Discussing article: "Gigs in the South East" - share your views on it here!

These are valid points although from my experience promoting and managing bands in Kent / South East and London i find that although the tribute acts seem to be everywhere, there are a few good band nights / venues (although also some not so good ones.) The problem is that there are so many acts out there and there seems to be a real satuation of acts which are very similar and of a certain mold. The local scene is very strong in Kent.... Onlookers, What Would Jesus Drive? The Long Weekend, Lovedays, The Flowing, Aliquot Flow...not to mention bands like Underground Heroes, Lupen Crook and Kid Harpoon who have progressed. However there is need for a better, improved band scene where pubs and clubs make the effort to actually promote their nights

It's always been difficult to get gigs if
your band don't the pub standards.

There are too many bands doing the same old pub set. But their set lists
are made up of trial and error. Do you really think it's enjoyable playing Brown Eyed girl?

An original band gives the impression of playing "around the top of the neck" chords and yelling drones down mics. People enjoy abusing the band who are different, especially the landlord.

Musicians Union suggests playing covers and mixing in your own songs. The chances are you won't get the covers band to play anything original

If you play jazz, (if you can get a gig)chances are you won't get the band to put the Real Book away.
It's not cool to stare into a music stand all night. It's better to read the audience.

Getting a mix of good all round musicians is the biggest problem. If people can play chopsticks they think they are Chopin.

I'm booked all year in a pub cover band and I've been in and still play in many original bands.

It's not the landlord or the scene. It's the lazy musician.

it seems easy enough to get a gig playing orginal material if you don't need to get paid! One of the bands I'm in plays covers to warm the crowd up if its a new venue, then we play our own stuff.We have just done a gig at the Joogleberry Playhouse Brighton which went very well, but we have to promote our band very hard to keep getting work. We mostly gig in London so I don't know the Kent scene at all, but from a venue owners point of view its very difficult to run the business if you can't get enough punters in and to stay in as the crowd will vote with its feet. Its a chicken and egg thing really.