How much is too much?

Posted August 21 at 09:52 AM

That's a question that some in the local music scene have been facing lately.

In the past, local promoters have restricted the number of shows bands they've booked could perform in the area. Promoters have told bands that, during the two weeks before and after the promoter's event, they couldn't play within 30 miles of the event venue.

That's because promoters don't want to divide the audience. They've believed that if a band played two local shows within a short period of time, fans would attend one show or the other – not both.

Recently, however, some local screamo bands have been disproving that theory. The bands at times have played two local shows in a single weekend and drawn the same young crowd for both shows.

Still, some local promoters are upset and concerned about this practice, which is likely to continue as the number of local music venues increases. Many young bands are willing to play anywhere at any time to get exposure, and they're going to jump at the opportunities provided by new clubs and coffeehouses.

How this will affect the scene has yet to be determined. But it's something to keep an eye on. Ian Hill / 209Vibe editor