Chattanooga Pulse

As I find myself attending many of Chattanooga’s music venues to satiate my need for rock and roll, I can’t help but notice something that sends chills up my spine and makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It’s the attendance.

With all the talent brimming over the edges of our little city, it’s a bit shocking to see the turnouts continue to dwindle. Whether it is a national act, an out-of-town band with a generally consistent draw, or a new face with all the potential to be the next big thing; attendance and numbers at the door are down.

Over the past few months, if you truly take a look, you’ll see venues going belly up left and right. We’ve seen The Low Down, Murphy’s Ale House (and then The Tin Can), slip quietly away into memory, replaced with a “For Lease” or “For Sale” sign. Some of the prominent venues in town are fighting to keep their heads above water, and a musician or band on the stage. It’s horrific. I see some of my friends and acquaintances, selling themselves short just to make a sale at all, as I watch door prices go from $10, to $7, then $5.

The incentives have gotten bigger, as we are promised prizes or drink specials, or free food just to attend, and yet the draft in the back of an empty place seems to have gotten colder, while you stand there hoping to use your Jedi powers to fill a room. I know money is tight. You don’t have to tell me. Most of the time, I end up working for free, just in an attempt to bring something to the city that people will possibly become a fan of or at least enjoy. The outlook is grim, people.

Music, in any city, is its own little economy. You’ve got venues that are saved by the fact they sell booze. Because let’s face it, when times are tough, people tend to self-medicate a little more. However, it seems, more so recently, that people are staying home. I can’t blame them. I’m broke, too. But it does break my little icy heart to watch.

Beyond venues, you have the musicians, who are struggling to break even, the music stores and equipment rental places, who are probably seeing less and less business, plus the sound and lighting guys who are now forced to play a game of “cut-throat” with each other to land even the smallest of gigs. When attendance is down, the shows go down in quality because they have no choice. A light show becomes more of a dream than a reality, and a sound rig may be reduced to just a few monitors, or whatever you can get by on without hurting people’s ears.

Producers, sound engineers, distributors, and album artists all take a hit too. If a band that was used to pulling at least $500 a show, is settling for $250, the album that was set to be recorded in the spring and released in the fall has just been delayed another six months. The people that do come out are watching with a cautious eye as their tabs add up, and seem to be more preoccupied with the bill than dancing or shouting encouragements to their favorite band.

It bothers me so much, because I guess my biggest fear is having a music scene here for the taking but not being able to keep it supported, and aside from footing the bills myself (which I would if I could), we are running out of options. If you have any ideas, be sure and e-mail me. I would love to hear them.

I wrote on this topic because, in the spirit of Halloween, I wanted to address something that genuinely frightens me. The decline of show attendance is definitely my nightmare. I’m not saying all shows are suffering. Some are thriving like that little flower that found its way out through a crack in the concrete, but for the most part it’s bleak. So do me a favor, readers—trick yourself into thinking your bank account is unusually ample and treat yourself to some of the best acts our town has to offer! We’ve got a bunch going on this Halloween.

The Icons, River City Hustlers, and Planet will be kicking off the festivities at Parkway this Friday, followed by The Bohannons, Gringo Star, and Big Kitty on Saturday. The Unsatisfied will be at Champy’s with the Hustlers. Night of the Wolf, Kissfits, Bring the Witch, Capt. Black, and Rock Biter will be at JJ’s Bohemia. Eris and The Tammys will be rocking The Riverhouse Pub, among many others!

Happy Halloween!