How "catty" is your local scene?

Nobody is forcing you to stay in your genre.
I'm guessing (feel free to slap me around a little if I'm wrong) that you are quite young, and hanging with a scene the same age. Maybe it's just a maturity/experience thing.
My demographic supports each other, lends gear if ness, lends a musician if someone is sick, and goes to each other gigs. If I can't accept a gig, I always pass it to a colleague, and if a a venue asks for a recommedation for a band, I try to set him up with someone right for the job. This is after 45 years in the business.
If I'm right that it's just an age thing, there's two things you can do 1) Let it mellow. Drama lessens with age. 2) lead by example. Be the better man in every instance.

 

We have a big variety of bands ranging from acoustic rock and southern rock to every kind of metal.

As for the festival thing all the bands that gig regularly trash talk most of the bands picked for festivals lol. It’s not initially how it sounds though. The situation here is that most of the festival gigs actually go to bands who don’t even regularly gig but just happen to know the organizers. So entire scene is actually united together in this trash talking and instead of being toxic it unites us. It makes all the local bands look bad when these thrown together bands who are unseasoned go onstage at festivals because it makes people think “yikes, these are best local bands around?” So yeah there’s plenty of trash talking but we aren’t bashing any bands we actually share the stage with or any venues who’s regularly host live music. When the festival gig is booked by someone who actually is involved with the local music scene no one complains about the bands picked and all the bands are very supportive of each other.

I played some jazz gigs when I was in my late teens and still in contact with the high school jazz band folks. These days though there’s no jazz players around. Kind of bums me out because while I wouldn’t want to do it full time I’d really like to record a Jazz album and play maybe a few gigs a year. I’d particularly like to do it with a smaller band like just bass, piano, drums, and a great horn player. What I was playing before was more like a big band type ensemble playing a bigger range of genres including but also going beyond what I refer to as jazz. But yeah if it’s not in the acoustic rock to metal range of genres there’s not much of a scene for it here because most of the good keys and horn players only play at church if anything.

 

In the meantime, continue being the better person, and the cream will rise to the top. Your band will be rewarded by being the class act.

 

That explains a lot.

 

For the most part, the local scene here is small and supportive. There are a few whiners who will complain when they don't feel that they're being supported enough by the scene. There are a few people with reputations for being difficult that have fewer opportunities to play, or cycle through players like a revolving door. Sometimes a reputation is warranted, sometimes it isn't. I work with anyone who shows up and suits up, can play and is nice to me, until they show me a side that tells me to move on.

But, you know, people are people.

 

This is Reno how catty would you like? On one hand we have the Stars like coming up we have Van Morrison, Buddy Guy, The Outlaws, etc. On the other we have the pro's, then you add in the Casino's, then the Bars and Clubs, and finally the Local Bands. All genres all competing for a spot somewhere.
As I have read it can get quite nasty. Makes me glad I am no longer able to get involved in that mess. They are firing at each other on all social media not just one. Acting like 3rd graders trying for a spot on the perceived best Kickball team. Makes for interesting entertainment before the entertainment but it can also make for embarassment for your local. I agree with everyone to become a part of the solution and let the immature individuals be part of the problem and make jerks outta themselves. As was stated being the bigger person will be noticed and make for great press for you. This is one situation that can provide great results for you and your mates if handled correctly.
Good luck
Bob

 

All they are doing is making themselves look unprofessional. Gigs are not about bands, they are about the audience. Hoping it rains so the festival is canceled is extremely immature. Cancellations not only impact the band, they impact everyone involved in the festival including the audience. It really comes down to jealousy. Maybe if they spent less time bashing other bands and more time being professional, being supportive and building relationships, they just might get some of those gigs. You can't control what other people do, say or think so don't worry about.

 

Did it rain?

 

Small town? <50 k?

 

There’s more than enough bs in the jazz scene too. And the egos are just as humongous...

 

My local scene rules. Lots of people showing up to support local bands, lots of cooperation and synergy and respect among the folks I hang with. I’m sure there are haters mixed in, but I don’t spend time on negativity.

 

My area is made up of mostly originals bands (in all genres) who all respect and support each other. It’s great!!!

But there are a handful of covers bands around here (in the classic rock/top 40 genres) and they seem to be competitive, non-supportive, and otherwise lean more to the catty side as you described.

Learn more genres! You’ll most likely improve overall as a musician, have more fun, and make more money as a result.

 

Yeah.. but does jazz sell beer ??

 

This sort of behavior is not unique to the music business and it sounds pretty typical to me. People tend to develop a sense that they are entitled to jobs and when the work goes to someone else, they feel they have been violated.

But this is how a free market works. If you want the work, you either need to know somebody who calls the shots or you have to deliver a good product; even better if you do both. Sadly many of the people who develop a sense of entitlement do neither. They mainly sit around and complain because they can't get a good gig and never consider that maybe they are the problem.

My advice. Try to rise above it and always be gracious and consummately professional.


One last thing, IMHO, you're unlikely to escape the problem by playing jazz.

 

The problems will just be jazzier.

 

Ironically, the one way to get around all that cattiness is to play in a children's music band. I did it for about a year when the opportunity arose and it was a lot of fun. Those performers have absolutely ZERO tolerance for that catty BS. But they ARE actors, so the vivaciousness is a little different.

It's more theatre than music, and most of those lowly, catty, nasty musos won't touch that type of thing, or have the chops to audition successfully for it. You end up playing jazz, pop, swing, and folk, and the people doing it are pretty mellow, because it's all about the kids. Go figure!

 

That's a shame. Round my way, we have loads of talented players, and so far everyone's been supportive of each other. we all sub in each other's bands too, band together and do fundraisers if one of us has a problem, stuff like that. I've made some good friends in the scene.