Being a musician in the underground music scene requires a different attitude and level of participation than those who are active in the professional music industry.
You might have been forced into a DIY community, because the music you make isn’t commercial enough. Or you might have chosen this path, because it allows you to fulfill your creative potential, creates meaningful connections with people, and is consistent with your idealistic views of the world.
The underground music scene is a community counterpart to a capitalist model. In this parallel world, you can’t expect your music to sell itself just because it is good. You have to be an active member, because the ‘success’ all depends on the input of the members of the community. If you only ‘take’, you will wear out those who do contribute, and leave them burned out and disillusioned.
Everybody has their own strengths, and you can’t expect every artist to put on shows themselves. But to break free from the capitalist structure, in which an artists expects people to work for them (bookers, labels) and listen to them (music lovers) in exchange for just making great music, you can do a bit more.
Below we’ve listed a couple of things that an independent artist/band can do, to contribute in their own way to a thriving and sustainable underground environment.
- Organize shows
Start putting on shows, in your rehearsal space, local pub, livingroom, garage, school, etc. This is the best way to connect with people and there’s always a shortage of places to play live music. - Book or submit bands elsewhere
If you are not the organizing type, or you don’t have a place to put on shows, you might be able to help by suggesting other bands to the promoters or organizers that you do know. Maybe someone you know is having a release party and they are still looking for bands. Don’t push your own band, but try and get that other awesome group of likeminded people to your town. - Start a label
Anyone can start a label and you help spreading the word of stuff you like, and do it like you want to do it. Whether it’s by putting your money or your time/energy into it. - Buy merch
If you’re into buying physical products like vinyl and CDs, don’t forget to buy local stuff or stuff by smaller artists. When you only listen digital, and you are at a show where you like the music, buy a t-shirt. Everyone needs clothes. - Share knowledge or contacts
Not with everyone! Be careful with private information. But if a band puts out an album themselves and they are looking for reviewers to write about their album, you might be able to share some of your contacts if they fit with their music. Same with promoters – if you happen to play a fantastic DIY community somewhere, this is valuable information for other artists in the scene. Don’t keep it to yourself. - Spread the word
You can spread the word on music you like, by posting on your own social media channels, by sharing in newsletters, writing blogs, putting local stuff in your year-end lists, sharing digital albums in private app groups, share playlists etc. - Go to shows
If there are DIY/underground shows in your neighborhood that you can attend: please go! To have an audience that pays a little entrance, listens to the music, buys merch… it’s essential. You know that, because you are a musician too.
Please don’t be that band that always gets booked and always asks for favors or contacts, and never books something in return, goes to shows, buys stuff, or otherwise contributes to the community. Let’s Do It Together!