MDA687 t1_ixfznz3 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 3:48 AM

Reply to comment by ThePencilRain in Musicians: If you are a headliner then play the headlining spot. by biingcherry_

Bingo! if your not that well known but your the headliner your better off to go on 2nd especially on a week nite before everyone leaves. After 11pm is not the best slot unless it’s a Friday or Saturday night show. If the crowd thins out as it gets later the club most likely will cut your set in half so they can go home even if there’s still a bunch of your fans waiting to see you. Play 2nd if your the headliner more people will end up seeing you. Playing to more people is what’s important if your looking to grow your audience.

MDA687 t1_ixg274h wrote on November 23, 2022 at 4:11 AM

Like to add once we released our first album all of it changed and people stayed to hear us no matter the time slot… people who buy your records that come to hear you live are serious fans and will not leave until your in your car and even then will follow you out onto the streets… playing your songs on their car stereos and wanting you to take notice. You gotta love their enthusiasm it’s what you work all those years for… Die hard fans are the best… it’s the ultimate compliment… it’s why you do it… they know every lyric and every note your gonna play Those fans are amazing they may never know how much they mean to you… a hard working band needs that enthusiasm… it’s priceless… it keeps you going.

biingcherry_ OP t1_ixip6b9 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 7:02 PM

If they're not well known, they're not a headliner. If they're touring through but don't have a pull, they're not a headliner. Headliner is literally the final spot. Larger acts are known as headliners because they pull well and go last. Going 2nd is just going on 2nd.

MDA687 t1_ixjyt0j wrote on November 24, 2022 at 12:24 AM

In theory headliners should go last but not always the case… especially in Smaller venues like clubs… my band closed for quite a few headliners… we had a decent local following in the Los Angeles area however the Meat Puppets, Agent Orange, Country Joe “Woodstock fame” (Give me a F give me a U…) and The Nails along with many other acts in my experience all wanted the middle spot… not at all unusual… in the case of the Nails they borrowed our Bass Amp because they blew out they’re own and then Blew ours as well and left us with no amp for our Bass player… they left early and we ended up using the PA system for a Bass Amp… they all chose the 2nd spot over going last. The Nails did follow through and they paid the cost to fix the amp very Decent guys from New York! They had a popular song on radio “88 Lines For 44 women” I hope I’m remembering that title correctly.