So is The Breakfast still a band or now a hobby?

[Todd]

TPB music is indispensable, especially in these times.  If money issues threaten a premature ending to this band I\'ll rob a bank.  :wave:

Breakfast should apply for economic stimulus funds.  With all the bogus pet projects that are going to get cash, might as well include our boys in the wealth.

Larry Flynt made news back in February saying that if banks and car industries were entitled to economic bailout, why shouldn\'t his industry.  The Breakfast shoud should jump on his coat tails.  They can be part of the 2009 "Pleasure Stimulus Package"

This how I refer to my cock.  Come on, you knew someone would say it

My statement was worded as bait, a setup to see who would supply the punchline.  


I figured it would be Todd.

Todd\'s been a little absent lately. Figured I\'d pick up the slack.

Silly nOObs, old men don\'t get baited that easily...

[Yoda]

I\'m going to ask a stupid question and I\'ll take all the critism if people want to throw it my way...

Earlier in the year, I asked why there were so few TB shows and so many side project shows and Adrian said that they were taking a little breather at the beginning of the year.  Well it\'s not coming up on the end of the 1st quater and with roughly 10 TB shows (give or take 1), let\'s chalk that up to the breather.  I guess that I was a little concerned that Tim announced something like 20 side project/solo gigs in April and May yesterday and there\'s only 5 TB gigs on the schedule for the remainder of the year...  I know that the boys need to earn their daily bread, but what would it hurt to turn a couple of those solo gigs into TB shows?

This isn\'t me griping about where they play; I\'m just concerned that there\'s going to be a lot of out-of-sight/out-of-mind going on with fans that don\'t live in CT and don\'t get to go to side project shows.  I personally feel that Phish coming back is going to hurt the band because fringe fans are going to choose Phish first and to a lesser degree The Dead will have somewhat of the same effect.  

Why not contact Max from Uncle Sammy and see if he can work TB into an opening slot for PL&F or at least a sit-in so that Tim, Adrian, Jordan or Chris will be visible to the community that would be most likely to support TB.  

This band is good; this band is talented; this band should not be ignorned; this band should be selling out the clubs they play in.  But unless they get out there and are visible, it\'s not going to happen.

Tim, Adrian, Jordan and Chris - this post is not a knock on you guys; it\'s actually a plea to keep moving forward however you can...

[NickNels]

This isn\'t me griping about where they play; I\'m just concerned that there\'s going to be a lot of out-of-sight/out-of-mind going on with fans that don\'t live in CT and don\'t get to go to side project shows.  I personally feel that Phish coming back is going to hurt the band because fringe fans are going to choose Phish first and to a lesser degree The Dead will have somewhat of the same effect.

I love the Breakfast, but they don\'t play in the same space as Phish or the Dead.  Their return will have no negative effect on the band, in fact it will only be a positive if the B\'fast can score some afterparty gigs.

[Yoda]

This isn\'t me griping about where they play; I\'m just concerned that there\'s going to be a lot of out-of-sight/out-of-mind going on with fans that don\'t live in CT and don\'t get to go to side project shows.  I personally feel that Phish coming back is going to hurt the band because fringe fans are going to choose Phish first and to a lesser degree The Dead will have somewhat of the same effect.

I love the Breakfast, but they don\'t play in the same space as Phish or the Dead.  Their return will have no negative effect on the band, in fact it will only be a positive if the B\'fast can score some afterparty gigs.

I disagree with you.  When Phish took a break after Big Cypress, a lot of local fans that were on the Phish bus got on the TB bus.  My point is that there are fans that will choose to get back on tour with Phish rather than go to a TB show; the fringe fan.  The people on this site are hard-core fans and most will stay where they are, but don\'t be surprised if some take a break from TB.  

My point was that these guys need to be visible to be relevant and continue to win over new fans.  2-4 shows a months at the same venue or region will grow the fan-base somewhat, but not to the potential of what these guys can offer.

[NickNels]

This isn\'t me griping about where they play; I\'m just concerned that there\'s going to be a lot of out-of-sight/out-of-mind going on with fans that don\'t live in CT and don\'t get to go to side project shows.  I personally feel that Phish coming back is going to hurt the band because fringe fans are going to choose Phish first and to a lesser degree The Dead will have somewhat of the same effect.

I love the Breakfast, but they don\'t play in the same space as Phish or the Dead.  Their return will have no negative effect on the band, in fact it will only be a positive if the B\'fast can score some afterparty gigs.

I disagree with you.  When Phish took a break after Big Cypress, a lot of local fans that were on the Phish bus got on the TB bus.  My point is that there are fans that will choose to get back on tour with Phish rather than go to a TB show; the fringe fan.  The people on this site are hard-core fans and most will stay where they are, but don\'t be surprised if some take a break from TB.  

My point was that these guys need to be visible to be relevant and continue to win over new fans.  2-4 shows a months at the same venue or region will grow the fan-base somewhat, but not to the potential of what these guys can offer.

I hate to say it, but it\'s not like people are coming out to see shows as it is.  The hardcore fans are always going to be there and the fringe fans are going to go when it\'s convenient.  

I\'ll be honest, if Phish is playing on the same day in the same region as B\'fast I\'m going to Phish, but other than that I will see the B\'fast as frequently in the future as I am now.  Phish is not going to play more than 50-60 shows a year (max).  I don\'t think their "tours" are going to be long enough to sustain the entourage they had back in the \'90s.  The Breakfast isn\'t playing much more than 70-80 shows a year as it is now...hardly enough to grow or even sustain their attendance numbers as it is.  You can\'t lose what you don\'t have.  I think whatever surge the B\'fast saw when Phish originally broke up is long since gone.  If I were the B\'fast I wouldn\'t worry about losing the fans, all my efforts would go towards gaining new ones.

I think the economy, unemployment, and the lack of discretionary income will effect a band like the B\'fast much more than PHish or any other band.

[SkyePrizm]

I think the economy, unemployment, and the lack of discretionary income will effect a band like the B\'fast much more than PHish or any other band.

Wouldn\'t the bad economy help The Breakfast?  I mean, people  TRULY hard up for cash who want to see good live music are more likely to pay $10-$15 at a door and stay local, rather than $50-$100 (sometimes even more) to travel around.... just my thought.   I think right now everyone is in such a Phish Craze...that they are throwing money at them.  But...that won\'t last forever....the economy is going to get worse.

[Spacey]

The answer is simple.

The core fan base is too old.

Cater to a younger fan base.

[SkyePrizm]

The answer is simple.

The core fan base is too old.

Cater to a younger fan base.

I think i\'ve said that before.  With all these local colleges around here,where is the promotion?  We as the old fart fans need to get off our arses.   I seriously would flyer the shit out of any of those colleges....scsu, ccsu, albertus, qu, fu, yale, unh, whatever...  just get me the materials and maybe a lackey to help me.

[jking]

I\'m just concerned that there\'s going to be a lot of out-of-sight/out-of-mind going on with fans that don\'t live in CT and don\'t get to go to side project shows.

not to be a dick, but the band has basically ignored the vast majority of the country for years.... i mean, you bitch about new jersey shows, which makes sense since that\'s not very far away from ct, but they haven\'t played the entire mid-atlantic in years, haven\'t hit the southeast in even longer, southern midwest and most of the plains i don\'t think has been touched in ten or more years, pacific northwest in pretty much the same (and even if my numbers are off some, the sentiment in those regions is that its been forever since they\'ve played there).

at this point it may not be a bad idea to power down for a bit and try to come back with renewed gusto next year. they can\'t tour, and there\'s nothing they can do to improve their nationwide situation until they can, so why not give them a chance to gather resources, energy, songs and will??

[Jim Cobb]

all of this conversation is useless without knowing the individual and collective goals of tim, adrian, jordan and chris.  if they can get a decent turnout to places like the field and other comparable venues, and get other decent paying gigs on the side, that\'s a great way to support one\'s self (and in some cases, a family) by playing music.  getting in a van and touring the country sounds great to the fan, but in actuality, it\'s a big investment that is full of risks, and in all honesty, really unlikely to pay off.  we all want the band to be huge, but the question is, do they want the band to be huge, and if so, are they willing and able to do what it would take to (possibly/improbably) get there?  this is a question of what the guys want before it\'s a question of how.  we all love to act as armchair managers, myself included, but that\'s all bupkis without knowing what THE BAND wants.  and honestly, the guys themselves may not even know the answer to that question.  if they want to enlist our help, they\'ll ask for it.  in the meantime, sure it\'s fun for us to do the armchair manager thing, but i think we should all keep these points in mind while we do so.

[wildcoyote]

21ish kid @ Lotus last night- "The Breakfast?  Never heard of them. Cool name though."

[Vassillios]

me - "Lotus? yeah, i\'ve heard \'em. they suck."

[Yoda]

I think that the point is that the kid at Lotus\' show speak volumes...

That being said, the band needs to do what the band needs to do.  I think the part of the problem is that the fanbase is so closely intertwined with the band that the line between fan and band gets blurred and that\'s why we feel so strongly about what and how these guys are doing.

[NickNels]

I think the economy, unemployment, and the lack of discretionary income will effect a band like the B\'fast much more than PHish or any other band.

Wouldn\'t the bad economy help The Breakfast?  I mean, people  TRULY hard up for cash who want to see good live music are more likely to pay $10-$15 at a door and stay local, rather than $50-$100 (sometimes even more) to travel around.... just my thought.   I think right now everyone is in such a Phish Craze...that they are throwing money at them.  But...that won\'t last forever....the economy is going to get worse.

If the Breakfast was an obsession band or had a large and hungry fanbase I would say Yes, but that is not the case.  I\'ll use myself as an example.  Whenever the B\'fast is close to home and convenient I\'ll go.  I don\'t even think about ticket cost.  If the B\'fast is playing a little out of the way though, I probably won\'t be there.  THis includes shows like Hartford, Woosta\', Southbridge, etc...In my experience it\'s not the cost of the ticket, it is everything else that goes along with seeing a show.  Miles on the car, gas money, drinks, party favors, etc...

Now if Phish or the Disco Biscuits were to play a show within 1 or 2 hours of my house I would be there in a second, not even think twice.  Basically when I think about B\'fast shows, in my head it just seems like a night out, while Phish/Biscuits are more like an experience.  Again, I love the B\'fast, but this is how i feel at this stage of the game.  They need to start doing something exciting to get my commitment level up.  THe first step would be playing more shows and touring...just like every other band.  They are not exempt from the rules.  The only band in this scene getting more popular by not playing any shows is Phish.

all of this conversation is useless without knowing the individual and collective goals of tim, adrian, jordan and chris.  if they can get a decent turnout to places like the field and other comparable venues, and get other decent paying gigs on the side, that\'s a great way to support one\'s self (and in some cases, a family) by playing music.  getting in a van and touring the country sounds great to the fan, but in actuality, it\'s a big investment that is full of risks, and in all honesty, really unlikely to pay off.  we all want the band to be huge, but the question is, do they want the band to be huge, and if so, are they willing and able to do what it would take to (possibly/improbably) get there?  this is a question of what the guys want before it\'s a question of how.  we all love to act as armchair managers, myself included, but that\'s all bupkis without knowing what THE BAND wants.  and honestly, the guys themselves may not even know the answer to that question.  if they want to enlist our help, they\'ll ask for it.  in the meantime, sure it\'s fun for us to do the armchair manager thing, but i think we should all keep these points in mind while we do so.

I agree with you Jim.  At this point they seem more content to play as the Breakfast to pay bills vs. live/tour like Rockstars.  This is fine if that\'s what they want to do.  Maybe this will change and maybe it won\'t...we have to leave it up to the band.  Whatever is best for them.

[Vassillios]

i prob shouldn\'t talk bc i don\'t go to enough bfast shows, but i prefer them (any band actually) in smaller venues, where the setting is more intimate. going to the big shows can be fun once in a while, but its too much of a hassle. i guess im getting older. but i\'m all about going to the local bar and checking out a band that i\'ve never heard of. i\'m a venture capitalist when it comes to music... seeking out the new hot shit.

in terms of the bfast, i\'m sure their dream is to make it big, but at this point prob unrealistic. as a fan that\'s cool with me bc they\'re sticking around the northeast where we can all seflishly see them (i promise once i move to a better location i\'ll go to more shows.) and smaller venues are just more fun. it\'s basically like raging with the band on stage, instead of having fences and security guards blocking the way. it would be cool to see phish, but i honestly don\'t even care that much.

new music=making the industry successful.

the bfast=new to most people