why it's important to support your local DIY scene (and some ideas on how to do it!)

I’ve spent the past 2-ish years learning about local music and DIY scenes from all around the country. From Baltimore to San Francisco, I’ve met some of the most creative, kind, talented, and supportive people that I’ve ever known. These communities are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. There’s an extreme closeness that you don’t see everyday, and it’s so refreshing. Being able to travel around Maryland and DC, going to see my favorite local bands and recognizing people in the crowd that I’ve met at house shows is comforting, the familiarity is heartwarming. No matter where I am and no matter what’s going on in my life, the music communities I’ve gotten the chance to be apart of consistently help me feel less alone. When I first started my journey into discovering these more intimate communities, I was so scared. I had no idea where to start, how to meet people, and how to support the artists I liked. I really had no idea that communities like these even existed until I started photographing concerts. Safe to say I eventually found my footing, and am now completely immersed in everything DIY. I owe this entire zine to the bands who were so kind and supportive to me in the beginning, and continue to show support to this day. In my opinion, it’s important to support these spaces and artists for a variety of reasons. For one, the strong sense of community they create. It’s incredible to see how everyone is connected, and how people come together to support the same cause. In my experience, the venues I’ve been to and the local artists I’ve seen play create a space where you can let go of your inhibitions, and feel truly free for a couple hours at a time. It’s like a different world. There’s so much talent! And it all deserves to be recognized! So much hard work is put into every song released, every picture taken, every piece of art that’s created. Keep the creativity alive by supporting it! Local music has become so important to me, and my constant goal with this zine is to support those scenes in any way I can. I’ve seen a lot of people wanting to support local artists and not being too sure how to go about it all. I wrote down a few things that I’ve seen spread around, or that I’ve done in order to show some support. 1. Buy music and merch if you’re able! Streaming music for free has become incredibly popular within the past decade or so, and it was only until recently that I realized how little musicians make through those streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) Listening to music on those platforms is still a form of support for the artist, but if you’re in a place to spend a few bucks, think about buying an album or a song off of Bandcamp, or even better, a physical copy. (From what I’ve seen, lots of local artists have albums up on Bandcamp for around $7-$10, and singles for around $1) Same goes for merch, buying a physical copy of an album, a t-shirt, a poster, or any merch item goes a long way. Overall, if you’re able, purchasing music and merch from the artist is a great way to support them. 2. Go to shows! This is a great way to support both musicians and local DIY spaces! Some of my favorite weekend nights consisted of going to one of the coolest house venues in my area, The Spider Dome, and listening to some great bands play. Not only do you get to socialize with people in your community through going to these shows, but it can also help grow the platform of the musician and the venue! (And you get to experience the infectious environment that is created by your talented local musicians!) Buy tickets! Donate to the venue! Bring your friends! Bring your family! Get to the show! 3. Social media support Spread the word! Sharing music, photos, and other art from local creators is a great way to help grow their platforms. As a photographer, having my photos reposted and receiving online support for my work has helped me grow my brand as an artist! These days, social media is how it’s done. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook; literally everything is used as a marketing tool (and it’s pretty cool to see) Use your platform to help support your local artists! Those are few of the main ones I was able to think of on such little sleep. (Anyone else's sleep schedules totally off during the winter?)

I’m still learning how to support all of the talented creators around me, but I hope what I've listed above it a good start! Be sure to pay your photographers, purchase prints, buy albums, go to shows, get some cute merch, donate to venues, and spread the word!

words by eva