Europe vs. America

[DaDrew2112]

So i was talking to one of my friends about the differences between my (American) culture and European culture, specifically Britain as we both speak English. I was wondering if what I was saying was actually the truth. I've always perceived Europeans as going to more concerts than us Americans. Perhaps I'm totally off bass (ha!) in my assumption? If anyone has ever been to Europe from America or vice versa I'd really like to know if my assumption was indeed correct. I've been looking for some kind of empirical or statistical evidence and it's proven to be fairly difficult to do so. Thanks!

[bigbottomend]

The fact is I usually go to one gig a week, I'm English and don't and never will consider myself to be European, I'm from England, end of. There is a difference in culture and accents from one end of England to the other. As the rest all speak different languages, I wouldn't have a clue what the French, Germans or Italians get up to. To categorise everyone in Europe as the same is way off the mark.

I've never been to America (yet) so i can't compare.

I don't however believe that where you live in the world has the slightest bit of influence on whether you go out to see bands or not. If you live that lifestyle then that choice is simply restricted by your financial situation.

[stratovani]

I may be wrong in this, and it might be a generalization, but from what I've been able to gather from reading certain threads here on TB it seems to me that Europeans support local live music more than Americans do. From what I've read American bar owners seem to want DJs more than live bands, due to several factors of which the economy is probably the top reason. Almost every post I've read from European posters suggests that Europeans prefer and support live music.

[Tituscrow]

I probably get to about 3 or 4 club-sized live shows a month. Maybe 2 or 3 big arena shows a year. Local bar bands about once a month. This has been the way for me for about 25 years. All within about 20 miles (Manchester, NW England)

I have found that some of my American friends can't get to this many gigs because, well, the country is HUGE and the driving distances involved are often unrealistic, not because there is some sort of underlying difference in attitude, ethos and culture in terms of supporting live music.

Hope this helps.

[Steve]

I think, the arts in general are more important to, and better supported by, Europeans than Americans.

There sure are a lot of twilight players that go to europe to make money so they don't have to starve here.

[Jazz Ad]

A lot more shows everywhere in USA.
Performers and bartenders are a lot more professional in their approach and take entertaining seriously.
Out of big cities, few shows and little audience to attend.
Most british members are gonna get angry if you tell them they're european.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

A lot more shows everywhere in USA.
Performers and bartenders are a lot more professional in their approach and take entertaining seriously.
Out of big cities, few shows and little audience to attend.
Most british members are gonna get angry if you tell them they're european.

Nah...I live in Britain, Britain is in Europe, so I am European. But people are just people. I don't get too hung up about how I am labelled!

Just for clarity, what do you mean by your opening statement?

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by DaDrew2112

So i was talking to one of my friends about the differences between my (American) culture and European culture, specifically Britain as we both speak English. I was wondering if what I was saying was actually the truth. I've always perceived Europeans as going to more concerts than us Americans. Perhaps I'm totally off bass (ha!) in my assumption? If anyone has ever been to Europe from America or vice versa I'd really like to know if my assumption was indeed correct. I've been looking for some kind of empirical or statistical evidence and it's proven to be fairly difficult to do so. Thanks!

By 'concerts', do you mean rock, classical, or all types?

A lot of the standard repertoire of Classical music was written and performed in Europe before America was The United States. They have a much longer written history than America and since the US is so young as a country, we have many different tastes- after all, the first to come here to settle the colonies were often here to find a life that suited them more than where they were. Some came purely for commerce.

Also, what the US has taken for granted WRT America-based art, music and culture in general was returned to us in the form of the British Invasion, for which I'm eternally grateful. The prejudices of many Americans didn't allow them to see the art, craft, emotion and quality in Blues music, but the Brits did and that's where we had to play catch-up. I know someone who plays is Europe frequently and he said the audiences are completely different from American. Here, people talk, shout and make all kinds of noise while in many of the European venues, they sit fairly quietly, listening and paying attention. They respect the music/musician more and here, it's like a side-show.

People here were from mixed backgrounds and the pronunciation of many old words changed because of unfamiliarity, IMO. 'Aluminium' is a classic example. It's the correct, Latin, name but we dropped the last 'i'.

[mcnach]

Originally Posted by bigbottomend

The fact is I usually go to one gig a week, I'm English and don't and never will consider myself to be European, I'm from England, end of. There is a difference in culture and accents from one end of England to the other. As the rest all speak different languages, I wouldn't have a clue what the French, Germans or Italians get up to. To categorise everyone in Europe as the same is way off the mark.

I've never been to America (yet) so i can't compare.

I don't however believe that where you live in the world has the slightest bit of influence on whether you go out to see bands or not. If you live that lifestyle then that choice is simply restricted by your financial situation.

Funny... being so anxious to not be labelled as European. Pity not cannot alter geography
LOL

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

I have found that some of my American friends can't get to this many gigs because, well, the country is HUGE and the driving distances involved are often unrealistic, not because there is some sort of underlying difference in attitude, ethos and culture in terms of supporting live music.

If you live in a major metropolitan area - as I do - then driving distance is a moot point: The shows will come to you. You can attend as many shows as your time, attention span and finances will allow...

MM

[DaDrew2112]

Terribly sorry to offend any British people on here, I think you guys are awesome! Thanks for letting me know that some of you don't like being classified as European. In my defense I'm not quite fluent in British nuances. So I guess the question is still out there? For clarity I was more thinking about original rock acts as I wrote this after all I'm but a mere high school kid lol

[bigbottomend]

Originally Posted by mcnach

Funny... being so anxious to not be labelled as European. Pity not cannot alter geography
LOL

1. I'm not anxious.
2. Funny how people categorise English as European.
3. Geography states that I am English.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

If you live in a major metropolitan area - as I do - then driving distance is a moot point: The shows will come to you. You can attend as many shows as your time, attention span and finances will allow...

MM

Perhaps, but millions of people in the US live in areas with few if any venues for performance around...other than bars. I think those in metro areas forget about this.

I average about two concerts a year. The closest venue to me that has name shows is 10 miles, but I usually have to drive to Denver, 60 miles each way.

[mcnach]

Originally Posted by bigbottomend

1. I'm not anxious.
2. Funny how people categorise English as European.
3. Geography states that I am English.

And England being in Europe makes you... what exactly?
lol.
Just like Europe (and even England! Goodness gracious!) being on Earth makes you an earthling.

The good news is that labels do not change who you are, so don't be upset.;-)

[bigbottomend]

No I'm not upset, just frustrated by the constant labeling and / or generalisation that everyone in Europe is the same.
Precisely my point, everyone on earth isn't the same.
Your from Scotland, why does Scotland want independence ? to be European ? No it's to fully to control its own affairs, both nationally and internationally and that's the point I'm making.

[Gitaaroverlast]

Hmmm, I'm Dutch, and many people here still really like live music.
There are quite a lot of festivals featuring bands here, and pubs still have live bands playing rather often. Besides that, competitions for bands are organised a lot too. However, most clubs hardly ever have live acts, just house-''music.''

Oh yeah, and thinking that all European countries are alike is like saying that all countries in America are alike, North-America, South-America and whatever.

[Faderoktopus]

This subject, while very interesting, might very well become pointless if we do not acknowledge how extremely generalizing it is.

Europe is not a country, it's a continent. Assuming any inherent European culture that should be coherent from Finland to Spain to the Czech Republic is way of base. America is two continents, but I assume the OP is referring to the USA. In that case, while this country is huge and diverse, at least the states have two things in common, namely language and government. These are significant cultural issues, and to some extent will probably mean that the USA is somewhat more culturally homogeneous than Europe.

With the advent of an international music market and the widespread use of English, some music sociologists have theorized that a Swedish hiphop fan might feel closer to the American hiphop fans than to the Swedish rock fans. I think there is some measure of truth to this, but I still believe that national and local traditions are more deeply rooted than we are usually aware of, and most likely take primacy over our musical preferences in defining our behavior.

From my experience of playing in quite a few different European countries, I have noticed some differences in the attitude of the audiences. However, while I believe I could say something useful about the differences between a German audience and an Italian audience in general, these differences always fade when compared to the differences between the audience in a small, local metal club or a large rock festival. And there is just no comparison between the turnout and the energy of a crowd on a Friday night or a Tuesday afternoon, regardless of country and probably regardless of continent as well.


Martin

[TheBass]

England is part of Europe ? Definetly yes. England is part of the EU ? Well ... sometimes at least ;-)

[Faderoktopus]

Originally Posted by TheBass

England is part of Europe ? Definetly yes. England is part of the EU ? Well ... sometimes at least ;-)

You could say the same for Denmark. But lets save that for another thread, shall we?

Martin

[TheBass]

On topic: naturally the closer you get to a major city, the more you'll find clubs with regular live music. But at least in my area (Cologne) their terms of payment are turning more and more ridicoulous. Some clubs want a fixed upfront payment from the band for the house and the band will get a percentage of the door. Many clubs don't do any advertisement or leave it completely to the band. Some clubs wants the band to guarantee a minimum drinking turnover from the audience before the are going to pay. I know many bands who are refusing to play for these conditions and are moving away from major cities to smaller local clubs.