blog
Surviving 2009
It seems like almost everyone in the music business is hurting. I’m not talking about mega-selling superstars (they’ll survive), but the guys who play clubs, weddings, restaurants, coffee houses, etc. Many places are cutting back on live music. Which cuts into the little bit of money many musicians make. Music teacher are finding students dropping out of lessons for financial reasons. Even those who play for recreation may be faced with job loses or cutbacks, forcing them to cut back or eliminate gear purchases, which in turn affects music stores.
One small local music store in my neighborhood is being forced to close its strip mall storefront and move into the back of the same strip mall, into a former storage area, so it can keep its teaching staff going and try to survive. They are dropping professional grade instruments because they don’t sell well like inexpensive ones. This shop has been there for years, but hard time have forced drastic measures.
If you can afford to, buy some gear. Manufacturers and retailers need musicians to buy gear in order to survive. If you can afford to go see live music, do it. Buy some music (CDs, downloads, etc.) We need to help each other if we can.
Still, no matter how gloomy the economy gets, making music remains free. You already own some gear, right? Time to focus on using it to its fullest potential. Go beyond the presets on that multi-effects unit and learn to create your own patches. If you already use your gear to the max, work on your technique. Work on songwriting. Learn to read music. Get some friends together and have a jam session. Play some free gigs if you have to, but keep making music. You can’t control the economy, but you can control your guitar. Put it to work. Making music can ease the tough times.