QueuedUp: Business Forum Speech

First of all, I wanted to thank the city of Los Angeles for organizing this forum for us underdogs to have a chance to tell all of you what we’re passionate about. I think that even though Los Angeles is one of the best places in the United States for opportunity, it’s easy to get lost here, since it’s such a vast city.

But I love Los Angeles; California in general really. I was born and raised with the ocean at my doorstep down in Laguna Beach. I know maybe some of you L.A. natives might be raising a brow at a swank OC girl like me to be up here in enemy territory… But there’s a reason that our startup, QueuedUp, decided on settling down here.

There is an unparalleled cultural scene here, in many areas certainly, but most notably, entertainment. All major record labels have a center in Los Angeles. David Bowie and Jim Morrison regulared the bars on Sunset Strip, right down the street! More than 175,000 bands have found a home here. But the reality is, some make a mere $50 to $100 a day, and many end up breaking up after a month or two of uncertainty. These musicians have day jobs, where they make their own money to invest in hitting the road, gaining exposure, and hoping that they make it all back. It’s a dice roll.

But my friend Tommy from college at Texas Christian University had a grand vision for a different music scene. I’d been working with our university’s radio station at that time to help increase listenership, and they almost exclusively played music from local bands over in Fort Worth. He came to me and said, “What if we could make a platform to bridge the gap between people looking for their local music scene within their community, to musicians who want and need to play more gigs?” After all, on top of everything else that needs to be managed in, really, their small business, they’re responsible for all of their own promotion. They might not know how to start.

That’s what QueueUp is. That’s how it was born: to help give these artists a voice. And now, more than 10,000 local artists, musicians, garage rock bands, DJs, pianists, barbershop quartets, you name it, find clients on our platform in the L.A. area.

But it doesn’t just start here. From the country music of Texas, the jazz of Louisiana and the hip hop of New York; there’ve been movements of music throughout our history. Music is one of the most important facets of not just pop culture, but the human experience as a whole. A 2011 study from a Dutch university found that music not only improves mood, but it also alters perception.

Think about every memory of a significant milestone in your life: getting married, graduation, or even something as small as going to prom. Music was there, for all of it. Can you imagine what those memories would feel like without that?

Musicians and artists, big and small, were the ones striking those chords. They were there for all of it, providing the soundtrack to our lives.

Three years ago, a deadly ailment struck the world and sent many small businesses into bankruptcy. The world was miserable. There were no gatherings, no events, and certainly no reason for communities to come together.

One piece of the population that was forgotten about was your local musicians. They had no one to play for but themselves. No concerts, no festivals, and no performances – and 50% of the music industry gets its revenue from live music.

So now that COVID-19 is fading into the background, what’s a listener to do? How can you support this forgotten fragment of the Los Angeles community, when these artists have made it their life’s mission to contribute to the City of Angels’ cultural scene every day?

There are four things that you can do to contribute to these artists and their vision toward the movement of music.

First: buy their merchandise. This is arguably the best way to support musicians. Merchandise doesn’t have to look like just band tee shirts, although I think I can speak for all of Gen Z girls when I say that I’m never disappointed to add another three-sizes-too-big tee shirt to my “staying in” collection. But many artists sell hats, stickers, and other pieces of graphic merch that are really quite interesting and unique. The exposure that can come from the compliments you get are a plus for both parties, too.

Second: tip, of course. Just as you can round up in the CVS check-out kiosk or tolerate the service fee for your Postmates driver, musicians are on their feet at your favorite bar playing all night long, taking music requests, and interacting with guests. They deserve the change that might be sitting in your wallet collecting dust, and it certainly makes a huge difference to them when you toss it into their guitar case. Most even have a QR code that leads to Venmo, Zelle, or whatever other app you may have. They make it easy on you. Make things easier on them.

Speaking of that, another lesser-known way of supporting musicians is to support a music relief charity. Yes, they exist, and I’m so glad I get to talk about them. QueuedUp is actually partnering with one called Backline during May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. Backline supports musicians and their families with mental health and wellness resources, but it’s just one of many that are out there. These relief programs are often how musicians get by on basic needs when the income just isn’t enough to keep them afloat.

Lastly, word of mouth is the best form of advertising. It’s been proven time and time again. So however you can speak about your experiences or fondness of a local band, bring it up. Post it on your social media stories, tweet at them. Request them to your favorite radio stations. Bring anyone and everyone you can to see them at their regular venue when you don’t know what to do on a Saturday night.

So while yes, Los Angeles is home to many mega-conglomerates, corporations, big businesses, and even A-list celebrities, we can’t forget about the little guys. And it’s very important to me that we continue to have events like this, where we can have the platform to give them the attention when it’s already hard as it is.

QueuedUp believes in the power of cultural community contributions, big and small. We are here to turn up the volume on the most passionate of music-makers. But most of all, we believe that there is always a reason to celebrate. 

When you find one, we’ll be here to help make that memory. Thank you!