How To Support Your Scene!(Before it’s too late)
Right now it is a difficult time for independent live music and performance events.
This is for many reasons: mainly its due to us living in a cost of living crisis, costs of running events are becoming extremely expensive (the financial risk for independent promoters/producers is often too much), small venues closing and the industry is being monopolised by large companies known for maximising ticket prices for profit.
BUT, THERE IS HOPE. There are ways to support and nurture our local scenes and make sure that live art is in our hands and not just in the hands of large multimillion pound companies. Live art & music should be for everyone, accessible and inclusive.
“Things are hard right now socially, monetarily and culturally, but there is community on our doorsteps that will get us through these times. ”
For this to happen, it needs to be viable for people who understand why it's important for events to be accessible and inclusive to have opportunities to create events. We can help support that as a community.
Thorn Faustus @thorn_faustus
My name is Thorn Faustus and I am a queer performer, producer and promoter. For the last 3+ years I have been putting together accessible and inclusive events independently at Venom Promotions and supporting my local scene for years before that, so here are some things I do to support the scene:
Attend Live Shows
Whenever possible, I go to independent local events. Personally I really enjoy metal shows, burlesque shows and queer events. Most gigs cost around £10-£15, there are some free events! Burlesque shows cost from as little as £3 up to around £20 and they are always so much fun. Larger events with more entertainment elements can cost around £25 (totally worth it). Some promoters like myself have options for low income tickets/pay it forward tickets.
When I am at these events I add to the energy! Cheering, clapping and hyping up the acts on stage. Interacting with other audience members and making friends. (This is my favourite part, now I can just go to any show alone without fear as there will always be someone I know at a show, friends everywhere!)
I do have a rule where I do not attend events if they have an AI generated poster/any generated AI elements at all. Generative AI is massively damaging to creatives and to the planet, it's important we do not support it and instead work to stamp it out before we run out of drinking water and all creative jobs are gone.
Buy Tickets In Advance
Recently, many events have been cancelled due to low advanced ticket sales. In reality, most of the shows may have been okay as recently people opt to buy tickets on the door, but we must understand that without reassurance that the event will break even, a promoter may opt to cancel. If the event isn’t appearing to make enough to cover costs, the promoter will need to cover them. Most promoters cannot afford the financial risk as most are minimum/lower wage, working other full time jobs ect.
I make a habit of buying a ticket the moment I know I am planning to go to the event so that I don’t forget! If you have the spare cash, you could buy extra tickets and ‘pay it forward’ (contact the promoter).
Interact Online
Liking, commenting & reposting takes seconds and it’s a super easy way of showing your support and boosting visibility for local shows/promoters/creators.
I share posts from gigs up and down the country to my story to assist and support in anyway
I love to drop messages to other creators/performers/promoters to show my support, it's also a good way to build community online. It’s nice to send a message to say “Hey, I see your stuff, it’s amazing and you’re doing great things”.
Community Over Competition
Supporting each other will always be beneficial for everyone involved, spirits are lifted, fun is had and opportunities are created. Competition is negative and nobody wins.
Small steps like these make massive changes to our scene and to us, these 4 steps have led to me meeting so many friends and enjoying many amazing live events, finding bands and creatives that I adore.
Things are hard right now socially, monetarily and culturally, but there is community on our doorsteps that will get us through these times.
Working together is the way forward, building a village and being an active participant in the community is the key to happiness and good times.
Written by Thorn Faustus (she/they)
Performer | Producer | Promoter
Creator of:
VENOM PROMOTIONS