Let’s talk about our local music scene.
Here’s something about me: I dig music. And as I sat down to write today’s email I found out two things about you:
You’re passionate about our music scene.
A local, grassroots venue (think 1,500-2,000 capacity) much like that of the Tabernacle (Atlanta), the Orange Peel (Asheville), and the Music Farm (Charleston), is sorely missed here.
Last month, we learned that 60% of our readers believe a mid-sized music venue is the most missed item here in town (shoutout to our beloved Handlebar, the new Revel site). Let’s talk about why we don’t have a venue like our neighboring cities, why we’re missing out on popular artists, and what we can do to turn up the volume as a community.
This conversation was sparked by, TEDxGreenville’s salon event “why can’t Greenville establish ourselves as a music destination?” Last October, venue owners and musicians came together to discuss the local music scene and not much has changed since.
In the experience of local musician, Jaze Uries, the issue stems from a lack of:
A. Transparent compensation models (attendance v.s. Contract rate)
B. Promotion and marketing for local shows (whose responsibility is it to draw the crowd?)
C. & investment in quality equipment and sound engineers (have to spend money to make money)
The owner of former Moe Joe’s coffee house and venue, Alex Dial, said “people would rather pay $5 for parking than see a local artist.”
But, like Alex, there are local champions including Smiley’s, Gottrocks, The Radio Room, and IPA (and of course, The Peace Center). But, in the words of local, Brad Willis, a local musician “when it comes time to bring in the artists that can fill a midsized room and blow its doors off, Greenville isn’t really on the map anymore.”
No matter whose side you’re on in this respect, it’s important we address an issue both sides of the fence can agree on; our close proximity to our more musically-inclined neighbor cities. More often than not, venues like the Orange Peel in Asheville hold bands to “non-compete” clauses, barring them from playing “within a certain radius of that particular venue within a certain number of days,” according to GP Mcleer Jr., Executive Director of the S.C. Arts Alliance.
Why? Venues and tour companies would rather create demand in proven markets like Asheville and Atlanta and let music-lovers like us trickle in from Greenville.
Now, you may be thinking this is a Greenville music hate-piece, but it’s quite the contrary and we can all come together on one thing: we love our local artists, and appreciate the venues we do have.
So let’s jam for a minute… What are your biggest concerns, suggestions for creating a more vibrant music community and what venues in town are crushing it?
Just give this link a high five with your thumb (er, pointer finger for you desktop users) to keep the conversation going.
For all of you that made it this far, thank you for tuning in and being a part of the conversation. This is only my second newsletter, but I hope to continue writing cultivating stories that captivate, you (shoutout to Snoop).
I am stoked that I had the opportunity to start today’s conversation about the music scene in Greenville.
“I don’t know where [it’s] going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” (David Bowie)
