What makes a person want to come out to a local HIP HOP show?
Why do people generally not attend HIP HOP shows unless their is a famous headliner on the bill? Do people feel the talent is not up to par on a local level? Are local artists under-promoted? Is the way the show is structured unappealing? Not enough hot girls?
When I attend local HIP HOP shows I tend to see the same group of heads who come out and support good music. Most of the people in attendance are artist themselves. We have some dope artists in ATX who don’t get the exposure they deserve. Its extremely hard for artists to tap into an audience and gain fans outside of the immediate underground scene.
How do yall think we can increase the attendance and support at the local level without bringing a headliner down everytime we want to pack a venue?
I think the true Hip Hop is and has always been underground. I do recognize how risky it is to move outta the basement into the living room. People who are not into hip hop can picture in their head what a hip hop would be like. A buncha dudes yelling on the mic backed up by another dude on turntables. The key here is to go against that picture. For instance, The Roots decided to have a full band. Mos Def incorporates poetry in his shows. MC Hammer took his energy out by dancing and people enjoyed it. Have more subtle and soulful moments in a show so that people can take a break from the head nodding. Basicaly, take the picture that people have about a typical hip hop show and think “we’re not going to do that”.
Regardless of genre, I don’t think people support live music in Austin period. Unless it is SXSW, ACL, or some dope one night stand…people don’t want to spent money to see an act anymore. Its sad but true. DJ’s run the club scene right now and I don’t see that changing for a while. If more artist would put more creativity into their show, I think that could draw more people to the event. How about being professional? How about a soundcheck every once in a while? How about not having the whole entire click on stage yelling in 5 mics!? How about giving a crap about your stage show and being an artist and performer instead of just a dude or female on a mic. Some local ATX artist have overcome that and are great performers i.e.: Zeale, Tee Double, Paul Couture, KJ hines. These guys get it. So hopefully more artist will get it and more fans will pay for the admission. There is a TON of talent here in the ATX but hip-hop has to work harder than other genres because of stereotypes. So start working fellas and have some pride in your craft and talent!
D-Train
I saw on FB the other day where T-Double was complaining about Tom Hanks kid and Hillfiger ‘s kid were rapping, and how they should be supporting talent not trying to be artists. The real jewel was when he said there are more artists than people to go, it’s true, but especially here. Every body and there Mom’s is a musician here, and/or so is there, sister, cousin, Dad and best friend. They probably all rap these days and all want you to go to their show.
Plus everybody is so saturated with just the term HIP HOP. Most of it is wack too. Not just wack Hip Hop but wack music. Hip Hop needs grow up and realize it has to compete with every other genre of music out there in terms of quality production, and stop giving each other passes for being “real” and try to find away to do something new that might actually compete with Georgia on My Mind, or Cashmere, or Purple Rain. It doesn’t gotta win but let it be in the game. Take a listen to Pass me by and see what I mean.
Lastly even if it was back in the days, i think people fail to realize, that cats where known around the way for more than just rapping/doing shows. A lot of cats these days just want to be seen when it’s their show, but are never on the scene other wise. A cat like Zeale is always wreckin mics at parties and what not, that’s how you build a rep, or look at Da’shade he’s all over a totally different scene. More than 90% of getting on is networking and exposure. Hopefully enough people actually know and respect you personally to get the ball rolling……..I guess.
Keep Grinding Pimpin
Yo I feel what yall are saying. Especially the head nodding part. 20/20 and I were discussing that this weekend. Its wild because only true heads really understand how to listen to hip hop which is basically nodding your head to boom bap drums. I don’t think the majority of people want to come out and bop their heads back and forth all night. I would of course, but I don’t think that appeals to the masses. The hip hop community in ATX is pretty small. If you stay on the underground scene there is a chance that you will be doing shows for a small group of people who will support you and respect your craft however, may not be able to make it to every show and event you throw. We all know that in order to book these venues, bar owners expect a good turnout.
I feel what Blaqu was saying too. People don’t be on the scene supporting anyone else but expect to get that same love in return. D-train had a point to about professionalism too. Its tough to get people out to your show and entertain them with songs they don’t know the words to.