Why can't bands belonging to scenes (in any city) get along and help promote the scene as well as each other?

Question

Yahoo! Canada Staff Note: Yes! this is the real Tommy Mac, bassist from Hedley

Answer 1

Every band strives to be the best and a lot of bands out there don’t want to help another fellow band out when they want to be heard. They don’t want to take their time and focus it on helping another band get out there, but instead they want to be selfish and make themselves and only themselves look good. Even once they have their music out there and they’re one of the greatest bands, they still continue to make themselves look better. I’m not saying all bands out there are selfish, I mean you guys helped Faber Drive…and look at them now! It’s better to make friends in the music business rather than enemies because that will get you nowhere.
It’s not just about how good you look or how great you sound that achieves greatness, but how you contribute to others that helps a hell of a lot.

Answer 2

Well truth is music nowadays is very generic, some might even say carbon copies of each other. I'm guessing from a band member's point of view it would be futile to attempt to promote a music scene (or another band for that matter) when their band is struggling and trying to get noticed. I don't know of too many professional acts that grind it out solely for the purpose of backstage camaraderie with other bands. People make and join bands for $$$$ if they're serious about playing. It's the MTV generation backfiring on all of us.

People looking to just the radio are only hearing regurgitated renditions of bands imitating each other. I will admit that every music scene for the last half century have had similar sty-lings but at least it lead to something more revolutionary. Nothing new has come out since the early 90's and music has literally just gone stale. It's kind of hard to stick out from a crowd because of this and lets face it, most groups today are just in the right place at the right time to get noticed by a promoter when they do make it big.

Don't mean to rant, and I'm not referring this specifically to Hedly but it's just too "dog-eat-dog" out there today. Every band would jump at a chance to promote the scene, if in fact THEY were the scene.

Answer 3

Hey Tommy Mac, you guys sound like a bunch of decent guys who have been flung into a massive new rock world of dog eat dog. It's sad life has to be that way. I think it's much more competitive in the music world today. It must be hard to find ways of standing out amongst the crowd but you guys have a good thing going.

You will probably find that there are decent people (bands) as well as bad...but just always remember it's a business too and competitive one, even amongst your own scene and amongst what you may consider friends. You are right in assuming that if a few of you guys help each other out, you will do a lot better promoting yourselves. You don't want to be remembered for all the dirty stuff you had to do to make it and it doesn't have to be that way either.

I would say, do what you know in your heart is the right thing to do, and you will never regret it.

You dont want to turn dirty just because it works for some. There's no respect in that.

You guys are already big you know!! You just have to grow into it now. I don't thing you should be too worried about success. Get some concerts scheduled, and tour, and you'll be just fine!!! The girls already love ya! Just use what you've got working for you, and keep doing what you're doing and be real for your audience.

Don't let the pressures get to you, don't turn on one another--take care not to get lost in all the craziness.

Answer 4

Mostly I think its just the competition in the Industry that is one of the largest contributors to the problem. Theres so many bands out there and they all want the same things, so I think they basically see it in a sense of: why would they promote someone else when it could mean less of something for them, whether it be money, publicity, booze, female/male attention.....if you want to solve the problem I wouldn't look to an outside answer, do what one of the previous "answerers" stated and "lead by example".
Along the way every band forgets what brought them to where they are in the first place. At some point they really believe that its their talent alone thats carrying them this far and not the friends, family and true fans that sat in the crowd even at the shows when only a few people came; and cheered for them, or that buy their CD's just to show support and encouragement. The truth is, that a majority of music released today sounds like crap! Musical entertainers no longer really have to know how to play their instruments or sing in key, theres computers to fix all that for them, all they need to know is who the best personal trainer is so they can keep flashing it for the camera.
So are you really so surprised, Tom, that they would start getting bored and look elsewhere to entertain themselves, like say act like immature idiots and not help support other up and coming bands just cause it might pull some of the attention or a couple bucks away from them? And also can you yourself honestly say that you've never tried to snub another musician or band because of a personal beef with them, or a previous incident with whom you still may hold a slight grudge?
Why can't bands all just get along.....because they don't want to!!They make more money arguing and starting BS then just shutting up, playing their damn instruments and amusing us, like we pay them to. Plain and simple.

Answer 5

Maybe, their egos get the best of them...and if it isn't in their best interest they don't want to. In any case, I live by the rule do unto others as you would have done onto yourself. Lets see you start first and see if we can PAY IT FORWARD. If you don't know what that means...go rent the movie. If you decide not to help other people at least you will have watched a good movie.
Good luck with the quest.
p.s. I watched you on the Canadian Idol and you were very unique and an awesome entertainer. I think though you are doing what you were intended to do in life. Keep it up.
But do me a favor...keep your clothes on....and calm down a little on the drinking references. I saw a show about your band....Whether you like it or not....you have become a mentor to many young kids....you should always keep that in mind when you "act" a little wild and crazy. People are watching and as a parent...if I were to see that behavior, I would probably try to stop my child from witnessing it.
Congratulations on your success.
Tara

Answer 6

because bands belonging to scenes (in any city) are composed of human beings and we all tend to draw our little boundary lines in every situation, just the nature of the beast really.

i suppose the difference between bands which are successful and those which are fly-by-night or little more than gasps of air,
is that the successful band members learn the importance of teamwork and networking, or at least they have someone behind the scenes who knows it and keeps the strands tied together.
we distinguish ourselves by forming our own group, but we enhance ourselves when we enhance others; very few of us in the human family ever actually grasp this; keep up your good attitude and do what you can where you can to promote other artists/genres/ etc. then, even when they have their claws out you can stand tall.
i'm a 46 year old woman with kids too young to listen to your genre so i don't have a clue what you guys sound like, but obviously you're going somewhere; congratulations; enjoy the wave
and i gotta say, your name is absolutely perfect for your role; Tommy Mac is very strong; perfect name for a bass guitarist! if you didn't make it up, you sure grew into it!
have a great day

Answer 7

Funny, it isn't only the music scene. Life in general poses opportunities everyday to support or undermine another. Keep your connections, what others say isn't nearly as important as what you think. Consider the comment that takes a pot shot at J.H.. Regardless of whether one approves of Canadian Idol or not, what he proved during and since is his absolute commitment to the people that he loves. You guys just stay true to each other and take a look at the experience of the generations before you that have honoured the people that have been with them through everything. Family, friends and business associates alike. Life is a journey and you will do great if you stay positive and focused. Only allow the positive energy to reach into your world.
Good luck now and in your future Tommy.

Answer 8

I think it likely has to do with a resistance to the corporate influence on music, specifically, the ability of large music companies to monopolize airwaves and radio play, which restricts diversity and the development of the art form.

For instance, when an independant band seems unable to "get along" with a well funded major-label band, they are likely rejecting the system behind the signed band, and not the people in the band.

On the other hand, sometimes the band members are losers.

Answer 9

If all bands did get along, all songs would be alike, in a way. There would be no "have you heard this great song? I think we can write a better one and be better than that". There would be no competition and it would make the charts useless. I think that since some don't get because their ego is too big and they want to be better than everyone else, even if they are bad, it makes them strive for the number one spot.

When bands do get along, they do promote eachother. When they are asked by an interviewer or someone else "what band they believe are hot right now", or "what are you listening to right now", they give their answer and it makes the audience who is that band?, if they have never heard of them or cool, i gotta check them out.

Hope this helps:)

Answer 10

Take the bull by the horns and start getting along with other bands. If they can't deal with it the negative publicity will be their down fall. We are all Canadian. I love Canadian rock music, it has a style all it's own, just listen to it. Hedley rocks and you guys should have fun and don't let other bands get you down. Be positive and that will help.

Answer 11

I think because of the competition. You are trying to be the top band and with that comes the rivalry. It is nothing new. Heck, I can remember when I was a teen in the Beatle days, even we fans of the Beatles hated the Rolling Stone fans. Not fist-fight hate, but insults would fly. Its the same as sports, come to my house some night when the Detroit Red Wings, (my husband's team) plays the Calgary Flames (my team). Its not pretty, So sing your little hearts out and make lots of money and stay off drugs. Best of luck to you all. I liked Jacob on the idol show and just knew he would make it. Go Jacob Go!