Why do a lot of metal/rock shows pass up NOLA?

quote:

---

I mean yeah, NOLA does get their fair share, but not as much as TX, Ohio, and the East Coast for example.

---

The market and demand has to be sufficient enough for bands to see it as profitable or beneficial to stop in New Orleans. I share your struggle and frustration as well. This tour cycle has been immensely disappointing seeing band after band bypass New Orleans in favor of either Texas or east coast Southern cities.

However, I will never protest why major metropolises like Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, Boston, Baltimore, Los Angeles, etc., are chosen as tour stops rather than New Orleans. The obvious answer is that the populations are larger and therefore there is a greater likelihood that the tickets to a show will sell out.

Also, as much as it pains me to admit, the South is not as supportive of metal as it is of other musical genres. Now, there are certain niche genres that are still widely popular in this region of the country (e.g. stoner and sludge do pretty well), but generally speaking the major markets present a much greater probability of sold-out shows.

Because most bands no longer do 100-200 dates in a calendar year, they have to maximize their travel arrangements as best as possible. They need to visit both regions of the country that they know will support them and also establish fans in previously untapped areas.

If you want to question why certain cities receive preference over New Orleans, ask why Nashville seems to be a tour stop for every single frickin' band you can imagine. Nashville is a big metro area, but it's also a city known for its country music output rather than rock or metal. At least Atlanta and New Orleans have their own respective metal scenes.

The only thing I can figure is that Nashville presents a good, geographically central location accessible by a number of people from slightly smaller cities. After all, it is practically in the direct center of the South.

a few issues

-its a significantly smaller city than a lot you probably think of as a peer(like 50th by population)

-coastal means its not drawing from 360 degrees (like someone mentioned nashville being cental- though nashville is 25th largest to start)

-demographically, its not a metal city

-ticket sales arent always easy in NOLA with so much great cheap/free entertainment around town (and people tend to commit to buying event tickets later than some locations)

quote:

---

demographically, its not a metal city

---

And because of rap making such huge inroads in the rock market in the last 20 years the overall potential audience for rock acts has decreased considerably. Add to this that mid-level touring acts have always had the most difficulty finding suitable venues (unknowns play whatever shithole they can get; superstars play the top of the line places).

During the golden age BR got national acts thanks to LSU and the 5% entertainment tax in NO ("to pay for welfare", according to a concert promoter who spoke to my class at LSU 25+ years ago); some acts would even play the MS Gulf Coast to avoid the latter. Can anyone tell me if this tax is still in place? I've asked several times on the OT and here but have never gotten an answer.

quote:

---

I have noticed throughout the years that a lot of bands skip NOLA on the way to their next gig.

---

I noticed this same trend with Birmingham. When I was a kid anyone who was anybody would play Birmingham. Over the years, the large concert act scene just dropped off the map basically. Bands would skip and just play Atlanta instead. or Nashville, or wherever.

Lamb of God just played at the Orpheum Theater. what are you talking about

eta: you should check out out Siberia's music calendar

previous experience

it can ONLY be that N.O. has not been turning out for the kind of music you refer to.

if people were lining up around the block to get in, they would come back.

the East Coast is a fricking hotbed for metal and hardcore punk.

As others have stated...look at the demographics...

Simple answer...entertainment taxes.

quote:

---

I went to at least 25 shows in New Orleans last year, how many do you need? New venues like Champions Square and Civic Theater brought in a lot of metal and hard rock acts. This year is off to a slower start than last but there's still been plenty.

---

This. We get passed over sometimes but can't win em all and Baton Rouge (Varsity) has been filling some gaps here lately. The Obsessed this Friday at Siberia.