The Role of the Blues Foundation (Page 1 of 2)

come on, nothing?

Ouch Phil that is pretty harsh.

I beleive they first of all need to realize they need to reenergize the blues fanbase. The don't need to wait for the blues purists to all die before they decide to look at ways to expand the audience of the blues. They just need to look to the successful artists that have expanded the audience through osmosis.

They need to embrace the artists that took the blues and made it more palatable for the maintstream. Look to them to give back. The only way to preserve the old is embrace the new and change people's preconceived notion what the blues is. Basically a PR campaign. Reach out to the Claptons, Becks, Rod Stewarts, Steve Millers, Allman Brothers you get the idea. Embrace the new generation of blues artists like JJ Gray, NMA, Black Keys,  and yes even Joe B.

There is a place in history for the founding fathers of the blues but the blues foundation has become nothing more than a historical society. In the construction industry we refer them to the Hysterical societies.

The International Blues Competition is a great event but it shouldn't overshadow everything else that the Blues Foundation does. The Blues in the School program should be the focus year around but it just doesn't have any legs of it's own. The BITS program is the future of the blues.

As a one time president of a local society and candidate for the Board of directors I have strong feelings about what is wrong with it but to tell you the truth I have no motivation to try to help fix the problem. I don't think they think their is a problem with the way things are which is exactly what Phil is saying.

I agree Dino the Foundation is a noble cause and should be leaders in the support of the blues genre'. I just think they can't see the forrest for the trees.

Grumble, curse, spit, snort. 

Somewhere in the middle is an answer.  The purist part of me does not want to go to a blues jam and hear Classic Rock.  If I can hear it on the radio...No No No.

However given that "Blues" is a constantly evolving art or state of being,  I welcome a new take on an old standard.  What I want, what I believe, doesn't come off properly in print or in words.  I can't define it with rules.  I welcome equally a new take that will become a new standard.

The foundation is an aging lion, toothless and somewhat flaccid.  I wouldn't euthanize it and replace it with death metal stoner rockers.  or shredders...but,

I would be interested in keeping them honest.  Even our precious Rory G was often a boogie woogie player.  Bullfrog Blues for example?  Doesn't make it bad, by any stretch, but it doesn't make it blues either.  What it did was give a contrast and therefore more power to what blues was played.

Joe is a good example of that.  Belts out some roaring British 70s blues rock and then grabs you by the throat till you beg for mercy with So Many Roads or Blues Deluxe.

Phil is right about this. "Until the Blues Foundation "wants" to be or do something different, it won't."  TRUE DAT!

Our local society is presidented by a dinosaur at the age of 37.  He says one thing and does another.  He's patheticly full of crap.  Won't relinquish power, so his sandbox is now a kitty litter box.  It is the microcosm.

The Blues Foundation is the macrocosm.  So don't look at me.  The whole scenario raises my blood pressure.  Leadership? pfui.

Harrumph I say!
NoLoveAtAll
grumble grumble.

I agree. Those guys mean nothing to me!

I got no problem with raising a little stink and voicing dissent. I just have a hard time with raising money. So does the Blues Foundation. Thankfully the internet doesn't cost much to use.

So what you got in mind? If it is too radical feel free to go of the board with it. We would hate for Joe to be guilty by association with the blasphamy we are speaking.

They just don't need anymore reason to dispise him than they already do. I must as a disclaimer add that there are many fans and supporters of Joe at the Blues Foundation. They are in the minority I beleive.

So, I will start with what I have in mind.  Let us say we utilize some of the folks here, some of the folks on our individual friends, etc.

Let us start simple...

Create a website with a few databases useful to musicians, and venues.

1.  A list of venues.  LIsted by region.  So agents and artists in vans can connect a tuesday to a wednesday night gig.

2.  a list of media outlets, again by region.

What do we want in return...who knows.

But we make this information what we start with.  We work with some cool as database kids, and we find the info, and they build it.  Then it becomes a tool.  Then artist start showing up.

Then, we go from there.

We get some people to write and review releases.  We get some artists to sign up with on the road blogging.  We can use Wordpress MU for this, and they can do it from their blackberry.  Embrace the microblog tool of twitter.  Teach the artists about social media.

Then, after we get going, we start our own set of tools to promote the artist that we like.  Like all of this, there will be fighting, but the fighting is fun.

We all agree that youth, and the future needs to be served.  How we serve it and what youth we need to reach, well that is up in the air.

Someone has to be a teacher, and that person can create a real and workable model for an actually used Blues in The Schools.  We create a tool kit, and we offer a sort of certification for the artist that have it together enough to actually do this.  The sober guys who you would let hang out with your  daughters.

Then in a couple of years, we get a financial guy.  Someone that can help musicians create a Roth or something account.  Retirement money.  Someone trustworthy.

We find an insurance guy.  That guy teaches us how we can get insurance for musicians, even if it just connecting him to them.  We screen the guy, and we as a collective suggest him to people.

We work with labels.  We offer them these tools.

These tools are prfitable for the insurance guy, and the financial guy, so we ask those guys for a percentage.  Not a lot, just enough to keep Moods in plane tickets around the country.

Then, in year two, we have a show.  Maybe in Florida by Big Jeff.  We invite EC Scott, a few others, and we give some speeches, maybe we give Buddy a lifetime acheivement award.  I am sure I can get him to Florida.

Then we all sleep at Big Jeffs house, and he makes chilli.

The Roll of the Blues Foundation is not unfunded...
The Role of the Blues foundation is unfounded...

Sorry Jeff I work nights, back to sleep fer me -"Snore"...

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Thats great Jane.  Thanks for the positive affirmation.

ITS AN IDEA.

A transparent one at that.

I love that you see me as a villian.

Dear Lord...people complained that the Blues Foundation does not work.  I asked some questions, which did not get answered too much, and then I had another idea.

None of which gets me anything, anything at all.

But you see me as a villian and choose to publicly question my motives.

Even with the other thing, the radio show, I explained how I was not manipulating anyone, that I did not gain anything from your listenership or by playing your guys music.  And for the record, I never asked for a favor. 

People come on ths forum and put up their own youtube videos, their own band notices, they talk about this band that they love or that band they love, and where are your motive police antennae then?  They promote other bands than Joe.  Not in some informative way, not in a way that does not get them something.

Yet, we still do this dance.

Whatever.  Maybe we should all go back to talking about amps, and cords, and not try to find away to make the music we love a sustainable thing, or a supported thing.

Thanks Jane.