Appreciated all around. One of the beauties of rock growing older is that it's cool to be old at a gig. Or, at least, it's not uncool. Where I live, our local venues couldn't survive without the over-40s (or even over-50s). And you're right, we need to rise above our natural inclination to cynicism - seen it all before, heard it all before - and appreciate what it takes to be in a gigging band. (And it is definitely not getting any easier since you originally wrote this.) I think the most important suggestion here is to offer the kind word; if a band knows that someone in the audience appreciated them enough to tell them in person, that could just carry them through to the next gig. Especially if it comes from someone old and wizened, who avoids telling them "yeah, I saw so-and-so back here in 1985" and says, instead., "you are the most interesting thing I have seen here since 1985" or even "your enthusiasm is contagious, you played to 12 people and you acted like the house was full. Love it." And purchasing their CD or cassette (hey, they're back!) is also a way to put money in their pocket and their music in your collection. Cheers.
Appreciated all around. One of the beauties of rock growing older is that it's cool to be old at a gig. Or, at least, it's not uncool. Where I live, our local venues couldn't survive without the over-40s (or even over-50s). And you're right, we need to rise above our natural inclination to cynicism - seen it all before, heard it all before - and appreciate what it takes to be in a gigging band. (And it is definitely not getting any easier since you originally wrote this.) I think the most important suggestion here is to offer the kind word; if a band knows that someone in the audience appreciated them enough to tell them in person, that could just carry them through to the next gig. Especially if it comes from someone old and wizened, who avoids telling them "yeah, I saw so-and-so back here in 1985" and says, instead., "you are the most interesting thing I have seen here since 1985" or even "your enthusiasm is contagious, you played to 12 people and you acted like the house was full. Love it." And purchasing their CD or cassette (hey, they're back!) is also a way to put money in their pocket and their music in your collection. Cheers.