I feel like people are just booking wacky shows. I try to book very cohesive shows that make sense to me. Not in an exclusive manner or anything, but I feel like having a hardcore band follow a folk project just makes zero sense...

I've been saying yes to shows as of late, and it's reminded me why I book my own shows, and should once again exclusively do that. 

There seems to be one mono-scene in St. Louis if you are around the age of adolescence or younger-adulthood. That scene is primarily focused on popularity, partying and looking cool. I feel like I have seen and heard so many people say "well I just like seeing a lot of different bands and seeing all of these different people together!" I'd like to say that I am very confused by this. Bringing a bunch of people that want to mosh and party together with anyone who is just there to watch the show and do any other sort of dance other than moshing is so fundamentally hard. 

It IS cool to bring people together, but I think that there just needs to be so much more cohesion. I have not made any sort of connections to the hardcore or metal scene thru those sorts of mixed-bills, and I have found that they are often the least successful for bringing people together, which is the main goal I thought.

there seems to be a general lack of curation in most show settings. the objective seems to be bring as many people together so we can sell more beer or just generally pack this place. But these confusing and overcrowded bills do not entice people like that consistently!!! so why in the world is there such a tight focus on it?!?!?! i have no idea. I feel like it goes back to the social media problem, its too easy to just fall into the habit of playing the same convenient shows and reaching out or being reached out to by the same convenient people. Add that together with this popularity contest mindset and you're fit to be screwed!!!!!

I don't want to be hateful, I am very hopeful and optimistic that people that really care will in fact take the initiative to make some more conscious decisions and do something cool and enticing. That's what I am trying to do at the least.

Anyways, if you have any thoughts or ideas about this, please let me know at goomanstl@gmail.com