Here's an idea

Ok, so this blog is introducing the issue of lower turnout at rock shows, what's causing it and what can be done about it. I had a couple of non-specific thoughts in my previous blog, but here's my first "big" idea: reality TV. It's huge, everybody watches it, half the country participates in it. YouTube is out there for all the world to see, I say join in.

Shoot video of your band in rehearsals, hanging out, doing "stuff", doing nothing. Just keep shooting and then edit all that crap down to some cute/lame/funny 10 minute clips that you post to YouTube. And then promote the crap out of it. Get enough footage of the band actually playing music that people can hear/see what you sound/look like when you're playing. If they like what they see, if it looks like you're a fun, cool group of people having a good time playing music and hanging out together, they may want to join in.

On the other hand, if you're a bunch of immature drama queens with ridiculously poor judgment they might find you irresistible! Seeing how you are on your "reality TV show" might inspire some people to come see you live, whether they are fans or just can't resist the Simon Cowellish-ness of it all. Either way you're more than just a band playing music, you become a complete entertainment experience. Who knows, play your cards right and you could end up on same lame-ass MTV show -- and honestly who among us wouldn't jump at that! :-D

What are we up against?

Here's an excerpt from my response to the CL ad that prompted this blog, which asked the unmusical question, where did all the fans go? :-D

"Live music -- particularly rock-oriented -- is on a long, slow decline. There are numerous reasons for this, here are a few good ones:

• the aging of the baby boom generation, coupled with declining birth rates among Americans of European ancestry
• the lack of vitality/innovation in rock music
• proliferation of entertainment alternatives
• DJs

I've played live for 25+ years and my dad was bandleader longer than that. I'm also a demographer. In my opinion you're seeing much more vitality in the Latin and urban music styles than we have seen in rock in decades (Nirvana was the last really "big thing" in rock and that was almost 20 years ago). Combined with demographic change and the internet and cable and you have fewer people going out or having big private parties. And when they do they are as likely to be entertained by a DJ as a band. Ironically I think the quality of bands today is superior to what I saw in clubs 15 or 20 years ago. The equipment is better (especially PA equipment) which has been a big help to singers and there is so much information on how to play an instrument (internet, instructional DVDs, etc. that didn't exist 20 years ago) that I think the bar is actually higher than its ever been.

So what's the answer? My opinion is you have to form clubs, associations of people who like similar kinds of music and who want to physically connect with other people in their community. Obviously that's built-in with college, but once you get out of school it takes more effort. The desire to find a mate is a major motivating force, it's one of the reasons people go to places where a live band will be playing. They're hoping they might meet somebody they'll like at the show. There's a lot more I could say about this but I don't want to write a book, it's just something I've been thinking about for a while. Bands have to get a lot more savvy about marketing themselves and, in particular, they need to think about why people come to their shows and they may need to make some accommodations.

I'll expand on these ideas in future blogs.

Purpose of this Blog

A question came up on the DC Craig's List Musicians site about declining attendance at live shows and it occurred to me that this would be an excellent subject for a blog. I have played live off and on for more than 25 years and I have some definite opinions about what's causing this and what can be done about it. But I also would really like to hear other musician's opinions on the subject. We're all in this boat together. We can either beat each other up trying to carve up a shrinking pie or we can put our heads together and come up with some ideas for growing that pie.

Now, I'm a realist, I know we're up against some pretty significant demographic and cultural trends so it's not like I think we're going to have a Eureka! moment and solve the problem. We'd have better luck solving world hunger. I'm just saying some bands do better than others, clearly there are some answers and personally I'd like to know what they are. If I can contribute a few to the community all the better.

So that's the topic, I'm looking forward to putting my ideas out there and getting some responses. Rock on.

Tony