Music commentary # 20

    Ah, the commentary no one will want to read. Here ‘tis. I have been performing, touring, chasing after dates. Lugging gear in and out of places. Taking the time to dial in the sound. Driving like crazy, 4,5,6 hours on a show day. Posting show info on FB. Sub-teaching between tour runs. People are, still, in my roots music/Americana/Folk/ singer-songwriter world largely not attending live music events. Many presenters in that world are, still, refusing to book a date with an artist. I am booking well into 2023 and it is 2023 that they will, still, not touch. In March it will be three years since normalcy in that touring world. So, three years-plus is the time period that grassroots touring artists have been shutout or nearly shutout. I have to believe many of those folks (attendees/presenters) are not ever coming back to it. One look at college football stadiums on Saturday, one look at NFL stadiums on Sunday, one look at concerts of major mainstream artists will prove that millions of people are willing to pay large amounts of money and spend entire days or nights in a crowd of thousands. But, the folkies, the grassroots music followers, the former lovers of singer-songwriter shows are not going to attend a concert that makes up 75 people. Or, 40 people. Or, 20 people. No, the determination that staying home while 6 people attend, that is the plan. Those who used to go to these shows, but, have dropped out: I know you will not be back. Three years is a pretty long time to be away from it. Those artists do not make the money Swift, Knowles, McCartney, etc. make from touring. They eke out a living. They always did, but not now. Their base has gone away. There is no joy in Mudville, as there has been a strikeout to end the contest. When these “fans” theorize their “return” it will not be in time. Many of those artists will be permanently out of music full-time. Having said that, I will post my tour dates (and local dates) once again on FB. I hope to see you and hope you hear me.

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