What's Your Band Status?

14 April 08

Welcome to The Pier's 'Ask Weege' column. This is where the 880 South's front man and music scene veteran will be answering questions and providing tips for up-and-coming bands and musicians.

This week Josh asks, 'Hey Weege, at what point does a band achieve national status? Is it after their first national tour? I'm sure there have been countless numbers of bands who have done a national tour that went so horribly that they didn't try another tour like that for years after that..should they still claim they are a "national" act if they only tour regionally or even locally for the next 2 or 3 years? Just trying to determine whether there is a logical process or if it's more of just a self-proclaimed status. Thanks!'

What up Josh.

I'm not sure there is a proclaimed status. I would assume that this title is up to a booking agency or the venues who book the shows. Personally I think any band that has toured at least once is considered a national touring act. Regardless of what one may say...If you've toured the nation, that should make you a national touring act right? Sorry to answer your question with questions.

The subject of timeline is an interesting question though. I think personally you can use the title "national" if you have toured, but at some point if you stopped touring the nation for lack of success. Then maybe you should consider yourself a regional touring act. The truth is, I don't think there is really a standard other than what the venues and booking agents think.

Everything is measured by your success. This is why I tell musicians, especially the younger guys. Don't be so eager to tour. Focus on your hometown and surrounding radius. Do more with what you can in your hometown. A small bit of success is more valuable than a major failure. That's how you will be viewed from the outside looking in. I still believe you can learn a lot from your failures. I'm sure people have heard it said by me before but bands like Stoopid, Pepper and The Expendables probably went on tour a good 2-3 times on a national status and made next to nothing. That's part of the sacrifice. You give up 70% of your year, time with your family, and hard earned money to try and get some recognition.

So I'm guessing it's more of a self proclaimed status. However I don't think by proclaiming it, it makes it viable. Like I said, it's up to the folks in the music industry to truly solidify that you are a national.

I would proclaim 880 South a "regional" touring band. Still we haven't gone anywhere in the region for a very long time. We've spent the last three years more focused on recording and releasing albums than anything. We still get the itch to tour. So should we be calling ourselves a "regional" band? Fuck yeah dude. We earned that right and even though it has been a long time since we've toured we still keep those fans close.

We have enough fans nationwide to claim we are a "national". Even though we've never played nationally, we have quite a lot of fans all over the country. Still would that be right of me? Would it be exaggerating? Would it be dishonest of me? Maybe...but I don't think we'd be the first band proclaiming something we aren't if I did do that. Regardless of all that, a lot of venues would ask..."Where have you played?" So honesty goes a long way. Don't exaggerate, at least not to a point where you can be called on it and hurt your band's reputation. I think it's important at all levels for bands to be honest. For instance when a venue asks what your draw is. Do not embellish because you set up the venue for disappointment. If you know 50 people might show up. Tell them that, they'll appreciate you a lot more for that. What I'm saying is..."Be ready to walk if you're gonna talk."

I'm actually getting ready for my first regional/national tour. I call it regional because we're only driving across the southern states from California to Miami, FL in August. After a couple of months we're going to the East Coast and the following month we're gonna tour the Northwest. So in essence it's a national tour, but it really actually is a tour broken up into three different legs which are regional. Does that make any sense? Well anyway, we're finding it to be a great reasonable way for an independent band like 880 South to get their music out across the nation without breaking the bank on gas and days spent.

Thanks for a great question Josh. Send my best to TLF.

-Weege-

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