Do you support your local music community?

[MultiScaleMale]

I want to go out and support local musicians, but I don't like going to late night Friday / Saturday shows. It's been a long week and I'm not in my twenties anymore. If bands started earlier and I could grab dinner, I'd hit a lot more shows. I feel like an idiot nursing one Michelob Ultra all evening, but I have zero desire to drink much of anything and then hit the roads. Sometimes the bands will start at 8:00 and my wife and I will hit those and do a late dinner then roll out after the first or second set. If bands started at 7:00, I'd be a big time supporter. It's not a big college area and for nightlife, the youngins go to DC or Baltimore.

I will add that I'd probably more far more willing to go out if I were in a music town like Nashville. Here, it's typically cover bands and I'm old, but damn, I want to hear some new music. Even if I don't particularly like it, give me something well-crafted and new.

 

[TIMD]

Pick a time period and genre of music, bebob, British classic rock, 80’s Rick LA scene, Seattle in the 90’s just to name a few. These musicians went out to see each other’s bands and were part of there own scenes.

Sure most people will nit be able to make a living playing music never mind major success. Still if you want a decent local scene with good clubs and good bands to share bills with you should contribute your part as a fellow musician.

 

[Bullitt5135]

I haven’t gotten out much the past few years, but I’m starting to do so a little more often. There’s a club downtown that does a 5-8pm happy hour on Fridays for the after work crowd (attracts a good crowd of retirees too). They book solid bands, and there’s no cover. Great vibe. I can grab dinner after and be in bed by 10pm.

A friend of mine opened a cool new bar and is attempting to book live indie rock acts a couple nights a week from 7-10pm. Great PA and a pro engineer. God bless him, it’s a tough sell when a lot of people hit the outdoor beer gardens on nice evenings. Most bands have been really young and not necessarily my thing, but i like the fact that there are kids out there carrying the torch. I’m gonna try to get down there on Friday nights.

I work with a guy who wins the lifetime achievement award. He and his wife see north of a couple HUNDRED acts a year, and often more than one venue on a given night. They support just about every local musician, including me, in a 50 mile radius. Not only are they paying cover and buying drinks, they often pick up the dinner tab for the musicians. Saints they are.

 

[twinjet]

"If you don't go to my show, don't expect me to go to yours.....and that's the way it is"

This was said to me the other day from a local guitarist when we were talking about another local band

The local metal scene here is a pretty tight group, and I've always been an advocate of supporting my locals. For me it's a way of getting out of the house, having some fun and talking shop.

Being an active part of the community for me is a very positive social activity that has actually served me pretty well.

But, I hear where he's coming from.........

Thoughts?

Forming relationships and maintaining them can lead to positive results. Yes, I regularly support local music, especially as someone who fills in for side work.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

"If you don't go to my show, don't expect me to go to yours.....and that's the way it is"

This was said to me the other day from a local guitarist when we were talking about another local band

The local metal scene here is a pretty tight group, and I've always been an advocate of supporting my locals. For me it's a way of getting out of the house, having some fun and talking shop.

Being an active part of the community for me is a very positive social activity that has actually served me pretty well.

But, I hear where he's coming from.........

Thoughts?

I don't go out that much anymore, but in my younger years when I was touring, anytime we had the night off and someone else was performing, we went to watch them. Often ended up talking with them. It was a fun thing to do and gave you an idea of what other bands were doing and how they ran their gigs.

 

[JGbassman]

I did when younger, but as I've got older, the lure to hang out in a bar has dwindled. I quit playing the bar scene last New Year's Eve, with cover bands, and I honestly haven't been to a bar since, taking back one gig I did a few weeks ago in a casino. I have friends that play out often, but I just can't bear to step inside a bar these days, I guess I'm burned out on the scene.

In my defense, I work a day job 50-55 hours a week, M-F, and run my GF's kids to soccer games on the weekends, soccer practice on week days, plus have practice with two different bands once a week crammed on top of that. And I don't drink.

I'm not anti social, I just don't have a lot of free time to go sit in a bar, drink soda, have a bite to eat, and hang out. I normally get up at 330 am for my job, so by 10 pm I'm dragging butt. For those that can do it, great. I just don't have the time.

 

[Jscriv]

I try. I used to be at every show. But life gets in the way for me. Sometimes keeping my practice schedule with band has to be treated like a job. Same with playing shows. Between school, Overtime, kids, the whoas of owning a house, sometimes I just can't get away. And it sucks. Also, everyone likes "folk punk" now. And lots of hardcore.

 

[2F/2F]

No. I hate going out, and all bands suck. Don't come to my shows either. I just do them out of boredom and the desire not to waste the offer of one free beer.

 

[rashrader]

I’m too old and unhip to do the local music scene. It’s there. I’m not.

 

[Passinwind]

I want to go out and support local musicians, but I don't like going to late night Friday / Saturday shows. It's been a long week and I'm not in my twenties anymore. If bands started earlier and I could grab dinner, I'd hit a lot more shows. I feel like an idiot nursing one Michelob Ultra all evening, but I have zero desire to drink much of anything and then hit the roads. Sometimes the bands will start at 8:00 and my wife and I will hit those and do a late dinner then roll out after the first or second set. If bands started at 7:00, I'd be a big time supporter. It's not a big college area and for nightlife, the youngins go to DC or Baltimore.

I will add that I'd probably more far more willing to go out if I were in a music town like Nashville. Here, it's typically cover bands and I'm old, but damn, I want to hear some new music. Even if I don't particularly like it, give me something well-crafted and new.

Winery gigs from 4:30-6:30 on Friday afternoon are a thing here now. Or 6-9 on Mondays and Thursdays in a small bar, with half price drinks for the first hour. Lots of 7-10PM ones at various spots too. This works well, at least around here.

 

[somebrains]

I tried last year, but TBH I got tired of hearing the same covers & dealing with bar staff on a busy night.
I prefer going in the daytime when it's not busy.

I see guys from other bands come to "support", but they nurse 1 beer all night, don't order food, & stand there with their arms folded in judgement.

Hey, that whole deal doesn't get any better at 45 than it did when I saw the same BS in middle school.

What's worse is that "scenes" end up around me to be this juvenile in crowd thing that's worn all the rubber off the tires by now.

 

[LBS-bass]

Winery gigs from 4:30-6:30 on Friday afternoon are a thing here now. Or 6-9 on Mondays and Thursdays in a small bar, with half price drinks for the first hour. Lots of 7-10PM ones at various spots too. This works well, at least around here.

The best regular show my band plays on a regular basis is a Happy Hour show at a local blues club. They bring in local non-blues bands to play before the big names show up, starting at 5:30 and ending at 7:30. Everyone comes out because it's early but it's still late enough that no one feels awkward about ordering a few drinks and dancing it up during set 2. We love it, our friends love it.

 

[MordBass]

I do try to make it out to local shows and support original bands in my scene but refuse to do so for cover bands. Aside from once or twice getting roped into it because of a birthday party or something, I wont pay a cover to see covers. I'd much rather let the juke box play the songs the way they were meant to be played... and with a volume that I can still enjoy conversation.
If I'm at a concert, I'm there to listen to the music. If the music is an afterthought for the background, I don't need live players.

 

[twinjet]

I do try to make it out to local shows and support original bands in my scene but refuse to do so for cover bands. Aside from once or twice getting roped into it because of a birthday party or something, I wont pay a cover to see covers. I'd much rather let the juke box play the songs the way they were meant to be played... and with a volume that I can still enjoy conversation.
If I'm at a concert, I'm there to listen to the music. If the music is an afterthought for the background, I don't need live players.

I'm ok with covers. Still takes skill to perform them well (saying this as a jazz lover/performer). If the band is no good, I don't bother. Being a local band doesn't automatically guarantee my attendance. The show must actually be worth seeing.

I once was gifted tickets to watch a local band, which had seen nationwide success as a stoner rock/psych rock band. I will not mention their name for the sake of not offending. When gifted tickets to their home coming show, my wife and I went. It was a new experience. We listened to about 45 minutes of garage stoner rock and psychedelic shreds. Not something either of us enjoyed. We left halfway through the show with pounding headaches and no desire to ever see or hear that band again.

 

[MDBass]

"If you don't go to my show, don't expect me to go to yours.....and that's the way it is"

This was said to me the other day from a local guitarist when we were talking about another local band

The local metal scene here is a pretty tight group, and I've always been an advocate of supporting my locals. For me it's a way of getting out of the house, having some fun and talking shop.

Being an active part of the community for me is a very positive social activity that has actually served me pretty well.

But, I hear where he's coming from.........

Thoughts?

That local guitarist has a small time mindset.

Be so entertaining that everyone in the audience goes home telling everyone they know how amazing the show was: if you don't do something special for your audience, don't expect them to do anything special for you.

 

[MordBass]

I'm ok with covers. Still takes skill to perform them well.

Oh it definitely takes skill, I just won't support it. Far too many times have I been out with friends or a special someone and suddenly we see some dudes loading in the gear and we know that it's just a matter of time before we're screaming in each others ears with no hope for a conversation. All so we can be subjected to a song thats already in the juke box the way it was meant to be heard.

 

[twinjet]

Oh it definitely takes skill, I just won't support it. Far too many times have I been out with friends or a special someone and suddenly we see some dudes loading in the gear and we know that it's just a matter of time before we're screaming in each others ears with no hope for a conversation. All so we can be subjected to a song thats already in the juke box the way it was meant to be heard.

Heh, I sometimes feel that way when I go to watch a blues band. They sound fine, but forget talking to anyone.

 

[Lowandfat]

I don't go to any local shows. Why aren't there any local gigs around here? This is how silly some of you sound.

 

[BAG]

I support local music quite a bit.
For over 25 years managing pubs and clubs I've always put on some form of live music even though on probably more than 90% of the time we'd make more profit not paying a live music act.

Also I try to see get out and see a live act at least once or twice a month at other venues..... although now it's mainly looking for good solos and duo's.

 

[thetragichero]

I've been blessed with being such an insufferable a-hole with my old band that I've been out of playing in a band since 2013 (since turning my life around I've been playing consistently at my church for almost 3 years now), so I've gotten to be a spectator again. it's independent punk/hardcore/metal bands but for awhile going shows (even ones I wasn't playing) seemed like work. now I can go and enjoy and buy something from the touring band and go home

I still have a hard time not being critical, like the band with a bassist who played a while hell of a lot of notes in some key. not the key the rest of the band was playing, but they have to be in *some* key I guess
I certainly struggle with not playing whole notes sometimes when it's called for

I'm also that old guy now with ear plugs lol