Jeremy Platt (pno/korg/vcl/gtr); Frank Felix (bs); John Boulton (dms).
Review/Rant by Lance).
The normal feeling you get upon entering the upper room at The Globe is claustrophobia - tonight, because of the lack of punters, - it was agoraphobia!
This so-called Jazz Co-op continues to frustrate me. The cooperation seems to be none existent when it comes to turning up at gigs! Admittedly some of the members are working musicians and Saturday night gigs must take preference. But, whilst not all are gigsters, all are shareholders. Being a gnome of Hebburn rather than Zurich, I don't claim to understand the finer points of finance but it does strike me that if you've invested in Coca Cola you don't drink Pepsi. Likewise, if you've plunged on the Jazz Co-op share offer then you turn up at the gigs to help protect your investment - three of us did tonight!
Possibly the Co-op's investors treat it as some kind of expenditure to claim tax relief on. As I say, I'm not a whiz kid on these things so what do I know?
I was watching that wonderful film The Producers the other day....
It made me think....
Getting back to the gig.
The guys did their thing - they kept their part of the bargain...
Lance.
14 comments :
Where were you? 3 of us turned up for the second set and there were no other paying customers there! I couldn't agree more with you about your comments. If people the people programming the bands can't be arsed to turn up why should anybody. There was so much enthusiastic rhetoric for the project before the venue was opened and now that it has it seems to have melted. I am definitely asking myself 'What was the point'? steve H
I left towards the end of the first set - I was embarrassed! Not by the music which was everything I expected after hearing the CD, but by the lack of support from within the ranks.
You were embarrassed by the poor turnout so left to reduce the audience size even more?
Perhaps 'Self conscious' would be a better choice of words.
Was Max Bialystock taking the money at the door?
How about a 'New Orleans Night' with The Vieux Carré Jazzmen? They'd pack the place out like they used to at the nearby Hawthorn pub aka The New Orleans Jazz Club (now Sachins on Forth Banks) back in the 60's.
I'm sure they would - back in the 60's! Worth a try though - providing the lift is operational!
Watch it, matey! We don't need a lift, ok! Maybe St John Ambulance in support, tho!
I wasn't thinking of you Brian, I was thinking about your "Groupies" and camp followers!
Lance, a few of our lady camp followers would like a quiet word with you in the Millstone car park...
1. Steve, as one of 'the people programming the bands' I have been to 7 gigs at the Globe in the last 2 months, & my family are very accommodating, but I can't be at every one of them (although I did pop in earlier in the day to help put up Xmas decorations). There are a small group of people who have put a huge amount of time & effort to get this project up & running, and at least 1 or 2 of them have been at every gig. Any new volunteers would be very welcome, especially if they have expertise in promotion.
2. Brian - Vieux Carre would be very welcome to come & play, all you need to do is ask... look on the website for band applications.
3. Merry Xmas!
Debra, I, and I'm sure Steve, also appreciate the time and effort you, Dave, Joan and some of the others have put into the venture. It is those who don't show up ever that my rant was aimed at. I think that when the Co-op book a band from out of the area shareholders should make an extra effort to be there. Not only to help protect their investment but also to maintain the credibility of the venture in the bigger picture. In the shrinking jazz world all factions should be pulling together to create a united front rather than scoring points off each other. The interest shown by the Vieux Carré Jazzmen in playing the Globe indicates that stylistic barriers can be broken so, why not more cooperation between promoters and venues?
All good points Lance
Indeed as Lance mentions above we are very appreciative of all the amazing hard work that members are undertaking but that makes it even more sad when so few people turn up to gigs. I wish I had the answer but the audience really needs to be built up before embarking on a course of booking bands with no local following.
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