DevinBelow t1_ixdrohk wrote on November 22, 2022 at 6:02 PM

Depending on the day of the week, the amount of bands on the lineup, and the crowd, the "headliner spot" doesn't necessarily always mean the last band to play.

If you've got 6 bands playing on a Tuesday night, and the show is starting at 7PM, the headliner should probably go on around 10PM because people aren't going to stay out past midnight on a Tuesday to catch a headnling act. So you might have to bump one of the support acts to the late night spot. Basically...whenever the headliner plays is the "headlining spot".

biingcherry_ OP t1_ixdse3r wrote on November 22, 2022 at 6:07 PM

See that's the problem and I consider a huge issue and misconception in the scene.

If there is a headliner then they should play the final spot. If it's a Tuesday night then don't have as many bands on the event and have the "headliner" play last at 10pm. Why would supporting acts go last, that's just silly.

burymeinmyjewelry t1_ixdxeqr wrote on November 22, 2022 at 6:39 PM

For what it's worth: as an audience member, I always assume the headliner is the closing act.

biingcherry_ OP t1_ixdxqup wrote on November 22, 2022 at 6:42 PM

^this

YahYahY t1_ixeivis wrote on November 22, 2022 at 9:00 PM

Because “supporting acts” are just that, supporting acts. The venue wants a band to still play the last spot for the patrons that want to stay longer for drinks, etc. But the headliners get the spot that has the best turnout to the venue. A closing band is not always the headliner spot.

biingcherry_ OP t1_ixejc6s wrote on November 22, 2022 at 9:03 PM

I have never attended an event where an actual headliner didn't play the closing spot.

YahYahY t1_ixekhry wrote on November 22, 2022 at 9:11 PM

What city do you live in? It pretty common that a bar venue will structure it with doors at 7/7:30, an opener support 8pm- 9pm, headliner 9pm-10pm, and then closer support 10pm - 11pm. That way the headliner isn’t asking their fans to wait until 10pm, and through two sets, for their show to start. The closer in these gigs is there to keep the show going for fans and patrons that want to stay out until 11pm.

Seen plenty of gigs (especially at actually concert venues/halls and theaters as opposed to bars) where the headliner for sure plays last, but the bar venue structure is commonly what I stated above, and for good reason, because the whole point of the bar having music at their venue is to sell more drinks. And they sell more drinks when the band with the biggest draw gets the prime time slot, but they still have entertainment afterwards so people don’t just leave the bar after they see who they came for.

tamajor t1_ixf3npp wrote on November 22, 2022 at 11:29 PM

I've played hundreds of shows around Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, LA, and surrounding areas. When the "headliner" doesn't go last, it's a dick move. I've usually been a mid-act. I like playing mid. Lots of crowd cross-over. But if I'm booked to headline, I'm going to close. Sure, closing a small local show usually yields a weak crowd, but to be the biggest draw and torpedo another act by making them close after you... every scene I've been in knows that's a dick move.