Hey, I'm going to post an article I wrote for Make a Scene Magazine that they may or may not choose to publish. It's really my final thoughts on the waning Achorage/Mat-Su Valley Music Scene.....


Friends, fellow music and art lovers, I stand here today to report the state of our Scene is NOT Strong. It saddens me to have to say but it's downright weak. This is not to say that there are aren't some out there trying to make a difference. This is not to say that there aren't MANY wonderful musical performers and artists out there for you to discover and enjoy. However I must report as we stand here nearing the end of the first month of 2008, there are less and less venues to see Live music being performed around Anchorage and the Mat-Su valley. How do I know this? I'm a full time musician and singer songwriter and I've experienced it first hand. So have most of my colleagues. Let's take a look at how thing have unfolded over the past year.
First I should say that this is a Nationwide phenomenon and probably a global one to some extent too. I know this because i'm very active in professional musician circles around the country, on the music pro internet forums, and this topic is discussed and dissected regularly. On a local level I have experienced some ups and downs in the past but what has occurred in the last 3 months in my own personal career was unprecidented in my 20 years as a professional musician. For almost the last 2 years I had 3 regular steady gigs in the valley and then I would float at least another night and sometimes 2 in other venues between The Valley and Anchorage. However, between November and a week ago, the span of 3 months, I lost every steady gig I had. Live music venues for musicians to play have been either drying up of they've turned to Karaoke, DJ's and now some are planning to even Feature Video Game Nights (Rock Band, Guitar Hero.) Other Friends of mine have had similar troubles including one singer songwriter that regularly wins the PRESS PICK as the Best Singer Songwriter in Anchorage. I understand the psychology behind it and that people want to be Stars and onstage themselves and now technology exists that can Actually give non-musicians that ability to some extent. Instead of sitting out in the audience wishing they could play guitar, sing, etc on a professional level, that they could elicit the emotions a talented and skilled performer can now even a non-musician can play!!! Er..Well, Sort of....Anyway, these are the activities along with pub quiz type things, that are replacing Live entertainment in venues that formally used to feature musicians on those nights. The sad part is often, these types of activities that let the audience participate end up being well attended and often do better then REAL LIVE musicians.
I totally see why with our culture being what it is this is the case in our present climate. Add to this the present economic situation we are in, with our country basically bankrupt and most people in debt up to their ears living on Plastic with nothing in savings, and you have a recipe for what we are seeing now. I understand tough times but music and the arts are so much more important in our lives even if we don't personally realize it. These Video Games out there wouldn't even exist if there were no music and musicians to perform and write the material that inspired these new Musician based games which are all the Rage. I love movies, but would a movie have the same thematic impact without the score? Music is the soundtrack to our lives and we can trace many amazing memories by the music in your life at the time. Think about it.
In conclusion the state of our scene is weak and it's getting weaker. Across the board, musicians are seeing less and less people interested in coming to the shows, less venues interested in hiring them and current established live music nights, turning into Karaoke, DJ, Video game nights. Maybe we as performers aren't doing as good a job as we can. I don't know about anyone else, but I BUST MY BUTT to be good at what I do. Promoting the shows takes a lot of time and a lot of Money and we do the best we can do. I know a lot of people just want to come out, dance, and socialize with friends but I know in my bones, that Live music can set a vibe and build a nice scene at a venue. If done the right way Like for instance Chilkoot Charlies, Live music can build a business. You NEVER saw KOOTS cut back. They never skimped on entertainment. To the contrary, they have always and steadily over the years expanded...More music, more stages, more rooms, more more more..Gave the people More..And the business has thrived. I submit that Venues that want to cut music nights out, cut back on musician pay, cut cut cut everything without giving giving and giving are doing it wrong. Rather, they need to Give more to the people to pull in the business...As in Chilkoot Charlies, a business CAN be built on GREAT live music if you give the customer everything you can..superior sound, great music, fun environment, good service, and a good vibe. It's win win win for the Business, Musicians, and customers. Regardless of what people may think of him, Mike Gordon is about the only one doing it right and he's been handsomely rewarded. I can only hope other venues use him as a model as it will be a boon for everyone in our Live music scene. At this point it looks like 2008 is shaping up to be a very very rough year for the scene. Probably for people in general. As for me, I'm heading to Europe to play music until the end of May. Maybe things will pick up in the summer and I won't have to head back in July. I can only hope so because I'm a big believer of This scene and I want it to thrive. I hope you do too.