Lets plan some gigs!

SpookySam · Lets plan some gigs!

I was wondering if I tried to get some bigger bands how many people I could get together and how much I could charge..
for example the Klingonz charge £1000 but I don't think enough people would come to cover that. What do you guys think?
And what bands would you like to see me putting on?

Tommy Creep

Crimson Ghosts, the Spook, Bloodsucking Zombies from Outer Space, Calabrese, the Other, Blitzkid, T-Virus, the Spookshow, ZATS, all in the same show...

Tommy Creep

Or Billy Rebel?

danblood

Hehe all in one show would be sweet.

I think the trick is location and size of venue - IMO I think the venue should be small but established and in an area like London where the is a guaranteed audience otherwise there is more of a risk of losing money if you put it on in a town where theres maybe 10 punks? never mind horrorpunks!!

The reason I say small venue is because a small venue (if packed out) makes the show 100 times more fun and intimate than if you have the same amount in a more spacey venue. Also if you get a big name in a small venue, people will say

"ooh look so and so and the so and sos are playing at the so and so - thats a tiny venue - its bound to sell out lets get a ticket quick"!!

Thats how I reckon it would work anyway - dunno why I'm typing so much I guess it's cos I'm now jobless and bored!!

SpookySam

Jobless, how come??

Cool suggestions Tommy but I think any one of those would be out of my price range! Whatever I do is gonna be round here, I know theres not much of a scene but thats the idea, to get more going on..
And cool bands for my band to support!

Tommy Creep

Yeah that's why I guess it'd be better to put on UK bands like Billy Rebel or Fletch Cadillac...

SpookySam

Thats a good idea.
Im thinking maybe have a big band to headline and smaller bands supporting, that way they wont charge so much & they'll get to play with someone cool.
I just dont know how many people I could expect to get..
Def have Billy Rebel on soon I reckon!

MonsterMash

I think you can use bigger bands to promote smaller ones, especially if you look outside the horror scene to bands which are compatible with sticking smaller, local bands on the bill - but who aren't horror bands per se themselves.

Realistically horror punk is a cult thing, even psychobilly, crusty punk, ska, oi - all have bigger followings and more well-known bands who gig regularly.

So on a pure horror bill, you're only gonna get a finite number of people in this country, let alone the local area, who are likely to go and see even a band which is well-known on the horror scene.

Also, as the scene in its current incarnation is a young one, your talking about an audience which is mostly of an age where travelling a long way to go to a gig is considered an impossibility - either they can't drive, don't have available vehicles or need to use public transport which would mean paying for accomodation, which they can't afford - or they are flat out lazy and would rather sit at home waiting for bands to come to them than going out to support them (but that's a rant for another post...)

Add to this the fact that so many of the bands which are at least moderately well-known on the scene are from the USA or Europe, and can do better for less risk in their own countries than by taking on a costly tour of the UK...

... basically you're talking a lot of outlay for what is realistically a very low return.

Which is why I like your idea Sam, because if you make use of bigger name bands from outside of the horror scene, but who will still have some possible crossover appeal, you can use the existing fanbase to promote the smaller bands and give them some exposure they might not get otherwise.

I dunno how many people would turn up, i think it would depend on the bands.

If you're doing a show which is a mix of psychobilly and punk, and you get a bigger name psycho band to headline, part of the promotion takes care of itself - theres a big network out there because the psycho scene has been this underground, cult thing for so long, you've got things like Wreckingpit where the gigs get talked up, and obviously MySpace now - add to this that psycho fans are often older and prepared to travel and, crucially, spend money on gigs.

So I couldnt say how many people will turn up but depending on the band, and the situation (King Kurt on Nottingham filled the small venue they were at because of their following and because it was the only show they did that wasn't at a scooter ralley, for example), I think it's less likely to put you out of pocket than trying to put together a purely horror show which only 10 people turn up to.

That said I've noticed gig attendance generally is down a lot of late, even for the bigger bands, with everybody cutting back on what they're spending.

I've seen Mad Dog Cole (ex-Krewmen) twice this year, at the Ace Cafe in January it was pretty packed-out, last Saturday in Reading there was only about 20-30 people there (and a lot didn't stick out the whole night - stupid 4-band bills!)... people who, a year ago, would have gone to gigs on a whim are now saving their pennies for when a band comes along they really want to go and see.

SpookySam

Everything does seem quieter recently!
What I usually do is put on a band with a big local following, like Attack Vipers, and/or some local bands, and one or two horror/psycho bands that won't be well known here. That way it opens it up to more people.
I just dont have much inspiration at the moment.

That said we did have an awesome idea at the pub last nite.. a free festival in the woods, everyone just bring tents, have bbqs and stuff. Would be awesome I reckon.

tobe

It's a lot of hard graft for little or no return Sam..... but saying that, if ya prepared to put in hours n hours n hours of ya time in advertising it & can get plenty of help from people who'll dish out fliers etc. for ya , & get the bands to drop prices a bit !!!....... it's well worth it !!!! Laughing

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If ya do get anything on the go ? , let us know ( myspace is easier to get me on ) & we'll help as much as we can

SpookySam

Thats real kind of you thanks! At the mo I'm playing at the one in Buffalo on the 5th Feb, and putting on Frenzy on 29th March!