The Decision- What Day Should my Band Play??

So, you're in a newly formed band in Los Angeles. You've just been asked to play one of the best venues on the famed Sunset Strip. The booker says to you, "I have the entire second week of March open. You need to draw 40-50 people. When do you want to play?" You go to answer reflexively. Easy you think. "Friday Night. Well...Maybe Saturday. One of those two." Then you pause. "Wait a minute. DO I really want Friday or Saturday?" You find yourself second guessing. These are the established party nights. These are the nights when all those folks working 9-5's get to go out and cut loose. No deadlines or alarm clocks waiting for them. A band would be doing themselves a complete disservice opting to play another night, right? Maybe not.

There were days long ago when bands were the exclusive form of party and bar entertainment. Take a movie like "Animal House" for instance. The Delta's decide to have an epic party. They get a kick ass band (Otis Day and the Knights) to play it for them. In past decades if you went out to a club to have a good time, you pretty much expected there to be a band entertaining the crowd. Bands and musicians were depended upon for dancing and creating an atmosphere of fun. There were no such things as DJ's and Pandora.  These days a hot club with crowds lining up out front to get in and dance boasts house music. Your favorite little dive on the corner has karaoke night.

Not that folks don't like hearing live music, but do people in Los Angeles go out on a Friday or Saturday night to a random venue to hear upcoming bands? It's a town where the supply is high and the demand is low. Bear in mind you're a "fledgling" band. You're not U2. Nobody's re-arranging their schedule to come see you. You have to get your music heard. You have to create a buzz. You want this show to be a launching pad and you want to get the most people to show up. You need support. So where's the support coming from?

Well, for a start you need to get your friends there. They need to hear your "kick-ass" new band play, and you are a "kick-ass" band. Ok, who are your friends in Los Angeles? People just like you. Artists. Actors. Fellow Musicians. Writers. Bums. For all their different dreams they seem to share the same career. They all work nights in restaurants. There's 5 guys in your band. Let's say each of you gets 7 people from the service industry to come out. These are friends, co-workers, acquaintances, etc. That's 35 people. Almost 90% of the minimum draw. Pretty good start, right? So you tell your restaurant buddies, "Guys, I'm pretty excited. My band just booked the Roxy!" "That's great!" your co-worker exclaims. "When are you playing?" "We're gonna be playing next Friday!" "Awwwww man. I work Fridays. Bummer." (What this person doesn't want to say is that they could probably get it covered if they really wanted to, but they need the money and Friday night's when they make it.) You notice that you're getting the same response from a bunch of people. They're working. Here's another scenario, "When are you guys playing?" "Friday night!" "Cool I'll try and make it out. (Internal Dialogue-"Shit, Friday night on the strip. It's gonna be a zoo. Traffic will be insane. I'll probably have to sell a kidney to pay for parking. Man, I hope I can find a nice way to tell this guy I bailed on going.)" Yikes.

Take two. You go with Monday night. It definitely doesn't sound good on paper. It sounds like the slot you get stuck in on a slow night, right? Just you and some band called "Dying Fetus Heads." Think again. Sunday-Tues is basically the weekend for most aspiring artists in LA. Ever go to a bar on Sunday that does service night specials? Mad house. Seems to be a much more convenient night to hit the strip. Traffic? Not too bad. Parking? Not nearly as expensive and easy to find. You're restaurant buddies not only CAN go, they WANT to go. Maybe one or two of them are working. You let them know how important a show it is to you and your band, and maybe they switch shifts. Hey it's Monday, right? Not the most lucrative night in the bar/restaurant business. Hopefully, your close friends and family and the modest group of fans you've accumulated comes through. Maybe even a few looky-loo's wander in. You just might have a nice crowd on your hands for the big show.

"Very interesting analysis," you say "but why are you telling me this?" Here it is. I'm in this "kick-ass" band called "The Cold Chills." We just booked The Roxy. It's a big deal. We're playing Monday March 14th. "Dying Fetus Heads" is an imaginary band I made up and will not be playing. We need the support. You can get there and park easy. You don't have to miss a good shift. Oh, and did I mention you'll be hearing some outstanding music? You will.

Noah (The New Guy)