Where are all the gigs these days?

[David Hartley]

I was wondering? Has live music come to an end? I have never gone hunting for gigs but it looks like I might have too!

There's a steel player here available!

[Tony Browne]

Had to reply to this one David. My opinion, a lot country music clubs are booking solo acts with little or no live instrumentation at all in the hope of cutting cost to keep the club afloat. This has allowed " kareoke acts" to charge more and in most cases had the opposite effect of keeping people away from clubs who prefer to watch live musians.
Ok, so we all use technoligy to a certain extent these days, but it is downward spiral if people aren't prepared to pay for what they get. How much has entrance fee for CM increased in the last 20 years compared to everthing else ? not much at all in my experience. Too many people want something for nothing I fear.
Have to say we're doing ok for gigs at the moment but every year makes you wonder where it's going.

[Graeme Jaye]

Anyone who plays in a group, band, orchestra or whatever, will tell you that the number of venues, available for live performance, has diminished rapidly over recent years. Thirty years ago, I could (and did) work seven nights a week, Today, I count myself fortunate to pick up one a week.

The market for 'live' performance has swung towards a vocalist/player augmented by backing tracks - little more than professional karaoke, in my view. Acts like this are cheap to employ and it has totally distorted the average promoter/venues' view as to the value of a full band. These days, many venues have a fixed budget, x amount, no matter now many mouths there are to feed. Unless you are prepared to work for little or nothing, then finding good regular work is not going to be easy.

[Peter Nylund]

I have got all the gigs I need. Last year I played one gig, this year slightly less.

[Ken Byng]

I find myself turning down offers of gigs at the moment if the driving distance and the cost of fuel make them prohibitive. There are still loads of venues who pay for 4 or 5 piece bands, but certainly the duos and trios with backing tracks are an attractive alternative for clubs to a full live band. Playing to backing tracks is not for me at all - been there and done it many years ago, and I prefer the buzz of playing with real musicians.

I'm a little too old now to travel 200+ miles round trips to gigs, and prefer nothing more than an hour's drive. Like many steelies in the UK I play lead and steel guitar, so I suppose it is an advantage to employ musicians who can 'double up'.

[David Patterson]

Hello David.

Don't give up the day job I say.

BTW Keep an eye on Ivor Greenwood in Dallas, he may want to spend money on an Emmons original.

[Ted Nesbitt]

Guess what David, Ivor bought a stunning D10 MSA Millennium 3 (Carbon Fibre body) finished
in a Plum metallic colour. While we were at the MSA factory, we watched Johnny Cox putting
together the very last Millennium guitar. It will be for his wife Joan. No more being made, so I guess
anyone who has one should hang on to it. In years to come the value of them can only increase, just like Franklin
guitars. Talking about Franklin guitars, I was sitting next to Mr Franklin senior at the Dallas show, and I asked him if he would build a new guitar. He told me he had the last 2 guitars in the build stages. A D10 for Paul and a SD10 for a unnamed player.
The SD10 with 4 + 5 was $7000.00 ... I guess his son Paul would get a better deal

[David Patterson]

Hello Ted.

What can I say, what a man, there is no stopping him.

Make sure he brings it on the next Tues night, so we can all drool.

Regards.

David.

[seeley]

Killed off by the last Government's draconian music licensing laws. Current moves to deregulation might help but it's probably too little too late. The smoking ban didn't help either