FAO: Any band members

[Tiggs]

A little question for all you band member types, as none of you actually know me in real life so theres little chance of a potential secret getting out.

I'm in the process of organising a big gig at my school for the multiple bands we have there. Its basically an opportunity for all the small bands to get to play in front of a proper audience.

There are some very good bands at my school, so we have arranged for a band manager to come along and watch, with the aim him signing up a band and getting a record deal. It might sound like a long shot, but last I heard one of the school bands who left last year were half way through signing deal, so if is definitely a possibility, and there are some bands who really do deserve to get a deal.

The question I want to ask is, do we tell the bands that he is going to be there? One one hand the bands would be spurred on to give as good a performance as they can, but on the other theres the big risk of some of the band members, particularly the younger ones, choking while performing, knowing hes watching.

Simply what I want to know is what would you rather, to know he was there or not? Your opinions on this would be very much appreciated because we can't ask bands in the school, for quite obvious reasons.

[basstard]

No, don't tell them. Reasonage:

1. This way, the bands will play naturally, at their level, possibly pleasing the crowd. It won't be artificial, or doing certain stage things differently in a hope to appeal to the guy.

2. If you tell them he's coming, they'll think "wow, we can get signed!" and all the bands will have their hopes up. If, in the end, the manager decides not to sign anyone, they all feel dejected. Don't tell them, and then if no-one is signed nobody is any the wiser, and if someone is, it's an added bonus.

3. Some of the bands won't be used to playing to a huge audience. Therefore they'll be under enough pressure to play well without the band guy being there.

That's all I can think of. I'd rather not be told beforehand if I was going to play.

[White Tiger]

I wouldn't want to know, i already almost Pee myself before playing a gig anyway.
And its very good of you to try and get them signed :D

[NinjaPenguin]

My mates have a band, but im no where near good enough to play for them. The only instruments I can play are the spoons.

[Bewildebeast]

No, don't tell them. Reasonage:

[lots of good reasons]

That's all I can think of. I'd rather not be told beforehand if I was going to play.
Quoted for truth

They should be trying to play at their best anyway, regardless of whether there's a manager there.

You can help them out by getting the front of house sound as good as possible - a good PA and a good sound engineer go a long way.

Out of interest, how old are the people in the bands?

Good luck :)

[Oli]

No, don't tell them. Reasonage:

1. This way, the bands will play naturally, at their level, possibly pleasing the crowd. It won't be artificial, or doing certain stage things differently in a hope to appeal to the guy.

2. If you tell them he's coming, they'll think "wow, we can get signed!" and all the bands will have their hopes up. If, in the end, the manager decides not to sign anyone, they all feel dejected. Don't tell them, and then if no-one is signed nobody is any the wiser, and if someone is, it's an added bonus.

3. Some of the bands won't be used to playing to a huge audience. Therefore they'll be under enough pressure to play well without the band guy being there.

That's all I can think of. I'd rather not be told beforehand if I was going to play.

qft.

[Beef Magic]

Some of my friends have had bad experiences with "record company people". They paid £200 to play TWO SONGS at a Hard Rock Cafe, to be told that "You sound too American", that two members with short hair look "like are in a different band". But yes, as he's just standing at the back, should be all good. Hope everyone have's fun, but yeah, don't tell them they are going to be there.

[ACobraNamedSall]

Meh, record company types are all slime and should be treated as such. Also, it is pretty easy to get a record deal but it's hard, VERY hard to get one that's beneficial for the band.

But good luck with this thang.

[Shave]

yeah. don't tell them, it may make them not be themselves, and if they mess up while they know a record company guy is watching then they make more and more mistakes as they get more nervous, however they may be able to recover if they don't know he's watching as they may be less nervous

[Tiggs]

Thanks for all the advice so far guys. Looks like we won't be telling them. I don't know the exact details about the guy coming (one of my co-organisers has sorted that out) but be specialises is getting unsigned bands signed, so he should be more good than bad.

The age range of the people playing is 14-18, possibly with some slightly older and younger. I can imagine how scary the performance alone could be. I've had to stand up and do a talk in front of a crowd that size before, it wasn't fun.

Any more opinions?

[MONKEY050]

I as well was nervous enough playing a gig of 150 people at a mass service this past weekend. It was my first public performance, and I was nervous enough. It started all too quick! I hadn't even really known one of the songs. :( I rarely looked at the audience.

Anyways, I would personally feel uncomfortable knowing there was a semi-VIP watching me. And those before me would be right in saying that it would cause others to change the way they act on stage.

Keep it a surprise and the only thing that could go wrong is the band shit themselves AFTER they hear that someone was watching them.