I spent last week in Austin at South by South West. As always, it was as entertaining as it was drunken, and as successful as it was loud. In many ways, SxSW is a microcosm of the Internet. There are way too many bands to see with one brain, so you have to pick and choose based on what some trusted filter recommended, or what you accidentally stumble into after eating the worm (and you had better eat the worm, pussy). The fact that it’s a microcosm is great, because the Internet is too fucking huge.
Good Ol’ Leftsetz seems to think that SxSW is a giant waste of time – which is true, if your band has certain goals. The fact that Leftsetz still thinks that’s what bands who go to SxSW are after, shows that he is as out-of-tune as the Major Labels that he despises.
Then after claiming that there’s too much competition for attention at SxSW he advises that the real path for a band to fame and fortune is:
If it’s good, put it on the Web, energize your fans, they’ll spread the word.
What Bob is saying is that playing SxSW is a waste of time because there are 2,000 other bands there, but the Internet is the way to get noticed. Apparently Ol’ Bob is under the impression that there are less-than 2,000 bands on the Internet, or, he is using an out-of-date Internet. If you’re getting the same numbers as Bob, try a hard-refresh, or clearing your cache.
So much whining, so little constructive suggestion towards a solution. “It’s about the passion,” “stop trying to make money on a passion,” he says; that sounds great, but show me a musician who doesn’t wish they could pay their rent with their music? Show me the same musician who wants to spend all day on the phone, doing the books, routing a tour, etc. etc. instead of writing songs? What I’m saying is, don’t be a retard.
How about this; If you’re in a band, go to SxSW every year and have a great time. Play as many shows as you can, drink a lot, meet other bands to tour with, enjoy some of that music that you have “a passion for.” If something like an article, or an agent, or a blog-post comes out of it, great; if not, you had a blast and that’s the least you deserve for working so hard all year long for so little (or no) pay. It’s your reward, and anyone who calls you stupid for going is a sad, jealous, old man who will always wish he had made it.
Those who can do, do. Those who can teach, teach. Those who can’t do either, teach for free on the Internet*.
*if you think I’m not aware of the irony, you might want to read the “part of the problem” page.
Please keep logics off the internet.
I couldn’t agree more. I’ve played SXSW twice. It did little to nothing for my career. BUT – that shit is fun. It’s exhausting. There’s a lot of bullshit. Many of the 2000 bands suck. But, it’s fun. go for the fun. Stay for the beer. It’s like the one time of year a lot of bands actually get to spend a couple of days hanging out – as all year you’re grinding, grinding, grinding. I think Lefsetz really missed the point on this. The fact that REM, Van Morrison, etc show up doesn’t ruin anything for anybody. All is does is give people an opportunity to see big, legendary artists in small(er) venues. That’s worth the trip in and of itself.