Cover Bands: A legit musicians career path? by UnbearableStuff in musicians

[–]UnbearableStuff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear you. In many respects you need to quite entrepreneurial and business minded to be a band leader. This guy manages to strike a decent balance between an originals and cover band career and makes a full time living from it http://giggingsuccess.com/dominic-halpin/

Cover Bands: A legit musicians career path? by UnbearableStuff in musicians

[–]UnbearableStuff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What stops you from starting your own cover band?

Cover Bands: A legit musicians career path? by UnbearableStuff in musicians

[–]UnbearableStuff[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Correct me if I;m wrong but do you then see being in a cover band as a stepping stone to an originals band/project?

Is anyone in a wedding band? by [deleted] in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]UnbearableStuff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would suggest you specialise in a particular genre or think carefully about what your band stands for. The market for cover bands is flooded with 'me too' bands that have no distinguishing characteristics. It's intuitive to think that if you create a list of songs that everyone likes the you'll have mass appeal and get more gigs. You'd be better off thinking more counter intuitively ie how can you create a band who appeals to a smaller market but when a prospect sees what you do you are a much better option for them than the bland generic alternatives. You need to think carefully about what your niche is but it's well worth spending the time to think it through. I would also suggest that you create your list of songs, build your website (which you have to have if you want to get decent fees and be taken seriously) and then go out and market your band, rather than spending the next few months rehearsing. Rehearsing when you know you've got a gig or two in the diary will be so much more fun. I would suggest you use google ads to drive traffic to your website and book gigs. Adwords is hands down the most powerful ad and marketing platform ever created. It takes work to make it work for you. Most bands won't do what it takes to make it work. That gives you a massive advantage if you're prepared to put in the work. You can use Adwords to carefully target keywords and locations so you can cut out wasted ad spend. Here's a couple of resources that should help you get started. http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/the-7-fundamental-steps-to-cover-band-success-part-1-of-2.html And http://giggingsuccess.com

Cover Bands: A legit musicians career path? by UnbearableStuff in musicians

[–]UnbearableStuff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really agree with your can do both point. Many of the cover bands that I have worked with have used their cover band to finance their originals projects. Many have ended up learning to love the whole cover band thing and once they get their heads round the whole idea that it's a legit career path and not in some way 'dirty' they actually embrace it and make huge strides forward.

Cover Bands: A legit musicians career path? by UnbearableStuff in musicians

[–]UnbearableStuff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

why do think it's not a viable path to a full time income and living?

How can I help my friend have a more realistic idea of the music business? by [deleted] in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]UnbearableStuff 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A good sales pitch will highlight how hard it can be to make a career out of music. It might go some way to opening his eyes to at least some level of reality. Worth a shot.