can I just remind you of rule 1?
"Be nice: Even if you disagree with someone, you need to keep your tone civil and reasonable."
I know I can be accused of not always posting completely relevant blogs and that sometimes I have a laugh and go off in completely tangentral directions, but that does not detract from the fact that I also support and (try to) help everyone who comes on here.
There are lots of blogs about 'another one bites the dust' and 'band now available due to venue closure'.
There has been quite a lot of noise about getting more venues on here (Gary from LGIT made a really good effort at doing just that).
And yet, for some reason, venues tend to get very short shift on here.
Now considering that every time a new venue surfaces wanting bands they are inundated with responses, it seems odd that we then villify them for:
Not responding.
Not offering enough money.
Not being there purely to keep music live.
Before writing anything else, I would like to make it clear that I have never run a pub or venue.
I do visit them a lot though and have made 4 or 5 reasonably close (and 2 very close) friends of people who do from this site, so with that in mind, could I just point out a couple of obvious, but fairly important things:
Most of us on here DO NOT MAKE OUR MAIN INCOME from playing in bands. We are 'weekend warriors' and probably are doing it for the love of it (I know I am).
Venues have to make a living, so they may love music and want to support it, but mainly they have to support themselves and their staff.
The statement made by many people, but most recently John FV:
If you want to gig at X amount then do - if you don't then don't.
It's not rocket science.
Bands (and individuals) come on here all the time asking for advice on all sorts of things and yet when a venue comes on asking about fair pricing they are always torn to pieces.
It's hardly surprising they don't contribute very much, but without them, we're all condemned to playing with ourselves.
so please:
"Be nice: Even if you disagree with someone, you need to keep your tone civil and reasonable."
Everyone likes a good debate, but when it gets rude and personal it benefits no one.
Love to all
Alyerpal
Sensible hat now off - back to being an idjut!