[atlantaprog] Re: CJ's Local Prog Series

OK, here's for hoping, but if this thing manages to
take off and do well enough (i.e., get a bit of a
consistent draw that buys alcohol and makes CJ's
money), I could easily see where CJ's management would
consider moving the series to a Friday or Saturday
night, possibly making the event even bigger! 
Therefore, we need to get out to these shows as much
as possible!

I agree with Allen... the "Prime Directive" of ARIA is
to PROMOTE local prog music to as much of an audience
as possible.  That being said, we need to find any
means possible (short of threats of violence or
extortion...LOL) in getting more warm bodies (or even
not warm...LOL again) into CJ's every Thursday or
things will end up being an ARIA private party at
best, or a fancy dress rehearsal for the bands at
worst.

Right now I don't have a snowball's chance in being
able to play a show at CJ's, even if I went to every
performance (though I wish that I someday can). 
However, I want to be able to support the "scene" as
best as I can, since I am still a part of that
"scene", actively gigging or not.  The same should go
for the rest of us in the same situation.

Regards,

Bill

--- Allen Welty-Green <agmedia@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I agree with you Wade... up to a point. My biggest
> resistance is that 
> it sounds so draconian (be there OR ELSE! Some
> allowance should be made 
> for REASONABLE exceptions to the policy!) For
> instance, if Cobweb WERE 
> to become available, then I think that by all means
> you should be given 
> a slot... you all have done much to promote the
> whole scene already... 
> so just because you can't be at a each and every
> show shouldn't 
> disqualify you. Also it would be of benefit to all
> concerned because 
> you would draw in your own audience.... which would
> then get to hear 
> the other band and perhaps their audience would grow
> a bit.
> 
> Part of the reason ARIA was founded was to build an
> audience... to find 
> ways to get other people to come out and see us. If
> we end up playing 
> just for ourselves month after month, then we aren't
> accomplishing that 
> goal. That's why I said I supported the attendance
> thing for the first 
> few months... but after every band has played a time
> or two and the 
> audience hasn't grown... perhaps we are just
> spinning our wheels?
> 
> Promotion is the key... but flyers alone are mostly
> a waste of time... 
> we need to work on other avenues. Press, of course,
> is a good way, but 
> not a silly condescending little sound menu blurb
> like CL gave 
> Roguefest... we need a REAL article by someone who
> actually gives a 
> flip about our music. That's why I'm pushing Wheat
> to work on this(!) 
> but we'll need more than just him. All of us need to
> be doing our best 
> to get attention from AJC AND CL. We also need to
> work on cultivating 
> some radio contacts (Wade, don't you have a friend
> at GSU's station? 
> Paul, do have have any contacts at WREK?). We also
> need to think 
> outside the box...try and think of new ways to drum
> up interest... and 
> don't forget word of mouth!
> 
> But to be brutally honest, I'm pessimistic about the
> CJs thing taking 
> off beyond the first few months - simply because of
> where it is. The 
> demographics of our most realistic potential
> audiences (ie those most 
> likely to dig what we do - 40-something prog fans,
> artsy college types, 
> other musicians of similar styles) don't match the
> demographics of the 
> people who frequent Buckhead (ie yuppie singles on
> the prowl, suburban 
> party animals, hip-hop folks).
> 
> What I suspect will happen is that the CJs thing
> will become a 
> proving-ground and a chance for us to develop our
> live chops and try 
> out new material in front of a familiar audience...
> so the attendance 
> thing WILL help guarantee that we will have some
> sort of an audience! 
> Maybe that's a good enough reason!
> 
> AWG
> 
> PS - if one of you knows how to reach Jeff Blanks
> (other than email), 
> please let him know that I've been getting many
> postings bounced back 
> from his address for being "over quota"! Also
> someone named Randall 
> Castello signed up recently, but his address seems
> to be having 
> problems. If anyone knows him, please let him know!
> 
> 


=====
**********************
"The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet 
sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; The motions of his spirit 
are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus. Let no such man be 
trusted." --William Shakespeare 
**********************

Bill Kargel

wkargel@xxxxxxxxx

Visit my homepage at http://www.geocities.com/wkargel

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