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Do you support your local music community?

#101
Not supporting your fellow musicians is the single best way for your scene to suck and continue to suck. If you can't do the math there, I really don't know what to say. Pissing on any band that isn't yours, and saying you "don't go out because everybody sucks" is childish. Somebody is worth seeing, and if musicians aren't helping fill shows and spread the word about who is worth checking out, who do you think is? Crowds/scene do not magically appear, and all the egotist "MY band doesn't suck, and I don't go out to see suck" jabbering in this thread is ridiculous. What a pile of naysaying poop heads. Sure, many have life things that prevent them from actively participating as much as they may (or may not) like to. So what? That is no excuse for the (insert hometown here) bash fest this thread has become. Get over yourselves, you are definitely a factor in why your scene stinks. There is a HUGE difference between doing what you can and being a positive influence, even if it's minimal, and crapping on something you already choose not to be a part of. Good luck building a crowd with these childish 'tudes, lol.
 
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#106
Lowandfat said:
Not supporting your fellow musicians is the single best way for your scene to suck and continue to suck. If you can't do the math there, I really don't know what to say. Pissing on any band that isn't yours, and saying you "don't go out because everybody sucks" is childish. Somebody is worth seeing, and if musicians aren't helping fill shows and spread the word about who is worth checking out, who do you think is? Crowds/scene do not magically appear, and all the egotist "MY band doesn't suck, and I don't go out to see suck" jabbering in this thread is ridiculous. What a pile of naysaying poop heads. Sure, many have life things that prevent them from actively participating as much as they may (or may not) like to. So what? That is no excuse for the (insert hometown here) bash fest this thread has become. Get over yourselves, you are definitely a factor in why your scene stinks. There is a HUGE difference between doing what you can and being a positive influence, even if it's minimal, and crapping on something you already choose not to be a part of. Good luck building a crowd with these childish 'tudes, lol.
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I think you pretty much summed it up.

I’ve read allot I don’t get out to see local bands they all suck. 1. How do you know if they suck if you don’t get out to see them 2. If all the local bands suck does that include the band you play in?

I guess everyone is in a different situation. I’m sure it’s hard if you live in a small town without many live music venues. I live in Houston so there are plenty of different options for live music. Still you have to work with what you have.
 
#107
My biggest issue with seeing live music is that the vast majority of the people that do go have no interest in the music. I've lost count of the times I've had friends trying to talk to me through song after song and have had to tell them to save the conversation till the break.
 
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#108
Eilif said:
I very occasionally get to a show but I don't "support the scene". I've got a wife and kids and haven't the time or inclination. I'm already giving one weekend evening a week to gigging and I got my fill of listening to mediocre acts when I was in my 20's.

"Supporting the scene" is for kids who don't have kids.
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It may not seem like it now, but there is life after kids. And, there will come a time when you may just want to get out and do stuff that you weren't able to do when the kids were younger... When that time comes, go check out some of the younger acts that you know nothing about. You may be pleasantly surprised! I know I have been.
 
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#109
TIMD said:
.............How do you know if they suck if you don’t get out to see them ..................
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What kind of music do they say they play?
If they don't mention that,are we supposed to to just spend money and take a gamble?

Me,like many,have particular tastes.
And don't want to sit through just any 'ol band.

I don't know how many times I've read an article about a new band and wondered after reading,"But what kind of music do they play?"
Because they talk about everything but that.
 
#110
I think forcing matters is the wrong way to go about it: if there aren't enough people interested then let it be. It means there's no 'scene'.

However I don't think there's a danger of that, at least where I live. Do I go out and watch other bands? I do. Not every weekend, and maybe not every month (I'm out playing most weekends, so when I have a free one I am likely to want to do something different), but I like live music, it's why I play, so of course I'm going to see live bands... but the idea that I need to go out of my way to help increase the audience numbers in order to help 'the scene' is wrong, I think.

When I play, I want to see people there, of course, but not captive audiences, not audiences that are there to do me a favour. I think it is a lot more honest to just go to the shows you feel like it, and promote and talk about those shows you enjoy (even if you can't or won't make it), rather than forcing yourself to go and see bands where you'd rather have a quiet pint or read a book elsewhere.

I'm not dismissing the bands I don't go see. I literally don't have the time to see every band I'd like to see: there's lots of great stuff! Just like I don't stay for the whole set of other bands that may play after or before me, necessarily: I don't go "oooh, they suck". No, I say hi, I tell them I enjoyed what I heard when I have a chance, I talk to others about them if I liked a band, etc. I feel that's much more productive than simply attending and being a number. I've played gigs where clearly nobody was there to see us: maybe 10 people, mostly staff or other band members, not looking interested... I'd rather they're not there, frankly, I don't want pity :)
Does anyone?
 
#111
Watchootognbout said:
What kind of music do they say they play?
If they don't mention that,are we supposed to to just spend money and take a gamble?

Me,like many,have particular tastes.
And don't want to sit through just any 'ol band.

I don't know how many times I've read an article about a new band and wondered after reading,"But what kind of music do they play?"
Because they talk about everything but that.
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You google the band or check out what they have on YouTube.
 
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#113
lat said:
It may not seem like it now, but there is life after kids. And, there will come a time when you may just want to get out and do stuff that you weren't able to do when the kids were younger... When that time comes, go check out some of the younger acts that you know nothing about. You may be pleasantly surprised! I know I have been.
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That's a good thing to remember. Our kids are only in elementary school but my wife and I are already making grand plans for what we'll do when they are out of the house.

That said, I doubt I'll be out searching the scene when they're gone. I'll probably support a friend's band now and then, but I've always enjoyed playing music more than attending music performances. If I'm still in a band -which is very likely- that will be the majority of my musical outings.
 
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#114
lat said:
It may not seem like it now, but there is life after kids. And, there will come a time when you may just want to get out and do stuff that you weren't able to do when the kids were younger... When that time comes, go check out some of the younger acts that you know nothing about. You may be pleasantly surprised! I know I have been.
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Yeah, we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and it looks like it's not a train, heh. One kid is effectively out of the house and number two is in the tenth grade. Well leave him at home for a set or two when we catch something local, and we have a bar that some friend's bands play at every couple weeks.
 
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#115
Our son is graduating high school this year, so we have been able to leave him alone at home for a few years now. It's been good to be able to get out and support the local scene again. Actually, since I only started playing when our son was 12, I support the local scene more now than I ever have! For me, being a player has given me the added insight to appreciate live music on a much deeper and more multi-faceted level than in the past.
 
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