Sad state of affairs around live music

[Milspec]

A month ago I purchased a block of tickets to see a great band touring through my area. I pitched the show to my friends and co-workers who were all excited about the show, asked me to get them tickets. As I type this, not one of those folks are interested in going tonight.

They pretty much started making excuses a week ago as to why they were bowing out. The usual dribble, cold temps, it's a Thursday and I have to get up early Friday, the wife made other plans, etc. all telling me to "go and have a good time". Even on the bands social media post, there are 109 responses saying that they were going and a whopping 739 who only claim to be interested.

It places me in a crappy position. I like the band and have seen them every time they came through on tour, but always with a few friends, which is the whole point of going out. This time around, I will just be the creepy old guy by himself with a pocket full of unclaimed tickets. Not sure if that is worth the hour drive and certainly puts a wet blanket on my desire to go out.

I think I need new friends or maybe I don't really have any these days. Sad state of affairs.

 

[brookdalebill]

Sorry, amigo.

 

[Flat6Driver]

What band?

Where I live, we drive an hour to go to dinner.

This is the way of every activity I do. Big interest, minimal follow through.

 

[boris bubbanov]

I passed up John Hiatt in Chattanooga, and some other shows, because I couldn't feel confident my companions would follow through. And I am just done, giving tickets to people who say they will attend and then they don't or pretend they "forgot".

Ryan Adams will be coming to The Walker soon, and I just don't know. I like the odds of the New Orleans Jazz Fest better, myself.

 

[Milspec]

What band?

Where I live, we drive an hour to go to dinner.

This is the way of every activity I do. Big interest, minimal follow through.

Whitey Morgan and the 78's...always been a popular show. Used to be able to make a call and get 6-10 people willing to go, but even with a month's notice just crickets today.

 

[oldunc]

Getting old. It happens. To the lucky.

 

[Milspec]

Getting old. It happens. To the lucky.

I am not sure it is lucky.

As my Uncle used to say: Life is short, but often not short enough.

 

[loco gringo]

I quit buying tickets for other people a long time ago because of the same thing. I can't count how many tickets I have eaten over the years.

 

[Deeve]

Not a Friend Move to say "yeah, let's go..." then dip out after the tix have been purchased (by someone else)

Time for some new buds
Peace - Deeve

 

[RodeoTex]

I believe I'd have to remind them that I had already purchased tickets as they had asked and ask for some money from them.

 

[Milspec]

I quit buying tickets for other people a long time ago because of the same thing. I can't count how many tickets I have eaten over the years.

I sure learned that lesson today

 

[Milspec]

I believe I'd have to remind them that I had already purchased tickets as they had asked and ask for some money from them.

I will never get the money, but believe me, I will remind them every chance I get from here on out.

 

[rand z]

You're a nice guy!

But, as stated, we are getting older...

So, let em buy their own tickets.

But... GO!

imo.

 

[Geoff738]

I went to a show by myself a week and a bit ago. The gal I was going to go with decided she’d rather be in Miami with her partner. Oh well, at least I didn’t buy extra tix to this one. Usually if I have an extra ticket I rope my lawyer into joining me. If he doesn’t have a billiard tournament.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[bottlenecker]

Whitey's great. I hope I get a chance to see him.

I've always gone to shows alone. I usually see people I know there, and lots of them are there alone too. I recommend it. If it helps, people I've seen going to shows alone are every musician I know, grammy winning music historians, non-commercial radio DJs with really good shows, the odd rock star, artists, record collectors, and serious music nerds. My favorite people. They're all old or will be, and were always weird.

 

[68tele]

OP: Go. You'll make new friends at the show. You're not the creepy-old-dude...you're a fellow fan of the music.

 

[4pickupguy]

We saw a live show at Guitar Sanctuary last week and the venue and band were amazing. We bought a table for four right in front. It was so great we bought tickets for Greg Howe at the same table as soon as we got there. There is nothing better than live music. Either sit at home staring at the idiot box or watch a live show? Go! Have fun and enjoy it!!

 

[teletimetx]

Yeah, just go. Stay in motion.

Plus, helping keep live music alive - it’s not just the tickets- it’s the audience.

 

[soul-o]

There’s another way to look at this. I really still enjoy going to see live music and I don’t care how much of a pain parking is or what time I have to get to tomorrow. I’m now at an age where my contemporaries all have good credit cards and get advance sales to all the good shows and then the old geezers bail on actually going to the shows. I can just about depend on someone offering me a good seat to anyone i’d like to see as the show gets closer. It happens all the time.

 

[Powdog]

Best live music event I’ve attended in the last 20 or so years is the OffBeat Music Festival in Reno Nevada. Consistently amazing young, up and coming bands playing around midtown at multiple venues. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

This is from last October.