The Steel Guitar Forum

Its not that way here in western N.Y. We have a thriving live music scene which includes all genres of music. I don't think that there is any room left for bands that stink or are mediocre. We have some great bands here. Plenty of places to play with decent pay. I am glad about the drunk driving laws and the smoking ban.

George,It's not that way here either. They staple a ticket on you and there is seldom any trouble. It's not like the old smokey bars. If all works right,everybody has a good time and we make good money.

Roger my friend, there are several bars up here that stamp your hand with ink that is only visible under a black light. Common practice here. One stamp, fits all. And you can bet yur cowboy boots they never wash it.

George,

I played a lot of those places when I lived in OHIO. The funny thing was to see all the white T-shirts and socks glowing. At least with the cowboy boots you can't see the glowing socks. LOL

Kevin Hatton wrote:Its not that way here in western N.Y. We have a thriving live music scene which includes all genres of music. I don't think that there is any room left for bands that stink or are mediocre. We have some great bands here. Plenty of places to play with decent pay. I am glad about the drunk driving laws and the smoking ban.

I'm movin' back to New York

Music and alcohol go way back historically all over the world. Both listening to an playing music are emotional experiences that can be enhanced (up to a point) by a loosening of one's inhibitions.

Here in the Northeast I'm playing more and more public places like parks in the summer and churches as concert venues in the winter, and less bars in general. The only problem - where do ya get a f...ng drink?

That's why you carry a flask of [insert drink of choice here] in your coat pocket!

My Opinion, (and it's just my opinion): Going to a bar will always be the thing to do for young people, simply because of the need to meet the opposite sex, socialize, party and drink alcoholic beverages. However, the entertainment, or lack of it, is a reflection of the culture of people in their 20's. Tastes in entertainment are always changing. Musical tastes today I think, are indicitive of the lack of music education in our public schools. Hip-Hop and Rap, are a creative exprssion, and also an art form that has components of music in them, but as a whole, I don't consider it music. That's just my opinon. Stiff drinking laws inhibit people from going out to a bar, but those that do make to the bar, are dancing, or whatever you want to call it, to a continuously pulsating mechanical rhythym with a gang banger/criminal shouting out expletives. This is what we are competing with. Don't I sound old?

Their are plenty of venues left to play in. We only need to look around a bit. Private clubs like the Moose, Vf&W and the like still have country music on weekends. I personally have never introduced myself to any band without getting an enthusiastic invitation to sit in with them. If it's about the love of playing you'll find plenty of oppotunities. If it's about money.... that may prove more difficult.

FWIW, I've been watching these phases where the steel loses it's popularity but for some strange reason, it always bounces back bigger and better than ever.

The world changes. San Francisco used to have world-class folk clubs (Hungry i, Purple Onion) - closed. We used to have world class jazz clubs that produced top flight live recordings as well - closed. I probably don't have to mention the birth of the ballroom scene (Fillmore, Avalon) - closed.

You can find live music every night, but the days of neighborhood music venues appear to be gone for good.

On the other hand, there are a few blues-only clubs with music every night. How do they do it?

What *would* draw customers?

-eric

What *would* draw customers?

for me it would be:
show starts at 8PM, not 10PM
1 opening band, not four
dont search me when I walk in the door
ample seating away from the "pit"
good public transportation to and from the gig
staff (especailly bouncers) who are reasonably polite
ticketmaster being outlawed and the CEO forced to wash my car every weeknd for the rest of his or her life.

amongst other things

Eric Jaeger wrote: On the other hand, there are a few blues-only clubs with music every night. How do they do it?

They do it because due to the all pervasive influence of blues-rock guitarists, starting with Hendrix, on through Page and SRV up to the present crop of players, the general public (at least here in L.A.) seems to think that this is what defines music.

You can be the greatest classical guitarist since Segovia, but all people want to hear is some guy on a strat playing a pentatonic blues scale.

Q: What's the difference between a jazz guitarist and a rock guitarist?

A: A rock guitarist plays 3 chords in front of 1,000 people. A jazz guitarist plays 1,000 chords in front of 3 people.

Kevin Hatton wrote:Its not that way here in western N.Y. We have a thriving live music scene which includes all genres of music. I don't think that there is any room left for bands that stink or are mediocre. We have some great bands here. Plenty of places to play with decent pay. I am glad about the drunk driving laws and the smoking ban.

Kevin,You got that right. At the Buckin'Buffalo in Buffalo N.Y.we played to a packed house,500-600 people last month .Our band has been together going on 6 years. And- NY has the no smoking laws. Joe
www.willowcreekband.com

BAR, NIGHT CLUB ETC: A place where unemployed musicians go to hear employed musicians.

In Houston, we have a monthly publication that can be picked up for free at most music stores called "Music New", its 35 pages long. It features most of the bars and clubs that offer live music and editorials on some of the bands that are playing. Also lots of musicial related ads. There is a new THREE page section entitled "Just Country"!!! "Your Local Guide to Country Music". It list the clubs, new CD releases, various musicians, etc. A splinter of light in all the gloom!