Please read this and pass it along to every New York Artist you know. I've sent a copy of this to the White House.
Artists are suffering. Not only for their art but more so in this current economic disaster. There really is no other word that more honestly portrays the situation.
The thought of Long Island City losing Lucky Mojo's, one of my favorite places to play, is ripping the heart right out of me. We are losing our homes left and right. By homes I mean our venues and performance spaces, galleries, etcetera. Some people may say to just find another place. These people are not artists. Some may think that it’s no big deal. They may think we need another discount drugstore within site of three others.
Without the arts, the world becomes bland, cold, grey and expressionless. A sunset is a beautiful thing. It’s a natural and wonderful site to behold yet we tend to take them for granted more often than not. Seeing a sunset through the eyes of your favorite painter just makes you appreciate the real thing that much more.
In my case, I began hosting an open mic and trying to build it into the most supportive and uplifting open mic in the city. I did this in order to insure amateur musicians and comedians (and some of the pros) always had a place to express themselves and feel at home. I am also a singer/songwriter. I play a good number of solo shows and I have a full band. I play with a couple of other bands from time to time. There are many others out there like me. We live to create beauty and share it with everyone. It’s what makes us feel alive.
How can we do this if, every time we turn around, venues keep closing down because of one reason or another?
I want to find a way to keep our performance spaces open so that artists can share their gifts with the people of their town, their city, and the world.
I don’t know how I’m going to do it when I can barely pay my own bills, but I’m going to find a way to gather musicians, painter, sculptors, photographers, dancers and anyone who cares one bit about the arts and we’re going to find a way to fight this. We’re going to find a way to stop our venues from being shut down.
I could use your help. To be honest, I don’t even know where to begin. All I know is that I have to do something. We have to do something. I’m going to do something even if I’m by myself but two heads are better than one. Twenty thousands heads would be even better.
Are you with me?
Bobby Kane
a.k.a. Robert A. Smith
LM wouldn't have shutdown if their food didn't go straight downhill after they arrived. Should we support a place just so you can perform ? Honestly, if you don't want your venues to shutdown, help them provide better service.
ReplyDeleteJust start a DIY space like everyone else in a loft or backyard or roof. No dependency on a business, no dependency on someone needing to make $ off your events... think about all the great spaces like that in Brooklyn, where most people would rather hang out anyway... from tiny spots like Brooklyn Tea Party all the way up to behemoths like Market Hotel... http://www.dodiyusa.org/
ReplyDeleteAlternately, if you want to do something in LIC, talk to Dominie's Hoek, The Creek, LIC Bar... or if you think you can really get enough people to come out to make it worth them keeping a bartender in there, talk to Jackson Ave Steakhouse. They have a big party room next door to them that nothing is usually happening in, with a stage.
No matter where you go on the web commenters always have to be aholes. (Except for me)
ReplyDeleteMaybe you meant the first guy, but I'm not trying to be an asshole, I'm trying to be helpful and pragmatic. Can't fight against whatever economic reasons causes a restaurant/venue to close (for reasons that have nothing to do with the music events you may be putting on). There are always new spaces opening constantly, other places within a few blocks, and even more exciting is the utterly exploding DIY venue movement in the area right now. So much opportunity to keep making things happen; instead of dwelling on a setback, you just need to roll with the punches, adapt, and keep going.
ReplyDeleteI am being an ahole ? Excuse me, you are the one complaining you "home" got shut down. I would have loved to see LM succeed; but it didn't because the food was lackluster and the bar was run like a TGI Fridays. I have gotten raw chicken skewers, cold fries and burgers cooked to an inch of their life. The reason LM is out of business is compltely their own fault. Stop making it sound like the world is against you and your arts, when you should be blaming the staff and owners of LM.
ReplyDelete