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I'm in a band that has been playing small gigs infrequently for the past several years.
In the first few years we used Afton to get gigs, but it was pretty unprofessional. You had to sell enough tickets to get a time slot to play, and the sound engineer at the performances was usually not that great, so there would be serious mix problems or feedback.
We also played open-mic gigs, but often the scene was acoustic and clique-y, and I'm in a indie rock band, so that didn't work well.
We'd like to play bars/taverns, but most want covers, and we have more originals worked out than covers.
We're a little older, we're very casual and fun, not the most practiced and not technical, but we're good enough to have already regular gigs, and we'd love to perform a lot more than we do.
Where are good places for an indie rock band to play in the Triangle for free/for fun with low pressure, that lets you play your originals maybe for a 30 minute set or maybe longer
Location: Sodo Sopa at The Villas above Kenny' s House.
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I used to say the Berkeley but not sure since it reopened. There is a spot off Old Wake Forest rd that I know some older bands play at. Tight knit crowd of former musicians with regular day jobs. As soon as my DH wakes up I'll tell you it name . Hoping I can Google it up.Riffs in Clayton has bands play on weekend nights. My DH did some tribute bands and I was shocked just how many clubs preferred that over original music. Check out bike festivals,benefits etc.. They aren't often paid but they give you the chance to play and exposure without coming out of pocket for sound guys and room rental.
1) befriend some of the local bands that get the occasional headlining gig at the clubs and try to be an opening act
2) get to know folks that book shows. Sometimes these are associated with clubs, but sometimes they aren't (such as NC Local Music (Andy) or Younger Brother Productions (Craig)). It's probably especially helpful if you can be available last minute to fill in when a band has to cancel.
3) musicSPARK, which is the music component of SPARKcon, has an open call for artists. Apply for that and you've got a good chance of playing on a stage outside in DTR.
I used to say the Berkeley but not sure since it reopened. There is a spot off Old Wake Forest rd that I know some older bands play at. Tight knit crowd of former musicians with regular day jobs. As soon as my DH wakes up I'll tell you it name . Hoping I can Google it up.Riffs in Clayton has bands play on weekend nights. My DH did some tribute bands and I was shocked just how many clubs preferred that over original music. Check out bike festivals,benefits etc.. They aren't often paid but they give you the chance to play and exposure without coming out of pocket for sound guys and room rental.
Isn't it weird? The tribute band thing, I mean. I guess it's because people know all the songs?
I dated (actually dated, not "hooked up with") a few musicians when I was a teen/twenty-something and all of them over the years have played both types of bands. The tribute ones have been the most successful for all but one of my exes. One in particular (was engaged to that one) has done really well with tribute bands.
Weird.
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There are load and loads of places that amature bands can play. I think the limiting factor in you post is "30 minute set". That is fairly short. I agree with others that you should network with other bands and possibly be an opening act for them. Good luck!
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