Independent music is hard.
More accurately, music is hard. Being independent just makes it a little harder.
There are no record executives writing checks. No big marketing department filling the seats. No publicist making sure people know where you’re playing.
Most independent musicians are doing pretty much everything themselves—writing the songs, rehearsing, booking the gigs, hauling the equipment, setting up, playing the show, tearing everything down, and then going home and doing it all over again.
And that’s why supporting independent musicians—particularly local musicians—matters.
Here’s the reality of playing local music:
Bars, restaurants, coffee shops, farmers markets, and other small venues generally don’t have a lot of money to spend on entertainment. And I understand that. They have employees, rent, food costs, insurance, utilities and a dozen other expenses. And, none of it is getting cheaper.
So a band might get paid $150 for an evening.
Sounds pretty good until you consider the hours of rehearsal, driving, loading and unloading equipment, setting up, sound checking, playing, and tearing everything back down.
Then divide that $150 among three or four musicians.
Suddenly, we're not exactly talking about rock-star money. It is rarely more than minimum wage.
But there is an important part of this equation that you can do that makes a big difference.
Become the audience.
Venues can pay musicians more when they make more money. And venues make more money when people actually show up, bring their friends, order dinner, have a few drinks, and stay awhile.
So if you enjoy live music and want to see more of it in your community, here are a few things you can do:
1. Come to the shows.
This is the big one. An empty room is discouraging. A room with people listening, laughing, dancing and singing along makes all the difference.
2. Bring a friend.
Better yet, bring several. Introduce somebody to a local musician they haven't heard before.
3. Support the venue.
Buy the food. Order a drink. Tell the bartender or owner that you came because you wanted to hear the music. Let them know that live music brings people through the door.
4. Tell people about the show.
Post about it before you go. Take a picture while you're there. Tag the musicians and the venue. Word of mouth is still one of the most powerful forms of promotion an independent artist has.
5. Tip the performers.
If you enjoyed the music, don't be afraid to put a few dollars in the tip jar. If you really like the show - put in more than a couple of dollars. That money goes directly to the people who just spent their evening entertaining you.
6. Follow the musicians.
Visit their websites. Join their email lists. Follow them on social media. For example, I have "The Campfire" for people who want to know what I'm working on and where I'm playing.
7. Buy the music.
Buy the CD. Download the song. Buy a shirt. Pick up some merch if they have it. Independent musicians don't have a giant corporation behind them. Those purchases actually matter.
And here's the thing:
You don't have to do all of these things.
Do one.
Go hear a local band. Bring a friend. Leave a tip. Buy a song. Tell somebody about the show.
Every little bit helps.
Because when you support local musicians, you're not just supporting one person with a guitar.
You're helping build a music scene.
You're helping keep local venues alive.
You're helping give musicians a reason to keep writing, rehearsing and getting on stage.
And maybe, just maybe, you're going to discover a song—or a musician—you wouldn't have found anywhere else.
Independent music is hard.
But having people in your corner makes it a whole lot more fun.