What happened to rockpage and this areas scene
What happened to rockpage and this areas scene
Ive been away from this site and the scene for a few years and i was shocked when I found that not many people use this site anymore. As well it seems the music scene here is almost dead. What happened? I really thought this area produced alot of good bands and good musicians.
The use of rockpage has really declined the last few years. I remember when i first started playing, there was so much information on here that helped me. it's a shame to see not that many people interested in using it.
as far as the scene goes, its still out there. there's still a lot of talented people locally, but a lot of our generation (mid twenties) are mainly interested in DJ's/Karaoke or whatever else. IMO. it's like pulling teeth to get people out to see live music. its like a mindset that, its ok if i dont go and miss out on something incredible, because i can probably see it on youtube tomorrow. social interaction is really lacking in every aspect, not just local music.
i'm really interested to see the local scene in about ten years.
- kayla.
as far as the scene goes, its still out there. there's still a lot of talented people locally, but a lot of our generation (mid twenties) are mainly interested in DJ's/Karaoke or whatever else. IMO. it's like pulling teeth to get people out to see live music. its like a mindset that, its ok if i dont go and miss out on something incredible, because i can probably see it on youtube tomorrow. social interaction is really lacking in every aspect, not just local music.
i'm really interested to see the local scene in about ten years.
- kayla.
`( f e n d e r)`
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KeithReynolds
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1358
- Joined: Monday Apr 06, 2009
- Location: Altoona, PA
Times change I guess. The music scene has been on the decline. Honestly, it never was that strong of a scene anyway if you ask me. Of course, I didnt get to PA until 2005, so I can only base my opinion from what I see.
Playing shows to 10 ppl in a backwoods bar isnt a worthy scene.
There are no bands around with a REAL FOLLOWING anymore.
Friends of the band, girlfriends,moms, co workers, and ppl sitting at the bar are NOT REAL FANS. Those are freebies. Those groups of ppl are not a fanbase. Start counting your real fanbase after you eliminate all the groups I mentioned. That leaves....pretty much nobody.
If youve been playing the same songs around here for 20 yrs, then yeah you probably have a fanbase that consists of more than the groups I mentioned.
So you see, no fans equals a dead scene. Most people dont go out every week to see a band. A scene cant survive just from girlfriends and coworkers coming to see bands.
NO ONE PROMOTES ANYMORE. This has been covered. Everyone relies on facebook or here to post about their gigs. NO ONE gets to the streets anymore. Maybe its too much work. Or they are happy playing to girlfriends, moms, coworkers and barflies.
PAPER FLYERS ARE THEY KEY TO REACH MORE PEOPLE. Its always overlooked and never done anymore. Isnt it funny that when the scene was good, paper flyers were prob used?
How many bands actually move their cds by sales? Again, im talking about more than just girlfriends, moms, or coworkers. Do bands set up merch tables anymore? Prob not.
Burnt cds with marker on them equal NOOOOOO. Presentation is everything. Proud of your music? show it. get your music pressed by a duplication company. Even if you only have a 100 cds, they will look way better and people will feel more confident about buying it rather than a burnt cd.
If bands themselves put no effort in reviving the local music scene, why would the public?
Playing shows to 10 ppl in a backwoods bar isnt a worthy scene.
There are no bands around with a REAL FOLLOWING anymore.
Friends of the band, girlfriends,moms, co workers, and ppl sitting at the bar are NOT REAL FANS. Those are freebies. Those groups of ppl are not a fanbase. Start counting your real fanbase after you eliminate all the groups I mentioned. That leaves....pretty much nobody.
If youve been playing the same songs around here for 20 yrs, then yeah you probably have a fanbase that consists of more than the groups I mentioned.
So you see, no fans equals a dead scene. Most people dont go out every week to see a band. A scene cant survive just from girlfriends and coworkers coming to see bands.
NO ONE PROMOTES ANYMORE. This has been covered. Everyone relies on facebook or here to post about their gigs. NO ONE gets to the streets anymore. Maybe its too much work. Or they are happy playing to girlfriends, moms, coworkers and barflies.
PAPER FLYERS ARE THEY KEY TO REACH MORE PEOPLE. Its always overlooked and never done anymore. Isnt it funny that when the scene was good, paper flyers were prob used?
How many bands actually move their cds by sales? Again, im talking about more than just girlfriends, moms, or coworkers. Do bands set up merch tables anymore? Prob not.
Burnt cds with marker on them equal NOOOOOO. Presentation is everything. Proud of your music? show it. get your music pressed by a duplication company. Even if you only have a 100 cds, they will look way better and people will feel more confident about buying it rather than a burnt cd.
If bands themselves put no effort in reviving the local music scene, why would the public?
Many musicians around here aren't playing every weekend. Yet there are only a few who support live music 
by actually going out to a live music venue.
Support the live music venues and support the bands that play there. Or sit at home, play video games, watch TV and complain there's no place to play.
by actually going out to a live music venue. Support the live music venues and support the bands that play there. Or sit at home, play video games, watch TV and complain there's no place to play.
I don't think that it's not that people don't want to see bands-- i really
believe a lot of it is 'cause of the dui checkpoints. They're afraid to go
out anymore because of that. We usually have decent crowds when we play, but we've also noticed that the crowds are smaller, and when i talk to people, that's the #1 reason they give. Not everyone can find a designated driver when they want to go out.
believe a lot of it is 'cause of the dui checkpoints. They're afraid to go
out anymore because of that. We usually have decent crowds when we play, but we've also noticed that the crowds are smaller, and when i talk to people, that's the #1 reason they give. Not everyone can find a designated driver when they want to go out.
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nakedtwister
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 942
- Joined: Tuesday Feb 22, 2005
- Location: Altoona,Pa
A lot of good points have already been made here, and each contributes in part to what's been happening with support of the music scene and Rockpage in the past few years.
I also attribute it to changing times and tastes. The music scene used to be fueled by drawing younger fans out to see live music; the primary audience that was the lifeblood for a lot of venues was the 20-something crowd. But live music isn't a priority for that segment of the population now.
From what I see as a college instructor teaching mass media classes at Penn State Altoona...The college crowd isn't fired up about going to see live bands and musicians like it was a generation or two ago. At least going by the general feedback I get through homework assignments and journals my students submit through the semester, their primary musical tastes these days are, in this order: hip-hop, modern country, hit music, and rock a distant fourth.
Today's young generation is the social networking generation, stuck to their iPhones and smartphones. They can just as easily or preferably converse with one another through a handheld device or laptop from the convenience of their home, dorm or apartment on a Saturday night, so why venture out to some crowded bar?
Time and money are also factors. Many people - myself included - work longer hours for equal or less pay than we did a few years ago just to make ends meet. So after work and bills they have less spare time and money to split between families, home responsibilities, and leisure/entertainment. And guess which of those is the first to get cut?
I know increased and changing workload and less spare time is why I'm not on Rockpage as much as I was a few years ago, and why I haven't been able to keep up on "JP's Corner" stuff. (And Facebook is where the readership traffic seems to be these days.) I still get out and see live music a lot because it is my passion, but it's harder to justify being out on a weeknight when I teach a morning class the next day. (I still do it in a lot of cases, but I pay for it by drooping eyelids by the following afternoon...)
The music scene is still there, but it has changed. You can still get people out to shows, but it takes more effort, marketing and creativity to motivate them.
I also attribute it to changing times and tastes. The music scene used to be fueled by drawing younger fans out to see live music; the primary audience that was the lifeblood for a lot of venues was the 20-something crowd. But live music isn't a priority for that segment of the population now.
From what I see as a college instructor teaching mass media classes at Penn State Altoona...The college crowd isn't fired up about going to see live bands and musicians like it was a generation or two ago. At least going by the general feedback I get through homework assignments and journals my students submit through the semester, their primary musical tastes these days are, in this order: hip-hop, modern country, hit music, and rock a distant fourth.
Today's young generation is the social networking generation, stuck to their iPhones and smartphones. They can just as easily or preferably converse with one another through a handheld device or laptop from the convenience of their home, dorm or apartment on a Saturday night, so why venture out to some crowded bar?
Time and money are also factors. Many people - myself included - work longer hours for equal or less pay than we did a few years ago just to make ends meet. So after work and bills they have less spare time and money to split between families, home responsibilities, and leisure/entertainment. And guess which of those is the first to get cut?
I know increased and changing workload and less spare time is why I'm not on Rockpage as much as I was a few years ago, and why I haven't been able to keep up on "JP's Corner" stuff. (And Facebook is where the readership traffic seems to be these days.) I still get out and see live music a lot because it is my passion, but it's harder to justify being out on a weeknight when I teach a morning class the next day. (I still do it in a lot of cases, but I pay for it by drooping eyelids by the following afternoon...)
The music scene is still there, but it has changed. You can still get people out to shows, but it takes more effort, marketing and creativity to motivate them.
One other quick thing about Rockpage...While it isn't as busy now as it was a few years ago, it is still busier than other similar local music-related sites, at least ones that I know about.
Every week, I post my "Homegrown Rocker" updates here and on three other local music-related forums (OSH Radio, PittsburghBeat and Harrisburg Online). The other three are ghost towns now; I'm about the only person ever posting on them. Rockpage at least still has some traffic and users.
Every week, I post my "Homegrown Rocker" updates here and on three other local music-related forums (OSH Radio, PittsburghBeat and Harrisburg Online). The other three are ghost towns now; I'm about the only person ever posting on them. Rockpage at least still has some traffic and users.
As far as "the scene":
I moved here Labor Day of 1988. In Altoona and surrounding area, you could see at least two different bands any night of the week, and perhaps 10 on a Saturday night. You also had 20 channels on cable, or a good book.
Now, you can see 4 bands on a good Saturday night, and slim pickins every other night. You will assuredly undergo police scrutiny, and they're talking about dropping the legal BAC to .05. A DUI costs $7500 for a first time offense, and your second could put you in jail. Oh, and you have 200 choices on cable, 100,000 on Netflix, and there are videogames you have to look at twice to be sure it's not a movie.
In addition, practically every song ever written can be downloaded or streamed in seconds.... we used to be limited to a few hundred of our own records, and that was FAR more than the average person owned. Music is now eponentially more consumable than ever, and costs less to legally obtain than 45's cost in 1975.
What this means to me is, the scene will never be like it was 25 years ago, ever again. 25 years before that, stereo was just catching on, and the Beatles were playing through Shure Vocalmasters for a PA. In short, you roll with the changes, or you don't. Our band is getting calls pretty much daily now from new events and venues, and none of us claim to be virtuoso's... we just take what we learned playing the Blair County and surrounding scene, and adapt it. It's all work-ethic and persistence.
As for Facebook v. flyers, it's not even close. Every FB post our band makes is pretty much guaranteed 600 views, even if we post it at 3am. Many posts go well over 1000 views, and these are quality views, people who know who we are and what we do. Contrast that to a poster on a telephone pole, where the usual reaction is that it's littering or an unwanted intrusion into the drive home, unless you're a live music fan of our particular genre. In addition, I'd have to make the poster, copy the poster, hang the poster, then remove the poster afterwards. Instead, clickety-clickety-click... six hundred people see it, 50 or more respond. We have a very nice website, look it up, that really only gets traffic from prospective venues and promoters, which is also a good thing. But it gets far less traffic. I don't know what I'd do without social networking sites.
Now, Rockpage...
It seems pretty simple to me. Rockpage was the first social-networking site I knew of. We did EVERYTHING you can do on Facebook... talk about gigs, politics, share pics, link to video, promote, learn from other musicians, network gigs and venues... all of it without mining your data. In the end, the massive traffic FB gets meant we could now do that not just with other musicians, but with possible and probable FANS. So we now do on Facebook what we did here first, and we were better than average at it, because we learned how to do it here first.
I moved here Labor Day of 1988. In Altoona and surrounding area, you could see at least two different bands any night of the week, and perhaps 10 on a Saturday night. You also had 20 channels on cable, or a good book.
Now, you can see 4 bands on a good Saturday night, and slim pickins every other night. You will assuredly undergo police scrutiny, and they're talking about dropping the legal BAC to .05. A DUI costs $7500 for a first time offense, and your second could put you in jail. Oh, and you have 200 choices on cable, 100,000 on Netflix, and there are videogames you have to look at twice to be sure it's not a movie.
In addition, practically every song ever written can be downloaded or streamed in seconds.... we used to be limited to a few hundred of our own records, and that was FAR more than the average person owned. Music is now eponentially more consumable than ever, and costs less to legally obtain than 45's cost in 1975.
What this means to me is, the scene will never be like it was 25 years ago, ever again. 25 years before that, stereo was just catching on, and the Beatles were playing through Shure Vocalmasters for a PA. In short, you roll with the changes, or you don't. Our band is getting calls pretty much daily now from new events and venues, and none of us claim to be virtuoso's... we just take what we learned playing the Blair County and surrounding scene, and adapt it. It's all work-ethic and persistence.
As for Facebook v. flyers, it's not even close. Every FB post our band makes is pretty much guaranteed 600 views, even if we post it at 3am. Many posts go well over 1000 views, and these are quality views, people who know who we are and what we do. Contrast that to a poster on a telephone pole, where the usual reaction is that it's littering or an unwanted intrusion into the drive home, unless you're a live music fan of our particular genre. In addition, I'd have to make the poster, copy the poster, hang the poster, then remove the poster afterwards. Instead, clickety-clickety-click... six hundred people see it, 50 or more respond. We have a very nice website, look it up, that really only gets traffic from prospective venues and promoters, which is also a good thing. But it gets far less traffic. I don't know what I'd do without social networking sites.
Now, Rockpage...
It seems pretty simple to me. Rockpage was the first social-networking site I knew of. We did EVERYTHING you can do on Facebook... talk about gigs, politics, share pics, link to video, promote, learn from other musicians, network gigs and venues... all of it without mining your data. In the end, the massive traffic FB gets meant we could now do that not just with other musicians, but with possible and probable FANS. So we now do on Facebook what we did here first, and we were better than average at it, because we learned how to do it here first.
local scene and RP
In my humble opinion, the scene lives on in its own evolved state. Still vibrant and strong, just different than it was. I have no difficulty finding live music or places to perform when I so choose.
As far as Rockpage ?? Not sure what to think. FB has likely been a factor and quite frankly, too much drama and mud slinging for my taste.
As far as Rockpage ?? Not sure what to think. FB has likely been a factor and quite frankly, too much drama and mud slinging for my taste.
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bassist_25
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6815
- Joined: Monday Dec 09, 2002
- Location: Indiana
I think everyone's touching upon some of the major points. A lot of it really comes down to rock music not being the commodity that it was 10 or 12 years ago. I work a lot, but I'm also playing country right now. I know that I wouldn't be working as much if I were playing rock, no matter how good of a band I may be in.
As cliché as it sounds, the most important thing is being able to evolve and adapt to the market and "the scene." When I first started with Bad Daze 10 years ago, we rarely ever had to run sound. We either played rooms big enough that we could comfortably subcontract a production company or the venue had a nice in-house system. And we still played quite a bit just by booking those types of rooms. I left for an internship out of state in early 2010, and before leaving, I told the guys that if they wanted to keep working steady, they'd maybe want to think about investing in some PA gear. The big rooms were drying up - either closing or no longer booking live entertainment - and if you wanted to keep playing, you'd have to consider those smaller rooms. When I came back later that summer, they had started playing a lot more gigs with their own PA.
As far as Rockpage, some of the lower traffic is probably just a reflection of the scene. Honestly, I think some of the flamewars gave this site a bad name. Anecdotally, I've spoken with a lot of local players who gave up on this site when the political stuff got out of hand. Even though Keith contained it to one thread, which helped, the site got a bad reputation from the constant political bickering.
Of course, all of this is conjecture, but a quasi-experiment complete with regression analysis probably won't happen to figure out what happened to the scene.
As cliché as it sounds, the most important thing is being able to evolve and adapt to the market and "the scene." When I first started with Bad Daze 10 years ago, we rarely ever had to run sound. We either played rooms big enough that we could comfortably subcontract a production company or the venue had a nice in-house system. And we still played quite a bit just by booking those types of rooms. I left for an internship out of state in early 2010, and before leaving, I told the guys that if they wanted to keep working steady, they'd maybe want to think about investing in some PA gear. The big rooms were drying up - either closing or no longer booking live entertainment - and if you wanted to keep playing, you'd have to consider those smaller rooms. When I came back later that summer, they had started playing a lot more gigs with their own PA.
As far as Rockpage, some of the lower traffic is probably just a reflection of the scene. Honestly, I think some of the flamewars gave this site a bad name. Anecdotally, I've spoken with a lot of local players who gave up on this site when the political stuff got out of hand. Even though Keith contained it to one thread, which helped, the site got a bad reputation from the constant political bickering.
Of course, all of this is conjecture, but a quasi-experiment complete with regression analysis probably won't happen to figure out what happened to the scene.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
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bassist_25
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6815
- Joined: Monday Dec 09, 2002
- Location: Indiana
That's a good point.songsmith wrote: Now, Rockpage...
It seems pretty simple to me. Rockpage was the first social-networking site I knew of. We did EVERYTHING you can do on Facebook... talk about gigs, politics, share pics, link to video, promote, learn from other musicians, network gigs and venues... all of it without mining your data. In the end, the massive traffic FB gets meant we could now do that not just with other musicians, but with possible and probable FANS. So we now do on Facebook what we did here first, and we were better than average at it, because we learned how to do it here first.
I'm just wondering how long Facebook will last though. I remember that people pretty much quite using MySpace over night. But then again, MySpace made some serious managerial blunders, including instituting a user interface that completely sucked ass when there was no problem with the original interface.
I occasionally log into MySpace, just for fun. It's kinda eerie, like walking through a ghost town from the colonial period or Centralia, PA. There are all of these things from your past, kind of just electronically frozen in time.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
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KeithReynolds
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1358
- Joined: Monday Apr 06, 2009
- Location: Altoona, PA
Facebook posts go to only the people on your list. You are promoting to the same people. there are thousands of people in this area NOT on your facebook page. Cant post on fb and reach those people.
If people are happy using only fb to promote, thats cool.
Ask 10 random people on the street if they have heard of "------" band. The answer, of course, will be NO. Why is that?? Those 10 random people are NOT on your fb friends list. They dont see your posts. No matter how many you post.
Promoting is a little bit of work. More than tapping fingers on a keyboard. Thats why alot of bands DONT do it. Its too much work to spend an hour putting flyers up. Like I said, thats cool.
For the record, ive talked to various people about local bands...they have no clue anyone exists. Or..."yeah, my friend was in this one band one time".
btw, benefits & festivals have their own promotion. A good turnout doesnt much depend on the bands doing their own promotion.
I am talking about regular shows that happen every week. THOSE SHOWS are the problem areas.
ALL of what I said is for people who WANT more and different people at their shows. Im not speaking to the guys who dont mind just having their wives and friends watching them play. Its all about goals and what you want do.
If people are happy using only fb to promote, thats cool.
Ask 10 random people on the street if they have heard of "------" band. The answer, of course, will be NO. Why is that?? Those 10 random people are NOT on your fb friends list. They dont see your posts. No matter how many you post.
Promoting is a little bit of work. More than tapping fingers on a keyboard. Thats why alot of bands DONT do it. Its too much work to spend an hour putting flyers up. Like I said, thats cool.
For the record, ive talked to various people about local bands...they have no clue anyone exists. Or..."yeah, my friend was in this one band one time".
btw, benefits & festivals have their own promotion. A good turnout doesnt much depend on the bands doing their own promotion.
I am talking about regular shows that happen every week. THOSE SHOWS are the problem areas.
ALL of what I said is for people who WANT more and different people at their shows. Im not speaking to the guys who dont mind just having their wives and friends watching them play. Its all about goals and what you want do.
I had to add one more point that for some reason no one will ever talk about. How about the bar/club owners? What do they do to help anymore? The venues in this town are terrible, period! I quit playing partially because of this. Many people don't feel comfortable going into half of these establishments, I've seen it first hand! Also, have any of you had a bar owner come up to you mid gig and ask to re-negotiate the pay? I have!
Phooey! I could add this & that, but what is the use. Lets all get together and play Cumbersome over & over! HA
Phooey! I could add this & that, but what is the use. Lets all get together and play Cumbersome over & over! HA
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PanzerFaust
- Diamond Member
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- Location: Western Front
- Contact:
I agree with Panzer that this is very good reading and that there are alot of great points here. Tonefight spoke of how great the scene was here back in 88. I was still a small lad at that time but I have heard from older friends the same thing. Bars were packed every night of the week and you could see lots of great bands within a very small area. I guess we all just missed out on the golden age of garage/bar bands.
Just to add to the social networking aspect of this thread. While I agree its a great tool for musicians and allows us to reach way more people more easily I feel its actually hurting the industry (unless you were fortunate like Beiber and got discovered from it)because its over saturated the market. Everyone with a video camera or cell phone can now record and upload a fairly decent recording to the web. At the beginning when Biebs started making videos this technology still wasnt quite in the hands of the masses so the market was still fresh. I dont know. Maybe im just rambling.
Just to add to the social networking aspect of this thread. While I agree its a great tool for musicians and allows us to reach way more people more easily I feel its actually hurting the industry (unless you were fortunate like Beiber and got discovered from it)because its over saturated the market. Everyone with a video camera or cell phone can now record and upload a fairly decent recording to the web. At the beginning when Biebs started making videos this technology still wasnt quite in the hands of the masses so the market was still fresh. I dont know. Maybe im just rambling.
I think J.P.'s posts are revealing and to the point. Some separate questions come to mind after reading them.
The single 20 somethings would often gather at venues to hook up with someone. No need for that with the digital social networking? Or, where are they gathering if not live music venues?
Have you noticed that less young college age people are playing instruments? Not as interested in playing in a band?
On another note (no pun intended), everyone who mentioned the DUI hit the nail on the head. As far as I know, bars are not allowed to offer free to-and-from taxi (or bus) service because it's against the law, because it promotes drinking. Is it against the law for bands to offer such a service? Or several bands playing the same night, band together and hire a bus of sorts to take people to and from venues? That could solve the DUI problem.
Perhaps make a deal with a taxi company for a given fee, anyone coming to see your band rides free to the venue and back home? Just add that fee to the price the venue pays you. With a fuller house venues might be willing to pay the extra amount.
The single 20 somethings would often gather at venues to hook up with someone. No need for that with the digital social networking? Or, where are they gathering if not live music venues?
Have you noticed that less young college age people are playing instruments? Not as interested in playing in a band?
On another note (no pun intended), everyone who mentioned the DUI hit the nail on the head. As far as I know, bars are not allowed to offer free to-and-from taxi (or bus) service because it's against the law, because it promotes drinking. Is it against the law for bands to offer such a service? Or several bands playing the same night, band together and hire a bus of sorts to take people to and from venues? That could solve the DUI problem.
Perhaps make a deal with a taxi company for a given fee, anyone coming to see your band rides free to the venue and back home? Just add that fee to the price the venue pays you. With a fuller house venues might be willing to pay the extra amount.
lot of great insight here. and from my standpoint, i really appreciate it. i like Keith's idea of getting out from behind social networking. very valid points that its just our friends that can see the facebook stuff. i try to start up random convo's at the bar and always slip in my band name and invite people to shows. a personal connection is nice and something you can't really do behind a computer monitor. so ya, i agree completely with Keith.
i don't see a lot of younger (mid twenties) interested in playing music. i've talked to a lot who are like ya thats really cool, wish i could do it. i think some of it is because we have become a society that want's something right now, and playing music isn't something that comes overnight. imo.
-kayla.
i don't see a lot of younger (mid twenties) interested in playing music. i've talked to a lot who are like ya thats really cool, wish i could do it. i think some of it is because we have become a society that want's something right now, and playing music isn't something that comes overnight. imo.
-kayla.
`( f e n d e r)`
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KeithReynolds
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1358
- Joined: Monday Apr 06, 2009
- Location: Altoona, PA
Sooo....DUI checkpoints, bar owners, and dis-interested people are the problems.....
It couldnt possibly be that no bands promote the hell out of themselves?? Or make a REAL effort to get people out?
Its everything else? Ok. Thats cool.
Just gonna toss out there that DUI checkpoints are everywhere in the country, and some places still manage to have a thriving music scene. Weird.
Bar owners- Its not up to them to make your band successful OR to revive the scene. Give them something of quality to book that BRINGS PEOPLE and youll have a gig every week.
Dis-interested people exist because you havent reached them. They dont know about your band or shows. Why not? because they arent on your fb friends list. duh. see the problem?
Instead of coming up with reasons, why doesnt someone say, " yeah, we need to revive this scene and tighten it up." ??
Its almost like "yeah, we know it sucks. its dui checkpoints, bar owners and lame people. we cant do anything about it. oh well"
COME ON GUYS!!!!!!!!
IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT YOUR LOCAL MUSIC SCENE, TRY TO FIX IT!
Try some different things and I guarantee youll see different people at your shows. Its not like it will hurt anything. Give people a reason to come out. Your band depends on it.
It couldnt possibly be that no bands promote the hell out of themselves?? Or make a REAL effort to get people out?
Its everything else? Ok. Thats cool.
Just gonna toss out there that DUI checkpoints are everywhere in the country, and some places still manage to have a thriving music scene. Weird.
Bar owners- Its not up to them to make your band successful OR to revive the scene. Give them something of quality to book that BRINGS PEOPLE and youll have a gig every week.
Dis-interested people exist because you havent reached them. They dont know about your band or shows. Why not? because they arent on your fb friends list. duh. see the problem?
Instead of coming up with reasons, why doesnt someone say, " yeah, we need to revive this scene and tighten it up." ??
Its almost like "yeah, we know it sucks. its dui checkpoints, bar owners and lame people. we cant do anything about it. oh well"
COME ON GUYS!!!!!!!!
IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT YOUR LOCAL MUSIC SCENE, TRY TO FIX IT!
Try some different things and I guarantee youll see different people at your shows. Its not like it will hurt anything. Give people a reason to come out. Your band depends on it.
You're right Kayla. Some young people seem to want instant gratification and we all know that you have to work long and hard on your chosen instrument before the rewards/gratification can kick in.kayla wrote:lot of great insight here. and from my standpoint, i really appreciate it. i like Keith's idea of getting out from behind social networking. very valid points that its just our friends that can see the facebook stuff. i try to start up random convo's at the bar and always slip in my band name and invite people to shows. a personal connection is nice and something you can't really do behind a computer monitor. so ya, i agree completely with Keith.
i don't see a lot of younger (mid twenties) interested in playing music. i've talked to a lot who are like ya thats really cool, wish i could do it. i think some of it is because we have become a society that want's something right now, and playing music isn't something that comes overnight. imo.
-kayla.
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KeithReynolds
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1358
- Joined: Monday Apr 06, 2009
- Location: Altoona, PA
I just wanted to add, that we just started doing a weekly local hiphop showcase at a bar here in Altoona. Not the bar I work at, one youd be surprised thats doing this actually. 
Anyway, since its a new event, the numbers wont be much other than friends and gfs. UNLESS...... we promote the hell out of it.
I made the paper flyer for it. It wasnt even a question if I should or not. To me, it was obvious.
Ill let you know how the numbers turn out. We NEED people at these shows, so we are gonna work HARD for it.
I dont listen to rap or hiphop on my off time, but that has no bearing on how well i will promote and work on these shows.
Just wanted to throw a real world flyer example out there.
Anyway, since its a new event, the numbers wont be much other than friends and gfs. UNLESS...... we promote the hell out of it.
I made the paper flyer for it. It wasnt even a question if I should or not. To me, it was obvious.
Ill let you know how the numbers turn out. We NEED people at these shows, so we are gonna work HARD for it.
I dont listen to rap or hiphop on my off time, but that has no bearing on how well i will promote and work on these shows.
Just wanted to throw a real world flyer example out there.
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tornandfrayed
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1761
- Joined: Tuesday Dec 23, 2003
- Location: The Jaded Empire
- Contact:
2 cents
Went and saw Nine Inch Nails the other night. The show was awesome and the light show was among the best I have ever seen. I really enjoyed the show, the presentation was awesome and the content was appealing to me. Reznor writes about things that I care about, politics, the state of our being, and some other less pertinant things.
Speaking for myself I got kind of bored with the music scene here. Very few bands went out of their way to creat any kind of feeling of an event, Dragonfire comes to mind, and all the shows kind of became the same thing...
Not bitching or bashing on anyone, I am guilty of the same thing. The competition is so much more now then it has ever been (from the internet, video games, social media, etc) that you need to create a buzz, create a feeling of being left out if I don't see this... But you can't do that every week.... Kind of difficult.... There have been a few youger scenes that have come and gone in the last 6 or 7 years. But they are dead now also..
As far as Rockpage, the vibe here use to be really open and the discussions use to be wide ranging and sometimes heated, but more importantly they were passionate. People were into it because they were speaking their mind about things that they cared about. Seems that once everyone wanted "No Politcs" on here the passion seemed to die. I have always stated that Rock and Roll is based on passion and believing in something. Rock and Roll without a point or without an opinion is... welll ... its Poison!... JK I really do like Poison.. Just mu opinion..
BTW I still come on here once a week or so but mostly just to see what is for sale...
Speaking for myself I got kind of bored with the music scene here. Very few bands went out of their way to creat any kind of feeling of an event, Dragonfire comes to mind, and all the shows kind of became the same thing...
Not bitching or bashing on anyone, I am guilty of the same thing. The competition is so much more now then it has ever been (from the internet, video games, social media, etc) that you need to create a buzz, create a feeling of being left out if I don't see this... But you can't do that every week.... Kind of difficult.... There have been a few youger scenes that have come and gone in the last 6 or 7 years. But they are dead now also..
As far as Rockpage, the vibe here use to be really open and the discussions use to be wide ranging and sometimes heated, but more importantly they were passionate. People were into it because they were speaking their mind about things that they cared about. Seems that once everyone wanted "No Politcs" on here the passion seemed to die. I have always stated that Rock and Roll is based on passion and believing in something. Rock and Roll without a point or without an opinion is... welll ... its Poison!... JK I really do like Poison.. Just mu opinion..
BTW I still come on here once a week or so but mostly just to see what is for sale...
Torn & Frayed
One World, One Voice, One God!
Music is LIFE!
One World, One Voice, One God!
Music is LIFE!
The local music scene is not alone with less venues and people going to see live bands. I have been traveling quite a lot lately and have been in some much larger cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland and the music scene in those locations is hurting as well.
The bar/private club business is not what it used to be everywhere for many reasons. However, the small event center, theater, banquet hall, etc. types of venues and events are thriving mostly with original and cover acts both newer and older and tribute acts but also if an event with a local cover band is marketed properly offering an all inclusive night out people like those.
Older people do not like to stay out late and places with earlier times fare better than the places with 1:00 a.m. or later ending times but the middle age on up crowd does not go out much for music anymore and younger people are not as much into live music as they used to be as has been mentioned here already.
As far as the festival and special event scene, it does well but the vast majority of the audience members who attend those events never go to see a live band in a club.
People still have no problem spending lots of money at expensive restaurants and sports bars but do not want to hear live bands much and it is a sad state of affairs.
The bar/private club business is not what it used to be everywhere for many reasons. However, the small event center, theater, banquet hall, etc. types of venues and events are thriving mostly with original and cover acts both newer and older and tribute acts but also if an event with a local cover band is marketed properly offering an all inclusive night out people like those.
Older people do not like to stay out late and places with earlier times fare better than the places with 1:00 a.m. or later ending times but the middle age on up crowd does not go out much for music anymore and younger people are not as much into live music as they used to be as has been mentioned here already.
As far as the festival and special event scene, it does well but the vast majority of the audience members who attend those events never go to see a live band in a club.
People still have no problem spending lots of money at expensive restaurants and sports bars but do not want to hear live bands much and it is a sad state of affairs.
Once again I want to reiterate that this post has brought forward alot of information from both sides of the token...well maybe except from a a club owners point of view.
With all that has been said about it how can we come together and try to put it back together?
I think we need a club thats just about the music and not making maximum profits. Thats easy to say but not easy to do im sure. But I think just one club centrally located to us all that has a good atmosphere and different bands each night of the week would be awesome. Kind of like how the small bars in NYC in the 70's started the glam scene. CBGB's comes to mind but there were alot of them.
With all that has been said about it how can we come together and try to put it back together?
I think we need a club thats just about the music and not making maximum profits. Thats easy to say but not easy to do im sure. But I think just one club centrally located to us all that has a good atmosphere and different bands each night of the week would be awesome. Kind of like how the small bars in NYC in the 70's started the glam scene. CBGB's comes to mind but there were alot of them.