Got a surf band going, and we are about 5 practices/13 songs in. Lots of covers, a couple originals. I'm kind of wondering what kind of gigs to expect. We would all like to get paid. But realize it's such a niche kind of sound. Do bars/restaurants/events/weddings/moose lodges/etc exist that book surf bands, in general? There aren't really any other bands in the immediate area, so being the only game in town might help. But I'm curious what kinds of gigs everyone is getting beyond playing strictly for fun.

Guitarist for Black Valley Moon & Down By Law

Tampa.

Guitarist for Black Valley Moon & Down By Law

Paying gig... as you get a cut of the door? Or paying as in, $500 guarantee?

You are going to play for a cut of the door on a week night to begin with. Then, you are going get offers for gigs from people who saw you set. This is going to lead to your next couple years of gigs towards the end getting better Friday/Saturday gigs. Then you might get people approaching you to play events for larger guarantees.

Work hard, very very hard. If you think you are working hard enough, you aren't. Be a part of the local music scene. Go see the rockabilly/psychobilly/garage/psychadelic/rock and roll bands. Small talk with them, offer to set up gigs with them.

Establish an image. How do you want to look? This applies to your logos, demo art work, etc... Is one guy gonna wear shorts and the other a suit?

And work hard.

The Royal Aces post pretty much sums up what it like here in Halifax, though we are just starting to slip into a downturn in venues offering live music. I really do think that a band that appeals to dancers is more likely to be busier here; as is one that is unique (no vocal surf band). We don't have to play for the door anymore, and if we do, there is usually a guarantee (we get the bigger sum, usually what is taken at the door at such events). We do have a minimum fee that the band has agreed on for doing gigs. Because there are fewer venues staying open here, we have branched out to a lot of different events, and are busier for it. These would include festivals, out door-city sponsored gigs, and a whole variety of special events (public & private). Most of these gigs are earlier in the day too (making us old guys less cranky).

Jake's post also hit it on the head, especially for a band that is starting out; it's all about connections made within the scene. That was our experience when we started out. Now 21 years later we are in a very comfortable gigging situation, getting better every year.

Rev

Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

Is my band (I used the term loosely) the only one on SG101 who will happily play for free? We just want to get out in front of a crowd for experience, and also to play the music we love. I will say, when I mention this to other musicians they become furious for some reason!

MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.

revhank wrote:

We don't play for free unless in is a benefit for something/someone we are supporting. I strongly feel that musicians should get paid for their work, especially if the venue is making money, and paying the bartenders, bouncers, etc. If we are playing at a friends party, then I'm less concerned about money. Being paid helps keep a scene growing. Bands can invest in better gear, pay for rehearsal space, release recordings. I feel we devalue what we do when we don't get paid. We have turned down gigs because of this throughout the whole time we have been a band. We made less money than we do now at the beginning, but that's just the way it usually is.

I suspect musicians are getting furious becaise they are making/supplementing a living. It would be akin to someone doing your job for free. Eventually you would be let go from work as your boss can get the work done for free.

I know not everybody will agree with me either.

Rev

I agree, especially the highlighted comment.

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

Last edited: Oct 06, 2016 20:04:14

SixStringSurfer wrote:

Is my band (I used the term loosely) the only one on SG101 who will happily play for free? We just want to get out in front of a crowd for experience, and also to play the music we love.

We've only played house parties for free, because they are fun for us. Nobody is making money off of it and it is truly a treat for us to play in a house packed full of people.

Do we always negotiate a price, absolutely not. And we don't even say "we will play for the door". It is just expected when you take a gig from a place making money that you get a cut of it.

All good news. My background is doing original music (records and touring). I started doing the cover thing because I wanted to stop touring. I was always under the impression that that was where the easier money was. However, after a couple years in the generic classic rock/pop cover scene, I discovered it was much harder to make a dime due to the insane amount of competition from djs, solo acts, and bands doing the exact same thing. The surf band is something I've always wanted to do because I love it. But I don't know if I love it enough to play free. I'm pretty much dead set against ever doing that for reasons stated above. Musicians are already so devalued and ripped off, I don't feel like either contributing to the problem, or willfully bending over and taking it from some bar owner so he can get paid. It's just been an ongoing discussion in our band about how gigs will go. It's sort of an untested market around here as far as I know. There are a ton of bars. But I don't know if they're hip enough to take a chance on something so unorthodox. Or whether the typical top40, 'jimmy Buffett' crowd around here will go for it. When I see videos of amazing surf bands playing for 10 people, it's kind of discouraging.

Guitarist for Black Valley Moon & Down By Law

My area is dismal.

There are certainly great paying gigs out there, and I've been fortunate enough to be in some of the top bands in the area and made 100 - 300 a gig (per man).

But there certainly isn't really a market for Surf specifically, and the older audience that appreciates it often really can't afford it.

I just did a "Sock Hop" gig at an assisted living center for 50 a man (didn't make me happy since I also learned about 30 50s songs).

In my area, if the band is really good, they can get good gigs. But there's a lot of competition out there from - hack bands (sorry, call 'em as I see 'em). These guys have really lowered the bar at bars... venues know they can get "entertainment" for $300 or less and hire these bands that just suck. They're not willing to pay $500.00 for anything better.

Most venues want a duo, or a solo act, or instead have gone to holding open mics and "jams" so they don't even have to pay people (but it gets people in the bar). I've played in two Trios now that don't have a bass player because the keyboard player (the bandleader in both cases) doesn't want to have to split what little pay we get with an extra man.

Good luck with your band - but keep your expectations regarding pay low, so that way you'll be pleasantly surprised rather than fed up.

There's plenty of gigs around my area I just gotta know how to market em. Don't say "surf band" people around here have no clue what that is
I always market us as a 50s/60s instrumental group