small venues, big problems

NME recently published an article written by Tunbridge Wells Forum's Chris Pritchard which titled 'BIG BANDS COULD SAVE SMALL VENUES - AND SO COULD YOU'. 

Firstly, I'd like to point out that this was a bloody great article. 
Secondly, I couldn't agree with Pritchard any more. As much as I love going to huge arenas and stadiums to see artists live, I still feel as if something is missing from the whole experience. Arenas and stadiums just don't give that personal response like smaller venues do. To me, seeing the artist's facial expressions and emotion is much more appealing than lasers and flashing lights. Although they create an amazing atmosphere, it seems they are only used to highlight the status of the artist. Which realistically, I couldn't care less about; a concert/gig should be completely about the performance. Not whether the lighting creates a relaxed atmosphere and what not.

As a student without a regular income, ticket prices are a massive problem for me. The prices for recent arena tours have been way too much for my liking. Instead, smaller venues offer the same experience (or close enough) for much cheaper. Recently and luckily I was able to see Jake Bugg live for only £15. YES ONLY FIFTEEN! It was an amazing night and I managed to get front row, so I was only a couple of metres away from him. This would never be possible in an arena seeing as the first row is usually to the moon and back before the artist (not forgetting the poor people right at the back of the arena who only see a matchstick for an artist). Also, with ticket prices being reasonable like this, more fans are able to afford to have the experience of seeing live music, and are able to see more artists. For example, my tickets to see Jake Bugg, King Charles, Lewis Watson and Bastille in smaller venues (Southend and Colchester), even at a collective price, are cheaper than seeing Beyonce at The O2. Crazy, right? 

Without these small venues, artists and bands would never progress in the industry. Artists seem to forget that the small venues they played when they started out helped to develop their music career. For example:

Arctic Monkeys formed in 2002, their first gig was on the 13th June 2003 at The Grapes in Sheffield. Now where are they? Touring around the world and making appearances at many festivals and not forgetting their performance at the London Summer Olympics opening ceremony (2012). If they hadn't had their first gig at THE GRAPES would they ever have developed to be such a worldwide phenomenon? 


Also, the same goes for Oasis, who's first ever live gig was on the 18th August 1991 at the Boardwalk Club in Manchester. And now Oasis is considered one of the most influential bands ever!?

If you have the chance to see an artist live at a huge arena or a small venue closer to home, then please choose your option wisely. Think about how the smaller venue will benefit YOU and how YOU are benefitting THEM. After all, YOU are helping to save these incredible venues.

Article published in NME 11 May 2013
Visit www.nme.com for more information about NME's Britain's Best Small Venue Award.