Stringtheorist
Fractal Fanatic
With so many bands competing to play in the few music venues in my area, I'm interested in what bands to do make themselves stand out. By and large I see most bands doing very little with their image, and unless their choice of material and/or playing is outstanding (which is rare) there is little to distinguish one band from another. In most of the bands I've played in, we have tried to dress up and treat the gig as a show and not just a bunch of songs. One of my current bands dresses in camo gear and dogtags and has a WWII theme, the other has a burlesque/vaudeville theme and is fronted by a girl in a corset. Even so, I think there is always more one could do to put on a show and not just play a gig. This may involve a lightshow, fog, etc. or onstage activity besides music. I saw a band once who had a magician (yes, you did read that right) on stage, making things disappear during songs... it was hilarious.
I always loved theatrical bands, so maybe I'm just predisposed to wanting to be entertained visually at a gig, but it does seem to me that you go to SEE a band for a reason. If you just wanted to hear live music, you could save yourself a trip and stick on a live album at home, after all.
I guess that this is more pertinent to covers bands. Original bands usually rely on their music doing the talking but when you go out to see a covers band and they're playing the same songs as every other weekend bar band, as a punter I find I want more. I also want my own band to be memorable and entertaining besides being able to play well.
So what does your band do to stand out, or is good playing sufficient? If you don't dress up, what do you do in terms of stage performance to make an impact?
I always loved theatrical bands, so maybe I'm just predisposed to wanting to be entertained visually at a gig, but it does seem to me that you go to SEE a band for a reason. If you just wanted to hear live music, you could save yourself a trip and stick on a live album at home, after all.
I guess that this is more pertinent to covers bands. Original bands usually rely on their music doing the talking but when you go out to see a covers band and they're playing the same songs as every other weekend bar band, as a punter I find I want more. I also want my own band to be memorable and entertaining besides being able to play well.
So what does your band do to stand out, or is good playing sufficient? If you don't dress up, what do you do in terms of stage performance to make an impact?
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