I think musicians are dumb.

So I was browsing the craigslist musicians page hoping to find a dive bar or birthday party looking for some musical entertainment provided by the one and only iY. I stumbled across this:



So over the course of four minutes, Sparkey Ravenwood managed to go from needing musicians to having an event on TV tonight to being event-free and available. That's like four minutes of going from being nobody to being somebody back to being nobody again. And I know all about that last part... being a band looking for gigs is a real pain in the ass because of the following irritating issues:

1. Club owners are pricks. Let me explain: club owners think they can get away with not paying bands that are at close to pro level. They offer them shows with "exposure" as the payment, or at the most a couple of free drinks. C'mon musicians, we're better than that!
   
   
2. Other bands are retarded. You have to take what you can get if you're just starting out. When you're a young band, playing for exposure or free beer is a great chance. When a band with no demo, no fans, and little or no talent thinks they deserve $500 for a show in a dive bar, they are greatly mistaken.
   
   
3. Friends are not fans. I know, my friends like to support me by coming and sitting through a show. They'll even cough up the $5 cover (which I won't see a dime of). Now, don't get me wrong, I love playing for my friends, but I would be really into playing if someone actually chose to come see me, rather than me asking them to come.
   

So I've gone on a little rant here about the local music scene, and for that, I apologize. I have to say that some of the most fun I've ever had with music is playing in a dive bar for one free beer in front of six of my closest friends. Whether they wanted to come or not, sometimes I can see it in their nodding heads and tapping feet that, at least for a moment, they are enjoying themselves.

That said, House of Shields in early July... more to come later!