If only it were that easy....
Getting on those HOB shows or opening slots for touring acts has nothing to do with how talented you are, how well you fit in musicially, or even if you have a record deal. It's all about connections and having an "in" with whomever is promoting the show/tour. This is why you'll often see the same bands opening for every show you go see, because those bands have the right connections. It's something that we've lacked for a while now and I'm working on trying to get our name out there more in hopes of making those necessary connections, but it's not easy. ND don't have much of a reputation for being a known touring live act, so it's harder to convince these promoters to put us on the bill, when they'd just as soon put their buddies band, or whoever, on the bill that they know they'll get to play cheaply and draw a bunch of their friends to the show. This is also why it's imperative that we get as many people out to the shows that we do play, because if they see that we don't draw a crowd, then they're not going to put us on that killer tour coming through town, understand?
We don't expect people to show up to every single gig we play and especially when it's a Tuesday night we can understand the troubles people have with it. I'm just saying quite honestly, not directed at you Jasonic, but generally we receive so many messages and emails from people asking when we're going to play, and why we don't play out more....but then it never fails, a majority of those people always wind up missing when the show actually happens. It's a real morale killer, and it makes it harder to convince the band to continue booking these shows consistently. Hey yknow it's all part of the biz, I've known this for years and years, but it gets harder and harder to play to empty venues as the years go by. So anyhow that's why I made the comments that I did and why it's a touchy subject for us. I appreciate the support that people give us by picking up our cds and posting comments on forums and stuff, it's all helped us. But when it comes to playing shows (which I love to do, and wish we did it constantly) we need that support from people actually showing up and making their presence known. If that would happen more regularly, then I think we stand a chance of getting some more presigious gigs later on. Otherwise those gigs will always go to the high school local band who can pull out 100 of their local buddies and school friends at every show. Promoters (or at least, most of them) care about how many people are going to show up and pay their fee and buy drinks, not about whether or not a band fits musicially on the bill or would make a logical choice artistically. That's why I have tremendous respect for those promoters who do take chances and book bands based on talent and logic artistically.
There weren't a whole lot of people there but there were several others taking pics. My shots are already up at my site if you want to have a look http://www.eyesoffyr.com/music/novembersdoom/060314.shtml. I hope you guys play another local show this year. A Sunday night show at Joe's would be cool. 
I'm looking forward to seeing your pics!
