Because corporate rock still sucks. DIY shows don't cost anything AND you get to be the belle of your own indie rock ball.
Find a space.
You can't have a show if you don't have a room, duh. This can be a traditional venue – surf the sites of your local venues, there’s always contact information – but more likely, it will be more like your mom's basement, a coffee shop (looking at you, Olympia, Washington), a converted warehouse, or a restaurant (these are really cool, because who doesn’t want to partner a killer concert experience with tacos.) The possibilities are endless!
But seriously, if you have a basement: use it. You'll get to name it something awesome like the now-defunct Western Massachusetts venue "Dad City" or Philadelphia's "Cloud City." That's right: you can have your rock 'n' roll with a side of Star Wars.
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Size matters.
Get intimate. The smaller the space, the more crowded the floor. Science!
Book your friends.
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Or friends of friends!
Everyone knows someone in a band. Or knows someone who knows someone who knows someone. Having a relationship with a band pre-show is always beneficial—it's also a great incentive to have them play.
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