Decline?

[goatlady]

I dunno guys, I'm a chick (no, really) and I dunno if "luring women" into shows is the right way to go about it... no chick is gonna go to a metal gig if she's not into metal or hanging around someone else who is.

[venismecha]

^shhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm all for free drinks and entry for the girls. Make it happen

But yeah, I've always had a hard time getting my female friends along. Most of them just aren't into it, based on the music and the bogan dudes saying "cunt" all the time

If you can make it easier for me to get my mates to come to shows with me, then please do! I'm kinda fighting an uphill battle, and I know they'd like at least one or two of the bands if they stuck around long enough to give them a try (usually I lose them one or two songs into the first act).

And maybe if there was something else fun to do while they're there... like um... fuck...
Speed-dating. Face painting. Arts and crafts. Palm reading. A photo booth. One of those things where you text a message to a certain number and it comes up on a big screen. Pony rides. Spray tanning. Free spinal checks.

[goatlady]

Pony rides

FUCK yeah. I'd be all over that. But how you gonna stop the grind dudes from um... making pony porn? or pony burgers? 

The chicks would be in no danger, but I wouldn't be so sure about any livestock...

[BaileyHorizon]

Pony rides

FUCK yeah. I'd be all over that. But how you gonna stop the grind dudes from um... making pony porn? or pony burgers? 

The chicks would be in no danger, but I wouldn't be so sure about any livestock...

especially if its a soundworks gig.

[nihilist]

Pony rides

FUCK yeah. I'd be all over that. But how you gonna stop the grind dudes from um... making pony porn? or pony burgers? 

The chicks would be in no danger, but I wouldn't be so sure about any livestock...

Last time I checked there were more grind songs with misogynistic themes than livestock themes.

[goatlady]

Pony rides

FUCK yeah. I'd be all over that. But how you gonna stop the grind dudes from um... making pony porn? or pony burgers? 

The chicks would be in no danger, but I wouldn't be so sure about any livestock...

Last time I checked there were more grind songs with misogynistic themes than livestock themes.

Yeah but the women fight back. the livestock are much more accommodating

[moog maniac]

Well...sorry to say but the way I see it, things have always been shitty...We've all been around a long time , expecting things to improve and build up to critical mass.... but alas.... same ol shit... I think things will change when until everyone pulls back together and starts supporting each other again... For example ...I came over from the rock genre...cause it was Fucked...everyone steppin on each other's face to get where they wanted to be...The metal scene was crankin....All fans were supportin everyone...goin to every show ...thats why metal was gettin the venues...Bums on seats...Drinkin piss...spending money... if we all don't get our shit together soon... local acts will be all fighting for spots at only the shittyist venues..... replaced by some shit.... like dance music dj's, jukebox,or some covers band, playing top 40......Definatly food for thought...metalers.

[Harlequin Forest]

How about some sort of newsletter/mailing list? Sent out every week/2 weeks/month/whatever, it could give a list of upcoming gigs, updates on bands (eg new songs), etc. It would mean that people who are not as active on this site are still up to date with whats going on.

[Damo]

For anyone who was around from the earliest days of the modern metal scene (lets say 1992-present)

Shit, here we go (from 1995)

How many venue's did you have to choose from?

About the same - of the ones that were open to original music, from memory

How much promotion did you see from bands? (flyers, posters ect ect)

Probably LESS, but you have to remember promo was a lot harder in that there wasnt really much to social networking aside from #allegiance on IRC
However, being that crowds were more actively involved with gigs around town, one poster on the wall did a lot more for recruitment than 20 of them today.

How consistent were gigs?

Every weekend, pretty much same as now.

How many band's were there at its peak?

Impossible to say. There were many death metal bands around when I was starting out, but we were the only prog band around at the time as far as I know.
Again, the overall numbers were probably not too different to now.

Yeah, maybe free entry for girls, I dunno.... something to bring 'em in.

As sexist as that is, its a BRILLIANT idea!

everyone stands around trying to pick-up like you say... the music, the atmosphere is lost, the whole reason for being there is gone...might as well go to the Deen   

At least they dont leave
And I wouldnt agree the vibe is lost. Ive seen it a hundred thousand times before - one hottie gets onto the dancefloor and then all of a sudden the music is SO much more appealling because everybody gets onto the dancefloor - people wander fwd and that infernal 'void' in the front of the stage disappears.

I wouldnt worry so much about the security aspect of it also. One thing that has always been obvious when I have been at metal shows, and that is that the guys look after their metal ladies. In fact, most of the regular female metal girls are as much 'one of the boys' as the guys are. Ive hardly ever seen any seedy behavior amongst guys at metal shows. Maybe its me, but there seems to be more respect there.

Just to point out too, the Evolution Machine party is showing interest from a very high proportion of female supports, so this could be one of those gigs that bucks the trend. Ill be very interested to see if any of the 'vibe' is lost due to it...

[whammy]

good points

[JP]

Did you even bother reading the posts Whammy???

[ironguardian]

Yeah, maybe free entry for girls, I dunno.... something to bring 'em in.

I actually tossed around the idea of offering free entry to anyone who turned up to one of my gigs in a bikini. I think it was for a mid-winter show, so there would have been little risk or anyone actually turning up like that 


Rock nights at the Castle often get a decent male:female ratio going, as do the lighter metal gigs at Amps. I would definitely say it's the music, rather than the crowd. I'll echo the other comments that metal crowds (the less-bogan ones anyway) do tend to look out for the girls who turn up. Most of the disturbances at gigs tend to be due to outsiders... as elitist as that sounds :/

But how you gonna stop the grind dudes from um... making pony porn?

I'm pretty sure DFC have a song called something like Hot Horses Cum 

[chancellorisgod]

Most of them just aren't into it, based on the music and the bogan dudes saying "cunt" all the time

Tell the cunts to fucken relax aye 

[goatlady]

I'm pretty sure DFC have a song called something like Hot Horses Cum 

Which I just heard on Friday night, hence the reference

[goatlady]

Most of them just aren't into it, based on the music and the bogan dudes saying "cunt" all the time

Tell the cunts to fucken relax aye 

In defence of my gender, I love the word "cunt". It's been around for centuries. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunt

Youse have seen this right? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gropecunt_Lane

Maybe that's what the alley next to Amps should be named

[Louise_Sin]

I have read all the posts in this thread so far and have decided to join to give my 2 cents
(i lurk because its to much of a dick around to sign up, here i am now  )

ADVERTINING:
If you had billboards around town with gigs on it and TV commercials it would do not much
more because people aren't going to go see a band they DON'T know. You need to make people more aware
of your band and keep up with ebbs and flows. (Neverborn your myspace is obsolete almost)

ATTITUDE:
Metal to the unknowing seems like some sort of cult. But as we all know it isn't because I'm sure
you all work normal jobs, don't worship Satan, have friends who don't like metal and enjoy the taste of Aeroplane Jelly and PaddlePops.
However the "community" are quick to outcast new people. Take for instance WF. People fuck up with grammar mistakes
and you take digs and it scares them off. People slag of bands and it starts arguments.


Here are a few more things in no order:

You are all friends and don't make new ones often so that limits expansion.


Gig posters and band names are most of the time offensive, also naming every gig is silly
people cant take you seriously with names like Abomination's of Pestilence, Gethering of Evil, End of Days and Brutally Designed i mean c'mon.
(This is only an observation of the titles not the bands or the promoters  )


Lastly... same bands, same songs and same shit. People want variety. Too many low key gigs.

Alot of mainstream metalheads these day like dirt bikes, cars, other music and trendy clothes. Think outside the box.

If you want more people, appeal to everyone not just dudes who wear black band shirts and listen to underground metal.


Love Louise  
(Concerned Metal Punter)

[WarNick]

So have you got any answers to the issues you brought up which seemed to be non-issues until now?

Who gets offended by a gig or band name, really. MAYBE if you're putting up posters in a retirement home.

[Louise_Sin]

So have you got any answers to the issues you brought up which seemed to be non-issues until now?

Who gets offended by a gig or band name, really. MAYBE if you're putting up posters in a retirement home.

Non Issues???  I have displayed issues that are very legitimate and current. The answers are the opposite of the issue, I thought they were quite obvious.

Also... offended, of course! Look at some of the names, images and connotations in advertising for gigs. This may be okay for you and me but not everyone. They might not be offended but they may look at this and think "what the fuck does this has to offer me?"

[cyanide_christ]

She has very valid points though. I cringe at every single gig name cause they're all ridiculous and make the gig and all those involved come across as utterly juvenile. If there are quality bands on the bill, why make them look amateur by giving the gig a silly name?

As for variety, well there are some bands that are trying to do something different but for the last few years the Australian metal scene, in particular here in W.A, has had some obsession with extreme music like death and black metal. The result being about as low a target audience as possible. If you go on the musician connection forum you'll see about 90% of the ads on there are people looking to start/join death metal bands. If that's all that people wanna play then it obviously makes it harder for punters to see anything else. I think that's a real shame cause there must be plenty of people like me who have zero interest in death or black metal and would rather see some bands doing something a little less offensive.

[nihilist]

However the "community" are quick to outcast new people. Take for instance WF. People fuck up with grammar mistakes and you take digs and it scares them off. People slag of bands and it starts arguments.

It's a fucking metal board, if people can't handle some light-hearted digs over their poor education and don't enjoy a pointless (but fun) debate over why one metal genre is better than the other, perhaps they'd be better served listening to a genre of music that doesn't polarise opinion. Like pop music, or Creedence. Everyone loves Creedence.

Also, "off".

[Louise_Sin]

However the "community" are quick to outcast new people. Take for instance WF. People fuck up with grammar mistakes and you take digs and it scares them off. People slag of bands and it starts arguments.

It's a fucking metal board, if people can't handle some light-hearted digs over their poor education and don't enjoy a pointless (but fun) debate over why one metal genre is better than the other, perhaps they'd be better served listening to a genre of music that doesn't polarise opinion. Like pop music, or Creedence. Everyone loves Creedence.

Also, "off".

LOL   

[WarNick]

The opposide? So Grotesque should change their name to 'the electric shoes' because they're concerned about offending people who don't have any intention to go to their gigs? I agree with you about maybe bands like 'Death fucking cunt' and 'cuntscrape', but for the most part it's a non-issue for any other metal band in Perth, furthermore it'd follow suit with the rest of Australia's culture shift to change such things to accomodate those easily offended by pictures of scarely looking people and illegible fonts, OoOoOoOhHhHh!! Suffice to say I don't think it's a problem that would warrant a complete overhaul, after this is what this topic is about, nor would it see a noticable change in attendance numbers. Anyone neglecting to go to a gig for the first time because of a band or gigs silly name is NOT going to be a loyal 10 yr veteran of the metal scene anyway.

As for gig names, they (usually) suit the main genre of the gig. Brutal bands = brutal show name, not unlike any shows or festivals interstate and overseas. This is possibly getting a little watered down when people do this for bands maybe not applicable to the theme/genre, that's when I would think it looks silly.

[WarNick]

Also, what I was thinking with solutions was more along the lines of a more pro-active solution like those that posted before you - rather than just implying bands and people should just stop doing it.

[Catalyst]

I think I may have created a monster here, but please keep with this people.  There ARE some ideas stepping forth here, and contributions from a new member to boot, welcome sister.   

[cyanide_christ]

I don't think anyone suggested anything along the lines of bands changing their names or their music, I think the feeling was that there could be more bands and more gigs that cover other areas of the metal spectrum, and I don't mean just the other extreme I mean everything in between, such as what you guys are doing and what we're doing, right through to the wankiest and cheesiest stuff imaginable.

I still think the gig names thing is ridiculous. It seriously makes me cringe when I see some of the gig names that are being thought up. Maybe I'm not really in any position to criticise cause I don't get into the type of music of these gigs anyway but to me it comes across with disillusioned, eyeshadow wearing, fingernail painting 14 year old kid vibes. Will there be any evil people at that Castle gig? Will the 30th of January really be the end of days? Will there really be some kind of enslavement ceremony on March 6th? And what the fuck is an abomination of pestilence anyway? It all just sounds like silly fantasies of misguided youths and really doesn't lend itself to being taken very seriously.