Live music venues

[oliver101]

I have just got back from a weeks holiday and noticed that some towns are hives of live music while others are dead to the music world. Weymouth in Dorset is awash with live music venues, catering for acoustic music, rock bands, solo singers, folk music, and modern electronic music. Almost every seafront bar or pub seemed to have live acts.

It started me thinking about why some towns are so good at putting events on and others cant seem to get it going.

Up in north Essex where I am, the live music scene is very flat with just a few town centre places putting on cover bands.

Which are the good towns where everyone else comes from?

Ian

[kenja]

I live in East Yorkshire and the music scene is dead as well. Actually it is related to the popularity of pubs and as more and more are closing it's becoming dire. Hull is quite good, Bridlington and the surrounding villages are poor.

Also, landlords want to be able to sell enough to cover the cost and so they hope and expect acts to have a following. In reality though I think this doesn't happen. It's not good to be playing to an empty place and left wondering if you're going to get paid or stopped early for less.

Having said that there seems to be a thriving Jive Club scene - but in larger population areas (cities like York and Leeds). This mainly revolves around bands and not single artistes though.

Ken

[frankie]

My suggestion FWIW
Dont worry about pubs get club work,far better venues and the punters are there not only to get pissed but to get entertained.
Aim for the Rock N Rollers get a harmoniser there were plenty of solo singers in the 50s-60s-70s get a rock n roll act sorted and do a freebie.Next you do a door take,then come back with the contract gigs.Even grab someone else and form a duo.
PS make sure your break music is instrumentals and the last one is a real toe tapper so the dance floor is full for your first song of your set.

[oliver101]

I enjoy the pubs sometimes Frank, as I get fed up doing Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree. Pubs are more unpredictable which I like occasionally, plus you can 'Rock it up' in a pub rather than a club. I am not loud but I hate being told to 'turn it down'.
I work in a duo sometimes and find it easier than working as a solo, but less rewarding financially. If any of you want to check out the duo, put in 'Half A Whopper' into Facebook.
I like your idea of doing instrumentals as break music, I had not thought or seen that one before.

[geraint]

Wales is much the same with regard to pubs, they are closing down at a rate of knotts, and the landlords can ill afford to pay for acts.
I have targetted private parties, groups and corporate events in hotels, halls and outdoors, they are a much more appreciative audience, and dont mind paying the going rate.