The demise of enthusiasm for live bands

[Twerto]

Was thinking about this last night ( i know i know scary when you think about forums while not on them ) but could the demise for suport towards local bands be contrubuted to the fact there are no country discos any more.. ( maybe there are and im jsut oblivous to then becuase im not 14 - 16 anymore ).. but ( to use the old parady ) when i were a lad, we had loads of bands ( well 2 or 3 ) that just about everyoen would be goign to see at the weekend..

 

All chipping in to hire a minibus or 7 seater bookign extra early jsut to make sure you got the bus before anyone else did and then had to pay for 2 taxis instead and all that kinda nonsence. if it wasnt a live band it would be a BGD..

 

I know alot of these event stopped because teh hall got the money they needed to build there extention then tryed to claim that they were a responcable hall comittee and didnt allow underagers in to spend all there money that had infact jsut payed for the extention.

 

But if these event had continued would the state of going out in shetland be so low?

[Jordan]

I think ending the weekly stramash at the halls is one of the main reasons for the demise of live bands up here. It gave new bands a chance to play to an audience regularly and in turn gave fans of live music somewhere to go. I loved going to the halls as a teenager, it was almost like a right of passage. Maybe this is why the youth of today are throwing cakes around? Cos they don't have much else to look forward to.

[JustMe]

Could there be another reason........lack of money?. I certainly see signs that there is not so much around as 10 years ago. Relatively speaking and allowing for inflation that is. And are computers/software eating into the entertainment budget of the average teen?.

[peeriesooky]

so, den it's forums. such as dis wan, dat is responsible fir da demise o live bands etc in shetland

[Alan]

The demise of live music can certainly be contributed to country halls no longer booking bands.

 

I've played in bands and been in the audience at many a country hall on a Saturday night, and what i found was that your audience grew up with you and carried on supporting you even when playing in the town when you were over 18 and had other choices.

 

The main reason why many of these gigs were packed was obviously beacause alcohol was easily available, and unfortunately this also led to the demise of country hall gigs.

 

The Police basically stepped in and warned country hall committees that if under-agers were found with alcohol on their premises then the halls licence would be taken away and individuals could face prosecution.

 

Ultimately the bands these days certainly don't have the same chance of creating a following the same way as bands did in generations past.

[Colin]

The Police basically stepped in and warned country hall committees that if under-agers were found with alcohol on their premises then the halls licence would be taken away and individuals could face prosecution.

 

Hi Alan (and anyone else who may be interested)

 

This is a bit of 'Urban Legend' arising from just 1 (or, possibly, 2)country hall committee(s) being spoken to by the Police who warned them that they were in danger of losing their licence. If my memory serves me correctly, this has also happened to a number of commercial premises.

 

The Police cannot revoke anyone's licence. They can, however, order the closure of the bar (and any function) at any licenced premises if they are not satisfied with the way it is being run.

This closure order (to the best of my knowledge) is only effective for the day it is issued.

 

The are a number of reasons why country halls do not open for bands these days.

 

In no particular order;

 

They are run by unpaid volunteers who are very reluctant to undertake the new training requirements that are being imposed.

 

Volunteers are, mostly, of an age that makes them feel threatened by the abuse handed out by some youngsters. This has led to a shortage of willing volunteers to help run gigs.

 

Halls have had to develop 'Conditions of Let' to protect themselves from irresponsible hirers.

 

Hirers are very reluctant to sign anything that implies that they are responsible for running their own function. Not surprisingly, halls are tired of carrying the can for hirers who, basically, take the money and run.

 

Some hirers also think that underage drinking is 'OK' and are VERY reluctant to confiscate alcohol. This leaves the hall fighting against underage drinking with no support from the hirer.

 

Groups and organistions that traditionally hired halls for fund raising events now seem to prefer packing bags at supermarkets. Collecting cash without responsibility.

 

The average age group has lowered primarily due to hirers using third party outlets for their ticket sales. These outlets have no real interest in who they are selling tickets to and make no attempt at age verification.

 

There's more (much) but this should be enough for now.

[Ichorus]

well looks like only way to sort it would be stronger rules.

 

wrist bands for over 18 and under 18 so the under 18's dont just rip em off or lick the stamp off their hand. and thus dont get drink or if they do can be seen. half of it for the younger ones is the drink. thing is they would probably still just go because its a night out with their friends.

 

im sure there would be plenty of volunteers. ie some of the older people in the music Scene there, that have maybe done it once or twice before or ones who never realised they can do it.

It would work best if there was a Music Volunteer Commitee.

A bunch of people who get trained up. and Take it in Turn to run these gigs. people who can deal with the children if their being cheeky or misbehaving.

and people who know the music scene to organise good gigs and well advertised.

 

there is soooo many ways it could work. but it would be hard now because the halls might not believe its a good idea.

[JAStewart]

If one hall was allowed back on, somethings would return to normal - Burra.

 

Burra was the king of halls truely. It saw the rise of Suppository and Sparticus Krumb. It had great layout (though not AMAZING acoustics) and if they would just put it on everything would be fine.

 

Energizer Promotions aims to show that music need not be drink fuelled and Alan at the North Star has shows support for this theory by having Over 14s nights, which seem to be relatively popular.

[breeksy]

Maybe the demise of bands is an age thing as well?

 

I would much prefer to go to see a live band - but I just don't really go out any more. So much music is electronic crud (just my opinion) and doesn't really work live without top quality special effects etc, so maybe there are less people interested in the age that go out every weekend?

 

Just a thought and probably complete b*llsh!t.

[JustMe]

Maybe this would work for some halls......a bar in a separate room with no under 18s allowed in to the bar and no drink to be taken out of the bar. A bit of work for the stewards. Might even convince people that they can have a good time without constant drinking.

[breeksy]

The Voe Hall could work with that - if you can persuade the committee - as the bar can be accessed from either the main hall or the side room, which is a good size.

 

I don't know any others with that set up, but I'm sure there will be.

[Colin]

well looks like only way to sort it would be stronger rules.

 

Missed the point there. One of the reasons people won't help is because they do not want to apply any rules.

 

 

wrist bands for over 18 and under 18 so the under 18's dont just rip em off or lick the stamp off their hand. and thus dont get drink

 

Already do that with a stamping system.

Different stamps each time we open.

Black - Under 18

Red - Over 18

No stamp (washed off, whatever) Pay again or leave.

 

Problem is that a lot of over 18's will buy drink for the under 18's. They get 1 warning and then the're out..

 

It would work best if there was a Music Volunteer Commitee.

 

Not specifically for music but, it's been tried before. I think someone actually got a job (paid) to organise volunteers. Best of my knowledge, nothing much came of it.

 

A bunch of people who get trained up. and Take it in Turn to run these gigs. people who can deal with the children if their being cheeky or misbehaving.

and people who know the music scene to organise good gigs and well advertised.

 

Sounds good but the problem is getting people to take time off work (loss of earnings etc.) to attend training sessions and then expect them to give up their free time during evenings/weekends to act as stewards.

As for kids being cheek or misbehaving. No problem. That's just youthfull high spirits and can be tolerated providing it doesn't go to far. I find that if you want to gain respect( and the little authority to control a situation ) the best method is to treat them with respect and as adults not as kids.

 

it could work. but it would be hard now because the halls might not believe its a good idea.

 

Yes it could and, personally, I have helped at other halls when asked.

Some halls are still interested. Scalloway has held a few gigs over the last couple of months.

[Colin]

If one hall was allowed back on, somethings would return to normal - Burra.

 

See my other post.

 

Burra was the king of halls truely. It saw the rise of Suppository and Sparticus Krumb.

 

Showing your age there (or lack of it)

Suppository did indeed play a lot of their gigs at Hamnavoe (and also Scalloway) but Sufferin Aunties->Fut Difino->Spartikus Crumb played most of their gigs at Scalloway.

Scalloway was (and continues to be) the starting point for a lot of other local bands.

[Colin]

Maybe this would work for some halls......a bar in a separate room with no under 18s allowed in to the bar and no drink to be taken out of the bar. A bit of work for the stewards. Might even convince people that they can have a good time without constant drinking.

 

A good idea that we tried on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately, it didn't work. It required extra stewards and led to a lot of confrontation.

[JAStewart]

Some people forget that we had Biffy freakin' Clyro playing at Burra one fine evening...

 

Scalloway may have been the starting point, shame its a dump.