Sorry Mudcat, the "Guest" was none other than meself who hit the button without putting a moniker in - the humblest of apologies. I guess we're going to go round the mulberry bush of this thread for a long, long time but it's beginning to get pointless.

The simple fact is that audiences for live music in small venues, at least in my world, have greatly dried up - and that is a fact. It is also a fact that technology has changed the way folks, and especially young folks, spend their entertainment money; and, the reality is that young folks today do not go out to pubs and sit and listen to music -they go out to socialize and to party. That being the case, the music they encounter at a pub can be live or recorded, but they don't really care because the music is an afterthought. When young folks want to listen to music they go to a concert at a venue designed for such. Another reality is that most folks don't listen to music much any more - they hear it because it's EVERYWHERE they go - but they don't usually listen to it as a matter of enjoyment. Sure, there are some folks who go out to listen but they are way in the minority.

As for "styles vs generations," I don't know where you are at, but I have young people at my shows asking for songs from the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's - all the time. And, I do songs from each of those decades and even the 1800's. Why? Because they are good songs and a good song doesn't die simply because it was written forty years ago - that's nonsense.

I've got twenty-somethings asking for anything by Neil. Neil Young? Sure, but do you do any Neil Diamond? I've got thirty-somethings asking for, "I Wanna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter," and then a young man sends a note up to the stage asking for "Cats In The Cradle." And, everybody requests Jimmy Buffett songs regardless of how old or young they are; this thing has little to do with being younger or older - it has much more to do with the changing culture and lifestyles and my contention is that technology has a great deal to do with that.

Well, that's enough for now; time to be moving on. Cheers.