[Dynagroove] Re: club survey

[Morelosangeles at aol.com]

everyone else is putting their thoughts in, so here are mine:

UNDERGROUND: like Amanda (HOME) said, the underground vibe is special, but it 
prevents the scene from growing.  There are so many people that would love 
house music but haven't had the opportunity to be exposed to it.  It is 
selfish for us to not share it at every opportunity.   Example: Recently 
Marques Wyatt was booked to play at the Abbott Kinney Street Festival.  He 
called me and asked if I'd play with him.  I went down with my records and 
hung out and watched while he played.  In front of the DJ set up was a table 
with flyers for DEEP.  I was literally amazed at how many people were coming 
up to take flyers and ask about CD's, etc.  Keep in mind that although 
Marques is a great DJ, it was the music itself that was drawing these people 
in.  I say this because 1) The DJ setup was not at a main stage...it was 
basically like a booth setup; 2) The people that were stopping were just 
walking by.  They weren't there long enough to hear a full set.  And, 3)  
they were obviously not the normal house-heads...most didn't even seem to 
understand the whole mixing concept.  Yet in a matter of minutes they were 
captivated by a single song....so much so that they felt compelled to talk to 
the DJ.  This was happening over and over again.  I played for about an hour 
or so, and literally gave my number out at least 30 times.  I've never seen 
anything like this before.  These people were all "brand new" - most of them 
told me they've never heard music like this, or have never been to a club 
that plays anything like this.  Basically what I'm saying is that there is a 
huge untapped market out there....and for us to want to keep things 
underground is just selfish.  As promoters, we need fresh blood....as music 
lovers, we should want to share.  I have no fear of our music and our scene 
becoming "commercial".   Commercial doesn't scare me at all....fuck, Stevie 
Wonder and Bob Marley were commercial....I would love to be pushing my 
shopping cart through Ralph's while listening to Jazzanova, or Metro Area 
over the loudspeakers.  Commercial doesn't scare me...lack of soul scares me.

So my advice to promoters is to obviously give preference to the existing 
heads...like any business there is a "target audience"....but understand that 
your target audience only remains in the target for so long....other factors 
kick in (factors everyone has mentioned already, such as age, the economy, 
work, an abundance of options, etc.).  The target audience has to always be 
expanding.  As promoters, we have to reach out to new audiences...I know it's 
hard financially to print extra flyers, pay for ads, etc., for an off-target 
audience that probably will throw the flyer away....but after being exposed 
to a name repeatedly (club, dj. promotion company, whatever), people 
eventually become curious enough to venture out and see what they're missing. 
 The next sad reality is that most of the people who eventually do come out 
will not like what they hear.  Like the track says, "Not everyone understands 
house music."  But some will like it and remain, and spread the gospel to 
others....it's a slow process, but it happens.   But it only happens with 
constant exposure to fresh bodies.  So to the promoters,  promote...to 
everyone  - and to the heads, share.  Anyone who has ever been personally 
responsible for turning a newbie on to the scene for the first time can tell 
you....it is an amazing feeling watching someone fall in love with house 
music and dancing....and when you know that you helped bring it to that 
person, it's even more special.

late,

scott k.



In a message dated 10/11/02 9:24:32 AM Pacific Daylight Time, dynagroove-
admin at reelhouse.net writes:

<< There are PLENTY of people out there who love house music or would if 
given a chance...however, the other side to this is that many like to keep 
the scene underground for sometimes that's what makes it special.  Yet, if we 
don't open our arms and minds to other people then events will continue to do 
poorly and promoters will continue to use the same tried and true formulas.  
It's not that we don't want to bring out fresher/newer talent...it's that we 
just don't have money to lose doing it.   >>