Branching Out

How easy is it to fall back into the same old patterns even amidst a whirlwind of change! We daringly take the plunge into nothing, but quickly fall back into what we know, what is familiar. I feel like I am retracting as I write… but I will fight my demons on my own time. We all struggle with stepping out of our comfort zone, leaving our close knit group of friends to branch out. But to progress in life, sometimes it is necessary to step outside of the box.

In talking with band managers, bands and fans alike, I have noticed a common theme in the music industry; the unwillingness to branch out of one’s music scene. For instance, speaking with a band based out of Echo Park, they refuse to play venues in Hollywood for fear that they will lose their trendy fan base in Echo Park. The term, “selling out” comes up frequently. I could easily write a blog on what it means to sell out, because it can mean anything from a simple makeover to sobering up off of drugs, although Keith Richards could easily refute my argument.

Back to branching out within the music scene. The band from Echo Park has refused to play many venues for fear of losing their ‘trendster’ following. First off, a ‘trendster’ is fickle. And second, if your only following is ‘trendsters’ then you might as well slap on a diamond-sequenced Obama t-shirt, a pair of Ugg boots and ride the wave. But it will be a short one. To grow a fan base, one MUST branch out; leave your hometown, play various venues, experiment in playing with different bands. This is when the loyal fans will follow and grow. It is difficult to leave your core following and take that plunge out of your comfort zone. However, a band manager once said to me that you can measure success by the unrecognizable faces in the crowd during a show, not the core group of friends and family.

There is an exception to turning down venues. If a venue is pay for play, and you don’t have a large enough following to cover the certain number of tickets to be sold, don’t do it. Costs will come out of the band’s pocket and that is not cool. You should be paid to entertain, not the other way around.

Don’t be me and retract while reading. I challenge fans and musicians to branch out of your comfort zone. Don’t be the fan that says, “Oh I’m not supposed to listen to those OC bands because I’m from L.A.” Musical gems do not discriminate against venues and county lines, you’ll never know whom or what is behind that door if you don’t open it.