I live in OKC, my band plays here often. The music scene is far behind other states. But most things in Oklahoma are 10 years behind times. Some people here even want to go back even further.. and telling someone to leave your state, shows it.

I live in OKC, my band plays here often. The music scene is far behind other states. But most things in Oklahoma are 10 years behind times. Some people here even want to go back even further.. and telling someone to leave your state, shows it.

MOST things 10 years behind???? Really? What a joke.

Yeah, I can't wait until we get ipods, DLP televisions, and GPS systems in our cars... Lol

While we may not have the live music scene of other cities, it hardly is the litmus test for OKC's chronological validity...

The perception of OKC' music scene being behind the times or not as strong or verile as other cities is simply an issue of scale. For the size of city that we are (its actually not bad) and with the Urban portion of the city only now being revitalized and beginning to have residents, the forecast is looking great for the scene.

What the music scene needs is musicians who will constantly push themselves and critique themselves to make sure the product that they are producing is quality and unique. You have to have an edge to get noticed in the pool of cover bands and that also write their own music that is (remarkably) similar to the music they "cover". A great example of the bands that will rise, train of thought is the "Flaming Lips". Whether you like their music style or not, it is worth noting thier rise and emergence from obsurity to becoming a name that is know internationally.

Once again it is up to you not your location to make you sucessful. If you are good enough the tallent scouts will come to you. Also there is nothing that says that you can't get booked in other cities at the scenes that will give you additional exposure. But I know that to do that takes money that is hard to comeby as a musician trying to make your way. Stick it out and look hard at your craft and realize that your music is every bit as much a business as one with a storefront. You need to take as much care on your marketing, media, and strategy as any other business. You have the bands branding as well as its sound (product) and merchandise.

I wish you only the best of luck and would love to hear some of your work! I hope for a flourishing local music scene to continue and to then also be another means for OKC to attract the attention of the mainstream media and yet another great thing that we have to offer the world.

But like in any other business, you go where the pay is. If I make money in Dallas or Chicago..then thats where I'll play. Oklahoma has many talented bands, but if the local club has a house band, or they have the same band 2 or 3 times a month, or if the pay is just a joke..Oklahoma city music scene will go nowhere. and Wichita...Believe it or not, most Oklahomans don't have ipods,DLP TVs, and if they are lucky enough to have GPS systems in their cars, a good majority do not know how to work it. Not knocking Oklahoma, just stating facts.

I am with you and I know the economic realities that are placed on us all, and as a business owner myself I know that it is hard trying to break through.
The clubs and bars are also economically motivated and so if often it takes playing in locations where the pay is crappy for exposure time so that you have enough time to garner fans. It is a very grass roots proposition and as you build a fan base, based on your tallent and determination, the pay increases as the bar/club owners notice a significant increase in patrons when you play. At that point you have added value to their bottom line and they will be willing to entertain your petition for better pay.
You also want to accelerate your exposure as much as possible by using any and all means to get the public you rely on to be at your shows. You tube, twitter, facebook, and anyother media possible where your demographic will see you and become product/brand (band) aware.

I am not trying to oversimplify the mountain that you are attempting to climb. I know that it is very difficult and taxing proposition and it takes a toll on you emotionally as well as the physical demands of setting up and schlepping your gear all over the place weekends on end and having to perform at your best each time trying to make each performance new and different for your audience.

DLP TVs?? lol They are actually on their way out. Samsung quit making them last year. They never caught on as something cool to start with.

Two things happened in 2009 that will create a long-term seismic shift in the local music scene:

Classes began at ACM@UCO (http://acm.uco.edu/)

and


105.3 FM the Spy (http://www.thespyfm.com/) re-emerged, this time as an independent station

Two things happened in 2009 that will create a long-term seismic shift in the local music scene:

Classes began at ACM@UCO (http://acm.uco.edu/)

and


105.3 FM the Spy (http://www.thespyfm.com/) re-emerged, this time as an independent station


I have been celebrating the spy's return and you are right it will have a great impact and prove to be a local scene ally!

The ACM at UCO I wasn't aware of how awesome is that!!! I grew up playing in bands but with time set down my desires for a career in music for a life that includes family and some stability. I still dream of participating in the industry as a songwriter at some point. (don't we all) anyway that is fantastic news for the Okc scene!!! thanks for the link and the post!

I have been celebrating the spy's return and you are right it will have a great impact and prove to be a local scene ally!

The ACM at UCO I wasn't aware of how awesome is that!!! I grew up playing in bands but with time set down my desires for a career in music for a life that includes family and some stability. I still dream of participating in the industry as a songwriter at some point. (don't we all) anyway that is fantastic news for the Okc scene!!! thanks for the link and the post!

The Spy is back?!?!? Flippin sweet!

But like in any other business, you go where the pay is. If I make money in Dallas or Chicago..then thats where I'll play. Oklahoma has many talented bands, but if the local club has a house band, or they have the same band 2 or 3 times a month, or if the pay is just a joke..Oklahoma city music scene will go nowhere. and Wichita...
Musicians gripe about the rate of pay all the time, everywhere, even here in Austin, the self proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World"...and those gripes have been going on since I moved down here seven years ago so it isn't just an "economy thing" at play here. Bar owners gripe about how little they make, how much acts want, how much employees want, etc....it is all just the game.

and Wichita...Believe it or not, most Oklahomans don't have ipods,DLP TVs, and if they are lucky enough to have GPS systems in their cars, a good majority do not know how to work it. Not knocking Oklahoma, just stating facts.

Oh really? So you've personally verified this with all 3.7 million Oklahomans? Do you have stats on hand compared with other states on technology saturation that back up your 'facts'?

That's a generalization, not a fact.

But most things in Oklahoma are 10 years behind times. Some people here even want to go back even further

Most things in most states are behind... they're called rural areas. Smaller towns = smaller options. It's supply and demand. Heck, you should see a lot of small towns here in Texas. It's quite backwater. But Texas always gets a free pass because of DFW, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

Many places in Kansas are backwater until you visit Olathe or Overland Park. Both towns make Kansas look like a swank state.

It's all relative, and it is all about numbers. You can't put a chronological timeline on suhc things.


.. and telling someone to leave your state, shows it.

When someone hates Oklahoma to the point where they don't want any part of it, much less do something about what they think is a problem, then what other options are there?

I mean, if someone wants to live next to the ocean, you can't exactly do that in Oklahoma, can you? They would kind of have to move locations in order to live next to an ocean.

That or we can have some trillionaire that loves Oklahoma invest in excavating 10,000 square miles, line it with sand an choral and fill it with salt water. Line it with beaches and there you go... the world's largest man made inland sea, right here in OK. :)

Oh, and we can use the excavated Earth to create man-made hills for winter skiing. Terraforming OKC. That's MAPS 10.

I live in OKC, my band plays here often. The music scene is far behind other states. But most things in Oklahoma are 10 years behind times. Some people here even want to go back even further.. and telling someone to leave your state, shows it.

You got that right.

This state being 10 years behind in almost everything is being kind. Technology in this state is more like 20 years behind, especially tech security.

You know how many email and itunes passwords I've collected from all the damn open networks in this city? I made almost a thousand bucks from paypal accounts in one weekend off bricktown's unsecure network.

The Tropos routers on the city's wifi network aren't even locked down.

so you're a thief? wow, you get cooler and cooler every time you type. you sound like a whiner. i live in norman, and there is plenty to do. grow up a little, and quit being a baby.





But like in any other business, you go where the pay is. If I make money in Dallas or Chicago..then that's where I'll play. Oklahoma has many talented bands, but if the local club has a house band, or they have the same band 2 or 3 times a month, or if the pay is just a joke..Oklahoma city music scene will go nowhere. and Wichita...Believe it or not, most Oklahomans don't have ipods,DLP TVs, and if they are lucky enough to have GPS systems in their cars, a good majority do not know how to work it. Not knocking Oklahoma, just stating facts.



this is a joke...most oklahomans don't? are you serious? and you are calling that fact? wow, another whiner. every single one of my friends has an i pod and an lcd tv...and they have gps on their i phones. i think i'm the only one who doesn't. and that's by choice. i think it is probably your little music scene that's going nowhere.

so you're a thief? wow, you get cooler and cooler every time you type. you sound like a whiner. i live in norman, and there is plenty to do. grow up a little, and quit being a baby.


Yah, I read your email.

I agree, there is alot to do in Norman.

We're talking about OKC.

Try to pay attention.

You got that right.

This state being 10 years behind in almost everything is being kind. Technology in this state is more like 20 years behind, especially tech security.

You know how many email and itunes passwords I've collected from all the damn open networks in this city? I made almost a thousand bucks from paypal accounts in one weekend off bricktown's unsecure network.

The Tropos routers on the city's wifi network aren't even locked down.

Same here in Houston, buddy. Downtown Houston's wifi is a joke. Does that mean it's 20 years behind?

Same here in Houston, buddy. Downtown Houston's wifi is a joke. Does that mean it's 20 years behind?

Dunno, I haven't been to houston. How's the rest of the city besides the wifi?

can we shut this thread down already

New to the board here, and with my first 2nd post i must say:

FreddyBugger:
I'm glad you choose to stay in a city that you dislike so much! I notice that you are pointing out so many negatives the city can improve on so that when you do skip town, your enlightenment will have made it all better!
And i'm so happy you are attending the Thunder Games regularly even though its such a disappointing franchise. That way you can personally see all those empty seats you've been mentioning! Of course, being a person of interest with the franchise you no doubt are privy to the in's and out's of Mr. Bennets buisness dealings, being that you are aware of his failings in regards to his contracts and clauses and such. I also realize your vested interest in the franchises future, being that you know the franchises future movement, away from OKC. But, thank you for supporting the franchise while it is still in OKC. ;)

That is all!

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Right Said Fred,

Please circulate back through this thread, start at page one and scroll until you find the first post by jc4455 or whatever the tards name was, then read from that point on. Save what little grace you have left, if any...

I've read this thread many times, as it keeps getting hit. I cannot help buy wonder if the attitude reflected in it ("OKC is boring") isn't really more of a societal commentary. What I mean is this--these twenty-somethings (presumably) are whining like we did when we were 14-17. "There's nothing to do", "What about me". And, really, isn't that the problem? That we have pushed "growing up" back ten-plus years? I'm not conservative by any measure of the word and still know how to have fun, but I've been responsible since I was 18. I quit being bored when I decided that wherever I was, I was going to have some fun. I think that the real problem is that many of these folks don't really have social skills. They think that all 1,256 people on Facebook or Myspace are their true friends. Then they wonder why all of them aren't hangin out in the same place--making it "cool". That's just an opinion, but really it seems like the two central issues are 1)people really need to grow-up (mentally, you know what I'm saying), and 2)the world does not revolve around you. Oh, and btw, yeh, I agree that most clubs suck, but I think that everyone thinks that at the time. Everytime I go out in a bigger city, I think, wow, this really isn't any different from our club scene, other than the amount of people. But, then again, some of us don't need to up our chances with greater numbers. ;)

I've read this thread many times, as it keeps getting hit. I cannot help buy wonder if the attitude reflected in it ("OKC is boring") isn't really more of a societal commentary. What I mean is this--these twenty-somethings (presumably) are whining like we did when we were 14-17. "There's nothing to do", "What about me". And, really, isn't that the problem? That we have pushed "growing up" back ten-plus years? I'm not conservative by any measure of the word and still know how to have fun, but I've been responsible since I was 18. I quit being bored when I decided that wherever I was, I was going to have some fun. I think that the real problem is that many of these folks don't really have social skills. They think that all 1,256 people on Facebook or Myspace are their true friends. Then they wonder why all of them aren't hangin out in the same place--making it "cool". That's just an opinion, but really it seems like the two central issues are 1)people really need to grow-up (mentally, you know what I'm saying), and 2)the world does not revolve around you. Oh, and btw, yeh, I agree that most clubs suck, but I think that everyone thinks that at the time. Everytime I go out in a bigger city, I think, wow, this really isn't any different from our club scene, other than the amount of people. But, then again, some of us don't need to up our chances with greater numbers. ;)

or maybe there just isn't anything fun to do here.

I'm sure you'll all yell at me and send me some more PMs calling me names and telling me to leave, but if there's so much to do here, why, after 5 hours, has nobody responded to this post: New to OKC (http://www.okctalk.com/okc-underground/20611-new-okc.html)?

Not even a lifechurch.tv cult invite.

hmmmm

or maybe there just isn't anything fun to do here.

I'm sure you'll all yell at me and send me some more PMs calling me names and telling me to leave, but if there's so much to do here, why, after 5 hours, has nobody responded to this post: New to OKC (http://www.okctalk.com/okc-underground/20611-new-okc.html)?

Not even a lifechurch.tv cult invite.

hmmmm

It's because the majority of the people on this site come to the OKC Metro Area Talk not the the underground portion. Now that you have posted it, look at the responses.

or maybe there just isn't anything fun to do here.

I'm sure you'll all yell at me and send me some more PMs calling me names and telling me to leave, but if there's so much to do here, why, after 5 hours, has nobody responded to this post: New to OKC (http://www.okctalk.com/okc-underground/20611-new-okc.html)?

Not even a lifechurch.tv cult invite.

hmmmm

Define fun

I can't believe you guys are responding to this guy who is obviously trying to get a rise out of people.

I can't believe you guys are responding to this guy who is obviously trying to get a rise out of people.

LOL, Fred is probably really a troll from Seattle still hacked off about our city stealing his team.

It's because the majority of the people on this site come to the OKC Metro Area Talk not the the underground portion. Now that you have posted it, look at the responses.

Yes, I see all 7 responses on it. Funny though, how it had 50 views without a single response before y'all got called out on it.

hell, that's more views than some of the threads in OKC Metro Area Talk.

Yes, I see all 7 responses on it. Funny though, how it had 50 views without a single response before y'all got called out on it.

hell, that's more views than some of the threads in OKC Metro Area Talk.

Ever consider that the OP was probably checking back to see if anyone had responded? Not saying the person did it all 50 times, but people do check back for replies.

People are starting to avoid threads like those anyway because of mudslinging. They post a list of fun things in OKC and people like you show up to gag the respondant and convince the OP otherwise.

These message boards are beginning to outlive their usefulness. They are proof that constructive conversations don't exist unless your getting paid. Sad, really.

People are starting to avoid threads like those anyway because of mudslinging. They post a list of fun things in OKC and people like you show up to gag the respondant and convince the OP otherwise.

I see nothing like that on the thread. Of all the threads that start with people asking for suggestions on what to do, I see nobody gagging people suggesting ideas.

On the threads where people are asked to explain what the problem is in this city for certain demographics, or asking for explanations as to why a certain groups feels negatively towards the city, I see an entirely different thing.

Name calling.

Insults.

Gagging the respondents.

Telling the repondents to leave.


These message boards are beginning to outlive their usefulness. They are proof that constructive conversations don't exist unless your getting paid. Sad, really.

Constructive conversations don't exist on these message boards because you people squelch any participant who doesn't have a herd mentality and doesn't proclaim OKC to be the perfect Utopia where everyone is happy no matter what.

On the threads where people are asked to explain what the problem is in this city for certain demographics, or asking for explanations as to why a certain groups feels negatively towards the city, I see an entirely different thing.

Name calling.

Insults.



You are doing the same thing. You can dish it out, but can't take it.




Constructive conversations don't exist on these message boards because you people squelch any participant who doesn't have a herd mentality and doesn't proclaim OKC to be the perfect Utopia where everyone is happy no matter what.

The problem isn't that you have something negative to say. The problem is that you have absolutely nothing positive to say. I complain about OKC as much as the next person, but I also notice the good things, like MAPS, the Thunder, Bricktown, etc. I see that this city is headed forward and I am not alone. There is a thread about MAPS in the news that asks for people to post links to publications outside of the local stations talking about MAPS 3.

Here is that link: http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/20125-maps-3-news.html

The biggest problem with you is that you are complaining about things that 90% of the cities in the US don't offer: A cool, hip place for 18-20 years olds to hang out that is safe and cheap... You remind me of a guy I knew in college (at OCU if you are wondering) that always complained about our fraternity's parties, etc. When asked what he would do different, he said, "That's not my problem, you need to fix it." Slowly, but surely, people just started to ignore him because all he did was bitch and moan and never offered anything constructive. That is what you are getting into. People on this board are going to simply ignore you (literally, there is an a area where you can choose to ignore certain people) and not take anything you say seriously and soon you will be talking to yourself. Good luck with that.

or maybe there just isn't anything fun to do here.

I'm sure you'll all yell at me and send me some more PMs calling me names and telling me to leave, but if there's so much to do here, why, after 5 hours, has nobody responded to this post: New to OKC (http://www.okctalk.com/okc-underground/20611-new-okc.html)?

Not even a lifechurch.tv cult invite.

hmmmm

For the record, I've never sent anyone a PM and won't be starting with you. It isn't really about you, you know? *teehee*

I have heard from "a very reliable source" that a few of our NBA players have been bad-mouthing OKC as "boring" and "too quiet." Now, I'm not too offended by this because, let's face it, each person has a different taste for what they like and NBA players are just the same as everyone else. Some players will love the quiet and laid-back lifestyle, while some won't, so it's inevitable we're going to have some players bored while others enjoy the change of pace from the bigger cities. There are two issues, though:

1) I don't think OKC is really that boring. If you're expecting a 24 hour club scene like NYC, then sure it is. But I also don't like our players talking crap about the city to other people, thereby feeding the false generalizations and stereotypes about the state.

2) What improvements can we make to OKC to make this a more entertaining for people of the "celebrity" type? Of course, we shouldn't ever try to change an entire city based on a single, narrow demographic. But we can make smaller improvements in certain sections of the city that provide the type of entertainment these people are looking for. We can improve Bricktown, open more clubs (not enough people to go to them, though?), open more restaurants, etc. This, however, seems like it's something that will naturally occur over time and it's not a problem we can "fix."


Thanks you for the post.
Hi guys, Im a newbie. Nice to join this forum.