Category Archives: Insight

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St. Louis concert-goers owe the sponsors a huge vote of thanks

I think it’s safe to say that promoting local art is a good thing. Art is how many of us unwind, a catalyst for our appreciation of beauty. Art is an attempt to reach into the cosmos of the abstract and connect to a deep and inset part of our being. Without art, the world is tasteless and bland. This is true of all forms of creativity as well: painting, writing, sculpting, etc.

But, the downfall of many would-be professional artists is the fact that local artistry is far less than lucrative. Between rent checks and student loans and groceries, artists often struggle to get by. This is especially true of musicians. There are many individuals and bands that are fighting to be able to continue making their music and sharing it with an eager public. Music is a part of all of our lives, and without it, life would be pretty boring.

It’s a real blessing, then, when companies and organizations step in and help. The sponsorship efforts of many local businesses ensure that music will continue to be made and shared for as long as there is an audience to hear it. I think it’s imperative that we stand with these sponsoring entities by thanking them for their sponsorship with our own patronage. Sponsoring local music is a great act of provision and is well deserving of our gratitude. By patronizing these establishments, we can encourage business to continue in their sponsorship of local arts for a long time to come.

Not sure what shows to attend in 2013? Free Concerts St. Louis’ calendar is a great resource.

I have a certain affinity for local music. As an artist myself, I began playing shows when I was in high school, and quickly realized that there was something very sweet about the setting of a concert venue. It’s an atmosphere of community, where we can gather and spend time with one another; eating, drinking, conversing. I love the atmosphere that local music provides.

However, for me, two problems quickly arise. The first is the overwhelming number of people trying to make music on the local level. There are so many bands out there, spanning so many genres and sub-genres and genre fusions. The amount of time that it would take to explore these bands would be more than anyone can spare. I also need direction. Choosing which band to go see on Friday night can go humorously awry if and when that band you’ve never heard of turns out to be some high school kid poorly playing three chords and crying on stage, overcome by their unbridled emotion (if I had a nickel for every time that happened…) With the loss of precious time being a considerable concern, the pursuit of local music can be daunting.

The second problem for me is that concerts cost money. This goes without saying, but the cost of pursuing local music has been burdensome for me for quite some time. With local venues charging anywhere from $10-25 a show, and with many of us purchasing admission for ourselves and a date, the cost compiles quickly. I’ve oftentimes had to choose between two shows in a weekend, simply because I couldn’t justify paying for them. The looming cost can drive prospective concert-goers away pretty quickly.

Luckily, here in St. Louis there is some great local music being made available through free concert venues on a fairly regular basis. It’s somewhat of a phenomenon that I haven’t experienced in the other cities I have lived in. These venues typically host vetted and experienced local musicians that are masters at their crafts. Concert-goers can develop a better understanding of their palate, become acquainted with a wide variety of local artists, and not have to commit a dime to the “treasure hunt” that is concert-going. It’s an ideal situation, and luckily, we here in St. Louis have world class local talent available to us for free. I say we take advantage.