Dear Ampy: Advice for Beginning Bands Part 2

Last Monday I wrote an advice piece for someone who wanted some tips on being in a new band.

Trying to address that issue is like using a toothpick to take apart a glacier.

But I’m doing a series of basic advice concepts for bands who are beginning, and hopefully it can also remind seasoned bands about the basics. Today’s topic continues on the angle of live performance! I hope you enjoy.

Performance

A good friend of mine was describing a show that he had seen in the city recently, and his only complaint was on the stage presence of the performer. “He was kind of boring! He didn’t say much to the crowd and didn’t seem very interested to be playing.” This was a shock to me! More so because this particular artist was definitely on the more mellow side, and had a very artistic, atmospheric, and moody bent. When bands like that spring to mind, I don’t think of a bass player doing spins and kicks, or a singer jumping up on a speaker to sing to the crowd.Somehow I sort of give  an artist of this nature more slack in the performance department. What was even more shocking, really, was that this friend of mine definitely takes me as the kind of fellow who can really appreciate a low key show with a more calm energy, and his only critique was on the performance aspect.

We now sail into contentious waters! Some people may criticize me for my thoughts on this, or may even misconstrue my logic for simple, cheap, and trashy showmanship. But I hope I can paint a valid picture for you all with some integrity behind my advice.

Look Like You Love Where You Are

I can totally relate to my friend being bummed out on the performance level at the concert. Think back to the times you saw a show that left you with a feeling of lackluster. Lets assume the sound, and musical performance of said artist was great! What made you walk away unsatisfied?

For the sake of argument, I’m going to say it might have been due to the vibes you were picking up stage-side. The exuberance (or lack there of) of an artist is very important when it comes to crowd interaction. I’m personally of the mind that a crowd can really pick up on what is coming off the stage, and I’m not talking about sound waves.

A big part of an exciting, memorable, or fulfilling show for me, is a band that looks like they love where they are. That right there can come packaged in a million different wrappings, but the key element is that you can tell the artist/band enjoys that they are playing for fans, or at the very least that they really enjoy that they are on stage playing music.

Please don’t mistake this for suggesting flashy, trashy, mediocre stage antics or gimmicks. In fact, I’ve seen plenty of shows where there was very little major movement on stage, but I could tell that each band member really loved where they were, and was enjoying their time. Maybe it’s a bobbing of the head to the beat by the bassist. Maybe it’s the singer rocking out a little in between singing verses. The list is endless. The thing to remember though is that everyone is unique in how they enjoy their personal performance and every musician expresses that differently. That shouldn’t change.

For those new bands out there, take a look at your live show and think on how you can make the crowd feel comfortable, because you feel comfortable. Think about how you let the crowd know you are excited to be there with them. Interact with the crowd in your own way. It doesn’t even have to be verbal! In fact it’s said that most communication is visual (some say visual communication like Body Language is anywhere from %55 to %90 of communication. That’s a lot, no matter what percentage you look at.) and less verbal in some ways. Think about what makes a show exciting and fun for you and think about how you can express those same atmospheres at your own performances!

But remember, be yourself. Bill Cosby once said “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody”. I believe there is a classy, tasteful, and artistic way of performing for people, and you need to spend a bit of time to find what that means for yourself or your group.

I hope this has been a help! Enjoy!

-Nik

Conversations with BG : Ticket Scalping

BG explaining how it’s his money and he needs it now*

After Nik brought Kid Rock’s upcoming $20 per-ticket-tour to my attention, I had an Internet conversation with Brian (mostly without his knowledge) about ticket scalping. Below is what he had to say via Facebook chat:

BG: Scalping exists because demand exceeds supply

RB: But part of that lack of supply is due to scalpers buying up a bunch of tickets in the first place

BG: Supply is limited because tour promoters want to sell out the show in order to maximize profits.  To guarantee the show being sold out, they’ll book a place that will most likely hold less ppl than the number of people who actually want to see the show.

BG: Scalpers aren’t exactly limiting supply…really they’re just removing tickets from the fixed-price, somewhat affordable market and putting them into more of a bartering-type market, where the price is determined by how much people are actually willing to pay.

RB: It’s quite easy to purchase tickets to a show that will sell out if you have the money, time and physical ability to do so in time

RB: Usually I end up hearing about something coming up and don’t or can’t buy them in time, check the scalper price and decide it’s not worth it to pay 25-100% more

BG: Ya, there it is. And the people with money will outbid those with less

RB: How would you solve the problem? If you could wave a magic wand over it

BG: I don’t know, smarter people than me have failed to solve it.

RB: So you’re fighting for the common man, here?

BG: I’d like to…

BG: Bands used to book a whole week’s worth of shows in one venue back in the day…supply usually met demand, and that kept prices reasonable

RB: What’s your opinion on the death penalty for scalpers? It would definitely solve the issue.

BG: Haha yes, but that’s an unreasonable punishment

BG: It’s like when I was a station trader on Eve: (Brian is referring to Eve Online, the sci-fi online spreadsheet simulator) People selling goods want to offload everything quickly. So they’re willing to pay a lower price to get rid of them and make money fast

BG: The people buying want their goods now. If demand outpaces supply, there’ll be a gap between the highest buying bid and th lowest selling bid.  And people aware of that gap can make money off it.

RB: Oh, Eve. If only we could turn the band van into a class 5 hauler and run shipments around the Bay Area for US Dollars

RB: People on the internet talking about the Kid Rock tour have said they’ve been able to purchase the tickets digitally and then must show the credit card used to purchase to confirm entry

BG: Yeah but scalpers could covertly advertise, “Yo ppl…buy tickets and then sell them to us for more than you payed.”  (but less than what ppl will eventually pay, muahahaha).

RB: What do you think about U2 raking in $736mil in ticket sales and then donating $11mil to charity? For the 360 tour

BG: Wow. How much net profit I wonder? After expenses, etc

RB: They also had the Black Eyed Peas open for them on select dates. Do you think that increased demand for tickets because everyone “got a feelin’”?

BG: Hahaha I’m sure it helped

RB: If you were to get a feelin’, right now, what would it be?

BG: Tired and feeling not ready for the weekend, even though I pretty much am

RB: Any last words?

RB: p.s. this is mostly going on the internet for my weekly Tumblr blog post. Don’t worry, I’ve omitted your remarks about the vertically challenged

BG: Wait what?

RB: This conversation we’ve just had on ticket scalping via the wonderful Facebook chat (they’re paying me to say it) is tomorrow’s blog post

BG: Last words…  Mark my words, I WILL make music more affordable for the masses.

BG: Wait there’s more

RB: Preach it

BG: Idk, it’s a thought that’s not quite developed…

BG: Think of Starbucks vs. Mom n pop coffee shops.  One is a solid product that has been proven to work and appeal to the masses.

BG: The other one is more unreliable, and can vary from crappy to way better than Starbucks. And has a sort of homey feel you don’t get from Starbucks.

BG: Much like the local music scene. Discuss.

RB: Are you saying bands like Rin Tin Tiger are Pete’s Coffee while the original Bay Area brehs of SMASHMOUTH are the ones truly making trade fair?

BG: Yes, exactly that. Except I refuse to badmouth any particular band. Especially RTT LOLZ JK

 

RB: Any truly final words?

BG: Here’s a thought: if the people selling concert tickets wanted to completely do away with scalping, then they’d set up an auction. Give the auction ample time, and have it finish the morning of the show.  That way everyone gets a fair shake at getting a ticket

BG: Completely fair, the auction determines what the market is actually willing to pay for tickets, scalpers would be in the same boat as everyone else, thus put out of business.

BG: And here’s what’s bad about that.  The rich would win.  The poor wouldn’t get to see anything. Maybe…

 

There you have it, folks: Brian Graves will be coming to a concert near you to bring redemption to the fans and retribution to the scalpers. I’ll be posing the topic of ticket scalping on our Facebook page today and will get your feedback on other topics you’d like to see Brian discuss, without his knowledge, over the internet. -RB

 

*photo courtesy of Raymund Aranda

Here’s Nik’s version of “Stay” by Rihanna. We filmed this in the backyard at the Bartunek residence under an orange moon. PA may be doing a full band version of this song sometime soon. I’ve never heard the original, so it will be interesting to compare the two later on. -RB