[Harp-L] Death of live music

[Barbara Butler <bvbutler@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hey,

We have no blues or jazz venues here , so I can't address that.  The  
closest would be up in Pittsburgh and I believe Sam Blancato has  
already addressed that.  I am much more in tune :)  with the  
Bluegrass, gospel, Old Time scene, but even in those genres ( which  
are very popular here) there have been several venues that had to  
close within the last few years because they couldn't meet expenses.

We run a House Concert series ( 4 concerts a year ) and draw 28-40  
people for each at $10 a head for a two hour concert.  The   
performers get the entire gate and all the CDs they can sell.  We do  
this to bring live music into our area.  However, I would never book  
an all blues act - no one would come.  Plus we are totally acoustic -  
no amps , mics, boards or effects. The number in our audiences seem  
to be growing with each show.  Our maximum is 52 seats.

I play paid gigs, but I also play at our Farmer's Market booth and in  
the local hospital lobby once a week.  I have had teens and young  
kids come up to me, who have never seen a live person playing music -  
only TV or ipod, CD or radio.  Sad, huh!

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