Why do you go hear a person or group perform music

[dulcimike]

Hi. I have a question to pose for discussion.

recently, my son, I believe, suggested a generality that people in Europe go to hear someone perform music because they love the music, whether they've ever heard of them or not. He contrasted that with people in the States going to hear someone because they're popular.

So, my question for you is this: Why do you decide to go hear someone perform music, whether it be a group or solo performer? Is it simply because you love the musical style in which they perform, or is it only because you've heard of them and they are popular? Or is it some other reason?

Thanks for your responses and thoughts in advance.

[Ptarmigan]

Well, I can only speak for this area, but folks around here will only come out if they've heard of the musician before.

Sadly, that's why my Folk Club had to fold, that .... & the fact that folk around here were just too mean to spend the meagre £5 to get in!

Cheers
Dick

[dulcimike]

Jun 8, 2009 16:17:59 GMT Ptarmigan said:

Well, I can only speak for this area, but folks around here will only come out if they've heard of the musician before.

Sadly, that's why my Folk Club had to fold, that .... & the fact that folk around here were just too mean to spend the meagre £5 to get in!

Trying to be like Americans, again, I see. ;-) Take my word for it - in some ways, it's not all it's cracked up to be. ;-)

I tend to be hesitant to go hear people I don't know or haven't ever heard of, myself. But another factor here is that I like Old-Time, Irish, Scottish, etc. - traditional music. But I don't like bluegrass nearly as much, of which there is an overabundance around here. Most folks who play concerts around here play bluegrass, not Old-Time. I know that in the UK and Ireland, musical tastes tend to be more broad. I don't know why mine aren't, since I've played the full range of styles. Maybe it's the "been there done that" syndrome for me.

Also, for myself, I know some very good musicians, personally, and have played with some of them. I tend to compare others with them, and most of the time, I find that I tend to think these others, even though maybe well-known, will fall far short. ;-)

But for you, personally, Dick, why do you go hear someone perform?

[Ptarmigan]

Quite frankly Rick, these days, as a full time working musician, I usually can't afford to give up a working night to go hear/see someone else play, and most gigs do happen around the weekends, when I'm busy.

Also, on quiet mid-week nights, rather than listen to more music, I prefer to give my ears a break.

So the few gigs I do get to these days, would be of music I really know I'm going to enjoy.

If I weren't working at it, I'd be out far more regularly & at a wider variety of music.

Cheers
Dick

[dulcimike]

I understand that completely. There are people who come to town I probably would have gone to hear before I started working at it. And it's interesting that now that I am working at it, I don't listen to the radio or CDs as much anymore. Most of the time, I enjoy the quiet. ;-)

[Susi]

I go to her people play if there's someone I know is good or who someone recommended because it's a music style I enjoy:) Nothing more complicated than that.