Whether I am gigging one of my own gigs, or supporting other bands/artists, one thing I love to do is talk with the musicians after the gig. When their performance is over with. I like to go up and shake hands with them, tell them “great job” and try to strike a conversation from there. There is a reason I like to do this. Not only that it’s a great way of networking with other musicians, I just like learning about their personalities. The way they are when they are not performing. Over the years in local music, I have learned that all local musicians have different personalities. Some can be very friendly and down to earth, they will care to talk to you. Some can be pretty shy, quiet, they keep for themselves. Some can be rude and can be downright douchebags. I’ve seen it all. I like to talk to musicians, as a way of observing how they can act professionally in local music. Some musicians can be great with people, some are not great to people. It’s pretty interesting that musicians have mixed feelings and emotions.

When I’m talking to musicians, I usually don’t let them know that I’m a musician too ’cause I’ll let them figure that out on their own. A lot of them usually do. I try not to promote myself with other musicians ’cause again, I want to leave my ego at the door and I try to make it about them, and not about me. I’m interested in learning more about them. Musicians can get into pretty interesting discussions. If you treat musicians with respect after a gig, they’ll treat you with respect in return. You can even land a friendship with them as well. I find musicians to be interesting people. I enjoy interacting with them.

Plus, another reason why I like to talk to musicians after their performance is so that they can feel good when they walk out of a gig. I want them to make themselves feel proud and happy, so I try my best to give them the best feedback possible. Instead of saying the typical and boring, “Good job”, I try to say things like, “That was an amazing set. Phenomenal job.” Ya know, things like that. Feedback that will put a smile on their face. Bands don’t get a lot of feedback from people from the crowd after a gig, and that’s another reason I do it. I just want to make them feel good. Try to make them have a positive night. I try to talk with each band member as much as I can.

I also enjoy buying their merchandise at shows as a way to help them out. Whether buying a CD or t-shirt, whatever, it’s all good. If you ever see me at a local gig sometime, this is what you will see. Me supporting other musicians as much as possible. If musicians don’t care to get support from ya (believe me, I’ve seen it a few times), move along, nothing to see here. Just talk to the ones that will support ya in return. They’ll give you support in return as a way to return the favor for you supporting them.

This is how you create your own scene, by talking and networking with other musicians. Whenever I’m ready to form my own band, I should have no problem finding members that will be willing to play with me ’cause I’m good at talking with musicians. I can find musicians easily and there are some out there actually enjoy my music. So I shouldn’t have a problem forming a band at all.

Kev

I miss the earlier days of local music when everyone saw themselves as local musicians and unsigned. That was back in the days when the internet wasn’t as big. The internet certainly changed the way local musicians look at music for sure. Pretty much most local musicians want to see themselves as rock stars these days. They either think they are “indie” artists or they think they are famous or something. They want to think of themselves as something important and great. Most unsigned acts want to make the big time ’cause they get so obsessed with the mainstream.

I still see myself as a true local musician. What makes someone a true local musician? The way I look at it, is someone who doesn’t obsess with fame and doesn’t see themselves as a “local” superstar. A true local musician is someone who isn’t a self centered ego-maniac like most musicians seem to be these days. Someone who isn’t worried about how many people show up at your gigs or what kind of venue you play at. Someone who doesn’t mind going to open mics all the time just to play out. Someone who actually sees music as a hobby, and not a job. Most musicians around here see music as a “job”, but not with me. I never lived the rock star lifestyle as a local musician like most seemed to do these days. Someone who doesn’t care to get paid or not. A true local musician is someone who doesn’t think they’re bigger or better than other people. They would also admit that their talent is crap, that they play for the love of it.

It’s sad that the way this scene is, but it is what it is, everyone wants to see themselves as stars lately. I’ve never had that problem over the years. I try my best to not be a self centered person and try to leave my ego at the door. I try to support other musicians and music fans as much as possible. I try my best to have a positive musical life. I see music as a way of life. If you’re doing it for fame or for your own ego, then you’re doing it for all the wrong reasons. Music makes me human. I’ll never get away from it. I’ll be a musician and music lover ’til the day I die.

I’m not disrespecting the scene in anyway, just being real about stuff. I hope all musicians and bands get success and move forward, but when they do, that doesn’t make them any better than others. There are only very few local musicians around here that see themselves as local musicians, but we don’t see that much around here anymore. I blame that on social networking sites like myspace/facebook over the years. That’s when musicians started to show that they all suffer delusions of grandeur. Musicians are nuts, I tell ya.

Kev