A MESSAGE FROM DOUG:
No more Tuesday dances at the American Legion. Dance
night in Mabel, Minnesota is the latest casualty in a growing list of
dance-event cancellations as a disturbing trend continues into the new
year.
The intention of this newsletter is to inform, promote and hopefully
entertain regarding all things music and dance-related. I try to promote
not only Memory Brothers’ gigs but also various other dance and
music-related events hosted by area bands and venues.
But today my focus is on the elephant in the room: the
undeniable and continuing decline in support/attendance for the weekly
and monthly dances that local bands and venues provide for you, the
dance community.
The dances in question are not special events or private dances, rather
these are those recurring dances hosted weekly and monthly by area bands
and venues, e.g. American Legions, VFWs, Elks, Servicemens Clubs, etc.,
to provide you - the dance community - an opportunity to get off the
couch and out of the house, to listen and dance to live music, to
socialize with friends and to get a little exercise.
Compensation to the bands and venues for such events is zilch or at best
negligible, and oftentimes a cover charge is implemented to mitigate
expenses. The bread and butter gigs for us bands (and venues) are
private parties and special events; whereas these weekly, monthly and
off-night dances are essentially break-even affairs put on primarily for
the benefit of the local dance communities.
In recent years attendance for these weekly/monthly dances has declined markedly due to:
- Dancers’ health issues / deaths
- Weather (primarily winter-related)
- General decline in interest
- Less free time and/or changing priorities, e.g., family commitments, grandkids’ sporting events, etc.
- Change
in leisure habits (a marked shift from an interest in dancing to
home-based entertainment, e.g., TV/movies, computer, social media,
computer games, family game night - see bottom of page.)
- Social seclusion as a result of social media, i.e., smartphones, Facebook, etc.
- Taking events for granted (“They’re there every week. We’ll catch ‘em next time.”)
Here’s a partial list of dance events lost in the past year or so by area bands due to lack of public support:
- Longbranch in Cedar Rapids, IA (quarterly, Monday dances)
- Table 316 on Lake Okoboji (monthly dances)
- Legion in Malcom, IA (monthly, Sunday dances)
- Vets’ Club in Waukon, IA (monthly dances)
- Nob Hill Ballroom in Decorah, IA (weekly, Tuesday dances)
- VFW in Mason City, IA (monthly dances)
- VFW in Cedar Rapids, IA (monthly, Monday dances)
- WAVP in Waverly, IA (bi-monthly dances)
- Legion in Holmen, WI (monthly, Sunday dances)
And now we add to the above list, the Tuesday dances at the Legion in Mabel, Minnesota.
In the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s live music and dance halls were ubiquitous.
There were Ramada and Holiday Inns, supper clubs, resorts, dance halls
and ballrooms that ran entertainment virtually every night of the week.
Bands and dance establishments flourished, and musicians gigged 5-6
nights a week.
Unfortunately times have changed. If we now want dances, musicians must
be entrepreneurial. We actively seek out venues that otherwise would not
be holding dances, and we attempt to convince management that live
music events will work – that we can muster public support to justify
their club hosting dances.
Out of every 20 proposals, you might get one venue that will take a
chance. And it takes a very special type of proprietor to work with - he
or she must also desire live music events and must be committed for the
long haul. After booking a date or two, then comes the litmus test: we
cross our fingers and hope the public likes the venue.
If the dance community loyally patronizes the gig, it has an excellent chance for long-term success.
However if support is fickle, then we ultimately lose yet another dance opportunity.
So my dear friends remember: Support them or lose them!
* * *
Sunday night the Memory Brothers will be bringing in the new year at the
Elks Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. If we don't catch you there, we look
forward to seeing you somewhere soon in 2018.
Stay safe!
Friday, December 29, 2017
Doug Koempel | Memory Brothers |
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