Will the real fans of local music please stand up? Time to stop whining and begin shining!
By Caesar Fernandes / Founder, Kuwait-Music.com
It’s in the air. The music is about to take over. The band is all plugged in and ready to rock , its a house full. The lead guitarist lets it rip, and the outro is outright amazing. The song is over. Out of the 200 people in the audience, 10 clap and scream. This is the reality. This is the fallacy of the music industry in Kuwait. Fans, we blame our local musicians for not writing good music, or not writing at all- But are we doing our part and supporting them?
You will reply to my question with a blatant- “But I attend their concerts and buy their merchandise dammit!” . Nice,will someone please give this fan a standing ovation? Showing support for our musicians is not about the obligatory attendance and the occasional purchase. Its about digging deep to show them allegiance, solidarity and support that no matter what happens, you are going to be by their side, and run like a mad bull ( wink wink for the post pic) at any news or developments that help them progress.
That’s what true fans-manship is all about. Our bands and DJ’s dont need your destructive criticism (They have each other for that!), but more of your availability, your time and more than just a “Like” on Facebook.
I’ve had the enormous pleasure and honor of meeting so many of our bands, DJ’s and independent artists here in Kuwait since we birthed Kuwait Music and it saddens me to a point of depression that these amazing talents aren’t being supported by music lovers in Kuwait. Is a house/chalet party, embassy concert, or some music entourage playing at a hotel lobby all you want for the music industry in Kuwait? Dont you want art and music to have a solid place in this country? Dont you want your social lives to have more options ? Then, whats stopping you?
The formula is simple. More fans for the bands = Publicity for the bands = recognition by promoters = Major sponsors and commercial entities taking notice = Greater pressure on the media to get their voices heard.
As you can see, it all starts with us. The FANS.
Here are some ways you can help our local musicians and DJ’s get the support and exposure they need :
- Like their facebook pages and participate in discussions, attend their events
- Buy tickets to their concerts, dont look for “Wasta” to get in without paying. This isnt about your connections. Its about their lives and their music.
- Participate in discussions on their websites. Book mark them and subscribe to their feeds!
- Download and install the Kuwait Music Toolbar to stay up to date on the latest about our bands and DJ’s.
- Attend their gatherings, give them ideas, buy their CD’s
- Use your contacts to talk constructively about them. Spread the word, dont just sit there and whine about how there’s no good music coming out of Kuwait.
- When they place their events on Facebook, if you cant go , tell your friends about it. Don’t ignore it.
- Burn a CD of their music and keep it in your Car’s disc changer.
- Print posters of their performances. Stick them in your room if you have to!
- Use Kuwait Music’s extensive search to find their music, updates and gigs.
So yeah, if you think there are no options for music and entertainment in Kuwait, do something about it.
About the Author
Caesar (Kuwait Music) Caesar is the Founder and CEO of Kuwait Music. A passionate musician and web nerd, Caesar spends most of his time thinking about how to build a healthy music business in the region Follow Caesar at the below links: Google+
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Hmmmmm the concept of fans is really tricky. Do bands want fans or want people to support them? I suppose and that’s from my opinion, music in Kuwait needs documentation. The standing ovation and all of that is nice. But consider this site, this is what music in Kuwait needs
“documentation.”
Musicians looking for fans would eventually find them but its paramount to document and this article is the way to do it plus the presence of music and only music will help find something here.
Interesting concept of the documentation Ahmad! Care to elaborate?
Well, gigs come and go right. They are a vital part to keep music moving. But bringing it down to the core element, music is the most vital thing in the whole process.
If any band said “well, if we don’t get fans we will not make music” that would be very odd because why is anyone making music to begin with? surely to reflect on who they are or conveying and idea perhaps.
And the same goes back to individuals labeling themselves as fans. To me, supporting is not about the claps, cheers, and the buying aspects, its about doing what you are able to do to help create music.
What I’m trying to say is, do what you got to do by lets say passing the word about one band. Sharing an album with people. Telling people about the process of making a song.
Sharing ideas about what a group or an artist is embarking on.
Add your own perks whether going commercial or not but at the end of the day make music and focus on its documentation.
Kuwait-music.com is documenting and those interested in music could take part.
Supporting in this case which is part of documenting process involves stuff like photography, fanzines, journals, reviews, heck filming, Do we have any director that is noticing what is happening here?
Your compilation CD, when it gets out its part of the documentation.
People attracted to certain kind of music will exist in one way or another. No matter how absurd the music might be, if people notice it then it did its job of informing people that such song or album exist.
I once read in a book about that this band Black Flag, they went to a gig in some remote parts of the US and the turnout for the whole show was only two people setting on the bar.
Henry “Rollins” Garfield who was the lead singer was down and wasn’t feeling up to it but their bassist Chuck Dukowski told the young Rollins that these two people came to watch them play and they should give them what they wanted exactly.
I bet if the same thing happened here, then any band would breakup plain and simple, I know why Dukowski that. They went there to document, they’ve probably got ribbed off by the organizers which usually happens during that any Black Flag tour. But why persist on it? why make music? is it because of the fans.
Not entirely! the money! Maybe they would be lucky to have a meal in every three days or so.
Anyway, I take much pride in such attitude, I respect it a whole bunch and admire it.
So basically, whoever wants to be involved in music here, think of the whole sphere not the ego.
Make music, document it with all you got by any means. If the going is tough, well, who said it would be easy? You’ll always feel low and it will always bite but at the end. If you set to yourself a goal and you achieve it. Then that is success.
At the end of the whole blabbering here. Just do what you gotta do and don’t feel down, don’t feel discouraged. Let’s put in mind that we have to document. Put your music out. Take photos of what’s happening. Write about it. Film it and for one purpose, to tell the world that we got something here if they like it or don’t. If they support it or don’t it will always be here. It is here.
hehehe ahmad youre comment can be made an article on kuwait music! good one!
LOL! a combo of music enthusiasm and insomnia does that to a person XD.
Wallah bravo on everything you’ve said so far. Just started following this blog today and I must say you guys are absolutely on point on eveything you say. I love this place and cannot believe I did not find out about it earlier.
The fans here really are a dormant species when it comes to enthusiasm. It’s very rare that someone actually shouts out that they love your music. I just came back from the States where I was dj’ing while attending uni, and wow the crowd really makes every performance. It’s unbelievable how much more drive you can have from an engaged crowd. I was shocked to see even my friends here like my work but not promote it to their friends right away. I mean, all my friends back stateside promote everything I’ve put out in a heart beat. Here, it seems they almost fear being recognized as fans of a particular movement.
I see tons of people promoting their friends’ restaurants and clothings stores, who all put out some of the most generic crap in the world, but when it comes to music – an item so personal to the majority of mankind and so prevalent in every society – they look the other way?! It’s sad.
Anyways my 2 cents, like this article a lot. +1
Oh, but a really neat thing happened the other day. I was thumpin a mix from a gig a few months back before I graduated in my car. These guys in another car pulled up next to me and asked me if I could burn them a copy on the spot. I smiled and said I can’t do that, but here you go. *Hands them the CD*
They were astounded that I would just hand it over like that. of course, being a personal disc, I didn’t have any contact info on it in case they ever want more
Hopefully I will see more people ask the same thing in the near future.
Thanks for the great insight Operation desert storm – Much appreciated