[Dixielandjazz] Young Music Fans, Vol 52, Issue 57

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

Not responding to one individual in particular, just back on soapbox.
 
I do not see the interest in history of someone ages of 16 -  35 relevant to 
where they, or once me, want to go with friends to  hear music and dance.
 
During those ages I wanted to go the same places others my age wanted to  go. 
 I paid very limited attention to the numbers, or ages, of, those who  may 
have been older.  I don't remember any occasions where the majority was  
significantly older.  I don't have recall of being in a club, lounge,  concert, etc. 
where whatever group I was with made a choice to hear music  birthed 70 & 80 
years before me.  That would have been music of the  1880's to 1900.  
Exceptions: I went to the symphony if I could come up with  tickets.  I heard limited 
ragtime, mostly via Gaslight Square venues.   But I heard Dixie in joints that 
were jumpin' with age mates.  Musicians  playing it were almost without 
exception 15 - 50 years older than  me.  In 2007 I can find, for the most part, 
peers and upward  playing it.
 
To do nothing different than the way it was in my day, means that I  
anticipate that those born between 1962 and 1991 would have a distinct  preference to 
hear musicians of retirement age and beyond play music that was  birthed 70 
years ago.  Facts are they do not.  If you are drawing  young crowds you are 
doing something different.  If you are drawing young  crowds and don't know how 
you are different, pay my way there and I will  tell all how you are different 
from say, a Sunday afternoon concert at the St.  Louis Jazz Club.  LOL  It's 
cheaper just to read how some list-mates  are explaining what's different--both 
list-mates who are doing such and those  taking part as audience.
 
As I see it this only matters to maybe a couple of categories of  readers:
1.  Those who want to make more of an imprint on the world they will  be 
departing than they feel that they have thus far.  Power to you!   Do your action 
plan and measure your results.  Change your action plan or  give up if you 
don't get results you were after.
2.  Those who want to sell music they enjoy to the young for decent  
compensation.  Power to you!  Do your action plan and measure your  results.  Change 
your action plan or choose to give up.
 
No reason to fix what works.  But crying that I'm a victim of a  world going 
to the dogs gets too boring for me to want to do it  indefinitely.  I don't 
have a commitment to #2 above.  My commitment  to #1 is weak.  Will it weaken or 
strengthen?  I'm conscious and  waiting to discover that.
Ginny  
 
 



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