Hi there.
We had a convo the other night in some random pub in Yorkshire about the state of British Metal and what we can do to help it. We are noticing more and more promoters out there with the same intent on getting metal heard but no one is working or networking with each other - no one is thinking ohhh there is another Metal pub gig on the same night we want to do ours.. no one is thinking hmmm ok lets do a different night - they are just going ahead with the gig and spliting the crowd instead of working together for the same result. We are arranging a big meet in our area of promoters - journos - bands - labels - Fans - media etc and have us all talk about how we can get Metal more prolific in our area and how we can all pool our resources - contacts and leads to put on metal shows that will attract the fans.
 
Are there any bands on these message boards that are experiencing the trudge of travelling 4 hours to play to a few ppl and wondering what the hell has gone wrong and want to do something about this?

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

Hi there.
We had a convo the other night in some random pub in Yorkshire about the state of British Metal and what we can do to help it. We are noticing more and more promoters out there with the same intent on getting metal heard but no one is working or networking with each other - no one is thinking ohhh there is another Metal pub gig on the same night we want to do ours.. no one is thinking hmmm ok lets do a different night - they are just going ahead with the gig and spliting the crowd instead of working together for the same result. We are arranging a big meet in our area of promoters - journos - bands - labels - Fans - media etc and have us all talk about how we can get Metal more prolific in our area and how we can all pool our resources - contacts and leads to put on metal shows that will attract the fans.

Are there any bands on these message boards that are experiencing the trudge of travelling 4 hours to play to a few ppl and wondering what the hell has gone wrong and want to do something about this?

 
Yes my band have the same problem. Even though were splitting up in about 2 months i'd like to help stop bbands playing to 4 drunks in a pub.

Awesome thread. Carrie who I met at American Head Charge Nottingham and Nip Animal who roadied for them at Wolves the night before. Go Head Charge go!!!
 
I agree with you. Perhaps music people should get together on a county basis at first. There are a lot of independent promoters trying very hard at the moment because music is a VERY hard sell. Treading on each others toes makes no sense whatsoever.
 
I would suggest everyone read a blog posted by Kevin Dean of Brand New Sin on his Myspace page. It really opens your eyes to just how hard it is to make it today in the music business. It made me realise that as a fan of LIVE music that perhaps we fans should do more. Everyone thinks bands make money but the reality is that for most its a lifestyle choice rather than  a money making exercise. I think fans have to accept that if they want their favourite bands to play for them they have to be prepared to do more. Whether that be buying the guys a pint, a sandwich, helping with the load in at a venue without expecting a free ticket for doing so etc. As the Tesco jingle goes 'every little helps'. 
 
At the end of the day with most bands struggling to sell product live music is where its at and if you want it you have to be prepared to pay a little more for it in terms of money, effort or both.

Great Post Jezebel, and as a Band Manager, Promoter and PR guy across diffrent Genres of music, it would be great to meet up as i could agree more with what your saying.

PM me if you want to talk further

Best Wishes

Mark
MARK 3 Music

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

Im in a band and we would like to help out anything like this!
If we play a gig or if we help out organise stuff for it! We work hard for ourselves and even other engineers have told us they cant believe how self sificiant we are....i wish i could spell.

Anyway, yeah we'd help out if its playing or helping.

www.myspace.com/vocis

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

 
Fair play but what level of band are you talking about here? 

I'm in. Been thinking about this for a while. I was thinking that what Damnation are doing with their Believe.... tour is a great place to start.

But anyway yeah, we're in.
 
www.enteramenti.com
www.myspace.com/amentiuk

 
 
EDIT: As are our agency.
 
www.hagpmusic.com
www.myspace.com/hagpmusic  
 
 

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

 
yeah but for the 300 in one venue is there another venue on the same night with less than 20 as people had to choose which to go to.

ORIGINAL: King of the Celts

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

Fair play but what level of band are you talking about here? 

 
unsigned!

ORIGINAL: AnnaannA

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

yeah but for the 300 in one venue is there another venue on the same night with less than 20 as people had to choose which to go to.

 
none of the metal nights clash with each other

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

Hi there.
We had a convo the other night in some random pub in Yorkshire about the state of British Metal and what we can do to help it. We are noticing more and more promoters out there with the same intent on getting metal heard but no one is working or networking with each other - no one is thinking ohhh there is another Metal pub gig on the same night we want to do ours.. no one is thinking hmmm ok lets do a different night - they are just going ahead with the gig and spliting the crowd instead of working together for the same result. We are arranging a big meet in our area of promoters - journos - bands - labels - Fans - media etc and have us all talk about how we can get Metal more prolific in our area and how we can all pool our resources - contacts and leads to put on metal shows that will attract the fans.

Are there any bands on these message boards that are experiencing the trudge of travelling 4 hours to play to a few ppl and wondering what the hell has gone wrong and want to do something about this?

 
hey there lonnng time no speak!!
if theres metal involved count us in!!

We are looking to keep this local for now and see what we see... Have talked with mates on the London scene and we are all in agreement its time this genre stood up and got noticed - but to do this effectively we have to cross network and pool on each other. I am interested to see what others are doing in areas and finding pockets of fans in different areas - interesting about Preston. Something is obviously working there - what clubs are you playing and what is the deal with the door etc.. are you self promoting or is a promoter working actively in that area ?

I think a good idea would be to set up a totally new forum for it. One with different regions in, give it a name to do with the fact that metal needs to be noticed, and hopefully we can get some kind of cult thing going that could actually make a difference. I'm going to see a Metallica / Megadeath tribute band tonight, and I'm pretty sure there'll be a maximum of 30 people there.

side step for a minute (talking anout locality - and i know this seems off topic);

edinburgh is fucking INFURIATING for metal atm - the venue closed down. But there is undertones of it shining through, as it's a uni town plenty of places to play. With the right drive and motivation and if it's showcased properlly we could get a nice following going up here. Just needs promotion, and also not when other things are going on. Theres the edinburgh rock riot here: http://www.edinburghrockriot.com/ at the moment, a certain Jack Glass got racous applause when they showcased themselves a few months back (and its 5 minutes away from me ) theres also a place in the cowgate called subway - severed played with his band there a few weeks back i beleive (best pm him though)

It can be done, just need to also need to be careful - alot of the younger bands here havent found 'their sound' which is a shame. Alot of them sound like trivium rip off's...

It's also somewhat depressing because we have had in the past slayer playing the playhouse - and certain small tattooed wee westie's [8D] will assure you that THEY had to do the travelling to gigs in the good old days [8D]

If you are interested in setting anything up - let the scottish boardies know! if its in glasgow perhaps we could get something going with the damnation crowd?

ORIGINAL: NIP_Animal

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

Hi there.
We had a convo the other night in some random pub in Yorkshire about the state of British Metal and what we can do to help it. We are noticing more and more promoters out there with the same intent on getting metal heard but no one is working or networking with each other - no one is thinking ohhh there is another Metal pub gig on the same night we want to do ours.. no one is thinking hmmm ok lets do a different night - they are just going ahead with the gig and spliting the crowd instead of working together for the same result. We are arranging a big meet in our area of promoters - journos - bands - labels - Fans - media etc and have us all talk about how we can get Metal more prolific in our area and how we can all pool our resources - contacts and leads to put on metal shows that will attract the fans.

Are there any bands on these message boards that are experiencing the trudge of travelling 4 hours to play to a few ppl and wondering what the hell has gone wrong and want to do something about this?

Yes my band have the same problem. Even though were splitting up in about 2 months i'd like to help stop bbands playing to 4 drunks in a pub.

 
Thats a bit harsh dude!!
 
Sometimes Ive gone to a gig where I've loved the band, and sometimes only 3 other people have shown.. yes this band may have travelled to do this gig, but I paid for my ticket, im a fan, and I believe they should the play the same for me as they would have done for a crowd of a thousand people!
 
Admitely some bands are just w*nkers and when they see hardly anyones there they jus play crap to get it out the way.. but others still do the set they would have done if the place was rammed!!!!!!
 
Just remeber those '4 drunks' came to watch YOU play....

as much as you hate the Towers Of London, i heard themm before the Bravo "Rockumentary" and the Big Brother Fiasco due to them touring non-stop for 3 years prior to the album being released (which is a ****ing underated album, give it a try before you write then off) so yesh small, promising bands are always out there to support. Also I lost my point a while ago so I apologise people

The Fermanagh music scene is absolutely cracking, due to the fact that years and years ago some very clever folks sat down and formed a collective, the spirit of which lives on. It's a small county, so maybe networking's easier for us, but the collective will put you in touch with other musicians when your band needs something new (ie bassist, drummer etc), give you a place to practise and record demos and provide you with equipment and a wee sound man for your gigs if needed. All for a price granted, but you can't beat the community feel to it. Everyone knows each other and rather than it being all about the pub, gigs are organised wherever they can be played (sometimes half way up a mountain in the summertime), and posters/word of mouth secures the crowd. Seriously, I'm over in Canterbury at uni now and I can't believe how little interaction there seems to be between folks - it's like noone knows each other nor wants to. Not what I'm used to at all. For such a small place Fermanagh really could teach Canterbury a thing or two! The bands don't hold much hope of ever really getting out of Northern Ireland, but that's just the way these things go. Links have recently been made to Dublin, Derry and Belfast so a few bands are travelling well at the minute, but for the most part they're happy playing to the small Enniskillen crowds because we give them plenty of support

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

interesting about Preston. Something is obviously working there - what clubs are you playing and what is the deal with the door etc.. are you self promoting or is a promoter working actively in that area ?

 
we have The Venue putting on regular (weekly on Fridays) nights, and 53degrees (at the university) putting on bigger nights once a month.
 
Everyone in the "metal community" knows everybody else, and all the "major" bands are fairly tightly nit together
 
everyone self promotes, and there's a few promoters. most use a forum not unlike this one - which plays a BIG part in every aspect of the local scene.
 
Steve Lamaq and radio1 have started paying attention to here too (but not the metal unfortunately), mostly due to a band called Star27

ORIGINAL: suzi13

The Fermanagh music scene is absolutely cracking, due to the fact that years and years ago some very clever folks sat down and formed a collective, the spirit of which lives on. It's a small county, so maybe networking's easier for us, but the collective will put you in touch with other musicians when your band needs something new (ie bassist, drummer etc), give you a place to practise and record demos and provide you with equipment and a wee sound man for your gigs if needed. All for a price granted, but you can't beat the community feel to it. Everyone knows each other and rather than it being all about the pub, gigs are organised wherever they can be played (sometimes half way up a mountain in the summertime), and posters/word of mouth secures the crowd. Seriously, I'm over in Canterbury at uni now and I can't believe how little interaction there seems to be between folks - it's like noone knows each other nor wants to. Not what I'm used to at all. For such a small place Fermanagh really could teach Canterbury a thing or two! The bands don't hold much hope of ever really getting out of Northern Ireland, but that's just the way these things go. Links have recently been made to Dublin, Derry and Belfast so a few bands are travelling well at the minute, but for the most part they're happy playing to the small Enniskillen crowds because we give them plenty of support

This is superb.. Do you have a website for the collective ? Would be interesting to see what they do and learn maybe from this.