Getting my bands out there

Ok, let me just say I'm still pretty pumped because I played at some bar tonight and it went better then I ever could have imagined.

I'm in two bands at the moment, although my second band has recently started getting bigger as the months go by.

When it comes to finding places to play I'm in charge, I'm not scared to talk to bar owners, I actually love doing it... I can term the charm on like the flick of a switch now, my people skills have really grown.

I started looking for Open Mic nights around my city, I found a bunch of them. If we play at a bar enough we eventually get to know the owners and that's how you get them to book you... It's so fucking simple, I don't know why others aren't doing this. Just go out there and play and paying gigs will eventually come.

I just played tonight at a newer venue called "The Pour House". When we got there around 9PM the place was dead and the rest of the band was pissed. I was like "guys trust me, people will show up". They were like "yeah sure, who cares no ones gonna like it anyway". I can't believe how much they doubt themselves... The songs aren't technical in anyway, they just play thrash/black metal but the songs are solid and there aren't any fuck ups, I got them playing with metronomes and taught them what time signatures actually are (now that they know basic theory the new songs are going to be written with much better structure)... God, I'm talking like I'm their manager. I'm the drummer in this band if I haven't already mentioned that.

Anyway, around 10 the place started filling up. Probably 70 people. That's a hell of a lot compared to what we've been playing in front of before. Our guitarist and vocalist were getting pretty nervous.. I was like "why are you guys so scared? There's no one here remember?" and they were like "fuck you, I didn't know it was gonna get this big"... Then I tried to calm them down. I said "I didn't know either man... But this is how the band is gonna get heard, look at those guys over there, they look like they listen to metal, they'll love this shit". They eventually calmed down.

So we get called up and I go behind the drums that were there.... Finally I play an Open Mic where there is a good drum kit. Fully mic'd and everything. Beautiful PA system, 2 monitors for us right on stage... Oh yeah, it was a decently high stage, it had about 4-5 steps to get on it. I hit the fucking kicks and they were beautiful, I went and adjusted my kicks to give 'em some high end to even out the sound. Then they were perfect.

The guitar sounded great, vocals were great, and the bass was phenomenal. I was truly impressed with the sound system this place had..

The bar itself was pretty high class... All hardwood floors and furniture, flatscreens everywhere, just a really nice place.

Our set was flawless like usual, except this time we had perfect sound quality. I was lovin' it.. Usually I get bored around the 3rd song because it's just the same drum beats and tempo changes(thrash can really only do so much) but this time I was having a blast. The kit was set up really well and my throne was nice and high.. I was rippin' some insane fills that I can't normally do because of the lack of a decent drum kit.

After each song we were getting big cheers, some people were clapping, but they knew we deserved more than a bunch of clapping so they gave us more.

When we finished the drummer from the House Band came right up to me and told me how great I was playing, he told me "I fuckin' hate when some kid who doesn't know what he's doing touches my kit, but you can play those things whenver you want, hell I'll even bring my china and splash for now on if you're going to be coming for now on". That was a pretty cool compliment.

There were some pretty hot bartenders who liked my hair (dreadlocks). One chick was like "I like the way you move you're fingers when you play really fast" I'm like "Oh yeah, I love blasting" and then I wiggled my fingers in the same motion... I honestly don't know how fast I can blast, I'll find out next time I jam. It's gotta be way up there, because we're playing at like 180BPM for most songs.

The owner invited us to come back next sunday, he said we'd be a great addition to the Open Jam night. And whenever the House Band is on tour he already wants us to fill in for them on certain nights... One show and we grab the place by the balls.

I really had no idea tonight would turn into this... Fuck if there was a cover to get in on jam nights this place could have made some serious cash.

We have a busy as FUCK schedule now...

Sunday we're playing The Pour House and we'll probably play on Fridays a couple times a year which we will get payed for. So unexpected.

Tomorrow we're playing at some place that I always thought was a strip club... It turns out it's just a really greasy bar... Which means I'm bringing my fucking mixing board and PA's because I'm not relying on shit sound.. I don't care if it's just an Open Jam, I'm gonna make this place sound good for at least one day... Hopefully the owners like us.

Tuesdays we'll be playing at our regular bar. We know the owner very well, we actually have a show on Friday which we'll be getting paid $300. Which is really nice, we want to save up for a band van.

Wednesday will be a day off with no jamming. Then on Thursday we'll just jam at the jamspace and work on new shit. Then we party on the weekend and then it all starts over again on Sunday...

I rambled a lot... But this shits getting exciting. I didn't think I'd be able to get this band anywhere but I guess I underestimated the power of Old School Metal.

 

sounds like an awesome show and a great confidence builder

 

damn fine.