On Tuesday night I played a show. That’s a statement that I make a lot but this time it was different. Not entirely unique but a lot more unique these days than I feel is necessary, if that makes sense. What I’m saying is the venue was truly supportive in every way to the band. I should go back a little here and start off by saying I am super privileged to play music for a job and I understand that. I play so much and sometimes feel an overwhelming sense that maybe I am not doing the right things, or not connecting in the right way, or just insecure as we all get. Then I play a show in the right venue. That venue exists a lot of places but has been rare for me lately and this week it was Thirty One West in Newark Ohio. On a traditionally horrible night to play a show (Tuesday) the place was full of people who wanted to hear music, who were respectful of the bands, who were engaged, that is priceless for a musician. In my opinion running a venue is very hard but if you do it correctly with the right intentions like they seem to be doing at Thirty One West, the audience is able to have a great time and the band can do their job.
A huge thing in my job ends up being ALL the things around the music, and again I’m not complaining, it’s part of the whole thing but when you get an opportunity to just focus on only the music it’s really special. I believe if venues treated bands the way Thirty One West does, everyone would have a better experience. Here are a few things I think made the experience great. 1. The band had a green room - not a gross back room with a broken toilet but a real green room with food AND (local crafted beers) provided, a working bathroom, comfortable couch, and more! 2. The sound check was thorough and took as long as it needed to before any audience member got there so everything was completely set once the audience got there. 3. The music was focus - tables were set up so people could sit and drink/listen, the stage was very nicely lit, the sound was good even in a big echo chamber-like ballroom 4. The guys in control were in the room - I’ve seen many many many venues where the owners/operators/heck even managers weren’t even there -- or worse I’ve never seen or met them at all and I’ve played the venue over 50 times. If you own a music venue (or anything really) wouldn’t you feel like you would want to be there to oversee operations? If not, than you damn well better have a really good manager to be there if something goes wrong, or just to make sure nothing does.
So I guess this is my thank you to Tom and Reece at Thirty One West because sometimes you go about your job like normal and most things are fine, and then you play a GREAT show, and you realize that this is how it’s supposed to be.
Oh also Topher James and Biscuit Brigade will be opening for The Outer Vibe on September 28th. Get tickets here.
