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

[Barbara Butler <bvbutler@xxxxxxxxx>]

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" !!!!!!