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I try to save cash, so I can transfer my money to patronize a local music venue that has a kitchen. It's not always someone else's responsibility to help keep performing venues profitable. With inflation hitting food and fuel, those other people we usually depend on to patronize venues, may now be staying home. Anyone can stay home listening to recorded music. Musicians can make their own recorded music and boycott corporate radio. We can't campaign for capitalists to open up new music venues, without supporting them monetarily. More music venues, means more musicians can perform in front of audiences outside of their garages. Strong music scenes need three ingredients: Musicians, venues and patrons. If the usually club patrons are dropping from the ranks due to economics, there needs to be a reserve of replacements. Even if this is not the case, there is the influence of what occurs when new venues open up.
When a new venue opens up, a number of "regulars," move to colonize the new venue. A sort of: " I was on the low end of the social ladder at the original club. Now that there is a new club, I have an opportunity to be treated more special and important... if I switch loyalties." Right there is a need to fill the void left at the original club. The bottom line is people need to get out more. The problem? Inflation. The solution is changing buying habits. All I am saying is if people switch to at least a once a month patronage at a club with a kitchen, the music community will benefit. If you don't like crowds, you don't have to go to an establishment while the band is performing. A number of clubs open their kitchens in the afternoon.
There is a recognizable consumer influence. That is the overflow of patrons. People come to certain Municipals to see great musicians perform. A number of those people arrive there early to make purchases at local antiques shops and etc.. This in turn, influences more businesses to open in the area and brings more money into the area from outside. The more money an area brings from outside the area, the more music venues open up to entertain the people spending money. It's basic tourism. You don't have to drink Alcohol to support a local music scene.
We can not ask musicians to treat their music as if it is a job by practicing at least 20 hours per week, without doing something ourselves. Yes, it helps when people shut off their cable television and take up an instrument. Then these same people may attend open Mic Night Jams. What really helps is when they spend money at those open mic night jams. That right there is asking non-musicians to become musicians and not get paid to play, but to actually spend money. The other alternative is if people worked secondary jobs to generate more of a disposable income to spend at music venues. It's not for everyone, because of other obligations. However, if your a parent and a family restaurant has musicians performing music suited for your family, why not introduce them to say blue grass music? A number of establishments that are not clubs are doing this, so there is something for everyone. And that's really not asking for much.
Business is war. If individuals don't take the economics' of music seriously, then the new music venues may disappear. Once an opportunity is lost, it is gone forever. This article is not a mandate. As the number of music venues expand, so too must it's base of patrons. If you consider changing your buying habits and funnel that money into building a strong music enclave, then more venues will open up. Like it or not music plays a role in micro tourism. That micro tourism spark may start with individuals like yourself doing whatever it takes to make your music scene unstoppable in having live music performances.