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Post by bigmow on Feb 27, 2007 14:21:50 GMT
In my area, there are a few 6,7 & 8 pc. bands (horns, of course) trying to find gigs. I can't see where they would be making any money worth going out of the house for. I have a 4 pc. band and have been playing with a sequencer for over 10 years now. All the bass, keyboards, strings,etc. are on disc and I have 2 guitars, drums and a female vocalist. I think people don't count heads anymore. They're used to DJ's and kareoke. So my point is, my drummer will be leaving soon and I'm considering tweeking my drums on my midi files and going without. What it all boils down to, is if you can save the club owner a few bucks but sound like a 6 pc. band and as long as the beat is there and people are dancing, isn't that all the matters now a days?
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Post by ironbaden on Feb 27, 2007 15:25:52 GMT
i'tll probably work out well for ya...the only thing is ...at least inCanada...is that a Band isn"t considered a real band unless there is a drummer. I don't know why that is but its the way it is at least in eastern Canada... any opinions on that? ;D
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Post by bigmow on Feb 27, 2007 15:57:44 GMT
I feel the same way about not being a band without a drummer, a drummer is also a visual thing too, but there's singing DJ's, singing kareoke, people that have no intrumentation at all, and sing behind sequenced music and get work all the time.
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Post by ironbaden on Feb 27, 2007 16:48:32 GMT
i agree totally...it just seems like the perception from the non playing public is that if there is no drummer ...its not really a Band..altho... it is slowly changing. the thing about 2 guitars drummer and a singer is that the average joe doesn't realize that 1 of the guitar players is not playing bass... you'd think it was obvuious...but surprisingly its not. I've been playing in duo's on and off since 93 and altho its a little better accepted now its still looked down a upon a little.
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Post by trikzter2000 on Feb 27, 2007 18:22:26 GMT
Well from the audience perspective ( that be me) maybe some look at the drummer as the anchor to the band. Usually the drummer is in the back with the band members fanned out in front. Even tho the drummer may not be that visible, I enjoy getting a glimpse of them and the sometimes showmanship they provide back there. It just seems reassuring to know that they are there.
* I'm one that doesn't know a bass guitar from any other. Can't even read music either. I do know one thing, this the best site for midi.
** Great job on Anyway You Like it ironbaden, I liked it.
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Post by bigmow on Feb 27, 2007 18:24:15 GMT
In this world of "high tech", I think it shouldn't surprise people anymore. The way I see it, with our strict drinking laws in Ohio, club owners want to be in the black no matter what. If people come up to me because they feel "short changed" because they're hearing a big 6 pc. band sound with only 3 people, all I'll tell them is that "people don't come and support live music enough to merit having a 5 or 6 pc. band anymore".
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Post by guilty on Feb 27, 2007 23:59:05 GMT
Down here in Melbourne town sequenced Duo's & Trio's have been around since the early 80's but we still here the old "Where's the drummer" and "Karaoke Band". Surprisingly these come from younger people whom I thought would appreciate changes in technology.
Another question we are asked is "how do you get rid of the vocals from the original version"? Explaining the sequencing process to them just confuses them more.
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Post by brucehinely on Feb 28, 2007 0:50:31 GMT
i've played with guitar and midi's'-guitar-vocals-it's all attitude
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Post by thingyy on Feb 28, 2007 2:40:03 GMT
Most punters are up with the technology and understand the economics of paying for entertainment.
My drummer is called Yamaha he is reliable, tight, comes in on the beat after a fill,doesn't need feeding or paying and remains sober all night.
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Post by Steptoe on Feb 28, 2007 3:16:33 GMT
Down here in Melbourne town sequenced Duo's & Trio's have been around since the early 80's but we still here the old "Where's the drummer" and "Karaoke Band". Surprisingly these come from younger people whom I thought would appreciate changes in technology. Same thing up here in Sydney Guilty |
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Post by rossi on Feb 28, 2007 10:21:01 GMT
Good valid points all 'round.
I'm now on my own with keyboard and sequencer etc and I reckon I've served my apprenticeship througout all the past decades by starting in bands...(we used to call them groups when I began!)...and I've gradually "trimmed down" to be being solo.
Yet the last few Christmas's Ive got up and played in a real group... keyboards, guitar,singer and drummer. Believe me after all these years of using drum tracks it sounds a bit weird with a "real" drummer, especially when he rolls round the kit and you wonder if he's going to come back on time!
But the bottom line is...It was d**ned good fun!!!!
As an aside, and I'm not having a dig at any shin bashers, I've always found drummers to be a breed unto themselves...totally mad. I just wish economics would allow us to use them regularly over here.
Rossi
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Post by lucky1950 on Feb 28, 2007 11:28:38 GMT
Playing without drummer is possible when the drummer not singing , playing not in time or is permanent drunk .
The economy is like a dictator .
I'm drummer , playing together with sequencer , singing almost 1/3 of repertoire and rather people want see "normal " band , we decide to sequencer the bass line , because after leaving my band by my older brother - bass player , he sung almost a half of program , I can't find a right man after him .
For public the most important thing is to hear vocal , not the solos of individuals - in pub , restaurant or another gig for dancing .
Completely different situation You have on concert - jazz Clubs or similar place .There everybody awaiting good entertainment with live instruments .
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Post by themd21 on Feb 28, 2007 14:55:21 GMT
It's been said before, that it's all down to economics.
If gigs always paid enough for duo or group work, I wouldn't be doing a solo 6 nights a week.
The same applies for every combination you can think of.
I know very very few professional, and I'm talking about no daytime job, drummers.
Most have got daytime jobs. I've worked with some of the most talented percussionists, they can gig Hard Rock to syncopated jazz. If life was heaven we'd all be playing in 5/6 piece bands, employing roadies, creaming 150 quid a night and free booze after the gig. ;D
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Post by ironbaden on Feb 28, 2007 15:24:44 GMT
I'll tell them is that "people don't come and support live music enough to merit having a 5 or 6 pc. band anymore". That my friend is the biggest problem ..... Nail hit squarely on the head!!! ;D |
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Post by ezduzit411 on Feb 28, 2007 17:30:16 GMT
let's also notforget that having a live drummer can lend to situations where midi drums are limited:you can extend a song to let the audience participate,fill in a drum solo (put the poor guy to work) and if perchance someone in the band has to drop out to frig with his gear the drummer can cover the silent part with some fancy acrobatics(putting the poor guy to work again)here in northern newbrunswick aside from the crack down on drinking and driving and no smoking legislation club owners are hiring 1 or 2 piece bands for a fraction of what 3 and 4 piece live bands used to cost them. out of some of this crop,15 yrs ago they could'nt be hired into any band if their talent was'nt up tp par.some of 'em should be in the audience and let the pros to their work.i raelly don't know what the audiences are hearing nowadays,but now they don't seem to care,along with the cash strapped club-owners.
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Post by bigmow on Feb 28, 2007 21:24:40 GMT
Ya know, I guess if your head's boppin' and the beat is there and a particular song reminds you of some good time you had that's long gone, does it make a difference if it's a DJ or a live band or a semi-live band ? All I know is when I drive to the gig, I go past a big video store, and let me tell ya, people have found alternative forms of entertainment anymore. If you're in you 50's like me, you can remember back in the 70's when your gigs were packed with people because there wasn't any cable, video players, computers, drinking laws, and yes, the fear of "drive by shootings". There were no entertainment centers in people's houses like there is today. Too many choices of entertainment keeps people home anymore. That's why there's no support for "live or semi-live bands" anymore. That's why clubs can't pay for 5 &6 pc. bands. So if you can give them a big sound with 2 or 3 people and a sequencer, amne brothers and sisters!
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Post by weegeo on Mar 5, 2007 17:10:52 GMT
Some very interesting remarks have been made this is a subject close to my heart until 5years ago i drummed and as far as i was concerned i made the band lol lol specially when the beer kicked in this is my 41st year in the buisness so i had been drumming for 35 years,for me it was the best years of my life i enjoyed the challenge`s between the bass player and myself i always thought the bass player was just an extension of my right foot lol lol but alas the scene changed and gadually drummers fell by the wayside first it was drum machines that made sounds like someone was beating on a biscuit tin then we had sequencers then midi and now we have the present day sounds,but with each change the clubs didn`t really notice that the drummer wasn`t there and gradually the 2pce sounding like a 5pce was born and we were all left looking for a way to stay in the business for me it was easy i played keyboard a little so i could `bluff` my way I would say over here were i live to have a drummer is a strange sight now and people are surprised when they see 1 It would be nice to have drums back but i`m afraid there gone now The clubs are used to the big sounds now anyway so i`m afraid we`re not missed really be nice to be back though
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Post by bigmow on Mar 6, 2007 14:44:26 GMT
Hey Weegeo, I really, truly feel for you. It's a shame that it has turned this way. Some clubs don't even give you enough room for a drummer. There's just no respect or consideration anymore. Since DJ's and karaoke, people just don't seem to care about full live music. I mentioned it before, clubs want 6 pc. sound at a 3 pc. price. Good luck!
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frankie
Member
Don't worry be happy
Posts: 170
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Post by frankie on Mar 7, 2007 10:59:34 GMT
Hi guys i started playing drums when i was around 12/ 13 yrs I Have played with a lot of very successful band here in Ireland and abroad.Around 12yrs ago when there was a lull in the music business i jumped ship and started a 2piece with me playing keys and a hell of a girl singer.Instant success, i found that being out the front[ so to speak] people treated and looked at me different and i freely admit that I'm no genius on the keyboard but i must say i miss playing those drums and maybe in the future i will play again, but at the end of the day i think its all about entertainment and the way pubs and lounges are almost extinct in Ireland we may not have much time left to play then anyway.
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Post by weegeo on Mar 7, 2007 17:13:23 GMT
Hiya Franky
Greetings from the North isn`t it funny how all the venue`s are all falling by the wayside now over here We once had larger gigs than even over the water but now we`ve been sent to the workingmen`s clubs lol lol although i/we do mostly the clubs along with the usual Golf clubs but i think your right even these venue`s are closing down so perhaps we are in our last days lol lol Let me know if your ever up this way
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