Also in this issue:

The Economy Vs.
Live Music Rooms

Times are tough and many clubs are closing or reporting smaller turn outs and fewer quality acts touring in their markets. Here’s a sampling of comments from Bookers about what’s going on in their dark corner of the music biz:

*Florida's live music scene is feeling the effects of high fuel costs. Patrons are not coming to shows and acts can't justify the 1200+ mile round trip our geography requires with fewer solid paying gigs, and higher transportation costs. Definitely a domino effect. We're closing Bamboo Room at least for the summer.
Russell Hibbard
Bamboo Room, Lake Worth, FL

*As a matter of fact, going back to late 2005 (32 concerts), we have had three of our four smallest audiences this year. I don't know what to attribute it to: gas prices, economy, apathy... whatever it is, I sure would like to find the reason and correct the problem.
Bailey Jones
Sundilla Acoustic Concert Series, Auburn, AL

*We may be experiencing a little bit of a downturn, but not significant at this point. If gas goes to $7/gallon, which some analysts predict it may within a year, then I think the club business will be hit hard, mostly because not as many club acts will be able to afford to tour. We non-exclusively promote shows at many venues including Highline Ballroom, BB King’s, and now Grammercy Theater and Irving Plaza. We also non-exclusively book shows at Mezzanine in San Francisco.
Howie Schnee
Creative Entertainment Group

We have seen a drastic turndown in attendance at the Bradfordville Blues Club. It is the worst we have experienced in 6 years of running the club. We are working on plan B to avoid plan C(closing). Ever the optomist, we are hoping for the best. Touring bands are getting hit very hard with high gas prices. They have to raise thier prices to cover the extra expense at a time when we cannot afford pay more. Unless consumer confidence increases and gas prices decrease, we're in for tougher times. It is more important than ever for folks in the music business to work together or we'll see fewer clubs offering fewer bands a venue to play.
Gary Anton
Owner, Bradfordville Blues Club, Tallahassee, FL

*We've actually been getting busier since January. We're booked solid for May/June/July, and almost the same for Aug/Sept/Oct. Bar sales have been the highest -in the last four months-that I have seen in the last four years. I'm not really sure why. As both Booking Agent and sound-tech for the room I try and make it a very musician friendly -and good sounding-venue, but I've been doing that for the last five years. Perhaps word has gotten out, or maybe it's something completely different. If gas prices are hurting some clubs, I guess it can't hurt that we're right on the subway line.
Fletch Fletcher
Clinton's Tavern, Toronto, ON, Canada

*Business has been a bit slower - especially on the weekdays - but with a location where most people take public transportation or cabs, I don't feel the gas crunch as much.... except in the cost of goods. Most of the business is still derived from the musicians and if I booked a crappy week, or the musicians don't bring a good crowd, it shows in the receipts. I have noticed more medium sized rock clubs opening in the city, so it'll be interesting to see if things get a little saturated in that market.
Jennifer Gilson
The Living Room, New York, NY

*We have yet to see a real downturn in business, but I do anticipate things will slow down a bit over the summer with the increased gas prices and the general consensus of people trying to save and not spend right now. Obviously we have hopes that things won't slow down too much as there are other means of transportation but it's better to be realistic about these things.
Ashley M. Horton
Events & Marketing, Anthem Entertainment

*Money is tight people here mainly come see the known acts. Not much experimenting on the unknown. The economy and gas prices do affect peoples’ money in pocket.
Justin Young
Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, NM

*We are seeing a slack off due to the general bad economy in Detroit and Michigan mostly.No one really lives in Detroit they commute from the suburbs. Also other factors are due to these reasons:
-people with computer addictions
-video games
-people turning 30 and priorities changing
-younger generation not brought up on live music
-people not drinking anymore
-drunk driving laws
-bands not promoting like they used to even though it is easier than ever now thanks to the internet
-people not into smoky clubs-will not be an excuse any longer when the entire U.S. goes smoke free
- people would rather hear covers than something new
Sue Static
313.Jac/Jacoby’s, Detroit, MI

*We are struggling with live music. Bands that normally bring 150-200 customers are now 30-75 at best. Fridays and Saturdays are doing Thursday numbers. And there are more live rooms in LA than ever so the market is saturated and talent pool dwindling. It's a scary time.
Dexter Story
Temple Bar, Santa Monica, CA

*Yes we have been seeing that {business is slow}. Also noticing bands really aren't putting too much effort into getting people to their shows. That is why we are becoming more and more of a door only venue unless it is established bands. We are also beginning to require bands pay expenses (sound, poster costs, advertising costs, etc) because that seems to filter out a lot of these newer 'myspace' bands. Rough times but we still get out gems 3-4 times a month. Super booked but small turnouts mostly. We are also telling bands (unless established) that Sundays-Wednesdays are money losers.
Grant Gilmore
The Filling Station, Bozeman, MT

*I am seeing a downturn. It bums me out. We are a not-for-profit 501 3© and my venue is the year-round fundraiser for its parent company, the River Music Experience. If our schedule isn’t as thick as possible, the chances of fundraising become slighter. Knowing how much an artist is worth in my market is what makes me unique to my job. So when I see more artists “needing just a little more to make this (offer) work” – in the words of their agents or managers – I know that its just becoming more difficult to be an artist…in any capacity of the word “artist”.
Santo Pullella
River Music Experience/River Roots Live Music Festival, Davenport, IA

*Business seems to be fine, but I stopped booking Wednesdays and Thursdays six months ago. Fridays and Saturdays are busy as usual. Philly’s music scene is very interesting right now – 2 artists whom I’ve been working with for years signed major deals this year – Sharon Little (CBS) and George Stanford (Mercury) so the MilkBoy scene is good, but I may have immunized myself to a downturn by exiting the mid-week fray. The venue has been open for 2 years and it has always, always been a struggle, you know?
Tommy Joyner
MilkBoy Main Stage, Philadelphia, PA

*Bands need to realize that we don't always have a lot of slots to fill, and as a business we need to make sure that we still turn some sort of profit. Just as much as we need to advertise our clubs (which is quite costly now) they too need to advertise themselves. Back before myspace, we used to always get postcards in the mail from the bands with their monthly calendars on them, which were really handy since it would go on the fridge at home so we know where to find out favorite bands. They just don't do anything like that anymore, it's all email, which people aren't staring at all day, and it's easily deleted. I feel that if a band really wants to build their following, they just need to go back to basics and get themselves out there even on the pro-bono nights. Understand that we get many, many, many emails and calls for potential bands, and we only have 52 weekends a year to fill, so please don't get discouraged, or angry if you don't get the date right away. All we can do as bookers is the best we can for the businesses we work for. Don't give up, and keep practicing!
Joey Newman
Entertainment Manager, The Grog, Newburyport, MA

*Definitely seeing a downturn.
{High gas costs and a weak economy} all those contribute, but I think people are finding alternative forms of entertainment to live music. i.e. Dj's, video games. etc...
Mike Feudale
Abbey Lounge, Somerville, MA

New government regulations ( restrictions on age and drink specials ) and involvement in the entertainment industry ( free downtown shows ) plus a upsurge in casino buildup ( loss leader entertainment ) has hurt more than the price of gas.
Mark Rogers
The Texas Club, Baton Rouge, LA

*Definitely seen a slow down over the last year or so. You start being paranoid then hearing about other places. It is the constant ebb and flow of promoting bands. Have you ever had the perfectly promoted show? I think I did it once!!
Jason
Matt Murphy's Pub, Brookline, MA

I've been booking (and mixing) a 300 capacity headline/local club for over 25 years, and have seen many ups and downs. Right now the talk is bad, but business is pretty good overall. I'm having to be very careful about keeping things spread over a large audience base, and I'm perhaps more loyal to local winners than in the past, even though it means booking cover stuff that we never would have touched just a few years ago. The booking business is a mix of following taste trends and creating them, and it always means being connected with the cultural environment you are in- Boston has a curious combination of conservative musical tastes (and I don't mean politics) and intellectual curiousity, and we have to stay in touch with both. I am uneasy about the future in some ways, but then, sometimes the most interesting things happen when people are moved a little out of their comfort zones.
Dana
Johnny D's, Somerville, MA

*Every one I know in the business is down... and I've been in the business since 1985! It's the media... they will not let off on the public about the dismal news of everything! If they would report even the simplest good things of life, people might not give up so easy! Americans are resilient! they just need a little hope, a pick me up! One more thing! The music industry; radio, license companies are insane! No one sees the big picture anymore! They are all working against each other instead of helping create a way out! A way to keep getting the gift, the response, the life that music gives us all! Things will get better, if it doesn't God help us all!
Todd Adam
Newby’s, Memphis, TN