Just going to add my little two cents here. I think the sucessful surf band is Los Straitjackets. Each one of those guys has been around a long time. Eddie has a big rockabilly following and even Jason who's the youngest has a big following. Those guys all do other things so it's pretty much impossible to make a decent living just playing surf music.

Zak's right about playing to other people. We played to more rockabilly people than "surf" people just because there are more of them in Chicago. But I learned pretty quick that those rockabillies into surf were pretty much the guys from the surf crowd. When you go from one really small sub-culture to another you find a lot of overlapping participants. Try marketing the Hip Hop crowd.

As for jumping around on stage? Eh... I'd rather gaze at my expensive Florsheim boots.

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Zak's right about playing to other people. We played to more rockabilly people than "surf" people just because there are more of them in Chicago. But I learned pretty quick that those rockabillies into surf were pretty much the guys from the surf crowd. When you go from one really small sub-culture to another you find a lot of overlapping participants. Try marketing the Hip Hop crowd.

i thought up that idea a while ago. i was thinking to myself "hey, since there is no surf crowd, why don't we aim our sights on greasers and rockabilly crowds?" unfortunately, we've only played one majorly rockabilly show, it was the best crowd response we've ever gotten. we really can't find many other rockabilly acts to play with though... you gotta think though, being in a band is a business, that's why it's a good idea to hire a manager or a booking agent, because it's hard worrying about where to play next weekend AND to worry about what songs you need to write. we always book a few shows and think we are good for the time being, and forget to book more-by the time those shows are done, we don't have any more to play.

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I don't think there has to be literal jumping on stage (although some do) as much as there should be some movement and variation on stage. There are little fun things that can be added to spice it up, be it a change of instruments, stage play, change of costume, interact witht the crowd, anything just to make it a little funner, and if it is a complex song it is okay to focus on notes too. Us old guys might break something if we jump around, but we are never too old to have fun.

This is an interesting thread. And potentially very useful for up-and-coming acts. I have many different thoughts about this, but one thing I'd like to add is that there are MANY mainstream acts that became hugely successful that had no stage show to speak of - they just stood and played. A few that come to mind off the top of my head: Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Eagles.... There are tons. Even the Ramones! And the Beatles just stood there and played and sang. (Yeah, they had a matching look, and once in a while they'd shake their heads as they sang 'whooooo', but that's not exactly what we're talking about here.) When it comes to our own genre, all of the photos of live performances by sixties surf bands show them standing there playing their instruments, often times looking down at their instruments. There are occasional stories of more active surf bands (the Lively Ones and the Pyramids come to mind), but I have to wonder how often they really DID jump on their amps or do backflips off the stage or whatnot.

Zak is right of course that if you can do a full 'act' like the Bomboras or Los Straitjackets or whoever you will have an easier time getting and keeping an audience, especially as a primarily instrumental act. But I'd like to think that people can still be entertained by simply seeing a band playing good songs well. Call me a hopeless romantic. In addition, stage presence involves much more than just jumping around. I've seen many players that have a powerful stage presence without moving at all. It's a matter of charisma. And many players that looked (and sounded) like total idiots jumping around. I agree with Doug (Stormtiger) that it's unbecoming for somebody in their forties (or even thirties) to be jumping around. Or, God, even doing coordinated moves, especially if they're somewhat awkward in their execution. This is not entertainment, it makes me cringe.

Instrumental acts are always going to be at disadvantage when it comes to stage presence, since it's very difficult playing the (often at least somewhat complex) parts while moving around a whole lot. Heck, after seeing the Treblemakers videos it doesn't seem that Zak is really following his own advice - pretty much the only movement I remember seeing is the organ player rocking his Farfisa back and forth with varying levels of intensity (I wonder if this is the influence of Jon Lord of Deep Purple? If so, when do we see Zak smashing his guitars?) Zak just stood there, playing cool and looking cool - worked for me. I don't remember seeing Denis on the video very much, but he also seemed to just stand there - though with a painful-looking grimace on his face while pounding away on his Jag, no doubt imagining that Slayer was backing him.

Bottom line: no surf instrumental act is going to be able to attract more than a few hundred people at the very maximum to a show no matter what they do. This will not be changing within our lifetimes. So, I'd say screw it. Do what you enjoy, and don't worry about how to make yourself more appealing to more people. I got into this to be a surf musician, not a trained monkey (see Britney, Christina, Back Street Boys, et-nauseating-c....). Though I do also enjoy seeing (some) trained monkeys sometimes, too, especially if they are also good musicians (happens on occasion). If you want to make any kind of serious money, find another genre.

Ivan

PS Speaking of the Bomboras, I remember actually talking to Lord Hunt in '98 in Baltimore when they opened for the Cramps. I asked them if they all quit their jobs and are doing the Bomboras full-time now. His response was, yep, no more day jobs for them. And I remember thinking, you can't possibly think you're going to be able to make a living playing surf music from here on? Within a year or two, Zombie A-Go-Go records was gone, presumably due to poor sales, and I don't think the Bomboras lasted much longer either. EVEN the Bomboras couldn't make it work, and they are both great musicians AND have great songs IN ADDITION to having a great show and stage presence. I wonder if Los Straits could really still make it work if Danny wasn't independently wealthy, and Eddie didn't have all the connections in the roots music community....

Ivan
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Well put Ivan...as always.
I think Ivan has demonstrated what can be done as a part-time musician. A university professor, writer and lecturer, married with a dog, and still has time to write incredibly amazing music with his own flair, and gain international attention. With all of that who needs millions?

You're not making millions are you? I'm sure you'd be posting photos of more Showman amps if you were.

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Danny Amis is independently wealthy? I'm guessing it's not from playing surf, but it's great that it allows him to play without a day job. Wonder how he made his fortune?

I do admire those who either do / or try to make a go of making a living as a musician. When I was just outta school, I gave it a shot (in Montreal, Zak's territory)) for about a year before moving back to Nova Scotia. Must say that I've made more money with a surf band (which still isn't enough to make a living) than any other group I was with (good or bad).

We certainly try to get a guarantee plus a percentage of the door if the club makes more on admission. Unfortunatley those are fewer of those venues here in NS anymore...unless you're a top 40 cover band. The corporate gigs are great for $$$, though. That's why we all have day jobs (and I suspect the day jobs are the reason why we've been playing for 12+ years).

Rev
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