Early Bird Specials

The Mohawk Place
(47 East Mohawk Street)

The Early Bird Specials are a series of showcases at the Mohawk Place. They are free; they start early, and feature local bands exclusively. So far, the Early Birds have generated a surprising amount of interest and enthusiasm. The first three shows attracted audiences that ranged from 65-80 people. The bands on Early Bird #4 brought in the largest crowd yet, over 100 people strong.

A group of like-minded Buffalo bands, and more importantly local music fans, formulated the Early Bird plan over months of discussion in bars, practice spaces, over the phone, and via e-mails. The central question we kept asking was, how do we get more people to come to local shows?

We decided the best way to address this question was to use common sense. We thought about the reasons people give for not going to shows, the reasons we give ourselves. Then, we attempted to remove as many excuses as we could. This is what we came up with.

The Early Bird Specials are free. We don’t devalue local music, but we also don’t expect anyone to pay a cover to see bands that they’ve never heard, and know nothing about. The bands involved agree to play for nothing more than fun, and the chance of increased exposure. Playing on an Early Bird is an investment in cultivating future fans. Obviously, it’s in the bands’ best interest to promote these shows creatively, cheaply, and widely. No band should expect someone to bend over backward to promote them if they won’t work to promote themselves.

Time is just as valuable as money, and we don’t want to waste any of that either. There are no half-hour changeovers between bands, and no hour and a half long sets. The idea is to give people a variety. If the first band isn’t their cup of tea, another one will be up soon that might be.

Another common complaint is that shows start too late, especially on weeknights. We understand someone not wanting to be out until 2:00 or 2:30 in the morning if they have to be at work at 8:00 a.m. So, the Early Birds start promptly at 8:30 p.m., no exceptions, and the third band is usually done before 11:00 p.m., for all the rockers who need their beauty sleep.

You say you want a revolution? Not us. Our goals are much less disruptive, and maybe even attainable. We want more people to see the amazing original music and variety of talent that exists right in their own hometown. We want people to patronize The Mohawk Place, a locally owned business that has given back to folks in Buffalo for years. We want people to feel like they can have a good time without spending a fortune that they don’t have, and go home feeling like they haven’t been ripped off.

The response from bands that want to be a part of future Early Bird bills has been overwhelming. We hope that eventually the diversity that exists in the Buffalo rock community will be reflected in the show line-ups. To keep the momentum building, it’s crucial to have a steady infusion of new ideas and faces.

If you’re in a band that would like to play on a future Early Bird Special, there are few basic things to keep in mind. There are a few simple goals for these showcases. They are:

1. Expose more people to the wealth and diversity of talent that exists in Buffalo.
2. Generate more business for The Mohawk Place, the city’s premier live venue for local music. No other local venue even comes close to being as consistently committed to local musicians.


With more bands involved, these shows will demonstrate the versatile and eclectic nature of the vast pool of talent in Buffalo. And the more bands involved, the more heads we’ll have giving input on ways to bring more people out.

The bands involved have to be willing to promote these shows beyond lip service. Those that have been handpicked for the first four Early Birds have been chosen not only for their musical talent, but also for their willingness to take the ball and run with it. With each of the shows so far, we have increased promotion, and learned a little bit more about cheap and effective ways to get the word out.

Bands interested in participating in the Early Bird Specials must take an active role in promotion of the show, and they must agree to conditions for the night of the show. The itinerary will be determined well in advance, and there will be no shifting on the night of the show. All bands must arrive at The Mohawk by 7:30 pm on the night of the show. Set times are not flexible or negotiable. The show will start at 8:30 sharp, regardless of how many people are in the bar. No set will exceed 45 minutes.

The Schedule:

7:30 pm
All bands arrive, and the first band begins setting up on stage. The second band puts as much of their equipment as possible on stage behind the first band’s set up. The third band begins setting equipment up on the left side of the stage, ready to be loaded on.

8:00 pm
First band does quick sound check.

8:30-9:10 pm
First band plays

9:10-9:20 pm
First band loads off the front of the stage, while second band loads on from the back/side.

9:20-10:00 pm
Second band plays

10:00-10:15 pm
Second band loads off the front, while third band loads on from the back/side.

10:15-11:00 pm
Third band plays

8:00-? pm
Everybody drinks and tips the bartenders generously.

If you have any comments, suggestions or would like to participate in one of the Early Bird Specials, please contact us at: earlybirds@themissingplanes.com