The Coral Snake
Biggest Problem Facing Live Music Is Cost of Living
RECEIVED Fri., July 25, 2008
Dear Editor,
Re: The letters in response to “Can the Bands Play On?" [News, July 18]: So many letters, so little sense. First, Mr. Tom Bowman's [“Postmarks” July 25]: One of the top bandleaders, songwriters, and leaders in her chosen genre was the most incompetent (technically) guitarist I had ever played with at one time. Through hard work, creativity, vision, and persistence, she is (by the Chronicle's own designation) at the top of her game today. So much for Red River folks not knowing enough chords. To Mr. Hank Startrain [“Postmarks,” July 25]: The way the game works now, by the time an artist has enough income stream to justify giving anyone one-quarter of it, they probably have a pretty good idea how to manage themselves and just need a booking agent so they have time to write some new songs or fulfill all the jobs they have already booked. It is not the Forties, Fifties, or Sixties anymore. To Mr. Ravner Salinas [“Postmarks,” July 25]: Austin, like every good alternative culture town, became a hip music town when it was cheap. People could pay rent without having to spend all their time working to pay rent. Austin is not very affordable even if you look. Maybe after a few developers lose their shirts catering to yuppies, but it is a big problem. I have been working steady in Austin as a musician in several genres; when I moved here during the Slackertown version of groover's paradise, my rent for my room in West Campus was $100. I could tour and not work all the time. So I know of what I speak.
Re: The letters in response to “Can the Bands Play On?" [News, July 18]: So many letters, so little sense. First, Mr. Tom Bowman's [“Postmarks” July 25]: One of the top bandleaders, songwriters, and leaders in her chosen genre was the most incompetent (technically) guitarist I had ever played with at one time. Through hard work, creativity, vision, and persistence, she is (by the Chronicle's own designation) at the top of her game today. So much for Red River folks not knowing enough chords. To Mr. Hank Startrain [“Postmarks,” July 25]: The way the game works now, by the time an artist has enough income stream to justify giving anyone one-quarter of it, they probably have a pretty good idea how to manage themselves and just need a booking agent so they have time to write some new songs or fulfill all the jobs they have already booked. It is not the Forties, Fifties, or Sixties anymore. To Mr. Ravner Salinas [“Postmarks,” July 25]: Austin, like every good alternative culture town, became a hip music town when it was cheap. People could pay rent without having to spend all their time working to pay rent. Austin is not very affordable even if you look. Maybe after a few developers lose their shirts catering to yuppies, but it is a big problem. I have been working steady in Austin as a musician in several genres; when I moved here during the Slackertown version of groover's paradise, my rent for my room in West Campus was $100. I could tour and not work all the time. So I know of what I speak.
Tom Cuddy
