[Harp-L] Re: Is live blues dying out? ... adding "entertainment factor" to the discussion

[W B <wbharptime2@xxxxxxxxx>]

This subject has made the rounds in my life since the first day I discovered
the blues back in the 60's!  As human beings we are all "dying out" one day
at a time and then the new born souls take over. My heart tells me that the
blues is as alive as ever.  It is a part of the human musical vocabulary
world wide since it started here in the great USA!  It will never die out
BUT it will always be challenged in the taking of it's share of
entertainment dollars, especially in today's world/economic cycle.  My
experience with the blues club scene over the years is that a lot of it just
wasn't that entertaining on a night to night basis.  The cream rises to the
top.  We all know who is hot and entertaining in a number of ways and those
acts seem to survive.  It is the egotistical, non-creative, low-respect for
the gig blues cling-ons that in my opinion have tainted the playing field.
People come out to see live music want to be entertained, period.
Long-winded and repetitive solo's, long breaks, drunkenness, non-fresh
material, "posing wannabees" and a general lack of respect for the audience
is what makes things even harder for the "good guy's and gal's".  For a
blues club to be a viable 7 day a week entity today the owner must care
about every day on the calendar.  BB King on Friday night and Kim Wilson on
Saturday night is all well and good but its the other 5 days of the week
that MAKE a scene.  Finding the true local talent and "taking care" of them
well is not what happens.  Hiring any old band cuz they are cheap to fill in
days "spoils the broth".  Having open mic nights that are unprofessionally
run "spoils the broth".  Excessive volume "spoils the broth".  Late and
inconvenient starting times "spoils the broth".  Lousy customer service
"spoils the broth".  Price gauging "spoils the broth".  Many of the "blues
scene" problems have nothing to do with a disinterest in GOOD BLUES.  Good =
Entertaining.

Much of the baby boomer generation is chock full of time and entertainment
dollars.  Many also love the blues.  It is not supposed to be easy to make a
buck in this business.  It is WORK like anything else.  I believe the
destiny of our beloved blues is in the hands of the players as it has always
been.  Build it and they will come.  If they don't come, work to rebuild and
refine.  Quality entertainment that respects it's audience still has a
shot.  I think our country in particular is starving for GOOD blues.  The
current state of the union begs for it.

WB