To scene or not to scene, that is the ?

[Kabal]

So a little while ago some bands that I have mutual friends in wanted to start a scene in our area. At first I'm on board but I'm not a huge fan of their music/vibe so if I were to try to push it I wouldn't really be giving it my all because my heart's not totally in it with them.

The current music scene around here is non-existent so there aren't tons of other possibilities for me musically and I like the idea of a community of musicians helping each other but right now, even though its still in its infant stages, I don't see it getting to the point we want with the way some of the bands run themselves.

I can definitely understand the view of looking at it as a springboard for my music but I can also see it in a "guilt by association" context. Right now I'm leaning toward the latter view but I'd like to know how other TBers would go about a situation like this?

 

[silvertripper]

I dont see anything wrong with a little help for some aspiring musicians. After all being a musician is also to be a teacher. However... you dont have to hold their hand do you? Give them the tools to succeed and let them grow. Help them a little then let them blaze their own trail. Meanwhile you can be working on some other project. I personally say help the bros out.

 

[Chuck King]

I'm skeptical as to whether you can create a scene out of bands that don't have a certain level of esprit de corps going in. Usually, a happening scene arises when you have a group of bands that like and respect each other, so they play shows with each other and go to each other's shows, and then you get cross-pollination among fans and shows become events, which creates a reinforcing feedback loop.

It also tends to require a certain minimum level of competence in the bands at the core of the scene. Nobody's going to build a scene around lame bands, no matter how much they network with each other.

If you don't like the other bands involved much, and they're not that great, I don't see much in the way of prospects for the "scene".

 

[AwkwardLoudness]

The scene needs to celebrate itself in order to help the scene grow.

At first I'm on board but I'm not a huge fan of their music/vibe...

On board? Or on the fence? How would you describe the music/vibe among the potential scenesters?

IMO, it's your judgement call. If it were me, this decision would depend on how much I liked or disliked the general music in the scene. Personally, I'm not too picky about style, but I am picky about musicianship....if the other bands sound like s***, regardless of style, then it would be impossible to truly celebrate the scene.

I'm skeptical as to whether you can create a scene out of bands that don't have a certain level of esprit de corps going in. Usually, a happening scene arises when you have a group of bands that like and respect each other, so they play shows with each other and go to each other's shows, and then you get cross-pollination among fans and shows become events, which creates a reinforcing feedback loop.

It also tends to require a certain minimum level of competence in the bands at the core of the scene. Nobody's going to build a scene around lame bands, no matter how much they network with each other.

100 agree. Eloquently said^^^

 

[Kabal]

On board? Or on the fence? How would you describe the music/vibe among the potential scenesters?

IMO, it's your judgement call. If it were me, this decision would depend on how much I liked or disliked the general music in the scene. Personally, I'm not too picky about style, but I am picky about musicianship....if the other bands sound like s***, regardless of style, then it would be impossible to truly celebrate the scene.

That part wasn't very well worded on my part let me rephrase. When the idea of a scene was first relayed to me by my friend I was very much for it. But after a few shows i don't know I think the honeymoon effect wore off.

Right now its just a singer-songwriter, a rockabilly band, and a nu-metal band with a few others on the fringe that could probably be coaxed in if they're shown this thing can really happen.

The singer-songwriter's got a good voice and ok originals but doesn't seem to have much heart in making music a big part of his life. He hasn't come up with anything new in a while and has to compensate with covers

The rockabilly guys are a little older and talk about how there used to be a scene around our area that was pretty big but don't seem in that big a hurry to try and build it back up. I don't know a lot about rockabilly but they're tight, got good equipment, and know how to carry themselves. But they don't really inspire anything in me personally

The nu-metal band revels in the concept of random unpreparedness is the next big thing. Too loud live, musicianship is not a huge concern nor goal, but they put on a show. Songs seem like stuff I was writing when I was 16-17 and they're all 25-30. Yet they're the ones that bring the crowd lol.

 

[Chuck King]

I don't see how you can meld a scene out of such disparate genres. The likelihood that fans of one of those will also like the others seems low---they all appeal to different crowds.