Re: DON'T GO SEE A LIVE BAND -- YOU'LL BE BORED!!!

[Frank Gerace <seahorse@user1.channel1.com>]

Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 12:29:30
To: nyfac2@nyfac.com
From: Frank Gerace <seahorse@us1.channel1.com>
Subject: Re: DON'T GO SEE A LIVE BAND -- YOU'LL BE BORED!!!

At 11:05 AM 2/13/98 +0000, you wrote:
>David Kirkdorffer wrote:
>> 
>>         I know SO MANY PEOPLE who feel this way.  I think it's part of
>> why - at least in Boston - live music venues are shrinking or closing.
>> Less people are going out to see bands - I think they feel they're not
>> going to see anything new.   They're mostly right.
>>
        Another reason clubs are closing is that a lot of people don't feel
like going to smoke-filled bars to hear their music.  'The sound live isn't
as nice as the CD on their stereo, blah-blah-blah'.  This also ties into 
the
drinking age argument and musicians as liqour salespeople arguments.  Many
people I know, as they get older, (most of my friends get older) are trying
to quit smoking, stop drinking etc. 
        Aside from that. on the artistic side....
        I think a lot of bands/musicians aren't "entertaining".  The music
may be great, but more people talk about going to "see" a band than going 
to
"hear" a band.  Many non-musicians are looking to be entertained, not
enlightened.  Please note, this is not a value judgement on my part, just 
an
observation. If I like the music, performer or whatever, I make an efoort 
to
go (despite my asthmatic lungs' aversion to smoke filled bars). 
>

>I think that as far as performances go, what keeps a lot of people from
>>coming out is that they are not (imagine italics) hearing something
>>new.  
        I agree in part.  However, some people like to hear the same old
stuff over and over again and go out to get their fill.  Frustrating for
artists trying something new, but a fact of life none the less.  
        And, a lot of people like to go out to dance, both in dance clubs
with DJs and clubs with more dance oriented bands. The demographics seem to
imply that going out to dance is a bigger trend than going out to hear some
'new' music.  That doesn't mean no one goes to hear music, just not as many
folks do. 
        Why all these options can't co-exist (there are loopers in all
different genres) and make money for the respective artists/performers and
venues is a mystery to me.  Most clubs here (Boston) have around a $5.00
cover.  That's cheaper than a movie ticket (although more than a video
rental)!  
        I agree that club owners/bookers are notorious for booking "safe"
acts for their clubs and musicians are aware of that. The downside of all
this "treat your band as a business because it is" ideology is that bands
start to view the audience in the same narrow framework the club management
does. Having a scene to be part of and a club that's the focal point for it
has its advantages to both fan and performer.  A built-in sympathetic
audience, place to play, etc.  The problem seems to be the scenes are all
too narrow in their focus.  It's time to infiltrate the scenes and subvert
the genres by expanding them.  Open things out instead of staying within 
the
boundaries.
        
Frank
Dreamchild
>        
>