Best Way to Hire a Band for a Party?

[holtjv]

Hey there, my wife's 40th is coming up in short order. You have any experience with hiring a band for a party?

I've been to a few booking websites and abandoned them, feeling like it wasn't the best way to do it.

Craigslist posting next...

tia, Jack (Austin)

[Rikao4]

pm Racer, I know he's Florida..
but he is in the biz.

Rika

[scottmandue]

Some of the guys here are or were in bands who will probably give better advice.

Any bars you know that have a good band? Maybe go bar hopping one night and audition a few then if you find one you like ask them when they take a break. Most bands are dying for work.

[vash]

happy 40th to your wife!!

Austin? i thought you couldnt swing a dead cat in that city without hitting a band member?

if i did it, i would pick up a copy of the local music scene rag. bands advertise all the time. then just drop in to take a peek at the shows. no way i audition a band. bar hopping!

[Rick Lee]

I've been on the other end, as I used to play out a lot in college and afterwards. Unless you have no idea whom to book, I wouldn't bother with a talent or booking agency. Just go find the band you want to book at one of their own gigs and ask them what they charge and how their schedule looks. I was going to book a Beatles tribute band a few years ago and had a few send me some CD's. I found them online. I was pretty close to booking them, when the party was cancelled (engagement broken off). A college garage band might be had for $600. A friend of mine paid $10k for the band at his wedding.

Remember, Jeff Spicoli rescued Brooke Shields from drowning and blew the reward money hiring Van Halen to play his b-day party. So it can get expensive.

[rouxroux]

Here you go:

http://austinmusician.org/AFM%20ENTERTAINMENT.htm

[Heel n Toe]

http://www.austinme.com/

[Moses]

Originally Posted by rouxroux

Here you go:

http://austinmusician.org/AFM%20ENTERTAINMENT.htm

Nice! See if Ponty Bone is available. I'll bet he books up early.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by vash

happy 40th to your wife!!

no way i audition a band. bar hopping!

Why not? I suppose it depends on how much money he wants to spend. A bar band might be one level above garage band and able to be had for under a grand. The bands advertising in a music rag are probable semi-pro (or at least think they are) and asking more money.

And if you see them playing in a bar you get an idea of how good they are and how loud they play.

[nostatic]

some of you guys overestimate what bands make...

[Moses]

These guys ROCK!

[rouxroux]

Originally Posted by nostatic

some of you guys overestimate what bands make...

Nope, it's all about market location. Check out performance/recording/practice scales from various locals. I think you will be surprised!

(Sometimes it's nice to be a big fish in a small pond)...

[nostatic]

If you're hiring using guys for a union gig, then yes it is a lot of money. Here in LA you can hire non-union guys that will kick serious arse for a couple hundred bucks. I would imagine it is the same case in Austin. Those are both big musical ponds.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by nostatic

some of you guys overestimate what bands make...
If you're hiring using guys for a union gig, then yes it is a lot of money. Here in LA you can hire non-union guys that will kick serious arse for a couple hundred bucks. I would imagine it is the same case in Austin. Those are both big musical ponds.

YEP



Cracks me up when people ask me if I want to join their band...

I just tell them I have a day job.

[holtjv]

Good stuff.

I posted a craigslist ad for it, one response.

Think I'll hit some hot spots this weekend (ACL) and see what pops up.

Btw, open invite to pelicans to use my guesthouse during ACL--we're 2 miles from the venue. The fee? Reciprocity.

Thanks for the responses...I'm thinking I'll get something good for under $500....Jack

PM me if you want the guesthouse-plenty of tix avail on http://austin.craigslist.org

[holtjv]

Originally Posted by Moses

These guys ROCK!

Errr...my wife is more of a robert earl and slaid cleeves fan.

[holtjv]

update...guesthouse just got a tentative booking. Now, we do have an apartment above the garage that's just opened but not as nice as the "trailer".

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I A friend of mine paid $10k for the band at his wedding.

10K!!! Sweet Jesus! Do those guys need a bass player????

[jim72911t]

Gotta agree with Nostatic on the money thing. Unless you are looking to hire a true pro act, you should be able to find a band to play for the night for way less than $500. The few times I've been asked to sit in on bass for a couple of different local cover bands, my take would have been $50-100. Not bad for a couple hours work (fun), with free food and beverages.

You also need to decide whether or not you are going to hire a cover band or an original band. For a party in your age demo (mine too ), I'm guessing you are going to hire a cover band, hopefully one that plays tunes that you and your friends can relate too.

Oh, and happy birthday to your wife. I'm coming up on the big four-oh in a couple of months, and haven't decided whether or not I'm going to crawl into a hole and hide or make the most of it. (if there is any sort of a party involved, I'll get my band to play.)

Jim

[rouxroux]

And I'm sure there are loads of GREAT $20.00 hookers out there if you look hard enough!

...funny thing, I ran across a band that went by the name of "FiDollaHO" a while back.