Decline of the pub/club circuit. Where do budding wannabe's start now. They can't all cling onto the hope of bgt.x factor **** #So how do wannabe's break through?
The internet, Arctic Monkeys did it that way and labels were ready to sign them without seeing them live. Don't know what it's like elsewhere but around here there are still a lot of live bands. On saying that Only The Reign didn't make it and I thought they were the best band I had heard in a long time.
The best bet is probably still the old way. It’s a big advantage if as a band you write your own material; but even if not, your best bet is to book a recording session and take that recording around to agents, record companies etc. Don’t just make a record of well known hits of another band or artist, these guys get tons of those every week. Try and make it original, even if it’s a reworking of a well known song. If you’ve got ‘something’ it’ll be picked up on and you’ll be asked back to explore the possibilities further.
The pub and club circuit has "been on the decline" since when I first started gigging around London, in the early 90s. The truth is, it hasn't declined. It's the same as it's ever been and always will be. The most that can be said is that it goes through cycles, in every region, across the country. Some places flourish, when others wane, and then they will swap. Take my region, for example - Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire. Last year, we lost three regular gigs to change of pub management, but we've replaced them with four new (and better) venues. Good bands will never be short of gigs, for the simple reason that there are never enough good bands around.
Plenty of bands around here. They have big summer festivals where all the local bands come out to perform. Quite a few places I could go every weekend to watch a live band.
We're working on learning a whole load of material for our Floyd tribute act. As from 2020, we'll be performing 4 gigs a year as "The Other Floyd." We'll be the only pub/club Pink Floyd tribute act in the UK. The intention is to advertise across the region and draw in new fans. Anyone who has caught our act will know that we not only already cover a lot of Floyd material, but that we are bloody good at it. We gave a first outing to "Have A cigar" at the weekend. "Mother" and "Hey You" will follow in the New Year, and I will be learning several more tracks during the break.
I love Pink Floyd and would consider coming to see your band, I have watched your clips and you are pretty good
