I'm soo sorry.......

[DennisMiller]

I agree with Versatile on the above post. Unfortunately, those performers are prolific in certain areas and not so much in others, whether by sheer numbers or by genre.

 

For example, here in Miami, you can find lots of Latin music, some rock, a little blues and very little folk or jazz. The west coast of Florida is much more receptive as a jazz community, to such an extent that my first guitar teacher moved to Ft. Myers to be closer to an audience.

 

On the other hand, there's the blues scene in St. Louis. Many of the old housing communities near the St. Louis Arch have been converted to small restaurants and bars with nightly live music. When I was there some years ago, I realized the scale of appreciation for local music and have wished ever since that Miami had the same devotion to the preservation of a local music scene with a broader selection to enjoy.

[zigzag]

The fact is that what any of you think about The Beatles is only your opinion and has no bearing on whatever historical relevance or artistic validity they will be given. No need to apologize swl, but what we should be discussing (and what some already have) are the relevant factors that make The Beatles significant. Aesthetics are only a part of that.

[charlie brown]

Charlie Brown...

 

I agree with everything you say except...

 

I still think that there's an increasing potential role for local bands to play in local areas. Anti-smoking laws probably have helped to damage that since more smokers are staying home and doing as you say - but if there's a degree of excitement about "there's live music down at the corner saloon," I still think people will come.

 

But it's gotta be entertaining...

 

m

 

It's probably truer, in the urban areas, that people still go out, for "live music."

Here, in the "sticks," the no-smoking laws (which I support...being a non-smoker, myself)

may have contributed to the demise, but also the fact that the local cops, camp outside

the venues, to bust people, driving home. There was an incident, recently, in a neighboring

community, where 2 people had been out listening to a live band, and had done some drinking,

so...they called a cab to take them home, so they wouldn't have to risk driving, and were

still busted, in the cab, for being "drunk in public!" You think those kinds of Gestapo tactics,

don't put a damper on someone's enthusiasm, for going out to bars and small clubs?! Most of it,

is about "money," for the city...IMHO, and not so much, about the public safety threat...especially

in the case just mentioned. No one wants "Drunks," driving on our streets and highways, risking

people's lives! That's just common sense. But, there also has to be some common sense, and reason,

in how things are handled, by the local law enforcement folks, as well. I've heard of similar tactics,

even in Wichita (the closest metro area, to my location) around "Old Town," and other venue rich, areas. So...???

 

CB

[charlie brown]

As to "The Beatles?!"

 

 

Everyone that knows me, here, already knows

how I feel about those boys! They were GREAT! ;>)

 

Without them, we'd all still be singing: "How much is that Pit Bull,

in the Window?!"

 

CB

[charlie brown]

CB and m

 

I agree.....there are still many musicians 'driven' to perform quality music for not much money....and many people happy to listen, drink and eat or whatever, at the venues providing such entertainment.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I'm ONE of them! "Musician," and supporter! It's just that it's getting

more and more difficult to do...at least, around here. Still, I'm not about to

give up, or go down without a fight! ;>)

 

CB

[milod]

CB...

 

At least at first, it's been my observation that no-smoking laws mostly shut down smaller locally-owned saloons and restaurants. The chains and franchises seem to keep going with more advertising, etc.

 

On the other hand, the chains and franchises seem less likely to hire bands.

 

Where I live "public intoxication" has pretty much been dropped for ages. You've pretty much gotta do something like barf on the sidewalk or be nasty to a cop to get busted. But then, Kansas always has been a bit more priggish on such stuff dating back to the cattle trail days. <grin> In all seriousness, I blame that on the early patterns of immigration that largely were from more settled eastern areas after the 1860s national contretemps.

 

You're right, though, that "we" in the US are getting more like Scandihoovia when it comes to laws on drinking and driving. Selling drinks is how saloons make their money, and they hire "us" to encourage people to stay and drink. Busting folks for taking a cab home seems to put a damper on that sort of thing and what we here do for money...

 

m

[charlie brown]

CB...

 

At least at first, it's been my observation that no-smoking laws mostly shut down smaller locally-owned saloons and restaurants. The chains and franchises seem to keep going with more advertising, etc.

 

On the other hand, the chains and franchises seem less likely to hire bands.

 

Where I live "public intoxication" has pretty much been dropped for ages. You've pretty much gotta do something like barf on the sidewalk or be nasty to a cop to get busted. But then, Kansas always has been a bit more priggish on such stuff dating back to the cattle trail days. <grin> In all seriousness, I blame that on the early patterns of immigration that largely were from more settled eastern areas after the 1860s national contretemps.

 

You're right, though, that "we" in the US are getting more like Scandihoovia when it comes to laws on drinking and driving. Selling drinks is how saloons make their money, and they hire "us" to encourage people to stay and drink. Busting folks for taking a cab home seems to put a damper on that sort of thing and what we here do for money...

 

m

 

 

Actually, the "neighboring community" I spoke of, was across the line, in Oklahoma. But, as mentioned

that kind of thing seems to happen in Wichita, and other Kansas towns, as well. When I was playing in

bars and clubs, as a "kid," if the cops saw someone that was obviously a danger, to others or themselves, they'd intervene, and you might spend the night in the "drunk tank," etc. Social drinkers, even if slighly intoxicated, were (most often) escorted home, even driven home, by the local police, with no ticket, or charges filed. The accident and death rate, was no higher (around here) then, than it is now. (The last major (fatality) accident was due to texting and/or cell phone use, while driving.)

 

That just doen't happen, anymore. It's a much more antagonistic, confrontational, atmosphere,

now. I can't (and don't) blame the law enforcement folks, entirely, either. People seem to be more

apt to cause a problem, especially if confronted by local cops, than they used to. So, it's a two-way thing..and the police don't take chances, either. Error on the side of caution, even if it seems extreme, at the time, I guess? Ironically, most of the "trouble" (bar fights, and such) I've witnessed, since moving back here, from Los Angeles, has been, most often, by women! "Cat fights" don't begin to describe the viciousness, and bloody confrontations, these gals are engaged in. I've seen a few fights, in my time, but nothing like the last couple I've seen, lately. They sure are, a lot more angry, about something! Sign of the times??? Maybe.

 

Still, all in all, things seem to be steady, if not as plentiful, as far as places to play. And, the going band (pay) rate, is not as bad here, as it is in the Metro areas. So, things could be a lot worse,

no doubt. At my age, I'm just glad to be able to play, at all...much less have the opportunity, to play somewhere, and get paid for it, however small that amount may be. (Smile)

 

CB