LIVE Local Music Economic Stimulus Plan
The holidays are now over and 2010 holds hope for an
3. Tip! Where I'm from, if you went up to request a
economic upswing for us all. In 2009 we saw our area lose sever-
tune, you put something in the tip jar. If a particularly good job
al venues known for being very "LIVE music" friendly. Cafes, cof-
was done by a performer, people gave tips. The feeling that
fee shops, art galleries, restaurants, lounges and even some
you'll get by putting money in someone's tip jar is worth more
upscale private country clubs have either cut back on their enter-
than the money. Try it and you'll see what I mean.
tainment budget or just closed their doors altogether. The
remaining businesses that have featured LIVE music could gain a
4. Get a real instrument! Instead of spending
competitive edge by increasing their entertainment budget, and
hours playing a video game that simulates an instrument, get a
some have, but in these uncertain times hesitation, neutrality and
real instrument and learn how to play it. Here's a little economic
inactivity are popular business model modes. If you are a working
stimulus tip: the local music store will appreciate your business
musician in this area, I don't have to tell you how much harder it
and, if you buy smart, you'll make money. I bought a Fender
is to fill up the gig calendar. Making a living as a locally perform-
Telecaster guitar in 1976 for $300 and now it's worth $3,000.
ing musician is hard enough as the pay scale hasn't changed in
Many musical instruments increase in value over time and make
over forty years. So, here's the plan...
great investments.
1. Hire LIVE musicians! There is nothing like a really
5. Live better with LIVE music! Making music isn't
good LIVE music performance. Hire a LIVE music act for your
just an artistic expression, it has health benefits. Infants
weddings, holiday parties, company functions, dinner parties,
exposed to music develop faster cognitively, children who learn
cocktail parties, lounges, bars, restaurants, etc ... live music per-
music composition early in life earn a higher average wage as
formed locally means it's MADE IN AMERICA. Hiring cheap enter-
adults, and making music has been proven to delay the onset of
tainment speaks volumes about your business. Just hire a real
Alzheimer's in persons with a genetic propensity for the disease.
band! If you're going to do it... do it right. I can't tell you how
I occasionally volunteer at a local assisted living facility perform-
many times I've gone into a place for dinner or cocktails only to
ing LIVE music. I'm told it's effective in lifting the spirits of both
turn around and leave because they had some cheesy solo act
the performer and the listener (probably more so for the per-
singing along with pre-recorded backing tracks instead of a LIVE
former in my case) and fighting loneliness, depression and anxi-
band. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against solo acts. As
ety in residents who crave social interaction. I implore you to go
a working musician myself, I've performed countless solos... with-
out and investigate the local LIVE music scene!
out backing tracks. I know a lot of musicians who work without
backing tracks and do just fine. I've never heard a "backing track"
Local LIVE music artists that you should check out (In no partic-
performance that has the same dynamics as a LIVE act. Ask any
ular order) are: Robyn Schoessel, The Wholetones, Phoenix
musician and they'll tell you there is no better feeling than per-
Falling, Nate Augustus & the Gladzmen, The Gruv Monstrz, Vega
forming with a LIVE band. I know, I know... feeling good doesn't
Under Fire, The Moony Mann Band, The Uptown Express, Magic
pay the bills. But, I can't tell you how many "backing track"
Moments, Joe Marino & all the King's Men, The Lords of Cool,
entertainers have told me how much they hate what they do to
Geek Skwad, Love Funnel, Soapy Tuna, Later Days, Yazgarz
make a buck. (We have a word for it in the industry.)
Farm, Jebry and Bob Zatola.
On a recent trip to New Orleans, I visited over thirty
establishments featuring music entertainment. They ALL had
Some local LIVE music venues to check out (In no particular
100% LIVE music entertainment. I asked a bartender at The
order): Mercato - (Naples) First Friday of every month - Outdoor
Hotel Monteleone's Carousel Lounge in the French Quarter about
Concert Stage, Fifth Ave. South (Naples) - Second Thursday of
the fact that there were no "backing track" performers anywhere.
every month - Outdoor Concert series, Blue Martini (Naples),
He summed it up very well with "Dat stuff don't fly down here in
Jack's Bait Shack (Naples), South Street Oven & Grill (Naples),
Nawlins... If you ain't real, you ain't playin' here". Karaoke's cool
Tara (Marco Island), Porky's Last Stand (Marco Island), Cambier
when it's Karaoke Night and DJ's have their place in the entertain-
Park (Naples), The Tavern (Naples), The Norris Center (Naples),
ment world, but when a musician tries to make a living as an
Sugden Theater (Naples) and The Phil (Naples)... to name a few.
entertainer using pre-recorded backing tracks, it's just sad, and
I'm surprised some people put up with it. I often see "backing
WRITTEN BY: MOONY MANN
track" entertainers working in upscale venues in SWFL and won-
der why the venue management/ownership can't see how it
lessens the appeal of the establishment. It sends a message that
they are cutting corners and makes one wonder, if the place cuts
corners on the stage, are they cutting corners in the kitchen?
Some lounges, bars and restaurants would probably fare better by
not having entertainment at all.
2. Go to places that feature LIVE music! If you
don't care that some guy or gal is singing along with pre-recorded
music, then you probably wouldn't miss it if it wasn't there or if
the place just had a radio playing. The restaurant or bar may be
saving a few bucks by hiring a pre-recorded act, but you can bet
that means that the food and drinks are not any better. Just
remember, there's a drummer or bass player somewhere that
didn't get a paycheck that night.
PULSE MAGAZINE ---------- 32
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