There has been a trend occurring in the local music scene that has recently started to really annoy me. I’m getting sick of seeing shows with 5+ bands on the bill. I guess it’s the easy way out for the promoters. The more bands on the bill, the more people through the doors, the more money in their pocket. Or at least that is the thinking. It’s funny hearing these promoters talk after their show about how they “packed the place.” Really? I would hope so with that many bands on the bill. Hell, half of the audience are members of the other bands and their significant others.
The main problems I see with these shows are:
- Shows typically run late. Most bands are not very skilled at quick changeovers or on running on schedule.
- Headliner (or whoever is scheduled to play last) gets the worst slot on the lineup. I have not attended one of these types of shows where the crowd does not thin out as the night progresses and nears the end.
- Crowd fatigue. The audience gets bored and tired. Most of them only came there to hear one or two of the bands and could care less about the others.
- Shortened sets. After waiting through 4 horrible bands, the band I finally came to see takes the stage and I get to hear a whopping 5 songs and just as they are getting warmed up, their set is over.
More bands does not necessarily mean more bang for your buck. I really don’t care what a “great deal it is.” 10 bands for $10, that’s only a dollar per band, except I really don’t give a damn about 9 of the bands. Festivals are different and promoters need to realize that not every show they put on is (or needs to be) a festival. Please local music promoters, for the fans sake, please try and keep your shows to a 3 band minimum.
-Caesar
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Oh thank the Lord!!!!!!!!!!! I have been saying the same thing for at least a year now and I normally don’t play those shows. I do not book more than three bands in a night. And I’m tired of thinning crowds by the time I get up to play. Also, please with all that is holy, book bands that are not going to scare the crowd away!!!!!! I have seen this a few times at the last few shows I’ve played that I did not control the lineup.
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