OnedinGiraldo
Joined: Jul 17, 2016
Posts: 103
Sacramento
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Posted on Aug 04 2018 09:47 AM
Gonna put my 2 cents in here on this topic. As far back as I can remember live music has been struggling to keep pace with other activities. Shrinking audiences has been a constant in whatever city I have lived in. Knowing many promoters here in Nor Cal they do not have the answers, some are a bit more open and willing to try things to draw a crowd, but numbers are still small.
In regards to finding gigs, we have turned down more gigs this year than I can remember due to personal reasons. Here is the catch, only two of them were surf specific. The others were with bands that had vocals and pushed a different genre. I think this is the secret to getting gigs. Be an opener for a more compelling bill or get 10-15 people at an all surf/instrumental show. In my opinion, I think it is difficult for the general audience member to differentiate between instrumental bands. I had one friend point blank tell me it all sounds the same!!
So, in closing there are a lot of positives. I play less live shows with my current band and have been more successful financially. With digital dominating the landscape, we have been able to get to places where people want to buy your music. It's not all a downer/negative there is a lot of positive in the current state of music, but it requires a change of perspective.
— The Me Gustas
https://themegustas.com
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25703
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Aug 05 2018 08:13 PM
Turn out for Sat. SG101 con yesterday was 304 paid,
Up 28 from last year. 
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
Last edited: Aug 05, 2018 20:13:48
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Aug 05 2018 08:54 PM
Congrats Jeff! Job well done.
Reverbs,
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Aug 05 2018 10:42 PM
bigtikidude wrote:
Turn out for Sat. SG101 con yesterday was 304 paid,
Up 28 from last year.
Excellent!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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OnedinGiraldo
Joined: Jul 17, 2016
Posts: 103
Sacramento
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Posted on Aug 06 2018 08:09 AM
Thats awesome Jeff! It was great seeing all the pics people were putting up. Looked like a great time!
— The Me Gustas
https://themegustas.com
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SurferBill
Joined: Dec 20, 2009
Posts: 611
Jax, FL
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Posted on Aug 06 2018 09:02 AM
bigtikidude wrote:
Turn out for Sat. SG101 con yesterday was 304 paid,
Up 28 from last year.
Excellent! I'm feeling better about things. The surf on the east coast in summertime is notoriously flat. It's a real bummer... that is, until hurricane season brings some clean overhead. I am hoping maybe I just had a musical flat spell, ha-ha. Good work Big.
— Shoot the Pier on Bandcamp
Shoot the Pier on Reverb Nation
Shoot The Pier on Facebook
We are on Instagram under "@shootthepiersurfband"
My Country EP ... Florida Dirt Fire
https://floridadirtfire.bandcamp.com/album/florida-dirt-fire
My French Love Songs ... I really needed a change...
www.lonelyrose.bandcamp.com
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ArtS
Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1406
Isle of Kent, MD
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Posted on Aug 06 2018 10:43 AM
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25703
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Aug 06 2018 11:43 AM
Still would love 600, but I'm happy it wasn't 200
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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DoNtFearTheReverbBass
Joined: May 24, 2008
Posts: 422
Land Locked CINCINNATI OH
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Posted on Aug 06 2018 01:43 PM
bigtikidude wrote:
Still would love 600, but I'm happy it wasn't 200
Well done my friend. Great events like the ones you and your faithful crew produce are worthy of much wider appreciation, so always aim high (6000) and if next time you get that 600 you will be making a progressive stride. GREAT SHOWS EVERYBODYS! Thanks again for a great week and weekend.
— The mighty KAHUNATONES
Don't Fear the Reverb ! Grateful Surf ! SURFIN' Tiki Bandits !
I can be reached through the following or at don@donschott.com. :
www.donschott.com
www.eyerecords.com
www.dontfearreverb.com
www.kokopellistages.com
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TheFintastics
Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 474
Wichita Falls, Texas
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Posted on Aug 06 2018 02:26 PM
FANTASTIC!
Remember what I said about not relying on Facebook's numbers? ("Going" vs. "interested"). It's not a reliable marker for large events, as much as it used to be. Next year will be 500+ just watch!
— _
Hi, I'm Gellert, guitarist for The Fintastics.
https://www.facebook.com/TheFintastics
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2291
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Aug 08 2018 12:37 AM
ElMonstroPorFavor wrote:
OK let me attempt to undowner:
The Surfrajettes have half a million views on their Toxic cover on youtube. I had at least 3 people whose interest in surf stops at listening to my radio show share it with me.
We lost the Bambi Molesters. Impala and The Bomboras rose from the grave. Impala even have a new album.
We have cheap recording and bandcamp available to us that let us hear people like Amphibian Man, who plays every instrument on his records and releases them for free all the way from Ukraine.
Vinyl's back and getting cheaper to make. I'm not sure if that matters at all, but it feels awesome to have Siniestro sit alongside the likes of The Sentinals on my shelf.
There are roughly 5 surf bands in my city and nearly all of them have members under 40 years old.
We played with Amphibian man this weekend in Odesa, Blaxie Rumble rock’n roll fest, unbelievable band and great guys!
We had tree surf bands there and a row of rockabilly/psycho/swing bands and below 100 paid tickets(((
So I guess it’s a common state of affair, but show must go on))
However in Livorno this year I saw a pretty biiiig surfing crowd, so may be it’s not so bad? Lorenzo makes undeliverable event for many years and doesn’t seem to slow down.
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
Last edited: Aug 08, 2018 00:38:18
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Aug 11 2018 01:38 PM
I've gotta say that this summer I've started feeling that things are really on the 'up' for surf music again. There's a particular energy around which I haven't felt in quite a while. It seems that the visibility of surf music is increasing, and my guess is that it has quite a bit to do in particular with the tireless efforts of people like Lorenzo and Vincent. Surf music festivals seem to be increasing in numbers and success, Surfer Joe and Asbury Park being the most exemplary ones, but also The Hukilau in Ft Lauderdale, FL which is a tiki event that basically turned into another surf music festival this year (with attendance of 500-600+), and of course the success of this year's convention, followed by the incredible LA Times article about it, and a bunch of other, smaller surf music festivals around (including the Hot Rod Hula Hop in Columbus, OH, taking place TODAY). We have the ongoing touring around the world by Messer Chups and Surfer Joe, plus TWO European bands coming to the US this month for tours - and several US bands touring Europe in the past two months! We have Norman's Rare Guitars, the LA guitar store to the rock stars, featuring the Surfrajettes, Black Flamingos and three days ago Les Agamemnonz in their videos, which literally reach millions (the Surfrajettes video at Norman's has 1.4 million views on YouTube alone in the past 17 months). And then of course there's all the attention that the Surfrajettes have been getting, as well as a lengthy and extensive tour of the US by DD. AND, finally, last but MOST certainly not least, there's the imminent release of "Reverb Nation", the 2017 SG101 convention live comp on Sierra Records!!! It's really all pretty amazing, I gotta say! Things really seem better than they have been in years!
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
Last edited: Aug 11, 2018 17:25:42
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Agent71857
Joined: Apr 15, 2014
Posts: 164
Pittsburgh, Pa
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Posted on Aug 12 2018 09:43 AM
I agree with Ivan. I think that surf music is in great shape!!! Hell, we even have 5 surf bands right here in Pittsburgh!!! I will add tho that the difficulties that members of our community are suffering (lack of playing spaces and low attendance) are happening to every band in ever genre. Here in Pittsburgh, young people just don’t go to local shows. They’ll shell out big bucks for major acts or giant festivals, but complain about a $5 cover for THREE bands at a local club. The shame of it is that here in our little slice of heaven we have several great small to midsize venues and a ton of great bands! I think it’s just a shift in expectations. They don’t want to just see good bands and hear great music, they want “an experience.”
At most of the local live shows I go to (i’m 55 years old) almost everyone in the crowd is over 35 or 40. So are most of the musicians! We’ve been experimenting lately with some different ideas. (Non-traditional venues & getting involved with local events) but we’ve had great success with doing earlier shows. If the only night you can get a date at a local club is a Wednesday and the first band doesn’t hit the stage until 9:30 or 10, you’ve already shot yourself in the foot. Your demographic has jobs. Kids. And a host of other age-related woes.
Try putting on a happy hour surf show! We’ve done it and it’s great! What could be better than some great surf music while the sun is still out!
Live local music these days is a tough sell all over, but here in surf rock world, we’re in a great place! To the vast majority of people we’re a NEW thing! Take advantage of that and take your music to them in new ways!
Ivan is right... it’s a GREAT TIME!!!
— www.instagram.com/_the.outer.limits_
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX7iIpcAvL8In2HY9I7QoPw
www.theouterlimits.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/vertigogo.surf
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LordWellfleet
Joined: Jul 12, 2012
Posts: 171
Cape Cod, USA
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Posted on Aug 13 2018 09:02 AM
I think Agent's observations are spot on. But what I'm curious about is the figure of five surf bands in Pittsburgh. I only know of Agent's Vertigo-go! and The Turbosonics. Who are the other three?
Agent71857 wrote:
I agree with Ivan. I think that surf music is in great shape!!! Hell, we even have 5 surf bands right here in Pittsburgh!!! I will add tho that the difficulties that members of our community are suffering (lack of playing spaces and low attendance) are happening to every band in ever genre. Here in Pittsburgh, young people just don’t go to local shows. They’ll shell out big bucks for major acts or giant festivals, but complain about a $5 cover for THREE bands at a local club. The shame of it is that here in our little slice of heaven we have several great small to midsize venues and a ton of great bands! I think it’s just a shift in expectations. They don’t want to just see good bands and hear great music, they want “an experience.”
At most of the local live shows I go to (i’m 55 years old) almost everyone in the crowd is over 35 or 40. So are most of the musicians! We’ve been experimenting lately with some different ideas. (Non-traditional venues & getting involved with local events) but we’ve had great success with doing earlier shows. If the only night you can get a date at a local club is a Wednesday and the first band doesn’t hit the stage until 9:30 or 10, you’ve already shot yourself in the foot. Your demographic has jobs. Kids. And a host of other age-related woes.
Try putting on a happy hour surf show! We’ve done it and it’s great! What could be better than some great surf music while the sun is still out!
Live local music these days is a tough sell all over, but here in surf rock world, we’re in a great place! To the vast majority of people we’re a NEW thing! Take advantage of that and take your music to them in new ways!
Ivan is right... it’s a GREAT TIME!!!
—
Everybody up!
https://www.facebook.com/TheHydronauts
https://thehydronauts.bandcamp.com/album/interstellar-clambake
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Agent71857
Joined: Apr 15, 2014
Posts: 164
Pittsburgh, Pa
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Posted on Aug 13 2018 02:23 PM
The hi-frequencies are back playing again. As well as two new bands... the Maverick ho-dads & go-go-gidget. Our next gig is opening for Agent Orange at Smalls funhouse. Thursday August 23rd!
— www.instagram.com/_the.outer.limits_
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX7iIpcAvL8In2HY9I7QoPw
www.theouterlimits.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/vertigogo.surf
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4564
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Aug 24 2018 01:10 AM
Life is a state of continual change, in fact, change is an indicator of life. Rocks don’t change, flowers do; which one is alive Sometimes, I t’s sad to see changes. I can’t imagine a civilization without Don the Beachcomber’s, but somehow we’ll survive.
So, what can we control in this matter? Well, we can control ourselves. If there are no Surf gigs, play a set of Buck Owens, but toss in a couple of Surf instrumentals to break things up, and the crowd will love it. One of the most enjoyable Surf Guitar experiences I’ve ever had was at a Junior Brown concert.
Just don’t ever give up on the genre.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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