[QueenOfTheScene]

With the recent closing of The DugOut, Murphy's & Pulp Live and soon to be Bougainvillia's (the owner is retiring), I wonder what is to come of the local live music scene. Sure, there are still the few core, staple venues we all know and love, but variety is the spice of life! Seeing the same band play the same songs on the same stage time after time can get...old. and that's coming from ME!

But what is really causing the downfall of these venues? We can easily blame it on todays economy. But it goes deeper than that. When I drive around south beach or any local dive bars, i see people pouring out onto the street. The bars are FULL of people. Recession my ass. So I'm thinking maybe there's a cool band playing. but no. nothing but a jukebox. or maybe a Dj. But then when I go see live bands, even some really great ones, it's deader than a doornail! WHY IS THAT?

We have to give credit where credit is due. Despite the demise of these venues, at least they were willing to host live music. Unfortunately, it doesnt seem to appeal to the sheep. By sheep, I mean people who gather where other other people gather, whether they like whats happening or not. It goes both ways because even at some of my own shows, people seem to have no idea what is going on. They are just there because there are other people there. Maybe they are there for the drinks. maybe they are there in hopes of getting laid. maybe they are lost? But hey, if people are there, at least the venue is making money. What worries me is that less and less venues will be hosting live music. especially since brain dead society is content with dj's and cover bands.

The point of this article is, HOW DO WE UNITE THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE? How do we get normal joe schmoe's interested in going to see a local band? How do we make people STOP, LOOK & LISTEN? Sure, the words "unite" and "scene" are pretty corny these days. Seems like a long lost dream. But we can make it happen. It's not only the venue's responsibility, but the bands as well. If each band member were to really try to get at least one new person to come see their band for each show, it might catch on. People might realize that there is more to a fun night out than a dj rehashing some ripped off beats and countless rounds of beer pong. There's Passion and Creativity and people trying to build a future as a musician. They can say "I saw them when they were just a local band".

That one-person goal shouldn't be too hard. honestly, if you cant bring one person to come see your band, you should re-think your career in the music industry. The music business is just that. Music and Business. Alot of bands have this romanticized vision that all they need to do is focus on their music. But thats not true. You have to be just as business savvy as an advertizing agency if you want to "make it". Hire a Manager to handle all that? If you can afford one, great. but all the money in the world can't buy TRUST. so good luck with that.

Be your own Promoter. It baffles me that with todays many social networking sites, we have less of a unified "scene" than back when no one really had the internet. The mid-late nineties, early 2000's, we had a great thing happening in the local music scene. and as hard as i try, it just doesnt seem like thats gunna happen again. I remember when the radio had local shows, when the stations would even broadcast live from the shows, when burdines had local bands in their commercials, JAM magazine, when i used to have to wait in line to get in a show cuz it was THAT PACKED, when all the bands had a comeraderie, when all the people in the crowds were people you'd see every week no matter what band or what venue, when bands would show up early before they go on and stayed till the end to support all the other bands.
Maybe i'm just getting old and cant get over the good ol' days. But honestly I see no reason why it shouldn't still be that way.

How can the bands help the venues and how can the venues help the bands?

I'll close this by inviting you all to post your opinions here.

THE QUEENS COUNCIL. Lets start a monthly or quarterly meeting where we can all get together and discuss things. who's down?

I want to hear your stories of the good ol' days, I want to hear your gripes, I want to hear your idea's- no matter how obvious they might seem. If we can all share them, discuss what might work and what wont and what you'd want as a band, as a patron or as a venue owner/employee...maybe we can come to a conclusion and work on saving some venues and creating a more unified "scene".

[redawn]

Amen! I think that we can get good bands that draw and do their own promotion by having the promoters promote them via press releases, web, fliers, print, radio, anything!!! Then after the night, thank them with post promo w/ reviews, photo, video, etc... A lot of venues do not offer that kind of support. Also, bands should sell their CDs after their shows for $5.

[redawn]

I still cant believe Pulp Live and Murphy's closed. I LOVED those places.

[QueenOfTheScene]

post-promo is such a great idea and and a very nice way to show thanks and respect to the performers and the people who attended.

and yes, bands should sell their cds at an affordable rate. or at least make free demo's to give out. GOOD QUALITY. if a band hands their cd to someone, they'll tell their friends "listen to this awesome band i saw" they'll be more likely to go see you again. but quality is the key. i get alot of crappy recordings. i myself can appreciate it. but others, they'll just throw it out.

[JVinazza]

I think musicians should bring CD's and the Hosts should at least make attempts in letting people know that CD's are available. Bands should not be afraid to at least ask for a donation. If people can't offer a buck for a CD then chances are that person will never listen to your CD anyways. The only people you should give free CD's to is people that can help you further you career. I myelf can attest that I never listen to any CD's just randomly given to me. I either ask for it, and sometimes i may kop it.

[QueenOfTheScene]

I've been given some really good cds for free. then again, i guess im not just any random person. well, i wasnt saying bands should give away their cds for free. i meant a 1 or 2 song demo.

Remember back in the day (or maybe they still do it, i dunno), but punk/ska bands used to do split vinyls. It'd be cool if some bands joined together. like if 3 bands put 2 songs each on a cd and either gave them away or sold them cheap. that way each band is helping to promote each other while splitting the cost as well. and the commeraderie is what makes a "scene". Thats why Oski & I make compilation cd's for alot of our festivals. you never know who's hands one might end up in. they are usually a wide range of bands of different genre's.

[Daysleeper]

I have had years of issues with the "sheep" as you so cleverly put it
the sheep have innate problems understanding original music. its always been a problem. unless the music is danceable or is background noise ("not too loud, i gotta talk to this chick"), its not acceptable.

people, on a basic human level, have issues dealing with new things. so unless the music is highly pre-promoted, shared, or recommended by word of mouth, regular everyday sheep, who cant think for themselves or dont have a general love for music, will have no interest.

and its hard, as a band, to go out and spend money on materials/cd's/ etc when you go to a venue and you are underpromoted by them, after the band (like we do) promote the hell out of the venue and the show.

do we (as a band) care to reach out to those sheep who do not know anything about music and dont care, maybe not, but you never know. so we have to take the angle that we have to just play. everything else is a plus. we are very grateful to those who do care and promote. but we just want to play somewhere there are people usually gathered (whether people pay attention or not), but at least there's people there and someone will listen, ask for your info, and possibly share that with a friend. i dont need the constant "look at us while we play" deal. people can learn to appreciate new music if they are exposed to it. and thats why venues need to stop always depending only on djs playing familiar (usually dance) music. and not just book original bands on tuesdays because thats when the dj cant come.

dont get me started with bougainvillias, we went there to ask about playing and were told we had to play a 3 hour set or nothing! WTF lol

i can go on forever after 10 years of being in and out of the scene! lol
thanks for all you do.

-emery

[QueenOfTheScene]

Oski's gunna hate me for saying this, but i pretty much hate cover bands (thats what they want for 3 hours) and Dj's. I only like dj's when they are digging up cool underground and indie stuff. not your typical top 40 bullshit. But the venues know that dj's & cover bands are what appeals to "the sheep". so they are the problem with the local live music scene. I have no problem with a cover or two within an ORIGINAL set. and i dont mean to discredit cover bands as musicians. i know they are just doing what they gotta do as a musician. i just hate when venues would rather book them than an original band. although from a business standpoint, i understand because thats what keeps the herd there.