Has US economy hurt your gigs?

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 12:10 PM

HH,
    Thats` enough of your "second hand" jokes!!

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 12:07 PM

Isn't that what they used to call a time and motion study?
Sorry - had to, before somebody else did.
John Kelly.

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 09:57 AM

I think he's still looking forward (anxiously) to passing the time.

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: Neil D
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 07:53 PM

TJ, is that guy that swallowed the watch just passing time.

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: Jayto
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 05:22 PM

Yeah poppagator subprimes are tearing up appalachia. People had a hard enough time before all of this but now it is horrible.
When gas prices went through the roof that did take a bite and a half ouch I don't even want to think back about that. Who knows what is on the horizon. Hey we musicians made it through the Great Depression we will make it through this (uhm I think lol) JK lol
cya
JT

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 05:16 PM

My son's band has had a harder time getting gigs that pay worth beans. They are still very active, but all are working full time to support their "music habit."
The present is not as much a problem as predicting what is coming next. There is a lot of anxiety out there. I am old enough to have lived through several recessions, but this one is the worst I've seen. The good news is that we have always recovered from them, although government's "good intentions" sometimes do more harm than good and often delay, rather than speed the process.

As the doctor told the man who swallowed the watch; "This, too, shall pass." Hey, that sounds like a good song waiting to get written!

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 03:44 PM

Most of my friends in the trade are complaining about the situation, it was bad enough how the industry was changing, but the economy makes it twice as hard. The fuel price jump last year took a big bite out the touring musicians wallet, now it seems that people can't afford to come out the way they used to, and CD sales are hurting too.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 02:47 PM

New Orleans has been semi-immune to the worldwide economic crisis, so far at least. We took a BIG hit a few years ago (August '05) when Katrina hit.

A whole lot of tourist-and-convention business disappeared completely, which included most paying music gigs (either directly or indirectly). However, the rebuilding effort has produced a lot of commerce in buiding materials, etc., and plenty of jobs ~ many of them temporary low-pay labor jobs, but jobs nevertheless. Music venues began to reopen within a few months after the storm and continue to provide more and better (well, slightly better) gigs. Our local recovery has undoubtedly slowed thanks to the worldwide bad news, but it's still moving along (for now at least).

The fact that our area was largely excluded from the earlier (phony) "boom" has turned out to be a sort of blessing in disguise for us. There was little or no aggressive marketing of sub-prime mortgages around here, so we're not having mass foreclosures nowadays like what has been seen in, say, Florida and California. (I'd guess that the same is pretty much true in Appalachia...)

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: Jayto
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 02:10 PM

Good to hear from you leadfingers it has been a while man. That is what I was wondering. I guess in a way I was sitting here going "Am I the only one feeling it?" lol
cya
JT

Subject: RE: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 12:03 PM

Hi Jay ! In UK it has wiped out a HELL of a lot of Corporate Entertainment ! Too many Companies have had to cut back on Staff , leave alone anything else .

Subject: Has US economy hurt your gigs?
From: Jayto
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 11:22 AM

I was just wondering how the economy (US just because that is where I am anyone anywhere is welcome to add just let me know where you are located) has impacted your gigs. Have you noticed less or more bookings? Have the crowds changed in size or what they want to hear? I have noticed a shift towards fewer gigs and smaller crowds. I also have noticed more aggresive music is being requested. I think it is reflecting the anger and stress alot of people are feeling. Just my own observation what about others.
cya
JT