2015 Challenge to all JB fans (Page 1 of 2)

My take on why younger people don't go to more shows=$. I'm not trying to stir the pot and I'll gladly remove the post. I was mainly trying to make the point that "giving away" or "bribing" would certainly be an effective way to get younger people to shows.

Good point but to be honest compared to what I have seen some of the quote big acts which many are inferior to Joe the price is still a bargain. A friend of mine took her two kids 12 yrs old to see a artist that shall remain nameless and payed $350 a seat for crap seats. So for the show Joe puts on his prices are a bargain. You have to remember that over the years Joe keeps growing the show with that is added cost so tickets need to go up.
My two cents thanks for your input
Cheers Ron

Again, as I said originally, I do not think the prices are unreasonable. I said nothing alluding to ticket prices being unjustified. $350 a seat for anyone is ridiculous.

My kids (well 36 +29) their friends all get a good dose of Joe and have attended concerts, bought cd's etc, My students at college 16-21 yrs all get an introduction also. Have done this all along. Will keep trying and you never know.

Wow that is cool, do any of your students play guitar?

It was actually my son, who at the time was 21, who introduced me to Joe's music back in 2004.  Back in the day when tickets were less expensive I used to buy extras (one time I bought 10 out of 14 seats in the front row for a show in RI and gave most of them away - several to those in their young 20's). My two sons and their wife/girlfriend have been to see Joe multiple times, both here and in the UK, and even one of them in Italy so you know they are pretty much hooked.  Now to start working on my grandson who just turned one - I very much look forward to taking him to his first show (his Dad went to his first real concert when he was five).

I like some of your ideas, Ron, and look forward to some of the ways others are trying to reach out to the younger crowd.  Sadly, so many younger people these days have very little exposure to "real" music (unless they have parents who know what "real" music is).  It is not just a "Joe" phenomena that a lot of the audience is older - see the same thing at Mule, TTB and even Grace Potter (although there are a lot more young people at her shows than the average).  I wonder if Joe's prolific PR department targets any of these age groups?  I know there is Blues in the Schools but again this program seems to mostly reach out to kids already involved in some way with music.  Since I am far from the under 30 age bracket I don't know what kind of ads they see on FB and other social media - I know I certainly see a lot!

Interesting challenge and I look forward to seeing how this goes.

Sandy

Joe playing festivals (like he did Pinkpop) will get him in front of more and younger fans.

I like the idea of getting younger fans to Joe's shows, and it's definitely worthwhile, but Joe is just one artist. My local small venue is Chan's http://www.chanseggrollsandjazz.com, and they have 4-10 shows per month, with a large percentage blues shows. I take my son there a lot, and few times with friends, and also mentioned it to a neighbor with a slightly older son. A couple of weeks ago I went when the neighbor's 14yo son and another friend played the open mic jam night. It was a slow night due to the weather, so they got lots of stage time, and active hints and other knowledge from the house band. And a guy that plays a jam night in Danielson CT, Brandt Taylor, who was killer.

So while it's great to create a new Bonafan at one of Joe's shows, it's also great to create new blues fans with the great variety of talent touring today. And you can do it more often. Great shows I've seen at Chan's include Matt Schofield, Jon Butcher, Albert Cummings, Ana Popovic, and several more lesser known bands. This also keeps tiny venues for live music viable. I've seen amazing shows played to a half empty room with 50 people in it. (winter doesn't help :-)

tim

I know two or three do but haven't heard them play. You just have to get past the pop and the rap and get them to listen. Many are amazed how cleanly Joe does his faster runs compared to his more modern counterparts. This idea should be encouraged by all, not just the older element though.