Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

I've gotten off Facebook and it's a huge relief. I just kept having too many arguments on it. Made my blood boil. Not that I don't argue here occasionally, but you guys as a whole are much more intelligent and open-minded.
How many here are on FB and like it?

Bob, I have never had not one argument on Facebook. To me it is a completely different thing. Perhaps because it is more personal. I have a private site that I spend 99.9% of my time on. I see Facebook as a way to keep up with family and friends all over the country. I agree that you guys here at BM are more intellectually stimulating!

zar535135 wrote:I do not have a Facebook account. When facebook was first starting up and fresh, I was asked if I had an account and I said NO. I was asked why and I responded "Because Im not 12".
Since then Facebook has become more mainstream and everyone from businesses to your grandma could have a Facebook profile. I still dont see the importance or value of Facebook or Twitter. Guess I am in the minority

I agree with you. I mention my other websites on Facebook and the analytics show there is hardly any referals from FB. For some businesses it can work wonders, but I'm not the most social person, so I needed tp jump off the ship.

It's definitely a godsend for promoting my gigs for free! Not young and out of high school or college anymore... everybody's got a different life... word doesn't spread anymore the way it used to when everyone wanted to gather on the weekend...

Facebook is practically the ONLY way to get word out not only of where we are playing but what the admission charge is, drink specials, opening acts, etc... at the same time, we can generate different flyers, put up vids, lots of pics not only of the band but the audience and other stuff to get their interest piqued.

I've hooked back up with friends I NEVER would have probably ever met if it weren't for FB... I've met a ton of friends from elementary school, middle and high school that I know I'd never have ever, for the rest of my life, ever have met.

I've finally located a lot of relatives and re-connected with them from all around the world that I never would have met...

I've gotten students, jobs, equipment and have actually had my pick as far as acquiring new band members with just one click!

It's an amazing tool if you use it the right way......

Keeping up with friends, interests, gigs, open mics, games (Scrabble!), sharing my music, photos, videos. If people are always posting stupid-ass stuff you dont' agree with , you can 'unfriend' them, or just choose to not see any updates from them. Getting in arguments online (FB or here) is useless, other than giving yourself a place to vent.

Crip2nite wrote:It's definitely a godsend for promoting my gigs for free! Not young and out of high school or college anymore... everybody's got a different life... word doesn't spread anymore the way it used to when everyone wanted to gather on the weekend...

Facebook is practically the ONLY way to get word out not only of where we are playing but what the admission charge is, drink specials, opening acts, etc... at the same time, we can generate different flyers, put up vids, lots of pics not only of the band but the audience and other stuff to get their interest piqued.

I've hooked back up with friends I NEVER would have probably ever met if it weren't for FB... I've met a ton of friends from elementary school, middle and high school that I know I'd never have ever, for the rest of my life, ever have met.

I've finally located a lot of relatives and re-connected with them from all around the world that I never would have met...

I've gotten students, jobs, equipment and have actually had my pick as far as acquiring new band members with just one click!

It's an amazing tool if you use it the right way......

I do agree that Facebook could/does have its "upside". I see how it would help with gigs and upcoming events. I also agree that as we get older "actual"word of mouth doesnt have the impact it once did.
As far as the "re-connecting" with old friends from school, the way I see it, If those people were important enough to have contact with I would have stayed in contact with them.
I guess It could be just like "real" life,you know the one that goes on when you're not sitting at a computer.You bump into someone from your past at a store or out and about, say Hi, you both pitch your "My life" resume at each other and then you go about your day and probably never see that person again.

One thing I have learned from this site (BM) is how people in different parts of the country differ. Down here in the south folks wave and say good morning to strangers and people they don't know. We also value a friend! Perhaps I'm just too sentimental. I try to make friends every chance I get. I have heard some of you say "if your nice you are perceived as weak" IMO that's a Phuked up way to live. Perhaps I am naive but I guess I'll just carry on with my southern ways!

J-HALEY wrote:One thing I have learned from this site (BM) is how people in different parts of the country differ. Down here in the south folks wave and say good morning to strangers and people they don't know. We also value a friend! Perhaps I'm just too sentimental. I try to make friends every chance I get. I have heard some of you say "if your nice you are perceived as weak" IMO that's a Phuked up way to live. Perhaps I am naive but I guess I'll just carry on with my southern ways!

jeff, to me it's not geography as much as it is big city living vs. small town. having lived my first 22 yrs in NYC i can say it's just not practical to wave and say "good morning" to every stranger you run across.


as for valuing friends, my exp is that's nothing limited to the south! my exp in towns both big and small has shown me that most folks everywhere value a friend.


there's a great line from a Jackson Browne song (i forget which song)...

"but when you got a real friend somewhere...it suddenly makes all the others so much easier to bear"

If you have a Facebook account with 1000 friends and you say they are all your friends, I think you are mistaken.

They might be your "acquaintances", but I dunno about your "friends". lol

Starfish Scott wrote:If you have a Facebook account with 1000 friends and you say they are all your friends, I think you are mistaken.

They might be your "acquaintances", but I dunno about your "friends". lol

Ummm.... I'm sure after all these years, we are all aware of that by now... Mine, aside from real friends and relatives, are either fans, other musicians, actors, models, etc... that have a blast sharing experiences with each other...

It's amazing and fun the new "friends" one can make if you keep an open mind .....and heart....

Planetguy wrote:

J-HALEY wrote:One thing I have learned from this site (BM) is how people in different parts of the country differ. Down here in the south folks wave and say good morning to strangers and people they don't know. We also value a friend! Perhaps I'm just too sentimental. I try to make friends every chance I get. I have heard some of you say "if your nice you are perceived as weak" IMO that's a Phuked up way to live. Perhaps I am naive but I guess I'll just carry on with my southern ways!

jeff, to me it's not geography as much as it is big city living vs. small town. having lived my first 22 yrs in NYC i can say it's just not practical to wave and say "good morning" to every stranger you run across.


as for valuing friends, my exp is that's nothing limited to the south! my exp in towns both big and small has shown me that most folks everywhere value a friend.


there's a great line from a Jackson Browne song (i forget which song)...

"but when you got a real friend somewhere...it suddenly makes all the others so much easier to bear"

My point is I consider you my friend until you prove otherwise to ME! I am not going to go thru life paranoid wondering who will take advantage of me next! I can't live my life that way. If you want to thats your business. I am not saying to be foolish about it either. My opinion is life is just too short to live that way. You can catagorize your friends but in so doing what kind of friend are you? I have to believe that Most people want to improve and constantly become a better human being. That is my goal in life to become better at everything I do EVERYDAY!

Crip2nite wrote:

Starfish Scott wrote:If you have a Facebook account with 1000 friends and you say they are all your friends, I think you are mistaken.

They might be your "acquaintances", but I dunno about your "friends". lol

Ummm.... I'm sure after all these years, we are all aware of that by now... Mine, aside from real friends and relatives, are either fans, other musicians, actors, models, etc... that have a blast sharing experiences with each other...

It's amazing and fun the new "friends" one can make if you keep an open mind .....and heart....

That wasn't directed at you, Kerry.
Don't be defensive.

I just don't like Facebook, it's too 13th grade. But one man's treasure is another man's trash, so if you like it that's fine as well.

It's a boring place if I have to like everything you like and vice versa.

I like your tie. lol

lol... I know that wasn't directed at me as I've got nowhere near 1000 "friends" I'm pretty picky as to who I allow on my page.... was just stating the obvious as when FB first came out, it was a race to see who could acquire the most "friends" ...

I got on to face book when I learned the album my band did a million years ago is now getting some notice. At last... I was able to hook up with my old band mates which was pretty darn nice.

My army buddies stay in touch that way too which is good.

But I don't pay much attention to it other than that. I don't care about most of the things people post. Yet I get a bunch of emails all the time from folks I never heard of who want to be my 'friend.' I don't care much for that either but I sort of get it.

However - and this is a big however - today I got an email from a girl friend from back then - I was deeply touched I must say. So I owe Facebook one for that.

Plus I haven't pushed it like Kerry does for his music but I love having the option to do so.

Talbot