Thank you Eddie.
I heard from Shelia a few months ago. She was asking about playing her venue, I told her I would be happy to then never heard anything back from her. I wish them well and wish there were more of these, but they are very hard to make a go of. Mostly you put a lot of money and time into them and get very little out of them. Usually after about three years they fold. I hope this one is different.
I think the real key to doing this is not as much opening a venue as HOUSE CONCERTS or LIVING ROOM CONCERTS. that enables you to have a venue, once or twice a month in a home, and then living your life normally the rest of the time. When you have a "Venue", you have the responsibilities of a venue, insurance, parking, liscences, labor costs, advertising, etc.
A mistake people always make are "trying to be another Austin, Nashville" or anything. You need to be yourself. I hate that "we are another...." I don't think that does anything except bring comparrisons that can't be lived up to. Each one of those communtities built and developed over the years in their own way. The "Bluebird" is the Bluebird because it developed over 30 years by delivering quality product, and staying focused on music. it wasn't trying to be another "Exit Inn' or "Maude's Courtyard."
But you have to have some things to compare it to. I hope they do continue on. I would like to play there. Thjere are a couple of places around that would be great to play. Another one outside Chattanooga. There are several house concerts that would be great to get into. But many of those are booked solid for years. I'm booked in 2015 for one. You have to spend as much time learning about these places as it ever takes playing them. And of course, like everything, the ability to make any money is very difficult. For every place that says "They buy CD's. That only means three or four. It is not like you are going to go make a fortune off of CD sales.
It is a very tough time for songwriters musicians, etc. of all levels and stripes. It is just that EVERYBODY does this now. Every kid who is 12 years old and can hold a guitar. Every high school and college student, has a band or sits around dreaming of the big time. Every guitar player in a music store on Saturday's. And of course the Internet has them all. They all want to play these venues.
And for all the talk of private people loving music and wanting it, there are not as many as we would like to think. It is because they get all the music they want at the touch of a button or a mouse. That is why they don't buy anything. Why? They don't have to. We are more than willing to give it away because we have to.
But we all keep trying. That is about all you can do. Thanks for sharing that Eddie. I hope they can hang in there. Shelia is a very nice person. Wish her all the best.
MAB