In the 80's Metal was a stadium, or large venue attraction. 20,000 seat arena's sold out easily. Smaller venues, with like 5,000 seats sold out quickly for the smaller acts, but had like three on the bill. When the 90's hit though, it was pretty harsh to see a metal show. I was lucky if I saw a sold out 1,000 seat venue. Or an 800. Usually it was only half that. And there was little profit in it, if any, for anyone involved. It's not that the fans left totally, but I would say that 75% of them turned to other forms of music (Alternative, punk , grunge, the last of the glam scene)...the other 10-25% of the fans for the harder metal still stayed with what they liked, but the numbers certainly dwindled.
Someone mentioned Slayer. I have always liked Slayer, always been a fan. But their fans are extremely obsessive...there are metal fans, and there are Slayer Fans. And Slayer fans are freaks about their favorite band, and support them heavily on the road. Always have. But, they sell (as far I remember), 1,200 seat venues out, two nights in a row in one city. For a metal act, that is quite a feat in the US.
But, I am slowly seeing a turn here in the US. As nu-metal gasps it's dying breath, other forms of metal are waiting right behind it to take it's place. Like the "hard core" bands. But on the whole, I am seeing, especially recently, venues getting packed tighter and tighter. Pretty soon, I hope, the bands will be playing venues that are 2000 seats or more.
I don't know about Europe. But, I believe that the fans on the whole, are not as fickle as some of the ones in the US. That's just my opinion.
Promotions? It's internet promotions, and that's about it. Those in charge issue a press release, and submit it to the major websites, and that's about all the promotions that are done here in the US. If you get a tour poster--that's amazing! It's a lot of word of mouth, and internet. In other words, we as fans take care of ourselves, and must search for the tour dates, and stay on top of what we like and who's doing what. It's all for one, and one for all....sadly.
Really, being a metal fan in the US is a lot of hard work!
Someone mentioned Slayer. I have always liked Slayer, always been a fan. But their fans are extremely obsessive...there are metal fans, and there are Slayer Fans. And Slayer fans are freaks about their favorite band, and support them heavily on the road. Always have. But, they sell (as far I remember), 1,200 seat venues out, two nights in a row in one city. For a metal act, that is quite a feat in the US.
But, I am slowly seeing a turn here in the US. As nu-metal gasps it's dying breath, other forms of metal are waiting right behind it to take it's place. Like the "hard core" bands. But on the whole, I am seeing, especially recently, venues getting packed tighter and tighter. Pretty soon, I hope, the bands will be playing venues that are 2000 seats or more.
I don't know about Europe. But, I believe that the fans on the whole, are not as fickle as some of the ones in the US. That's just my opinion.
Promotions? It's internet promotions, and that's about it. Those in charge issue a press release, and submit it to the major websites, and that's about all the promotions that are done here in the US. If you get a tour poster--that's amazing! It's a lot of word of mouth, and internet. In other words, we as fans take care of ourselves, and must search for the tour dates, and stay on top of what we like and who's doing what. It's all for one, and one for all....sadly.
Really, being a metal fan in the US is a lot of hard work!