The best offense to cliques in art scenes
Art and music scenes tend to be a bit cliquey. During my travels, I’ve been told by musicians from other states that Michigan is very insular.
I’m not sure if Michigan is more cliquey than other states’ scenes, but I can understand why we might be perceived to be. (With the decline of the auto-industry, we faced the recession about a decade before the rest of the country; and we tend to be very pro Michigan-made in response.)
Not all clubs are bad. Some of them are wonderful examples of community preservation, local promotion.
For example, to play the Ann Arbor Water Hill Music Festival, your act needs to have at least one musician live in the neighborhood; but in no way is Water Hill excluding. Anyone can attend it, for free; and so many artists open up their homes, quite a few start new bands just for the one time event! People are doing it out for the fun.
However, other some cliques are excluding by nature. How many bands apply to showcase at SXSW or CMJ? Plus, how expensive is it to attend? Money is an ultimately excluding factor!
What’s the best offense to cliques? If you aren’t accepted into the club or scene, go create your own club–one that is a more welcoming scene.
If that showcase didn’t pick you, start your own showcase. If that radio show won’t answer your email, try starting your own Internet radio show. If that music festival selected the go to artist again; start a smaller fest around the corner!
What is Water Hill but one example of starting a scene, right in the neighborhood.
While there’s no guarantees to financial success in the arts, I guarantee you that if you start a welcoming scene, others show up to hang out.
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