Re: [Harp-L] "The House Party" or House Concert



I have no feeling for the jazz or Blues scene, for there is none here that I have encountered. (Waynesburg, PA) You would have to go up to at least Pittsburgh and Sam Blancato could address the scene there. Around here Bluegrass, Gospel and Old Time are king, but several of the venues that supported these genres have had to close because they couldn't make ends meet. We run a series of house concerts (4 every year). We bring in a variety of groups from folk to heavy Bluegrass to David Grier ( fabulous guitar player!). I could not sell our audience on an all blues show( no matter how good it was), they just would not attend. Also, all of our acts musts be Acoustic (no amps, effects sound boards , etc. We draw between 25-40 on a nite and we ask a $10 charge for a two hour show. The performer(s) (max. 3) get the entire gate, and room and board for the night, plus whatever they sell in CDs. We are not in this for the money, but to enable folks around here to experience live music. Sometimes, if the performer oks it we have a jam after the show. We also sometimes offer workshops with the artists if there is interest and the timing works. Our audience grows every show. We have room for 52 people.. Our audiences are a mix of college professors, old hippies, old farmers, home school families, musicians and the occasional college student (we have a small college in town).

I am inclined to agree with those who have said that the young people (20-45) have very little interest in live music of any kind and the next generation will have even less if we do not expose them to it! I play at my booth in the Farm Market and in the hospital and lobby each week. I have ended up talking to some kids who have never heard a live person playing music! Only CDs, ipods or TV. Sad, isn't it?


Barbara "Too many people die with their music still inside - Let it out!" Strath an De' Farm http://www.strathande.com Seydel Harmonicas www.seydelusa.com Coast to Coast Music http://coast2coastmusic.com


On Mar 30, 2007, at 4:51 PM, JAMES SUPRA wrote:


I certainly feel live music is fading away, as far as places to play.
This is why i strongly feel that in the next 10 years.
"THE HOUSE PARTY IS COMING BACK" !!!!!!





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