdly mixed bill.

i'm with dog latin, i really like being on varied bills. part of it is out of necessity since aren't many groups around here doing the kind of music that i do (either the new orleans stuff or the beat stuff), but it seems to help to get to get a good crowd.

there is starting to be a great devide between power metal, Pantera esh jock/meathead metal, screamo techy death metal vs. black metal, grindcore, crust punk and doom.. at least around here

can anyone recommend some useful resources for knowing which people/artist/bands i should have blacklisted when agreeing to play gigs? maybe this is not the best place to discuss it, but i'd like to know who to look out for so i don't end up inadvertently supporting a rapist.

locally? nationally?

we seem to be getting paired up with a lot of musical comedy blokes at the moment.