Archive for Horrorpunk UK UK Horrorpunk/Deathrock/Psychobilly Community
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zombiesatemybrain
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Building a solid communityI got this off Wreckingpit, posted by a guy who's screen name is 'The Pope'. I thought it was really intelligent. Its off WP so its reffering to psychobilly, but I think it holds true to all 'underground' scenes:
It seems like there are a lot of people that say "Why doesn't (Band) come to MY town?" or "There would be a scene if bigger psycho bands stopped by." You might be asking "what can --I-- do to improve the community around me?" "What can --I-- do to make it so that The Meteors will stop by (generic podunk town)."
This thread is for sharing tips on how to build a strong, worthwhile community. To some of you it might seems like common knowledge, but these are active steps that we can take to improve the scenes around us. Here are some of my tips, but PLEASE feel free to add your own:
Go to shows This might sound stupid, but you can't expect other people to go to shows if you don't. Yes, this means supporting local acts that maybe aren't the best in the world, going to a show on a weekday night, or going to a show by yourself.
TALK to the bands If you like them, tell them. What if you see a great band, but you don't talk to them before/after their set? If people don't talk to them, they might get discouraged and quit, or relocate. I can't count the number of touring acts that I've seen where the venue is empty. Around here, bands get stiffed by the venues a lot. So if you liked them, make sure that a band knows that their set was worthwhile.
Promote You might not be "The Promoter" but spreading the word is the best way to take active steps in building a community. This could be as easy as telling friends or reposting myspace bulletins. Talk to the venues, bands, and promoters about upcoming shows and see if you can get handbills to dish out.
Support Local Bands I saw a neo-grunge band open for Big Jon Bates and The Voodoo Dolls once. I also saw a high school band (which included a U2 and a Nirvana cover in their set) open for the Phantom Rockers. It was embarrassing. Supporting local bands, even if they might not be your favorite, helps ensure genre-solid line-ups, which makes the booking process easier to do and more common.
Support Touring Bands Examples: applauding, staying for the full set, buying a cd or shirt at a show, buying drinks for a band, putting up a band for the night at your house/apartment, ensuring that the band gets paid Treat a band how you would like to be treated if you were them.
Start a Band Not enough REAL psychobilly around you? Tired of the fashionbillies? Then set an example if you've got any sense of musical skill.
I feel that those are some easy-enough steps to take care of the shitty scene around you. Don't just be the gomer that sits on the internet all day talking about "what the good ole days were like." Make today and tomorrow a day you can talk about! PLEASE add your own tips!
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Tommy Creep
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Yeah there are some good points there. People need to get off their asses and start their own bands/labels or put on/promote/justgoto gigs.
Sending cds into magazines to be reviewed probs helps alot. Like if SR had got reviews in some of the uk music mags then people might've recognised the name from the review and gone to the shows. I know it was like a last minute tour, I was just making an example like.
As soon as we have a decent cd i'ma send it off to everywhere.
If all the UK horror bands sent loads of stuff out free to places all at a similar time it'd prob create a bit of interest.
Also getting involved with other media, like films, could only do good. There's gotta be loads of budget/small b-movie/z-movie horror projects in the UK that people could get involved with.
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MonsterMash
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| Tommy Creep wrote: |
Sending cds into magazines to be reviewed probs helps alot...
As soon as we have a decent cd i'ma send it off to everywhere. |
I work in PR - here's a useful tip/fact: most magazines, even small publications but especially the big ones, have a 3 month lead-in for issues. So they'll start working on what goes in the September issue in May or June.
So don't be disheartened if you send in a CD for review and it isn't in the very next issue. One of our publications involves book reviews and we're collating them now for an issue that doesn't go out until October.*
I can't remember if it was John Peel, or John Robb or Steven Wells or someone like that who said something about sending CDs to mags like "write your band's name and contact details (i'e web address) on EVERYTHING - the inlay, any letters or press releases you send, but ESPECIALLY on the CD itself" - cuz journos get sent hundreds of CDs and they lose the cases and the artwork and find the CD 3 months later in their car and stick it on and really like the band... but they've no idea who it is.
I guess that applies to demoes to labels too...
* No, I can't get you a review. We don't do the right sort of publications for that sort of thing.
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Tommy Creep
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We should try to compile a list of places bands can send things...
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NatheoftheLivingDead
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Tru dat!
Like a list of zines, radio stations, labels, etc.
Here's the obvious one...Scarewaves!!
Nx
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danblood
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Big cheese will review horror bands. They reviewed urban legends for us. Especially if you email them first - ask them if you can send a CD then send it direct to the person you mailed then they will remember and listen to you first!
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