Just Curious?

[jesserides2005]

Just wondering if other locals are continuing to lose "Live Music" venues to the evil DJ's like mine? I remember this happening in my area once before back in the early 90's before it cycled again in the mid to late 90's back toward live entertainment. I admit that I'm becoming somewhat of an oldtimer, but I really don't get it? Why do people pay an insane cover charge to listen to "Video" or "Internet" DJ and stand around with a drink in they're hand like some kind of high school house party? I mean, I get the "real" DJ thing. "Real" DJ's are actually entertainer's and even though I'm a "Musician", I understand the entertainment factor and talent that it takes to mix, scratch, battle, etc. etc. But the "Video & Internet" thing? I am truly at a loss.......................

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

peace,
-d

 

[ned]

The live music capitol of the World (Austin) has become infested with DJs. Many of the clubs we play are from 8:30-10:30 then the DJ comes in which really sucks because the crowd doesn't show up until 10pm.

I have noticed it starting to turn around, we just added 2 new venues this week that used to be DJ'd.

The part that is really annoying is your packing your gear and multiple people in the crowd come up and ask why your finished. As soon as they head it's because the DJ is about to start they leave.

 

[Barry]

Just wondering if other locals are continuing to lose "Live Music" venues to the evil DJ's like mine? I remember this happening in my area once before back in the early 90's before it cycled again in the mid to late 90's back toward live entertainment. I admit that I'm becoming somewhat of an oldtimer, but I really don't get it? Why do people pay an insane cover charge to listen to "Video" or "Internet" DJ and stand around with a drink in they're hand like some kind of high school house party? I mean, I get the "real" DJ thing. "Real" DJ's are actually entertainer's and even though I'm a "Musician", I understand the entertainment factor and talent that it takes to mix, scratch, battle, etc. etc. But the "Video & Internet" thing? I am truly at a loss.......................

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

peace,
-d

The club Im playing tomorrow night is like that . Its a late gig 10:30 - 2:30 and all the kiddies show up around 1;30 waithing for the dj after we finish . They just want to stand around and pose . I think they come in late so they dont have to compete with the band .

 

[Guitarzan]

The live music capitol of the World (Austin) has become infested with DJs. Many of the clubs we play are from 8:30-10:30 then the DJ comes in which really sucks because the crowd doesn't show up until 10pm.

I have noticed it starting to turn around, we just added 2 new venues this week that used to be DJ'd.

The part that is really annoying is your packing your gear and multiple people in the crowd come up and ask why your finished. As soon as they head it's because the DJ is about to start they leave.

Bummer...Hey Ned, My friend Michael Holt (Holt & Co.) is playing at The Continental Club on Saturday. Check it out if you can!

 

[jesserides2005]

Just wondering if other locals are continuing to lose "Live Music" venues to the evil DJ's like mine? I remember this happening in my area once before back in the early 90's before it cycled again in the mid to late 90's back toward live entertainment. I admit that I'm becoming somewhat of an oldtimer, but I really don't get it? Why do people pay an insane cover charge to listen to "Video" or "Internet" DJ and stand around with a drink in they're hand like some kind of high school house party? I mean, I get the "real" DJ thing. "Real" DJ's are actually entertainer's and even though I'm a "Musician", I understand the entertainment factor and talent that it takes to mix, scratch, battle, etc. etc. But the "Video & Internet" thing? I am truly at a loss.......................

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

peace,
-d

The club Im playing tomorrow night is like that . Its a late gig 10:30 - 2:30 and all the kiddies show up around 1;30 waithing for the dj after we finish . They just want to stand around and pose . I think they come in late so they dont have to compete with the band .

Interestingly enough, the day after I posted this on here, my local newspaper's entertainment section did a write up on the "Live-Music Recession" that is going on in our community. My thought's are that we can give thank's to the "Paris Hilton Generation" of twenty-somethings who obviously have no desires in life to be truly excellent at anything, other than to stand around trying to look "pretty" with the expectations of becoming rich and famous for no reason whatsoever! That is just frickin' sad.............

On the upside, much to my surprise, I am noticing a trend in early-teens that are really getting into and appreciating the classic rock of the 70's & 80's. (Our singer's sixteen year old kid came to a rehearsal awhile back and started firing off all kinds of stuff from Rush, Aerosmith, Metallica etc. Needless to say I was not only shocked, but ecstatic to hear that kids that age have not only heard of, but in general, love that era of music!) Hopefully by the time that generation is of-age in another five or six years, we'll see a rise in "Live-Music" venues again! Of course, by then I'll probably be too old to stay up until two or three in the morning let alone hold a Les Paul for five or six hours! :wink:

Until then, I guess there's alway's the Casino Circuit! :roll:

peace,
-d

 

[jesserides2005]

ned:

That's a bummer to hear that even Austin Texas is suffering from this "epidemic"! I've never been there, but have alway's considered it somewhat of a "Sacred" place based on the history and caliber of "Musicians" that have congregated there. I hope things turn around there for the simple fact that I have always wanted to visit the "Holy Land" for it's history and "Live Entertainment", and would be devastated if all I got to see is a bunch of "Just Push Player's"!

peace,
-d

 

[Russ]

I thought it was just a swing towards chasing the girls. Most girls like to go out and dance or at least hear dance music. Guys more often like to go to shows and see bands play. Thus to get the masses to the clubs the owners are turning the entertainment towards what the girls will go to as opposed to what the guys like. Guys like girls, girls like dancing, play music that they can dance to. I am all for live music and the heaviest of rock or metal shows. I also love classic rock and blues. I can't stand listening to contrived music on sampled beats that is more of a media phenomenon than talent. If I were still single I would sacrifice my evening though to chase the girls and be content listening to my music on the way there. I dated a music exec and was seeing the trend in the 90s. I also saw more live music coming back. I think that there should be a balance but it is all about $ in the eyes of the club owners. I guess we can take it or leave it.

I was also dumfounded to hear our 16 year old playing music from my era. It blows me away to see so many still listening to the old (70's & 80's) stuff. Some of them think that it is new stuff. I overhear kids all the time talking about the old school stuff and also see many young guitarists looking for those old tones. It is neat to see kids opt for a JMP or an 800 over new technology and these super amps that many companies are producing. It is also great to see them looking to stick with old technology and forego the modeling crap that was so en vogue at the beginning of the decade.

 

[Cleekster]

There's nothing wrong with modeling amps(other than the ****** speakers they come with)they're alot more versitile in a coverband situation than you precious marshall's.I would hope that a young kid would be turned on to a real amp like a MKIIc+ more than an overglorified fender bassman like Marshall's jmp/jcm series.but then again i prefer the sound of a TSL 100 to that of a 2203.....not to mention the awesome tone of a recto.

It all boils down to the fact that people don't go to a bar to SEE a band...they just want background noise to their social life.....be it a DJ or a musician as long as they hear what they want to hear it's all the same.

 

[BobSwanson]

I do believe Russ (MkIV) has nailed it.
The club you see in my latest gig notice is 2 doors
down from a dance club (DJ).
On a Friday or a Saturday we may have a 30% to 80%
house while the Canned Music Club will have the 20 something
girls lined up around the corner with the hounds behind em.
Such is life.
Personally I've been doin this a long time and the mating ritual
has ALWAYS been the driver when an area has no healthy music
scene. YA GOTTA WANNA ROCK! Or stay home and watch TV.

 

[oneamongthefence]

lol wow! it's nice to know that it's not just my home town that is experiencing this. i live in salt lake city which is full of pretty posers who will do anything their friends say is cool or that they should do. and most of those pretty people just want to "hook up" with other pretty people so they hit the dance clubs. a year ago there were many places to play for us. now there are like three or four actual good venues. and even those venues don't have a built in crowd. so unless you can get your fans to come out the bar will be empty. we're lucky enough to have many fans that support music plus we dont have the whole dj thing come on after us. when a live band plays it usually goes from 10:00 to 1:00 with three bands on the bill. so i definitly feel for you guys that have to play at 9:00 so a dj can come on later. i just wish people would do what they wanted versus what society tells them. there's even this horrible Nickelback type band that's been around here for years and everyone of those pretty people like them. it has become trendy for them to go see them even though they are a local band and nothing else. Yet any other local band is playing and these people will bail. what swine they are!! filthy swine!!

 

[DirtyNoise]

It's happening everywhere. Then sadly, bands begin to play more and more pop crap that keep the girls there wich keeps the predators there.
BUT, we have some hard rock lovers who are chicks here in central IL god bless them!!!

 

[eltrain858]

they're alot more versitile in a coverband situation than you precious marshall's.

ooh, thats what we need the next generation doing... joining cover bands... :shock:

 

[Russ]

they're alot more versitile in a coverband situation than you precious marshall's.

ooh, thats what we need the next generation doing... joining cover bands... :shock:

Ugh... BARF!!!

 

[Charlie]

Same here in SF. Although it has actually gotten a little better recently! It was absolutely terrible when I first got here 7 years ago... and then it got worse. Everybody wanted to go see the 'latest & greatest' DJ and all the girls treated them like they were fu@&ing rock stars! Such bulls!@!!

I think the logistics of running a club have a lot to do with it as well. I mean from a purely business standpoint of running a club what would you rather deal with? Hiring, dealing with and paying one DJ for the night or dealing with several bands? And then you need a sound guy as well. And you usually give out free drinks to everybody who is in a band. And then they want to get their friends in on a guest list for free as well. And you certainly don't need to worry about a DJ breaking up before a show and canceling a gig like you do with a band. And what's easier to find? One good DJ or one good band? We all know how tough it is to get a good band together and KEEP it together.

The unfortunate truth is that DJ's pack clubs and they are easier to deal with from a business perspective.

I don't think live music will ever go away though. Anybody who is exposed to good live music will always want more of it. A DJ will NEVER be able to compare to a good live band. A good band is a hundred times more entertaining. Even a good COVER band is a hundred times more entertaining than a DJ.

People will get sick of DJ's and club owners will have to deal with the demands of live music once again. I've seen it happen here already to a certain extent and I'm interested to see if the trend continues to lean towards live music. I hope it does!!!

 

[Lean]

I live in Clearwater Fl. right near Tampa. I think we just now came back around to the 'Live Music' thing although original bands still have it hard.

 

[CoG]

I go to a lot of 'big cities' in n. america, europe, and aus/nz for business, and if I am in town for more than two nights I usually try to go to one show that I'm just seeing posters for in the street. One of the things I'm finding is that in big centres, there's more small gigs in crappy venues than anytime since the grunge days. It's mostly doom, hardcore, and other stuff on the far end of the metal spectrum, which is pretty under the radar. There's a lot less of the 'indie' stuff happening live than you'd think, most of those bands seem to exist mainly on their myspace pages. The live action these days is definitely in the metal zone.

but it is a total sausage fest, the last time I went to a show where the audience was more than a quarter female was probably three or four months ago.

 

[mesanomad100]

we have it all the time in scotland