A useful DIY city guide should reduce uncertainty without pretending to represent every scene. I would start with a visible last-checked date and one local contact for corrections. Sections should cover public venues and booking links, step-free access and restroom details when verified, late transit, safe legal parking for loaded vehicles, low-cost food near show areas, instrument repair, record and zine shops, community radio, and urgent-care information. Include local expectations that visitors might miss, such as whether shows run early, but separate fact from one person's preference. Private house addresses, sleeping offers, and personal phone numbers do not belong in a public guide; hosts can share them directly after confirming a booking. Every listing should state its source or verification month. What has actually helped when arriving in an unfamiliar city with a van?
Open thread / Malik Stone
What Belongs in a Useful DIY City Guide?
A maintainable city-guide outline covering access, transit, food, shops, shows, and local expectations.
Add how to request accessibility details and be honest when information is unknown. A blank field can look like no barriers, while unknown invites verification. I would also list public harm-reduction and crisis resources from established local organizations, with a reminder that hours and services can change.
For music discovery, link to public show calendars and local programs rather than naming five approved bands. That keeps a guide from freezing one clique as the scene. Credit whoever maintains each resource and avoid copying their information into a page nobody will update.
Repair listings should say what a shop actually handles and whether an appointment is needed. Touring bands lose time when guitar repair, electronics service, and general music retail are treated as interchangeable. A public laundromat near a transit route is also more useful than another nightlife recommendation.