[NewMusic] Starving in Oaktown

[Sarah - 21 Grand]

Damon wrote:
-it had enough agendas to warrant the complaints. I think the only way
musicians should run a series is by having and open policy. Judging
your peers is a tricky business.
I think we are lucky to have 21 grand now, since they have the rare
ability to understand the music and be objective at the same time.

**
- I think props are also due Matt Davignon at the Luggage Store for being
conscientious in this regard, being as open as possible and trying to get
new folks into the scene and expanding its self-imposed boundaries.  The
Luggage Store series is a real asset and more folks should get involved in
keeping it going.

- Honestly, everyone has an agenda, the palatability of said agenda is a
matter of taste and politics. I'd be dishonest not to admit that money is
part of mine, as well as decent audience numbers, hence the punk rock door
charges and encouraging folks to broaden their horizons in terms of other
artists on the bill, and booking (gasp!) rock bands, noise acts, and such
that (gasp!) often have similar influences as the folks here.

So, I often find myself shaking my head when I get show proposals with the
same people playing with the same other people with second and third sets by
the same other other people they regularly play with - to an audience of 10
people or fewer. I have mixed feelings about this - such that I don't
automatically say no to these proposals, because most of the time the music
is great and I honestly believe more people should show up. But that's
starting to raise the question of the purposes of public performance.

- I have no problem with Woody's $25 house shows - there's so much going on
that is interesting or has the potential to be such - that if there's a $20+
show I can't afford to go to (like the Zorn shows), I can do something else
within my budget that is equally satisfying.

- and for the record, Darren and I currently pay $900/mo for our Oakland 2
bedroom apartment, where we've lived since '97. Darren does just fine
without a car.

sl