I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people endlessly bitch about the Orlando music scene. Complaints range from venues’ lack of support for local bands to poor attendance at shows. Even though there are a handful of things to be proud of in Orlando, the potential is so much greater and I’ve found myself hitching a ride on the scene bitch bus.

If you’ve ever found yourself hopping on, now is your chance to get your ass off the seat, get out at the next stop, and do something like Justin Bean. 

Bean moved here four years ago from Port St. Lucie with high hopes for Orlando, known more for its Disney wonderland than its music. 

“When I was in high school,” Bean began, “I was playing in this pop punk band, and we came up here and played a show at DIY Records. My impression of the scene was really good. A lot of people came out to see three local bands and an out of town band. I was really excited to move up here after that.”

Bean’s move to Orlando was followed with a marketing degree from UCF and marked his beginnings as guitarist/vocalist with local band Snails In Folklore. Being a musician with a marketing background, he started a MySpace page under the name Orlando Indie Awareness Initiative where the goal was to raise awareness in Orlando’s music scene and get more people interested in supporting local music. It is now transitioning to a community-involved forum at OrlandoIndieScene.com.

“I went to see Dodger and Yip Yip play and it was packed. I thought ‘wow, this is amazing.’ So there is some support for local music. But sometimes I go see bands and there won’t be anyone there at all. I just don’t understand what it is about certain shows that draw people out and what it is about other shows that nobody cares about. Have they not heard about them?” 

OrlandoIndieScene.com hopes to help spread the word about local bands and their shows. It’s an interactive forum for musicians and music lovers alike to promote their shows, music, websites and anything relevant to happenings in the local scene. Even if you’re not in a band, but want to support the local scene, this is the place to start. Find out when your favorite locals are playing, or be a little bold and go to a show of a band you aren’t familiar with. Who knows? You may just fall in love with what you hear.

Bean says,“Since Orlando is so spread out, I thought something needed to be done to bring it all together in one location, even if it’s just a website. Gainesville has gainesvillebands.com, but Orlando needs something. There are so many talented musicians around here that go unnoticed.”

Have you ever bitched about your band not being covered by local media? I can think of some examples where I’ve heard musicians (myself included), or supporters, complain about limited outlets. Here it is. Cultivate it and watch it grow. Bean is providing the farmland. The music community has to contribute the seed, while supporters and venues cannot let it shrivel up and die. They have to water it with continued support.

Bean also mentions, “When people find out about the site, they seem pretty excited. I look for dates to put on the site, but I need bands to send me their shows on a regular basis. Right now, it’s sporadic.”

In addition to show listings, bands can send CDs to OrlandoIndieScene.com for review. Your band could even be picked for the Spotlight section, which showcases different Orlando artists.

“Jenny K Surrounded By Wolves is spotlighted now,” Bean starts. “We were at I-4 Fest playing, and she was handing out CDs. I took it back and listened to it. That’s how it happened. I wish more people would do that. I love listening to new bands.”

In addition to bands, venues need to till the soil of Orlando’s musical crop. The venues have the power to push the music scene in a new direction. Proper promotion, or lack thereof, ultimately leads to local show failure. I know if you’re in a band, at some point in time you’ve heard the words, “Oh, you guys played last week? Where? I didn’t even know, or else I would have been there.” OrlandoIndieScene.com could be the solution to this problem.

Bean is trying to find the next DIY Records, where an underground scene can flourish. Venues like Austin’s Coffee in Winter Park have a back wall with nothing but local flyers for shows and open mic nights. To top the friendly service, I noticed Orlando’s Post Records had CDs of local artists, like Kingsbury, for sale at the counter. Taste is another promising and new addition to the city’s venues.

“I want to start doing shows that are presented by OrlandoIndieScene.com,” expresses Bean.  “I just want Orlando to be recognized as a scene nationally. With so many great musicians here, I think it’s possible.”

With enthusiasts like Bean, active bands and support from venues and locals, Orlando’s musical crop may soon be ready to harvest.

www.orlandoindiescene.com