THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)
Fun Stuff => BAND => Topic started by: Dotes on 21 Apr 2010, 20:01
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So, I love music, and criminally, I've never been to a live show of anyone I'd pay money for. I would love nothing more than to go to one and I have had a few opportunities. I regularly check the schedules of a few venues nearby and I've gotten pretty excited about them... but there's a catch (maybe). NO ONE I know likes the same music as me. I like a lot of what's generally considered 'indie,' but despite being in college for some time now, I have literally never met anyone who professed to have similar interests. My roommates are into music like Bone Thugs and Shwayze and Ludacris, and all my friends are generally similar. There's nothing wrong with that, to each his own. It's just not my favorite thing. I tried to get some people interested in a show I wanted to see once, but they were less than enthused and I ultimately ditched it. I'm getting tired of listening to music on my headphones; when I first moved I played my music on the speakers a lot - much to the displeasure of my roommates - so I eventually just gave up.
So at the risk of sounding like a self-pitying wuss, what do I do? Should I go to these shows alone, could that be fun, is that possible, or would that be the most pathetic thing in the world? Am I loser, or maybe, do I need to find new and better friends? Maybe some who like good music? I feel like my interest in music has been put in this tiny, compartmentalized part of my life, and I've always felt that it was more important than that. I used to talk about music all the time, to anyone who would listen, even though no one I knew really cared about music much at all. Now, I just don't see the point. The blank stares and indifferent responses got to me I guess.
So does anyone have any advice? Even if that advice is "Stop crying, go outside and meet people you loser," I'll try to take it to heart.
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I don't think there's anything wrong with going to shows alone. Go, and make some new friends while you're there.
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^ This, a thousand times fucking this, forever.
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There was a really great conversation in the Relationship thread awhile ago about bringing books to shows -- so when nobody wanted to see You Say Party! We Say Die! with me, I took a notebook and Slaughterhouse-Five with me instead of my buddies. That night, I
a) made friends with an opening act that had to ask why I was reading during part of his set
b) made friends with a local radio DJ after a long discussion about Vonnegut
c) made friends with two ladies who wanted to know what I was writing about, who then introduced me to their lesbian virtuoso sister
d) broke a story via Twitter before anyone else and supplemented a journalist (who I also met there) with details since I'd written everything down.
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Yeah when I first went to college I didn't even really have friends so I just started looking for fliers and (this was roughly 6 years ago, my details are hazy) figured out where cool shows were happening and just went. Somehow I managed to meet, like, three people and have actual conversations on my first night out. One person I met turned out to be one of my best friends and still is. He also happened to become a very credible venue promoter in the area and helped my future bands get on a lot of really great shows.
I dunno, even in high school I felt like it was more effective to just leave friends behind if they weren't into going to a particular show, if it was one worth going to, so I guess that prepped me for going to college shows alone.
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There was a really great conversation in the Relationship thread awhile ago about bringing books to shows -- so when nobody wanted to see You Say Party! We Say Die! with me, I took a notebook and Slaughterhouse-Five with me instead of my buddies. That night, I
a) made friends with an opening act that had to ask why I was reading during part of his set
b) made friends with a local radio DJ after a long discussion about Vonnegut
c) made friends with two ladies who wanted to know what I was writing about, who then introduced me to their lesbian virtuoso sister
d) broke a story via Twitter before anyone else and supplemented a journalist (who I also met there) with details since I'd written everything down.
Sounds like the framework for a beautiful novella.
To answer the question:
Go alone. There will be people there. They will be there for the same band as you. So you're finally getting to see some enthousiasm for the music you love. Which is very nice. So, you know, GO!
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As for finding people who listen to the same music you do, have you had a look at your college's radio station?
That's usually where they all hang out, those indie kids.
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I went to The xx alone and had like an hour-long chat with some guy and his gf who were standing next to me before the music started. It started out really music oriented but we eventually got onto other topics, it was fun. Made me want to do that sort of thing more often.
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I don't think there's anything wrong with going to shows alone. Go, and make some new friends while you're there.
Agreed x100
I went to the Wolf Parade show when they came through town (3ish years ago...) ended up getting too drunk and went home with someone several years my senior who worked at my school. It was awesome.
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Hell, this is something I probably should have started doing a long time ago.
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d) broke a story via Twitter before anyone else and supplemented a journalist (who I also met there) with details since I'd written everything down.
uhhhh did this happen really recently because if so :( :( :(
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it sounds better out of context doesnt it jc :(
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When I used to go to gigs I'd know everyone that I saw but now I go to gigs alone if I go to gigs at all.
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go alone and awkwardly pretend to text between sets
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Go alone. Drink. Obnoxiously tell a girl nearby that you liked the band years ago when they played a basement show. Get her excited through his revelation. After they play, briefly introduce her to band. Drunk makeouts.
A+
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Remember to talk to girls. Always important.
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This thread has inspired me to go see Laura Marling by myself next week
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Laura Marling
better be a good book
;)
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Remember to talk to girls. Always important.
Talk? To girls?
don't they have the cootie
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Laura Marling
better be a good book
;)
:x
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I think he means that the crowd will be relatively well read rather than that the show will be boring.
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nah
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Oh well in that case youuuu're wroooonnnggggg
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Go to metal concerts, get wasted, and mosh. You won't really care about not knowing anyone, and you might make some friends in the process.
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hey actually you shouldn't do that