Should we take this gig? Don't want to sell out.
 

My good buddies and I are planning on making music full time with our band, while we’re still young and have the time to do so. Due to our plans, we’ve all had to make sacrifices and basically spend more money for studio time, and trying to rack up as many gigs as possible to get our name out there. Our band plays original compositions that can be categorized under the nu-metal and alternative rock genre, so there’s somewhat of an image to uphold.

Following this trail of thought, money has been tight lately with the expenses of getting some much needed recording sessions at this local studio in town. Our bassist’s girlfriend recently set us up for a gig that pays really well, and we’re only required to play for at least an hour for an event. The only problem is that it’s for this foreign affair matchmaker company, and they want us to play acoustic covers, along with other popular songs that are just not our style. Should we go for it? I don’t want us to sell out, but we badly need the cash if we wanna make this work out.

If you wanna make money in the music industry, your only option is selling out. Almost no one makes it to the profitable level of the industry without selling out somehow.

How the **** do you know how to play a bunch of acoustic covers?

I don’t think Metallica could do a full set of acoustic covers unless they practiced and learned them.

But then again i guess that is what session musicians and tonight show bands do

It's not a sell out. It's just for one night, right? You don't think this is the permanent direction the band is taking?

If it's not some private party at a house, or if it's at a place that isn't a venue for nu metal & alt-Rock then don't worry too much about whether or not you will keep the engagement. If it's a done deal and it's a venue that books nu metal bands like yours, then don't cancel out of it. You don't want a reputation for being a no-show for that kind of venue. Just be more aware and more careful what gigs gets booked.

Make your money cause you're already in a whore industry.

And yeah what Neapolitan said, you don't want to develop a reputation for being unreliable.

Death before dishonor. Show up naked, and smash an acoustic guitar on a xylophone.

I just don't want people (future clients specially) to get a bad impression of us.

It would really help, money-wise.

Acoustic is not really our style, though.

We could do covers just not acoustic.

I don't want to get a bad reputation to be honest. We might fail to meet their expectations.

Do the show and do it well. Worry more about how good you are, not what genre you want to represent.

I disagree. This is selling out. The question is if they're where they want to be using this. Which this should help with in the long run.

I agree with this.

Literally have seen videos of Metallica doing this. The only person who needed the practice was Lars Ulrich. Everyone else got it on the first try.

I've also seen multiple musicians that were trained in a more traditional manner listen to a song, play their instrument for thirty seconds before having the song down pat.

What would they get a bad impression of? That you needed the money? I have a friend who's signed to a label and does these shows all the time. He says it's considered strange for people to not do stuff like this when they're trying to make a living off of it.

You gotta do what you gotta do.