this is not intended to be a political rant, there will be a slight bit of politics involved, but mainly I would like to discuss a very large problem myself and my colleages are experiencing.
First I feel I should talk about the economy in Buffalo. I know the entire nation is in a depression, however most aren't feeling it like we are. In 2005 we we're the 5th poorest city in the nation. Today we are the second poorest (detroit is the first). My borther lost his job this mourning because his company shutdown. He called me for advice, I told him he's fucked. There are no jobs, there's a waiting list to get a job at McDonald's, that's pathetic. I've been unemployed for a while now. I've been looking everywhere but there's nothing. I've always fallen back on music and carpentry when things got rough, but I'm worthless as a carpenter now. Not for lack of skill, but because nobody can afford to get any work done. The "economic stimulus check" is a joke to us. It's not going to stimulate our economy, it's going to pay our rent. Most of the property owners in the city who rent buildings and houses/apartment's don't live here. Most of the landlords I've ever had live in Florda.
So, how does this effect the musicians?
That one's simple. With nobody having extra money to have a good time with standard Bar attendance is virtually non-existant, let alone show attendance, no one can afford to spend any money. The venue owners who are still trying to attract a crowd with live music have dropped there pay rates drastically. The pay sucks. We'll pull in about $250 between 5 guys for a 4 hour show. A price we would have laughed at a few years ago has now become a price we hope to get. Venues all over the region are shutting down on a daily basis. Now there's less places to play. Our bread and butter used to be private parties, but nobody can afford to throw a private party anymore.
With all these problems alot of places have resorted to straight up douche-baggery. Often promising the band a price and then skimping on the money or just not paying at all after the show is over, as most of these arrangments are verbal, theres nothing the band can do about it. This just happened to us on Saturday night.
Alot of people say that we should move. I have to answers to that
a. that doesn't solve or help the problem in any way.
b. moving costs money, nobody has any money. you do the math.
So here I sit, watching my family and friend (along with myself and the rest of the city) get poorer and more depressed. The depression gets worse as nobody can afford to entertain themselves. The band's get less bookings and just hope to actually get paid. We're gonna keep playing, we're gonna keep truckin, we're gonna keep on keepin' on, but the what end is anyones guess
First I feel I should talk about the economy in Buffalo. I know the entire nation is in a depression, however most aren't feeling it like we are. In 2005 we we're the 5th poorest city in the nation. Today we are the second poorest (detroit is the first). My borther lost his job this mourning because his company shutdown. He called me for advice, I told him he's fucked. There are no jobs, there's a waiting list to get a job at McDonald's, that's pathetic. I've been unemployed for a while now. I've been looking everywhere but there's nothing. I've always fallen back on music and carpentry when things got rough, but I'm worthless as a carpenter now. Not for lack of skill, but because nobody can afford to get any work done. The "economic stimulus check" is a joke to us. It's not going to stimulate our economy, it's going to pay our rent. Most of the property owners in the city who rent buildings and houses/apartment's don't live here. Most of the landlords I've ever had live in Florda.
So, how does this effect the musicians?
That one's simple. With nobody having extra money to have a good time with standard Bar attendance is virtually non-existant, let alone show attendance, no one can afford to spend any money. The venue owners who are still trying to attract a crowd with live music have dropped there pay rates drastically. The pay sucks. We'll pull in about $250 between 5 guys for a 4 hour show. A price we would have laughed at a few years ago has now become a price we hope to get. Venues all over the region are shutting down on a daily basis. Now there's less places to play. Our bread and butter used to be private parties, but nobody can afford to throw a private party anymore.
With all these problems alot of places have resorted to straight up douche-baggery. Often promising the band a price and then skimping on the money or just not paying at all after the show is over, as most of these arrangments are verbal, theres nothing the band can do about it. This just happened to us on Saturday night.
Alot of people say that we should move. I have to answers to that
a. that doesn't solve or help the problem in any way.
b. moving costs money, nobody has any money. you do the math.
So here I sit, watching my family and friend (along with myself and the rest of the city) get poorer and more depressed. The depression gets worse as nobody can afford to entertain themselves. The band's get less bookings and just hope to actually get paid. We're gonna keep playing, we're gonna keep truckin, we're gonna keep on keepin' on, but the what end is anyones guess
do what now?
<a href="myspace.com/spillymcgeemusic">Feel Free, Freak Freely</a>
<a href="myspace.com/spillymcgeemusic">Feel Free, Freak Freely</a>
