29/01/2010
It’s just Blowout People… Relax.
Blowout approaches and the same old bitterness is filtering out in the usual locales.
I’d like to address a few of the endlessly perpetuated bitchy comments.
1. The Metrotimes is making lots of cash and they should give it to the bands.
I like when bands make money, but this dig always sounds so conspiratorial… plus it implies that most bands are making lots of money playing the same bars the rest of the year… which they aren’t. Financially, Blowout functions as a near charity event for the Hamtown bars (oh really, you spend lots of money at Jean’s the rest of the year?) and a revenue generator for the Metro Times. The Metro Times also incurs expenses with sound guys and equipment, the non-volunteer Blowout staff — though maybe the sponsorship money covers that stuff. If Mitch Ryder or the Dirtbombs get paid too, that’s fine with me. You may not like them, but other people do and they have options to play elsewhere for money every night of the year.
Despite their pro-communist editorial, I don’t think the Metro Times ever implied they aren’t a business trying to make money. These guys run classifieds for hojo professionals for god sake, you don’t see the massage hookers bitching about how they should run their ad out of the goodness of their ink stained hearts. The fact that they manage this thing and make a few grand also doesn’t take away from the event being fun. I like stumbling into Baker’s Street Car once a year, if you don’t… don’t go.
If you have a band that can “make money” playing those nights somewhere else besides Blowout (you 5 bands know who I’m talking too) go for it — it’d be wrong for anyone to begrudge you your livelihood.
2. The wrist bands are stupid, I’d rather pay cover for the bands I want to see. Or Our fans don’t want to buy wristbands, they just want to pay cover to see us.
Could you miss the concept of local music festival a little more? This is like suggesting that all the bands should play in bars miles apart in different cities, so that people don’t travel between venues to see multiple acts.
Also, if your “fans” won’t spend more than $5 and will only go out to see your band and no other bands… they kind of suck. But, that doesn’t really matter, BECAUSE, there are 51 other weekends a year. I suggest booking a “gig” at a “bar” or “club” on one of those weekends and playing a “show” for your “fans”. One of two things is happening here. The complainer is bummed that nobody came to their Blowout show last year OR all your friends are lying to you and making an excuse about the cover so they don’t have to come see your shitty band.
3. Blowout use to be cooler, it’s all new bands that suck
You probably use to be cooler too, nice Baby Bjorn by the way… is that a Synergy? Nice, I went with the Air… lightweight, easy to pack. Again, there are tons of bars and tons of bands every other weekend the rest of the year… you can find the kind of music you are looking for and go see it basically whenever you want.
4. Blowout sucks, it’s all old bands that suck.
There are plenty of bands who’ve played Blowout lots of times and you don’t have to go see them. BECAUSE, it probably won’t get any easier to go see new bands or old bands you haven’t seen before any other weekend of the year. Plus, you get to see them at a huge discount over all the cover charges you’d have to pay to see the same number of bands. Last but not least, if you don’t like the band you’ve gone to see, you can walk down to the next place and try your luck again.
5. The list of bands is predetermined. The selection of bands is unfair. You have to know, blow or pay someone off to get on a bill.
I don’t believe any of this. I do believe that the Blowout people have some bands in mind that have a good reputation for attracting audiences — this is called doing their fucking job. The idea that it should be some sort of Pepsi challenge where unknown high school band fresh out of mom’s basement should be able to get on instead of a band that can fill a reasonably sized room around town the rest of the year is so ignorant. Again, this is capitalism not democracy — the idea that Blowout should adopt policies that hinder it’s success is fucking nutso.
I’ve personally played with bands that submitted for Blowout and were accepted and other’s that were denied. The only difference between those bands was how hard we worked the rest of the year on the band, playing gigs, recording and building a minor level of recognition (one of the 200 best known bands in your area code is not a big deal). Your band may be fantastic, but if you aren’t putting yourself out there, the rest of the world won’t know. Filling out an application is not enough. Play more, talk to other bands instead of taunting them, talk to bar owners instead of complaining to them and ask people who will tell you the truth if you suck, instead of trying to justify how great you to anyone who will listen. Friendliness, professionalism and humility go a long way.
If you can’t manage any of that stuff, I should ask how fucking crazy is your band? Oh, you have two guitars, drums and bass and your music is somewhere between Jackson Brown and Pantera? I’m pretty sure I’ve heard you before and I’ve already lost interest because you are kind of acting like a huge prick.
If you are a giant egomaniacal ass… run with it. Better yet run with it with scissors, light your hair on fire and stick a roman candle up your ass. Exceptions will always be made for those who straddle the intersection of creative, dangerous, innovative and insane. That’s also, NOT FAIR, it’s entertainment. If you can hold someone’s attention for more than 15 minutes you could be on to a winning formula that will still allow you to be yourself, a huge fucking douchebag.
As a closing note, I’m not saying you have to like Blowout, go to Blowout, play Blowout or ever set foot in Tight Fittin’ Jeans. I’m also not suggesting that some years, the event might have been better than others — that’s almost certainly true.
I’m just tired of the same sad-sack of blaming everyone else for the minor issues individuals might have with the event.
People, this is litterally one of the only things that kind of goes right around here.
And you wonder why we can’t have nice things…
Text posted at 11:05
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