RTB NEWS: Let’s Talk Music

By Gary Draper

Greetings! I’m going to get serious here for just a moment. For some time now, the live music scene around the great Pacific Northwest has been ailing. While we are blessed to have some of the best musical talent in the entire world living right here, our live music venues seem to be fading away. These clubs are having a hard time getting enough people in the door to pay for the bands.

There are exceptions, many live music venues do fairly well, but for the most part, bands don’t aren’t getting paid appropriately for their level of talent, or for the time they spend setting up and tearing down equipment. When the bands “play for the door” (cover charge only), a lot of them make very little money unless they have a solid following. And of course, in order to build a solid following, they need to play live gigs to get the exposure.

Why can’t we get more people in the door for live music? I remember, not long ago, when the clubs and bars were packed seven days a week for the music. From what I hear, even some of the national acts that come to town aren’t even pulling in the numbers they used to.

Perhaps when the economy bounces back, our live music venues will once again be full of people like the good old days. Being such a huge fan of live music, I can’t wait for it to change for the better, and soon. It would sure be nice to spend my money supporting live music again, instead of shoving it in the gas tank all the damn time.

There are lots of good local music festivals happening around the good old Pacific Northwest. I plan on getting out to a few in August. Watch for my reviews in the September issue.