[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by anemicrock

YOU DON'T NEED LA TO MAKE IT.

That's quite obvious....don't think anyone here claimed that at All.

Of course there are opportunities just outside your front door but that's all there is.

Advantage, LA.

No guarantees that if you move to LA and you crank up your game somethings gonna happen. It's all luck and luck has jack shit to with LA.

I disagree that it's all luck, but I assume you're being facetious.

Of course there are no 'Guarantees', here in LA or Anywhere.

Most bands that "Make it" now are doing so by doing it all themselves. DIY. They tour there asses off and build up there following all over the place. Once these bands build there following the lazy ass labels might poke there nose in and sign someone up. Then probably drop them after spending a couple months after half ass promoting them.

Before they tour usually you build up a following in your home town/city. Building up a good following in a small town where everyone knows you doesn't count, you only have to be popular (even if your band sucks). Trying to build a following in the entertainment capital of the world, that takes quite a lot, and luck doesn't have much to do with it (in general). Here in LA you are competing with more top line bands/artists than anywhere else in the world. If you can build a big following and buzz here, record companies/A&R take major note, MAJOR note.

That's the difference. And that's why many many many bands move to LA.

That would not happen in a small town until you tour beyond it....unless, like you say, you are incredibly lucky (A&R discovers your tape in a mail pile and loves it, etc.).

If you do a van club/bar tour, and no one knows who you are, no one is really gonna show up, unless you play with other bands that draw. Even then, a few new fans in a bunch of small towns doesn't really build a following, nor does it show that you will sell on a major label level. While there are a few exceptions, most bands will move to a big city of some sort if they are from a small'ish town (like Aerosmith moving to Boston), build a following in the city (the first big 'test' for a band), then think about a tour.