Situation: There are two bands touring together. A third band has a show fall through in one city and they are added to a show with the two touring bands. This third band has been around for a long time, doesn't tour often, and has a small but rabid fanbase. (They're arguably a "bigger" band than the two who they're playing with.) Ticket sales increase dramatically once they're added to the bill. They are the first band of the night with a half-hour to play. The other bands get 45 minutes.

Question: Should the opening touring band switch spots with the third band to give them more time to play? What is the etiquette for switching spots on a bill?

Etiquette aside, it would just be the SMART move to move the largest band to the final spot. People might just come to see that bigger band and then leave before the other bands even hit the stage.

And, it IS up to the guys who were originally on the bill. They booked the damn show, they should get to decide. But like I said, it'd just be dumb to put them first and cut their set time.

yes.

only the lucksmiths should be allowed to play. everywhere.

I'd say give the biggest draw the best time slot. It's what the audience will want, and that's what actually matters.

Are we talking like club or bar show here? If that is the case, then I have witnessed various situations like this with different results. It usually depends on the time of the show and if the bigger band added to the gig is local or from the area.
When Head of Femur played with These are Powers, These are Powers were considered to be the headliner and played last, yet HOF had a much larger following and may have played a longer set.
If a show is delayed in time or starting extra late, I have seen the headliner/biggest draw play first or second and then the other two bands split the rest of the time.
I think it should always be the choice of the bigger band and the promoter, but I also think they should probably move the show up a little sooner so the touring bands also get a sufficiently long set.
I've seen many a show where the biggest band/headliner actually draws less than the local opener due to the rabid following. In that instance, I understand where the typically more successful band plays first to keep the crowd.

Maybe they could agree to share drum kits and bass amps to speed up the turnaround time between bands, to get longer sets?

BTW, who are these bands in this supposedly mythical situation?
My answer might change slightly depending on who is involved.

i say todd wins thread

it was last night.

lucksmiths opened for some dude and the brunettes. they actually started early because the venue (about 200-capacity) was almost full before the announced start. so here's a band with 13 releases opening for two bands with a couple albums each. they were great and the crowd loved them. but they only played for 35 minutes. then at least a third of the crowd either left or went to the bar, which is in another room. and most of the people who stuck around for the brunettes talked through and/or didn't at all pay attention to the middle act. a girl i know hinted that it'd been brought up that they switch, but that the middle act didn't go for it.

If the Brunettes were cool with switching it should have went down, despite the objection of the other artist. I realize the Brunettes would have to deal with the fallout of it, but it is basically their call if they were the initial headliner. I'm glad they atleast started it early.
Was the middle artist Ferraby Lionheart? Because he is opening for them during their upcoming Omaha gig.

yeah, that's the guy.

i'm not exactly sure what the real deal was last night anyway. the girl i talked to got an email from the lucksmiths about a month ago asking if she could add them to a show here for last night. she had nothing. when she next talked with them, they said they'd been added with the brunettes. i actually skipped over their name on the venue's schedule twice because it was so small. it wasn't until i read that they'd be touring the US this fall that i went to the band's website to find out what was up. they played well and i'm not unhappy about how it went down, but the crowd was clearly demanding more from them when they were forced off by the house music.

I think another big issue is how much the "bigger" band would get paid. Would they demand more money if they headlined this particular show?

Not if the other bands booked it and they hopped on the bill at the last minute.
They're looking to grab a gig and, despite their greater prominence, and the fact that they increased ticket sales, they should still agree to whatever $$ deal was arranged in the first place.

Yeah, they sell more tix, but they would not have had the gig without the other bands' agreement.

I could probably assess the matter better if I knew the names of the bands. Not knowing this info, I generally agree that the bands should switcheroo. The other bands would be stupid not to do so. They'd be more likely to have a larger crowd if they played first rather than played last. People who came for the bigger band are more likely to leave early if the big band plays first because they saw what they came to see. If the big band headlines, the people who want to see the big band will likely try and get there earlier to get a good spot and thus be forced to sit through 2 opening acts that might or might not suck.

big bands have guarantees so it doesnt matter if they play first or last

wow.

I was about to say I should have read the rest of the thread. Sorry. I'm on break and not reading everything thoroughly....

's ok. (chuckle)

It's my 3rd biggest blunder today. The first being my taking allergy medicine that has all but knocked me the fuck out.

Benadryl puts me in a coma.

regardless of a band "bigness"
we are all mortal creatures
and a bigger, more important mystery waits for us
(in death)

some people will have a good time at the show, some people won't

draw the band order from a hat

Insert rectally every four to six hours

I've been meaning to check him out and am sad I missed this show in LA with the Mezzanine Owls opening. Can I put in a vote for being more interested in the Brunettes and Ferraby than the Lucksmiths?