Use It Or Lose It: Supporting Local Venues

[Jim Price]

Here is an interesting read about the importance of supporting local live music venues. The article focuses on Erie, but applies to any music scene including the ones served by Rockpage. Check it out:

http://substreammagazine.com/2015/10/us ... the-scene/

[Jim Price]

Shortly after finding the above article, I saw this one, reporting that one of Philadelphia's popular live music venues, The Legendary Dobbs, has closed its doors.

http://gashouseradio.com/rip-the-legendary-dobbs/

[martino1995]

Too many people say 'I'll see you next time. I'll see you next time.' It won't be long until there is no next time. I know I am guilty of it, too. It's rare that I get to go out if I'm not gigging. I have many friends in bands in the area, and really need to get out and see them. One thing this area has going for it is that a lot of us know each other and keep in touch in one form or another. It's a pretty close knit community. In the last few weeks, I spent a Friday and Saturday in Harrisburg. There was not much going on in the area on Friday and had trouble finding a place that had a band. I talked to a friend there that owns a music store and he was telling me that the few bands that are left there don't support each other at all and a lot of them have given up, to the point that some of the bands can't even find people to play the gigs. Even in Harrisburg, where the music scene used to be hopping, it's tough to get even 30-50 people out to a live show. It's sad that music as an art form has been devalued this badly. As tough as the last few years have been, I see the musicians in this area keeping the faith, and that gives me some hope.

[Jasaoke]

The local venues really need to wake up. We have a pretty decent community of musicians here, but every single one of those musicians has a horror story about a local venue. Many of the owners have screwed enough people that no one wants to play there any more. And very few venues have put any kind of investment into their facilities. I turned 21 almost 18 years ago, and many of the places that I used to go to see bands haven't changed one bit since then. Paint the bathroom, already! And fix the paper towel dispenser. We've had some great bands from the area and even some regional acts come through, who all put a lot into their music and show, but when they get put on a rickety, dirty stage, in front of sticky tables and floors, served by grumpy people, the whole thing dies.