[atlantaprog] Re: Where was everybody???

I thought we played pretty well the other night.  It's disappointing not to
see people coming out, and you begin to wonder if perhaps you're doing
something very wrong, but at the same time it's clear that all the other
bands you play with at each gig have just as much trouble drawing people.  I
remember reading about Ed Roland from Collective Soul grousing about how
hard a time they had getting support in Atlanta before their breakout radio
single.  You'd think it would be easier for a more mainstream-sounding band
to get a crowd, and they are a good band in many ways.

So what is it and what can be done about it?  Is it the plethora of
alternative entertainment options that people have today (internet, video
games, 500 tv channels/vcr)?  Is it Atlanta's suburban sprawl (and dead
downtown) and the longer drive times to get anywhere that cause people to
just say 'ah, maybe some other time'?  Or perhaps something else related to
Atlanta specifically, like more of an affinity for southern rock or dance
clubs, etc.?  Something else entirely?  Is rock itself on the wane?  Or
maybe we're just being unrealistic, and we need to play another hundred or
thousand gigs before we can start to get a decent following.

I remember Wade saying you need to get outside Atlanta into the small towns
to get an appreciative crowd, so perhaps that will be our next step.  I also
remember something in the Bible about "shaking the dust off your feet" and
going to the next town if people are unresponsive... :-)  So there is a
precedent I guess.

Brian

----- Original Message -----
From: "Veronica Hughes" <upkat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <atlantaprog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 11:10 PM
Subject: [atlantaprog] Re: Where was everybody???


>
> Oops, yup, I have to again say I'm sorry for not showing up.  I have
plenty
> of excuses, I was hard at work on our band's project, but I do believe in
> supporting everyone that I can.  I only hope that the shows had good sound
> and at leats were enjoyable to play.  I can't tell you how many times
we've
> played at the Somber for 5 people.  We just considered it a dress
rehearsal
> for other shows.  I can say from experience that these places don't have
> much (if any!) of thier own traffic.  You literally have to bring your own
> crowd, which really sucks.  Just use it as a dress rehearsal and aim for
> one of the regular venues that actually have people there every night.
> Again, sorry!
>
> At 02:20 AM 05/11/2003 -0400, you wrote:
> >
> >Hi all,
> >
> >Last night I was able to stop in at the Lord Only gig at the Library,
> >and tonight I stopped in at the Mindworm show at the Somber Reptile.
> >The thing that struck me was how few people were there! LO had maybe
> >THREE people - all friends of the band, and MW had 6 or 7, also
> >mostly friends of the band (incl a few ARIA people).... all in all
> >not a very good show of support from us. Hey I understand the reasons
> >many of us can't make it out to shows... heck, the only reason I was
> >able to stop in at both of these shows is because I was on my way
> >home from the dance theater gig I've been doing. But these folks need
> >our support! If we can't show up at each others gigs from time to
> >time, then our local prog scene has a long way to go. I have made
> >efforts to see some of our local heros in the past, and will continue
> >to do so whenever possible. I hope any of you who are able will do
> >the same.
> >
> >Thanks for allowing me to vent!
> >
> >AWG
> >
> >
>
>
>

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