When we first started out as a band our primary focus was getting gigs and getting people to hear our songs. We knew nothing about the local music scene or the wider music industry today. It is really hard to make a name as a new band.
However, it has since become our practice to go along to local live music events and venues every week and see the acts and talk to the people watching them. We have now developed friendships with regulars, we support the people who put their time and effort into arranging these events every week or every month (not an easy task, believe me!) and we have come to develop friendships with the other bands we move in the same circles as. We like and share and publicise their news and successes and they like and share and publcise ours. It's great to be able to say to a venue who needs another band at short notice, "we know just the one" and be able to call up a fellow band and say, "do you want a gig?".
It's like a family that we have become part of and we all look out for each other and honestly, that's the only way we can all grow ... together.
I know it might seem counter intuitive to spend time helping other bands rather than your own but you know the saying, you reap what you sow, and in this instance its very positive. The more support you offer, the more you will get back in return.