09/05/2024
An important & true post from Amanda Palmer:
"It is very true that few people actually understand how expensive it is to just Get To and Do A Show. Speaking as one who has done it very DIY for years, it’s crazy how hard it is to make the numbers work, especially if there’s more than 2-3 people in the band.
Someday I would love for all musicians and bands to just open up their tour budget books. The public would be HORRIFIED at how little money gets made by small-to-medium sized bands on the road (and by medium, I’m talking even 500 capacity rooms).
I have seen so many bands lately quitting in frustration. Lately; it’s worse because:
1) Ticket sales (except for Taylor Swift and some other outliers) are down across the board. People aren’t pre-planning as much and the post-covid logjam is oversaturating the market and people are tired.
2) Gas prices are up. Hotel prices are up. Crew prices are up. Shipping prices for merch is up. All costs are up. But the bands are making the same guarantees. It breaks. Bands can’t earn. Meanwhile, venues are closing.
3) Death of physical music sales. No more fun income from Sales of Music Itself. No more CD sales, no more iTunes. Those were golden years. Spotify pays pennies.
Vinyl sales….nice but not nearly enough and nothing comparable to CDs back in the day.
4) Punishing & confusing algorithm internet sh*tshow!! It’s a trap! Grow your audience on Facebook, IG, Twitter, TikTok and whatever is next just to watch your reach get throttled for now apparent logical reason. Try to beat the game, fail, then pay to reach your fans, then still fail.
Depressed ?
The total death of music is not yet upon us!!!
WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A PERSON WHO LOVES MUSIC AND WANTS MUSIC NOT TO DIE
1) Support allll artists directly. If you love a band that you find or listen to online for free, go buy their merch and/or support them on patreon or bandcamp or wherever you can get them $$ TOTALLY directly OR as close to it as you can. Not sure? ASK THE BAND.
2) Go go go go see live music. Yes it’s scary to be around people but you were not put on this earth to purely Netflix and chill. GO. SEE. LIVING. ARTISTS. MAKE. LIVING. ART!!!
3) Don’t be afraid to be a mouthpiece for the artists you love, including encouraging others to get off their asses and support artists direct.
If you’re into supporting local organic farmers directly, do the same for the musicians you love.
Art is food. You can’t eat it, but it feeds you.
Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and give your money right to the artists you love. They’ll take your money. They need it.
End of speech for now.
♥️♥️♥️
