• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » A Rookie’s Guide to Breaking into the College Music Scene
Campus life Life Party

A Rookie’s Guide to Breaking into the College Music Scene

FacebookTweet
Sofia Harris July 21, 2015

Looking for a little more culture in your life? Ready to ditch fraternity row? You’re in luck! Just down the street, you can find your college’s local music scene. Everyone knows that college campuses are the birthplace of many musical genres and rockstar careers (any Pink Floyd, MGMT or Childish Gambino fans out there?). Search for graffiti-laden walls and winding trails of cigarette butts. If you reach the old man advertising free tattoos on the street corner, you’ve gone too far.

Years from now when you’re old and menopausal, you’ll be able to tell your kids, “I saw *insert artist here* live when he was just an unknown whippersnapper like you!” Here’s how to do it.

Get Adventurous

giphy.com
giphy.com

City planners are smart and usually designate bars and clubs to a collective utopia for drunken night owls to prowl. These pockets of party culture are a hotbed for live music opportunities. Take a stroll around the block to check out the venues your college town has to offer. Whether you’re looking for the sentimental melodies of an acoustic guitar or a bass so loud that you won’t be able to hear the next morning, there is sure to be a scene just right for you, Goldilocks.

Get Techy

giphy.com
giphy.com

The Internet is your “in” on all things music. Once you’ve discovered a handful of venues worth exploring, find their social media sites to stay up-to-date on upcoming events. Add, follow, STALK. “I’m a producer, just moved to the area from Atlanta, and trying to figure out what the Gainesville music scene is all about and scouting some talent. I’m still brand new to the area so when somebody invited me to an event, I came out to see what’s going on,” said Footprintz Music Group producer Rawle Collins. And don’t forget weekly promos to distract you from studying for your chemistry final. Margarita Mondays, Techno Tuesdays and Ladies Nights were made to keep our calendars (and wallets) full.

Get Clingy

giphy.com
giphy.com

Sometimes the best way to get into a new scene is to find an insider and stick to them. Don’t be weird, though. View these local music experts as teachers, here to show you how to be cool and cultured-ish. “When you see regulars it makes you want to come there and talk to them and build friendships,” said Florida State University junior Veronica Hernandez. Regulars are the Google search equivalent for figuring out the best places to go and the best acts to see. “They actually refer me to other places too, so it’s all about the word of mouth,” Hernandez said. Strike up a conversation with one over a couple of IPAs.

Get Stage Time

giphy.com
giphy.com

Open mic night is a real thing, and you don’t even have to be musically inclined to get your chance in the spotlight. “You meet all sorts of people there. Comedians, people who do spoken word, poetry, a whole bunch of eclectic people,” Hernandez said. You may even find yourself jamming on stage with other performers.


trending

108

How Graduation is Causing Me a (Good) Existential Crisis

Gretchen Rubin, author of Life in Five Sense
96

Awaken Your Five Senses with #1 NYTs Bestselling Author Gretchen Rubin

77

Adulting with Your Mom Is Fun


Get Paper

giphy.com
giphy.com

If you just can’t get enough of your college music scene, get a part-time job at your favorite venue. You could be a promoter, a bartender, or even that bitch at the door that checks IDs and takes everyone’s money. You’ll get the chance to see a ton of performances while getting paid. You might even score free wristbands for your friends every now and then, making you the most envied hipster in your social circle. Hey, a rookie can dream.

About Sofia Harris

Sofia Harris is a senior at the University of Florida studying English, film and studio art. She enjoys tropical climates, wine BOGO’s and dressing up.

Q&A with ASCEND app Creators Sydney Campos and David Richeson

How a Last-Minute Gap Semester Changed My Life

Is Online Learning Right for You?

10 Things All International Students Understand

5 Pre-Finals Rituals to Follow for Optimum Study Time

Life Lessons I Learned in Fitness Classes

A Dream Deferred

So I Moved Back Home After Graduation…

I Regrettably Joined a Sorority Because I Wanted a Bag

Previous Post:The Digital Façade of Friendship: Why I Stick To Real-Life Relationships
Next Post:How to Write a Killer Essay the Day Before It’s Due

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding