As an observer of the Folk music scene in the Baltimore Washington Area I am struck by the decline.

I go to venues where music is free- Starbucks for example- in well populated areas and find that very few come out for the music. In Glen burnie the starbucks there stopped the music because so few came out each week.

I stopped tuning in to Mary Cliffe long ago because most of her program consisted of her voice advertizing performers and venues most of which I had no interest in.

I am associated with a folk band and I find their concerts poorly attended but more importantly I find they do not put enough work into lining up performances.

In general baltimore folk music programs play mostly singer songwriter stuff which though related is tedious and not really what I am looking for.

Radio stations especially those which are public radio stations depend upon donations. Are they getting donations from listeners of their folk music programs?

I recently re-joined a folk music society in the Baltimore Area. I find mostly dance and not so much music. I read of discrimination- a house concert- "alcohol free, smoke free"
How can we so discriminate and keep audiences up....

Free folk music too is becoming rare. When I started out in college I was glad to find free folk music venues where I could just wander in and have a good time. I always found hospitality-it felt good. That is what got me involved. Look at the price of a beer at your venue- it should be $1.00 or less not 4-5 or more. Folk venues should be a way of life not a way of profit. When it ceases to be a way of life and becomes a business it starts to decline.

I recently attended a dance-contra and folk. It was more like an athletic event than a social one. Still wonderful still good but not something I would find warm and inviting. I looked for a coffee-must be on the unhealthy list as water was not even boiled.

So.....

Lots of ways to create a demand for folk music which will reach the radio and television producers. Or you can just sit in your little hole, make money and be exclusive.

Conrad