Alan Cross says it’s time to bring back matinee concerts – National | 24CA News
The Beatles performed Toronto thrice (1964, 1965, and 1966), all at Maple Leaf Gardens. Demand for tickets was enormous and the band was on a decent touring schedule. They wanted to get in and get out whereas performing for as many individuals as potential. Adding a second evening wasn’t within the playing cards so the one factor they might do is play two reveals on the identical day: the same old night gig preceded by a matinee efficiency. In between, they grabbed a chew to eat and held a press convention.
Matinees (often as a part of a doubleheader) had been frequent again then. All the early rock pioneers — Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, The Rolling Stones, The Who et al — did them. It was exhausting for the act however the effort made good business sense. Not solely did the scheduling of a matinee double a fan’s possibilities of with the ability to see a present, however should you had been too younger to exit at evening, there was an opportunity your mother and father would allow you to attend a day present.
Matinee live shows continued for years. I recall within the Nineties when some bands insisted on enjoying an early all-ages present adopted by a licensed occasion within the night. Punk bands had been particularly good at serving their youthful demo with early units. It was a good way to fulfill each the adults (who might avail themselves of the bar) and the children (and the venue didn’t have to fret about underage ingesting as a result of the bar was closed to alcohol gross sales).
But because the rock business matured, afternoon performances slowly disappeared. Today, they’re all however gone. Unless you’re at a pageant, it’s extraordinarily uncommon to seek out an artist who’s prepared to play a day slot.
This is unlucky as a result of as of late, it’s not simply underage children who need reveals at the moment of the day but in addition a rising variety of adults.
Look, simply since you’re on the lee aspect of 30 doesn’t imply you’ve given up on the dwell music expertise. You’d like to see extra reveals however life all the time appears to get in the way in which. There are the children, getting up for work the following morning, and the large scheduling conflicts.
And let’s be trustworthy: After a sure age, you’re kinda bored with ready till 10:30 pm on a Tuesday evening for a band to hit the stage. Heck, I’m in mattress most nights lengthy earlier than that.
By not catering to the demo that doesn’t need/can’t afford to be out late, artists and promoters are leaving some huge cash on the desk. And let’s not overlook that the older demos are those with more cash to spend at reveals.
There are two options. First, gigs might begin earlier. Rather than heading house or killing time earlier than a present, individuals might go straight from work. If the lights had been to go down at, say, 7 pm, every thing might be executed by 9:30. Everyone who has to rise up within the morning can get to mattress at an inexpensive hour whereas those that need to proceed the evening nonetheless have hours earlier than them. I do know I’d see much more membership reveals in the event that they began and completed earlier.
The second answer is to re-introduce matinees. Obviously, this isn’t sensible on weekdays, however what about weekends? Hey, theatre productions have supplied matinee performances for many years. An enormous, massive chunk {of professional} sports activities are held within the afternoon. Casinos supply matinee performances. So why not big-name live shows? I’d be extra inclined to see acts like Bruce Springsteen. Does the Boss need to play a five-hour present? Fantastic! Just begin at 3 p.m. so I may be house to wind down earlier than mattress.
Jamie Lee Curtis lately ranted in regards to the lack of matinees. Appearing on NBC’s Today present lately, she vented “Why are there no matinees? For instance, I love Coldplay. I would love to go see Coldplay. The problem is, I’m not going to go see Coldplay if they start their show at nine o’clock and there’s an opening act. I want to hear Coldplay at 1 p.m. I think if we filled a stadium with people who want to see a matinee of Coldplay, I think we would start a trend.”
Love it. Instead of dinner and a present, it’s a present and dinner. Then it’s again house to dismiss the babysitter, play with the children, take care of the canine, and get to mattress at an inexpensive hour. Not very rock’n’roll in a conventional sense, however I’m OK with that.
Sure, load-in/load-out procedures and touring schedules must be adjusted, however that’s not an insurmountable barrier. Where there’s cash, there’s a manner. And I’m certain many heritage acts — and there’s a rising variety of them — wish to wrap up their day earlier, too.
I repeat: This has nothing to do with being previous, infirm, crotchety, and never loving dwell music. It has every thing to do with being sensible and inclusive. The inhabitants is getting old and society wants to regulate.
Who’s with me?
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Alan Cross is a broadcaster with Q107 and 102.1 the Edge and a commentator for Global News.
Subscribe to Alan’s Ongoing History of New Music Podcast now on Apple Podcast or Google Play
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