How is it that benefit shows in Burque usually turn into a reduction in attendance? Has anyone else noticed this happening? Is it simply that New Mexicans support nothing but a good time? Or that the cause has to be super freakin rad? And has anyone else noticed noticed this?

*grumble grumble*

Honestly I don't think bands work as hard to promote benefit shows.

My take is that if the benefit show or cause/benefactor its for doesn't directly impact the individual then they aren't going. It has to be a pretty super freakin rad cause or have a super freakin rad band on the bill to get people out IMO.

If people want to see a band I think they will go see them regardless of if the show is a benefit show or not.

From what I've seen, most of the benefit shows have been poorly promoted... no posters, no flyers, no ads in the Alibi, no web promo, no word of mouth, etc. I've been to a few shows I didn't realize were "benefits" until I arrived there.

People can't come to a benefit show if they do not know about it.

^^ That's pretty much been my experience.

Unless I know one of the bands playing, and they tell me about it, I rarely have heard about a benefit until after the fact.

quote:

Originally posted by WebMonkey:
If people want to see a band I think they will go see them regardless of if the show is a benefit show or not.

Exactly. I thought the whole point of benefit shows is that most people won't spend anything on "the cause" (whatever it happens to be) but people do like music, so booking good bands makes people show up (and pay cover, spend money at bar, etc).

But if people don't know who is playing, they have no reason to be there, so they won't be there.

quote:

Has anyone else noticed this happening?

We actually see an increase when we play benefits. Just this weekend we did the Show for John Castillo's family and there was a shit ton of people here.

Saturation is a problem. There are three or four benefit shows (that I know of) happening this week in ABQ alone.
For some reason, bands in Albuquerque are really gung-ho about organizing benefits. It's getting a little silly. Especially when the benefits are for a new mixing equipment or helping a business fund itself. Kind of dilutes the meaningfulness of the whole concept.

quote:

Originally posted by SquawkJockey:
Saturation is a problem. There are three or four benefit shows (that I know of) happening this week in ABQ alone.
For some reason, bands in Albuquerque are really gung-ho about organizing benefits. It's getting a little silly. Especially when the benefits are for a new mixing equipment or helping a business fund itself. Kind of dilutes the meaningfulness of the whole concept.

THIS.
We get asked to play two or more benefits a month. we had to take a break when we realized we were having to pay out of pocket for band stuff because we weren't making any money. most of them aren't promoted, you don't get drink tickets, nobody buys merch... we just can't afford it for every one!

I think we've played like 10 benefit shows this year and we still have 3 booked. Someone contacted me about another one today and I had to turn them down cause we have been playing our asses off for free. Anytime a DIY band plays a show it is a benefit for the arts. That's how we get the money to record, play other cities, buy merch to pass out to our friends. Next year I'm setting a limit. 3 benefit shows, once that is reached, no more. It's fucking ridiculous. I actually turned every show listing on The Gracchi Myspace page into a benefit months ago, as a joke, and the requests keep pouring in. Why should bands have to promote something that they are volunteering their time for anyway? If an organizeer is not gonna promote it, then why throw it. I'm with Levi!