Too often, the music scene is perceived as an intensely competitive and sometimes cutthroat environment where bands are accused of stealing fans and abusing contacts for their benefit. While it certainly takes all kinds, the resurgence of interest in supporting a scene rather than a single act is growing in Rhode Island. Musicians are attending not only the shows of their show-swapping buddies but those of other musicians in the area. They’re sharing contact information, giving leads on venues, and aiming to grow together rather than apart. Surely this trend is a good sign.
A new grassroots operation with the goal of cultivating scene interest as opposed to just band interest is Bring Back RI (BBRI). Organized by a group of local teenagers tired of the bickering and divides running deep in the Rhode Island music scene, they seek to promote camaraderie and to bring the scene back onto people’s radar. Still in its infancy, BBRI has a growing circle of awareness and promises shows aiding in its mission. Young bands and artists from a variety of genres, though the organization’s genesis occurred in the hardcore/screamo scene, have begun to show their support on all levels for the resurgence of Rhode Island’s entire music scene. This is a step in the right direction, a strong sentiment coming from an organic local source, that we can only hope will spread like wildfire. [Video after the jump.]
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For more information on the BBRI movement, visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/bringbackri.
What a luxury it is to have competing shows, on the same night!
The trick is to bring the event promoters on board – they want to maximize their audience more than anybody else. The goth and industrial scenes, as disparaged as they are for drama, have been doing this for years. Look anywhere in New England, and you’ll see that none of the weekly events fall on the same night, within at least a 1 hour driving radius.
Provide event promoters with a centralized events calendar and networking resource, and they’ll minimize overlap on their own. Some scheduling conflicts cannot be avoided (touring national acts, large festival pick-up gigs, etc.), but as long as the channels are open, all of us are want for a little more good faith between our peers. Then, maybe, we can focus on getting what event promoters in Providence really need: more venues, and better venue support!
Wikkit smaat. In the wonk community, this would be called a clustering – where disparate but related entities concentrate their efforts into a smaller space in order to achieve a higher velocity (of activity) and, therefore, greater momentum.
Besides, “there ain’t nothin’ wrong with another unity song“.
Also, “A” tags make live links to Myspace pages!