To change the current industry setup, what I would try to do is try to
keep a small time slot in-between the gig, strictly for an original act; one
that has a different sound altogether. So say the cover band plays from 10 to
11.30 or so, the original band plays for about an hour or half hour (depending
on the number of songs the artiste has). But prior to that, there is an obvious
need to work on the promotional aspect of things. This could be through social
media, air on the radio through some help from RJs and so on. This will get the
fan-base going, so that people, primarily musicians, come to experience what is
on offer. I feel that by making these changes, over time, an artiste should get
called only for their originals at music festivals and so on.
– Revellino Fernandes
I think that maybe an artiste could put out originals, and even if songs
are being covered, do it differently, don’t make it sound like the exact same
thing. What’s the point then? You might as well just play a record and pump up
the volume. Young artists should be encouraged to perform originals, and they
should be provided with platforms to do so. The winds are changing, and
so are the preferences of many youngsters, who are in constant need of
something different or something new. Maybe, do just that. Maybe at a gig, do a
couple of cover songs and two originals. That’ll have raised eyebrows. The
crowd will listen; and if it’s good enough, they might even like it.
– Gretchen Barretto
