January 12, 2009 latest happenings

Hello everyone,

Sorry for the delay in my blog. It's been quite hectic lately. My bout with pneumonia gave me a lot to think about. The music business is very fragile and missing just one gig or not feeling 100% is difficult for those who want to be at their best every day. I am working at expanding my horizons and will get to that in later blogs as things develop.

This weekend I will be at The Bridge Inn in Pleasantville (near Oley) on Friday at 7:00. This martini bar is a great little spot that everyone should experience. Saturday, I will be at Conway's BBQ in Kuhnsville (Allentown) at 8:00. This may be the last time drummer David Reppert will be with me at this venue. The economy woes are hitting everyone. It trickles down to the restaurants and musicians for sure.

Here is my theory on the bar/club scene and the economy:

Many people are feeling the crunch and looking for ways to save money or get a good value when they spend it. Everyone knows that. I sense that people might be foregoing their bigger trips and luxuries and enjoying smaller treats. So many do not want to just stay home every night and like to be around their friends. Going to a club or bar gives a good value. Most of the places I play do not have a cover charge. So, if you add the meal and entertainment together and you are only paying for the meal, try thinking about the money you saved. If you go to a club in New York, you might pay a high cover charge plus have to buy a minimum dollar amount of food and/or drinks. Wise people see this value and elect to enjoy local music instead of big name concerts or events that feature superstars who leave the stage without regard for the individuals who took time out to see them. Obviously, the stars can not practically spend time with 18,000 people, but you get the point. I'd like to read your comments.

So, unless you like to lock yourself in your home with your DVD player, choose live local music for the best entertainment value. Go to www.livelocalmusicnow.com to find out what is going on near you.

Don't forget to check my website at www.jimmeck.com to view my schedule.

Thank you for your support and I "hope to see you soon..."

Jim