7 Reasons why I love (and hate) being an indie fan

This probably goes without saying, but I love indie music. Ever since I started checking out bands that started following me on Instagram, I knew I was hooked.

But while indie rock may be my favorite genre, sometimes it’s not so great to say that I’m a fan. It can often be both a blessing and a curse.

Pro: You become the ultimate DJ

Whenever two individuals find out that they are both huge fans of music, the first question is always “Who do you listen to?” or “What’s your favorite band?” You start listing off the multiple bands that the other person has probably never heard of, and before you know it, you’re sending them a playlist of all of their best songs.

It’s a great way to make friends. If they liked the music, congratulations! You now have something in common. If they didn’t, you at least learned more about each other explaining why you did and they did not enjoy the songs you recommended. It also strengthens or alters you opinion of whatever band you had brought to the table.

Con: No one wants to listen to your music

While it can be a good conversation starter or has the potential to get you a friend, your existing buddies may not enjoy it as much as the first time. Unless your buddy is also big on the genre, it can be either a bit funny or maybe annoying to hear you talk about it so much. Some of them may even tease you for trying to be a “hipster” and refusing to listen to anything popular.

Because popular bands are everywhere, a lot of their fans found out about them because they were at the top, not because they were actively searching for music. As a result, those who seek out smaller bands tend to have a wider spectrum and catalog of bands, artists, and genres they enjoy. This is, of course, a huge benefit to the individual. However, because most people in our modern day don’t own their own records or are constantly searching for emerging artists, this can mean that it is harder to talk about your newfound music craze because no one around has the same passion that you do. And because the number of people who do seek out new music and/or collect CDs/cassettes/vinyl are few, it can be a challenge to find someone who will geek out with you.

In the case of larger groups, you are the least likely to be put in charge of the soundtrack. This may mean that you are either ignored or you end up listening to music you don’t like. Your music makes you happy after a bad day, but it can also make you kind of lonely in social situations.

Pro: It is easy to find new artists

Most of the time, if you like a popular band, chances are that other fans know and like the same music you do.

Indie bands have to network. It’s one of the only ways they can get their music out to more people. So if you’re following one band, chances are you’ll find other bands on their social media, whether they be featured in their stories or posts or chatting with the artist in the comments section. When artists follow each other, social media sites will recommend them to you because you are a mutual follower. Heck, most of the time, they’ll come to you! When you post about local bands, they’ll be wanting your attention, too. Be ready for DMs and/or comments requesting you check them out.

Con: They tend to be clingy

Even before I dedicated my social media for reviews, if I showed the slightest interest in a local band, I would sometimes be bombarded with “I want to send you free things.” Some people may see that as a benefit, but as someone with social anxiety, I tend to get overwhelmed with the idea that something someone is selling for money (that they also had to spend money to make) is being given to me without me paying for it. And because I struggle to tell people no, I feel bad accepting it.

A few artists that I think have okay music try to do this. No matter how many lukewarm comments I make publicly about their latest song, they want me to market. They want to send me shirts, they want me to push their upcoming album, they want me to advertise their shows, and it becomes very apparent to me when they are desperate for an audience. I love most of the artists that talk to me: most of them are polite and I have no problem whenever someone asks me to listen to their music. But there are an unnamed, fair few of indie musicians that just I wish would leave me alone, especially when I make it clear that I don’t love their music.

Note to artists: don’t treat music critics as a marketing opportunity. Don’t try to sell me an album, just ask — plainly. I’m never going to say no to new content (unless it’s rap or hip hop).

Pro: The artist sees everything

Do you want to post about that new band you just heard about? Did you love that new single that just came out? Do you want to give your favorite artist a compliment? Great! Because indie artists have a smaller fan base, it is very likely that if you post or message them, they will read and, and probably reply back! It makes their day when you compliment their art, and it brings a smile to your face when they thank you for it. Sometimes, they may even feature your review, video, selfie, photo, or fanart on their social media.

Con: The artist sees EVERYTHING

While it may be nice to leave compliments and take videos at shows, sometimes you want to give constructive criticism. But not everyone takes kindly to this kind of exposure.

The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics states that journalists should “resist internal and external pressures to influence coverage” (in other words, be honest and don’t let anyone persuade you to give an inaccurate statement of truth or opinion). But when artists have the power to stop sending you albums or singles in advance because of a negative review you gave an album, there is a pressure exerted upon you to sugarcoat your opinion or even lie about the quality of an album you greatly disliked.

And for my fellow friends with social anxiety, sometimes you don’t want to worry about what the artist is going to see. Even if what you’re saying is positive, if you talk about them a lot, every time you post makes you feel like you’re bothering them. And because they see everything, every time they don’t acknowledge something that you tagged them in, it increases that feeling of guilt and anxiety that they don’t care and want you to shut up.

Pro: CDs are cheaper

If you’re like me, your music collection is your most prized and guarded possession. Why buy CDs if you can buy them online, others may ask? Well, if an album includes an average of 10–14 songs and each song costs $0.99 for a digital download, that would mean that a digital album can cost anywhere from $9.99 to $13.99. A used CD in good condition or an album that has not just come out costs about $5 to $7. And they can be ripped for digital download (as long as you aren’t redistributing — don’t pirate music, kids).

With indie bands, brand new CDs go for an average of $5 for an EP ranging from 5–8 songs. And because it is easy to talk to artists, autographed merch is easy and often free to obtain if you ask at a show. If the band kicks it off and becomes mega famous, guess what? You’re sitting on some expensive, rare, and valuable merchandise, my friend.

Con: Harder to find merch after a period of time

There is a reason those CDs are cheap: they often don’t sell much. The market for CDs hasn’t died off yet, and people love to pick up a small and cheap souvenir from the show. But because sales are low, if you want a CD from a band that broke up a few years ago, good luck finding anything online. The few people that did buy their album are either not willing to part with it, misplaced it, or threw it out long ago. You may get lucky, and they do become dirt cheap after a few years, but do yourself a favor and buy it now before they’re gone.

Pro: It is cheaper to see them live

Concert/festival tickets are stupid expensive nowadays, probably in part because record sales are so low and streaming services like Spotify don’t support enough to pay the bills. With indie artists, supply is is high and demand is low, resulting in lower-costing tickets to gigs. Many of these shows are often free, playing at community events and bars.

Con: You may never see them if they aren’t local

While the shows alone may be less expensive than a more popular band, it can be more expensive for those indie bands you are dying to see because they are located on the opposite coast of the country. If you live in a large city or an area that invites emerging artists to play at festivals, there is a chance you might see them someday, but otherwise, save up or give up. By the time they might have the money to play in your city, the artists themselves may have given up on their careers.

Pro: Shorter sets

Many of us have short attention spans. Whether that be because of modern technological advancements giving us content at high-speeds, a mental disorder, or some other factor; when an artist only gets 30 min of stage time, you are less likely to get bored after a period of time. You get to hear more artists before your attention has been spent, and you are more likely to hear at least one new song you really like.

Con: …shorter sets

When you’ve never heard a band play before, it is nice to hear a few of their most prominent tunes to spark your interest. But if it is a band you already know about and love, having a limited amount of showtime means you paid money, time, or gas to enjoy yourself for 20 minutes. There are likely more artists for you to get into, but if your favorite played first, the ones that come after sound inferior and you are less enthusiastic to listen. Additionally, only being able to play 4–7 songs may mean that if you go to multiple shows, you will hear the same songs over and over and over and over and over…

Pro: You can talk to artists after shows

It’s fun to meet new people. And it’s hard to talk to musicians when everyone else wants to talk to them. But because gigs are often smaller and they have less people listening to them, you may have to wait a few minutes, but you can easily walk up to an indie musician after a show and chat with them a bit or just say you loved their set. You can have some pretty interesting conversations, and unlike with a celebrity, it feels more like you’re talking to an average dude, which lessens the anxiety you might have had approaching them. They might even take your requests for their next show so you’ll be able to hear your favorite song next time.

Con: Fear they will give up too soon

The music industry can be vicious. Any art-related field is competitive. Suicide rates are the highest of any career category, and burn-out can happen sooner than you might think. No matter how much you love a band’s music, no one can play forever (unless you’re Paul McCartney). And many a time, they will disappear before that song you loved hearing live could be recorded and released.