Did you go through a prog "evangelism" phase?

Let's just say: my mother was never fond of prog. Played Mahavishnu, Banco, PFM, and, if I remember correctly, Genesis' Selling England. Nothing. She is still on level 1: PF.

When I first got into prog I did go through this phase. Eventually I learned that everyone's music tastes are based on what they want to get out of listening to music, and that many people do not think the way I do. I've learned to stop declaring my music as better than their music, and instead get to know their tastes to see if I have anything to offer. I have a friend that is especially into electronic music, and I recommend him albums that are more rhythmically driven, not AOR-like, and tend towards a jazzy or experimental sound.

I find that you usually wind up either "preaching to the choir" or "talking to deaf ears." But if you are very clever and careful you can find people willing to listen. For example, if you find out that someone is already a big fan of Yes, early Genesis or Pink Floyd you might be able to introduce them to lesser known prog. A lot of people claim to be prog fans or fans of something different but don't know what it is or they have lots of old albums by Yes, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Camel, Gentle Giant, Pink Floyd, Focus, Strawbs, ELP, etc etc. Obviously they are more than just a casual fan and yet they never got the memo that prog has resurfaced in the past twenty years or so especially on the internet. It is possible to convert people like this. As for younger people it could be trickier. They might not even know Yes so you have to go the Radiohead or Dream Theater route and somehow get them to like this non mainstream(for the most part) kind of music.

Anyway to get back to the original question, I used to consider myself a bit of a prog missionary. I don't think I ever went super crazy with it but whenever I was in a record store and saw someone looking at the Genesis, Yes or any other similar band that indictated to me they might like prog, I would tell them about prog and mention certain websites(including this one). I would usually write down a bunch of bands or sites for them. I did this when I sold on ebay and also at concerts. IT's amazing how many "fringe" or "almost" prog fans there are out there. I was also on the Progday promotions team for a couple of years. Eventually I got tired of "trying to spread the word." I found it kind of futile after a while. I eventually came to realize that the people who need to find prog will. In other words if they are really going to appreciate this kind of music, chances are they are already a fan. There could be, and probably are, plenty of people out there who would like this music but haven't been exposed to it but that's the way it goes. You can't get convert everyone.

Out of the thirty or so people I tried to convert I would guess that maybe five of them(at the most) took the bait.


Edited by Prog_Traveller - September 06 2012 at 22:50

Yes, I used to do that. Mostly without success, which is probably a common experience.

I'm probably being overtly cynical but I'll wager that those of you that have posted to the effect that yes, you tried to turn people onto Prog are being at best, disingenuous: if Prog became popular most of you wouldn't touch it with a bargepole

ExittheLemming wrote: I'm probably being overtly cynical but I'll wager that those of you that have posted to the effect that yes, you tried to turn people onto Prog are being at best, disingenuous: if Prog became popular most of you wouldn't touch it with a bargepole

So what of the people who discovered prog during the 70's when the genre was booming, getting airplay and selling out venues ? Can't they appreciate prog now ? Or is most of the prog fanbase of nowadays tools who would have snubbed Yes and VDGG when when they released Close to the edge and Pawn Hearts cause it was too mainstream ? That's a sad vision =(

I can't say that I ever have - if I think someone maybe receptive to Progressive Rock I might make a suggestion or two but no more than that - it's like those Amazon recomendations you get when purchasing a CD - "People who liked Sigur Ros also purchased Saint Etienne"  (actual example) ... my reaction is invariably "good for them" (though I may wonder if Sarah Cracknell and I are related in someway, I'll not buy (another of) their albums) and I suspect it's the same for anyone who I recommend an album or artist to - just because they've shown an interest in one band or track it does not follow that they'll like a similar or related band or track. Of course some of those recommendations are picked up and perhaps in doing that the person is won-over to the Church of Prog. A guitarist friend of mine did once ask who my favourite guitarists were and I reeled off a list of prog axe-men I admired - he tried them all and was impressed by some and not others and he did admit to appreciating Gilmour (for example) more than he had before - he had heard Floyd before and had been very dismissive (Comfortably Dumb, etc) - he is now a convert to Prog but I'll not claim that was all my doing.

Over and over again I hear this "live and let live" philosphy, that all music is equal and blah blah blah. 

 He is now.

Never.