Music is a contagious experience

Last year, I was out with a group of friends. On this occasion, a few of us wanted to go to a particular bar. At this bar, there was a cover charge because a local band was playing there that night. One friend of mine refused to pay the cover charge, no more than three or five bucks as I recall. Most of us in the group didn’t care if we had to pay a cover charge.

“I refuse to pay a cover charge,” my friend said. “I’ve never paid one and never will.”

I recall another friend and I replying with “Support local music. All bands start out local at some point.”

For me personally, the fact that there was a local band playing there that night made me actually want to go to that particular bar even more. I was ready and willing to pay the small cover charge to support the local band and experience what they had to offer. Eventually though, we gave in and went to another bar.

As a former music major in college and someone who has been heavily involved with the performing arts throughout my life, I recognize the sparkle in a performer’s eyes when they are on stage and appreciate the effort put forth. Music has always played an important role for me. I have since followed another passion of mine, writing. I have no doubt though, music will always play some part in the plot line of my story called life.

It’s more than an enjoyable experience for me to attend live music shows. The musicians and the audience make a connection during the brief time of their performance.

Those in the audience make a connection with each other as well. It’s sort of like going to a convention for something you are obsessed over. You are all there obsessing over the same thing and loving it. For those brief hours of time, you are around your peers of similar interest. Good vibes can be felt throughout. An element I love about music is it brings people together. People are passionate about it.

The other day, I posed a question on my Facebook. “Do you believe it is important to support local music/local talent? If so, why?”

The multitude of responses I received from this post was phenomenal. Music really does bring people together. The response to my question was outstandingly supportive of supporting local music and local talent. There were responses from a variety of people, of a variety of ages and backgrounds. Here are just a few of the responses I received:

“There is no better reflection of your local community than the artist that are a part of that community. Whether it be music, art, photography, writing, etc. it’s all a part of what makes us who we are. And it is a little easier to keep pushing forward if you know you have support at home,” Ron Yeager, of The Wade Wilson Project said.

“I think it is important to support any local talent no matter what it is,” Cara Kelsey of the Bittersweet Bombshells roller derby team, said.

“Absolutely,” Bryan Dugan said. “One, they are the voices of the community, so listen. Two, it is therapy for both the audience and the artist. Three, they speak from a different source than business.”

“Each artist and talented individual in our city is a pioneer; a part of a bigger picture,” David Rossy Jr. said.

“Music and all art forms record the time in which they are created,” Ellie Davis said. “One can read the history books and learn the facts of what happened during a certain era, from the perspective of the individual recording it, however it is the music, the art, the literature, the poetry, the fashion, the inventions of the time that truly helps future generations understand a glimpse of what it felt like to live in that moment in time.”

“We are displaying artwork of local artists in our new office. This promotes their work and may also encourage them to continue,” Brien Krank said.

“It’s important to support anything local,” Mike Masterson said.

“Yes, because they aren’t touched by labels yet. They put out some of the most heart felt music you can hear,” Tyler Foster said.

“Without local bands, there would be no national bands, we all need somewhere to start,” Ronald John Schmidt of the Call to Vengeance band said. “Without people coming out to see the show, there is no reason for a show.”

“The music scene isn’t the bands who are in it, it’s the people who go to see those bands. I am in a band that has been unbelievably blessed by our fans, and it’s shown how important it is to support each other,” Moses McKinley of Folk Hogan said.

And to sum it up perfectly, Shane Siler said “Because if we don’t, who else will?”

 

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