Every band starts somewhere. Every band or singer begins at the bottom, even if they have access to producers and recording studios instead of playing music in a garage or even a storage unit. While they may not always be amazing to start, playing small local shows and getting plays on SoundCloud and Spotify are how these small bands and artists get noticed. Having fans start building before getting signed anywhere is how any artist gets on the map, and if you want more music on the market, you need to continue, or start, going to small shows in hole in the wall clubs with under 100 people. Be the support that gets a band's feet off the ground. Tell your friends, "Hey, a band I know is playing down the street. Let's go check them out."

This isn't the only reason I love attending small shows at local bars, I also love the atmosphere. Everyone there usually knows at least one artist or band playing that night, but you also get to be exposed to other music you didn't even know you signed up to hear. Being in a crowd of people there solely to support the band playing gives the room so much more energy than being in a huge crowd listening to a band you've never heard of before. Plus, maybe one day this artist or band will be on the charts and when your friends ask if you've heard of them you can tell them about dancing in a crowd at a small club on a weekday night then chatting with the drummer at the bar afterward.

Imagine, there are people out there who went to a bar or club one night, and ended up meeting your favorite band. Drinking with them, grabbing a smoke outside before or after their set. Chatting about seemingly nothing, like old friends. Don't you want to be that person? There's no reason not to support local music. You gain experiences, friends, and get to hear some sick tunes along the way. Check out local bands, ask the bars you go to for a list of upcoming events, and enjoy your time! Life is too short to only allow yourself to experience what has already been proven worthy of your time. Be the one to show others what they are missing out on!