http://www.indy.com/posts/6705 en-us Rebelle I actually agree with you whole heartedly on this! No worries on the disclaimer, because I am a spoken word artist and that is a whole different ballgame! Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:59:04 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19921 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19921 StellarSwarm I think the biggest problem facing local acts is that they have NO idea how to market themselves. So many bands just throw a few songs together and then play out, and expect people to show up. Unless you have some extraordinary talent or a completely unique sound that immediately grips the attention of the audience, you're not going to get anywhere that way. As much as you want it to just be about the music, you HAVE to think of it with the mind of a businessman. The band is a product, and you have to determine how the band will look, how they will sound, etc. There is a distinct difference between just a group of people up on stage playing music, and a band that has a cohesive look and sound. A real band has stage presence and commands the audience's attention. But that attention is wasted if you don't have a CD or t-shirt to sell them at the end of the night. So that's where you really need to start. Write a respectable amount of songs. Record them. Get some CD's out there for the world to hear. Advertise, promote, generate some buzz. Then polish your sound, image, and live performance. Once there is sufficient buzz and there is an obvious interest in seeing you perform live, THEN you start scheduling shows. Scheduling shows with no name and no buzz just won't work. Another problem I have observed is that performers don't choose a venue that is appropriate to their size, and their style of music. It's a fact of life that people who are out to drink and have fun do not want to hear a couple of people up on stage, sitting on stools, playing acoustic singer/songwriter stuff. And while I personally hate 80's dance music, I can certainly see how that would more appropriately fit the party mood. I'll admit I'm a bit of a music snob, but I think there is just really a bunch of crap out there, and it's an awful lot to wade through. I think there are a lot of bands that are just completely delusional about their talent. I don't want to hear another singer/songwriter that's a John Mayer or Dave Matthews clone. Nor do I want to hear another punk band that is directly derived from Blink 182 or New Found Glory. Come up with something new or quit wasting my time. [DISCLAIMER: I have no knowledge of your music at all Rebelle, so none of this is directed at you. Just my observations of local music in general.] Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:04:45 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19831 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19831 Drinky_McGee I'm out and about far more than I probably should be, and things seem to be going pretty well. I was at the Murphy Building for First Friday. As usual, the joint was crawling with people. Punk Rock Night every Saturday night at the Melody Inn is typically crowded. The last Indy Uprising I went to with Red Light Driver was fairly well-attended. The Burlesque show at Radio Radio was packed. I can't remember the last sparsely-populated show I went to. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I doubt it. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:03:04 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19807 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19807 deb5683 When a small band is really good, chances are it's at a small venue here - and you just don't hear about it. That's why Indy.com is so important, so we can hear and learn about these events. My nephew had a band here before moving to Chicago and they mostly played in college towns - of course they played hard rock and the college kids seem to enjoy that more. Why can't more of us "older" people learn to enjoy the newer music. My son loves rap and I admit I like it too! Support the Arts people! Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:41:32 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19744 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19744 Rebelle I just hope enough people realize that there really is some great talent here. They'll have no choice but to get pissed with the dumbed down stuff they're being forcefeed and break out of their routines! Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:24:15 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19739 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19739 Victory33 It's the Deer Creek effect...people want to go there regardless of the band, just to go to a big concert, and feel they are part of an event. All local acts usually perform at the smaller clubs and venues. I can't stand going to a concert unless I love the group, or am interested in finding out more about the group. I would never go to a concert of a group I "kinda like". You ask most people to name 5 songs of the band they are going to see and they are stumped...you ask a Margot fan to name 5 songs and they're all over it. Some people go to hear the music and some people go to listen to the music....if you know what I mean. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:58:40 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19696 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19696 rictor Seems to me that there are dozens of local bands playing in clubs all over Indy every weekend. I always thought we didn't get enough good national bands. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:54:58 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19694 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19694 joe.shearer Great point. It's going to take time. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:53:57 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19666 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19666 caralyn yup - so are these guys... great concept http://indiebandcollective.com www.myspace.com/indiebandcollective Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:32:22 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19662 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19662 indyrock We are attempting to fix this... www.myspace.com/indyuprising Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:24:11 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19661 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19661 caralyn Oh I don't know guys...lack of support for local arts seems to be a geographic & socioeconomic phenomena. The midwest mindset in general seems to be "Eight to Five...American Idol...Feed the Dog...Eight to Five..." In other words not just Indiana that sees this problem. It simply takes time and a shift in mindset to remind people that the arts (be it music, theater, whathaveyou) are a vital part of life. Gotta start somewhere! Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:59:48 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19657 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19657 joe.shearer I think all of the hubbub raised over the arts cuts that the mayor has been talking about hasn't helped, nor did the Guv's response to his veto of the filmmaker's tax credits being overriden (which was basically "DUH, I dunno whai they'd dew that newfangled stuff"). There's so much talk of us being a cutting-edge city, we need to face the music and know that there's still a lot of work left to be done. We are making good progress though, because at least some people in important positions seem to get it on some level (though the mayor and governor don't seem to be among those people). Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:01:01 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19648 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19648 KJ1981 Huh, it's interesting that some make such a generalization about people that live in Indiana. I find that very ignorant. If you want to make something happen, then sometimes you have to be the one that starts it. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:52:44 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19631 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19631 Rebelle So how does one educate people that have no idea that they need to be educated? Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:14:10 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19629 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19629 quincy Obeythedoberman, You forgot lazy! People need to be educated, or at the very least raised into it. Start while they are young. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:07:43 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19628 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19628 Rebelle Its a shame that whenever I ask this question I am told to move. I would think that if enough people stayed here we would be able to start a movement that they'll have no choice to pay attention! But alas that seems to be the only answer. Its a shame but I figure I'll stay in my bubble, go to my shows and relish in the fact that there's an underground movement that I am so proud to be apart of! Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:08:51 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19605 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19605 actrsschk1975 www.indyarts.org - find local artists and go out and support them. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:49:57 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19590 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19590 obeythedoberman lack of culture, farming, corn, bad taste, alcoholism, obesity. these are just a few reasons. did you know that there are numerous local cover bands who actually make THOUSANDS of dollars per performance!? THOUSANDS! it's crazy. at some point you just have to laugh. if the talent is there though you should seriously consider packing up and moving to a city that supports artists. NYC, LA, San Fran, hell even Chicago. people will try and make an argument about what a great city whatever city they live in is but the bottom line is that change comes with time and artists don't necessarily have the luxury of waiting for that change. i gave up on bringing change awhile ago. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:48:38 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19589 http://www.indy.com/posts/6705#comment_19589