Originally Posted By: Pat Marr
my hope is that as more and more really good single and duo acts hit the streets, that it will once again be cost effective for the average business to offer live music.

Its a variation on the old adage that supply and demand changes the price, but opportunity is located at the intersection of price and demand.

In other words, there is ALREADY a demand for live music, and if the price is right businesses will spring for it.

The more businesses that offer live music, even at a lower price, the more opportunity exists for anybody who is prepared to accept those gigs.

Once again, this is partly why Notes and 90dB are still playing.. they've adapted to change already and scaled down to an act that businesses are willing to pay for... and they have a QUALITY act, which differentiates them from the amateurs who try to get their foot in the door by playing for free


I think you've hit on something here as well Pat - with the comment that once things become 'cost effective again'....

Another thing that is driving down the available 'disposable income' for restaurant owners to pay live musicians, is the hold-down on meal prices vs. cost of ingredients.

We probably all know folks who run restaurants. $1 burgers at McD's and elsewhere also shunt the expectation of what one should pay for a meal when eating out. This in turn limits some restauranteur's ability to have income available to pay for live musicians, with all the work it is for them to vet out the crap from the good. All of the folks that I've known over the years running restaurants eventually try to find other work. It's a huge pile of work and worry for most, with not too high of financial gain in return; again for most. Much easier to pay for an XM Radio subscription to play over the low-voltage speaker system in house.

The bar side of things may also be similar, I'm not as familiar with that. I can say that one thing that I know from my contacts at MillerCoors, is that the youth of today have less allegiance to anything, including their beer brands and preferences. The big breweries are starting to struggle with all of the craft brews coming from every hole in the wall brewery in every town of semi-significant size. A buddy co-owns a hipster loving/loved craft brew, third wave coffee, craft wine place here in COS, and it's HOPPING - filled with a good 30-50 people in a space that comfortably will not hold much more. His highest revenue day is shockingly low. Less than 1k$ You read that right. It's a hangout more than a thoroughfare of paying customers. This is what the hipster crowd is used to with Starbucks and their comfy overstuffed chairs and whatnot as the model.

Allegiance on the down trend, streaming music according to your preferences the norm, 1$ burgers setting the low bar for food income to the restaurant owner, less 'regular' customers as drinkers, etc. etc. and I would say the trend does not look good for 'cost effective again' to make the demand rise.

Which is exactly why I wouldn't try either pro musician, nor restaurant owner as my gig. It's fear, really - If I was honest about it.

So, even though we may not agree, tip of the hat to the Bobs and anyone else making a living at performing music. I sincerely hope that it provides you sustenance and a purpose that is enjoyable - which is all that any of us can ask for.

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